Specials, Emergency!

 Teachers,

Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday. 

Specials, Emergency! —

Specials start on Monday. Please be at your Specials on time and stay with your class until they are sat down. Once they are sat, please come to the conference room and we will make sure you are able to get into R4R and My Math/Redbird through Schoology. One we are done you will need to pick up your students from specials. Please be on time so the specialists can clean their rooms for the next grade level. Please help them each day this week of specials.

Our first fire drill is on Friday morning. Yeah. I want to review the procedures so everyone is on the same page. Before the fire drill, please talk with your team to decide which yellow dot you will take your class too. There are 5 yellow dots on the West side of the track for each grade level. I will have grade level numbers on them Monday. Each dot is 6 feet apart. Please keep students an arm away from each other the best you can. Walk it through with your students before Friday.

When the bell rings, line up with masks/shields. We will have the fire drill early so it will be in the 80’s and not the 100’s.  Shut your locked inside door, turn off the lights and make sure your students walk in line to the Yellow Dot. It is not a race. Remember to take a minute to listen outside to make sure everything is ok before you walk out the door. If you are a sweeper, please make sure your team knows who has your class.

At the Yellow Dot, take roll to see if there are any students missing. If your class is all there, tell your team leader everyone is accounted for. If there is a student missing from your class and you know where they are, please tell your team leader and they will text it to Kim/Kelly/Annette/Glen so we can check. If there is a missing student and you are not sure where they are, tell your team leader and they will text that to Kim/Kelly/Annette/Glen to check where that student may be.

Please keep your classes calm and at a low roar so we can talk to the student if needed. You should be able to give them directions quickly, if needed. If you would like to have them sit in their line on the grass after you have taken roll, that is fine.

Please wait until A whistle is blown by an Office member. Once the whistle blows, please walk your students back to class. Boom, there it is. 

Even though it is a drill, we want students to know they are safe and they should treat it as an emergency.

Quote I’m pondering —

"She stood in the storm and when the wind did not blow her away, she adjusted her sails." -- Elizabeth Edwards

What’s Going On —

This Coming Week	In Two Weeks
Mon. August 24 - First Day of Specials Mon. August 24 - Training during Specials Tue. August 25 - Acadience New Assessor Training Wed. August 26 - Acadience Assessor Review Fri. August 28 - Fire Drill	Mon. August 24 - Annette Brinkman Mon. August 24 - Acadience Testing Gr. K-1 Tue. August 25 - Acadience Testing Gr. 2-3 Wed. August 26 - Acadience Testing Gr. 4-5 Fri. August 28 - Fire Drill
Sept. 7 - Labor Day (No School) Sept. 8 - WIN Time Starts

What I'm Reading This Week —

The Power of the Positive Phone Call Home

This strategy will end most behaviors and bring parents to your side every time. It is also a great habit to get into at the beginning of the year. A couple a week does the trick.

What I'm Watching This Week—

8 Secrets to Success

A quick 4 minutes of great thoughts and fun, with a little colorful language. I have his book if you want a quick read.

Thank you for all you do for students especially during this unprecedented time. It has been a stressful week because of the spreadsheet experience, but we got through it. I appreciate all of you and your hard work.

Student Education Planning

Teachers,

Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday. 

Student Education Planning  —

Meeting with parents to discuss how students are doing should be an amazing time for everyone. Providing parents with great things that their students are doing and showing their progress helps students and parents see what is happening at school and with their education. There has  to be good in every parent meeting. That being said, parents also want to know if there are issues they need to address to help their child be the best they can be. Showing parents data will help them understand what their student is working on and where they should end up. They also need to know what we are doing to help their student improve with their academics and behaviors. One thing we need to be careful about is holding back with parents. If there is something the student needs or needs to change, parents want to know. We do not need to be mean, but parents do not like to be surprised when they are told great things about their student and soon after the meeting the student is not doing so well. Show them the data, tell them what we are doing to help their student, and let them know what they can do. Be specific with what parents need to do. Some parents don’t know how to help their child run at home and might need to be shown. Make these meetings as positive as possible. And always end on a good note. This is one of 3-4 times some parents are in our school and we want them to know their student matters to us. They also need to know we are doing everything possible to make their student the best learner and the best person ever. That is all we parents want. To know that our children are progressing and will make it in the world.

Quote I’m pondering —

'As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.'" — Marianne Williamson

What I am Watching —

Easy DIY projects for kid engineers

These are some pretty amazing projects and ideas for extensions or even problem solving.

Another Favorite Article This Week —

Always Err on the Side of Positive

The power of being positive is always in our best interest.

A Big Thank You —

Thank you Heather for all you do. Tis the season for IEP’s and it is hard for you to get them all scheduled when there are so many that need to be scheduled. For being a first year resource teacher, you are doing an amazing job. There is so much that needs to be done in your job and you have shown that you will do most anything to help students and be flexible for teachers. We appreciate your hard work. Thank you for all you do for the students. Thank you for all you do. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work. Have a wonderful weekend.

You Can Do Magic

Teachers,

Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday. 

You Can Do Magic  —

I have been thinking about some of my favorite places I have been. Walking through the woods with my family in New York State. Attending a concert with my friends in high school. Watching a play with my wife at the Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City. Playing Uno with my music teacher and friends in high school. Singing in a cathedral in London with my college choir. These are amazing memories. They were magical times for me. But when I think about what it is that I loved about each memory it was the people I shared it with. Being able to talk to them, learn together, and enjoy the time together. I feel the same way about how our students learn and grow in our classrooms. Are they comfortable in our classrooms. Are we creating an environment and situation that students will remember fondly while they learn? Do they feel the magic in the room and the learning that is going on. Do they know that what is happening is all about them and that their teacher is designing lessons about them? This is the magic that you bring to your class. Students knowing that when they walk in the room, something magical will happen that day for them. Sometimes we think students are looking for entertainment, but in reality they are looking for comfort and love. They want to know that someone believes in them. No matter what they do. If they know someone believes in them, their attitude will change. It might take years, but it will is the magic they will feel. So, teach the students explicitly with the best strategies, teach them in a systematic way, and in the best sequence and they will learn. Make your students feel loved, respected, and comfortable and they will remember you and what you taught forever. You can do magic. 

Quote I’m pondering —

“Go to the people. Live with them. Learn from them. Love them. Start with what they know. Build with what they have. But with the best leaders, when the work is done, the task accomplished,  the people will say 'We have done this ourselves.”

― Lao Tzu

What I’m Watching —

Believe in You Maths Potential — Set Yourself Free

I really like Jo Boaler. She sheds a little more light on how believing in your possibilities will set you free. It is a month Video, but it has to do with anything we do in education. Adults have a big influence on how children feel about everything in their lives.

Favorite Article This Week —

If Schools Don't Allow Mistakes, Where Are They Supposed To Happen?

We have talked a lot about Mindset and mistakes over the last year. This is an interesting questions that goes along with this idea. George is an amazing education blogger.

A Big Thank You —

Thank you third grade. It is wonderful how we can always find you as a team working together before school, after school, and at other times planning and going over what needs to happen in your classes that will help students. We appreciate your work and all that you do for students. Thank you for taking your time to get the most out of the time you have. And thank you for taking your schedule and making it fit to your students and to what is best for them and for you. It is a hard schedule, as 4th and 5th know. We also want to Thank Scott for all his work he has done with 5th grades schedule. Thank you Scott. Thank you Third Grade. Thank you for all you do. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work. Have a wonderful weekend.

Find the Purpose

Teachers,

Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday. 

Find the Purpose —

When we are planning for our lessons each day, how purposeful are we in the outcome we want from that lesson? There is a lot to get through in one year so we need to make sure everything we teach has a purpose and an outcome. This is why we have GVCs and Learning Targets. If the outcome is not ending in a GVC’s then why are we teaching it? And if we need to teach it, why is it not a GVC? Every school needs to purposeful in their lessons, but in the drive-by teaching we do in our school, we need to be more focused on the outcomes and purposeful in our delivery. More is not better, more is more. Less and deeper is more of what we need. How will this apply to our students’ lives? How will it create opportunities for them and a drive for them to want to keep learning. We will never be able to teach them everything, but if we engage them in learning and create a love of learning, they will keep learning themselves and they will learn everything they need to know. And if they need to know something we did not teach them, they will know how to find it and be able to learn it for themselves. Be purposeful in every lesson. Know your outcome and scaffold the learning so it builds to the next learning opportunity. 

Quote I’m pondering —

“Inspiration is for amateurs — the rest of us just show up and get to work. And the belief that things will grow out of the activity itself and that you will, through work, bump into other possibilities and kick open other doors that you would never have dreamt of if you were just sitting around looking for a great ‘art idea’.”

-Chuck Close, American artist who achieved fame as a photorealist through massive-scale portraits

What I’m watching —

How our friendship survives our opposing politics

We live in a world with differing opinions. How do we teach our students to listen and learn from different opinions. This TED talk is a good example with good stories about how we can respect other ideas without ruining relationships. Not to show to students, but something to think about. 

Favorite Article This Week —

The 1 Word to Delete from Your Vocabulary if You Want to Succeed

I need to work on deleting this word from my vocabulary. It really does hold me back from what I could really do.

A Big Thank You —

Thank you Jana, Cindy, Kathy, Cristin, and Lisa. You have taken and tested students on a variety of different tests that give us the data that we need to help our students. Now after you have started your LLI groups we mention how we might change things up a little and what we got from you was, “whatever you need.” We sure appreciate you great attitudes about doing what is needed to help each of the students at Dixie Sun grow. We sure appreciate all you do behind the scenes and all the little things you do that make such a big difference. Clubs, library, GT, lunch duty, kindergarten lunch duty, and everything else you do at the drop of a hat. Thank you. We appreciate all of you. Thank you for all you do. Thank you. 

I appreciate all of you and your hard work. Have a wonderful weekend.

Ignorance Project

Teachers,

Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday. 

Ignorance Project —

I watched a video this week from TED Talks. It talked about data and how we look at it. There was some great information that I think needs to be shared and discussed. Hans Rosling is a Data guy from Sweden and he talks about misconceptions we have as a society. Hans talks about how we as a population look at data and think things are getting worse. The kids are getting worse, or are they? He shares a couple graphs that show that the world is not getting worse, but it is getting better. It is all about how we look and think about our situations and the situations in our world. He discusses misconceptions society has and how we need to change how we look at things. In a nutshell the video taught me that I need to look at things more positively. The data does not show that things are getting worse. I constantly look at my situation I was in when I was younger and I have to remember that life is different now. There is so much more happening and we are so much further than I thought we would ever be. Life is better. We have so much more at our fingertips. Attitudes are better around the world. We are closer to every part of the world. We know so much more. Life is good. The bonus is that we are in the trenches making it better. You are a huge part of the progress happening in our world. Check out the video here TED: The Ignorance Project.

Quote I’m pondering —

"Never risk what you have and need for what you don't have and don't need."

— Warren Buffett

What Posters I'm Looking at—

You Cubed Math Posters

These are math posters from one of the greatest teaching minds in math, Jo Boaler. I wish they were in Spanish. If someone wants to translate for me, I will print them out. 

Favorite Article This Week —

Why is my kid allowed to make spelling mistakes?

Spelling has always had a special place in my heart… well not really. This article explains why it is important, but why we should not concentrate on it as hard as we have in the past. Something about the flow of ideas. Enjoy. 

A Big Thank You —

Thank you third grade. Thank you for taking time everyday to talk about your student needs. I walk by your rooms at different times and you are discussing ways to help your students and what you can do to help them succeed. This has become the norm at our school for everyone and I just happen to see you doing it often. Thank you for taking the time and working for your students. Thank you for the little things to make the big things work better. Thank you third grade for your work as a team. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work. Have a wonderful weekend.

Finding the Why

Teachers,

Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday. 

Finding the Why —

During the tech class we watched a Ted Talk by Simon Sinek about starting with Why to inspire others. So why do you teach? I know that you love teaching, I know that you love students and want to make their lives better. I know that you would do almost anything to help our students. So the question is how are we marketing our information to students so they are sold on our product. Our product is knowledge and problem-solving. Do we start with the why with students so they know why it is important for them to know the information we are giving to them? If you were the student, would you be sold on the information you are teaching? How do we get them hooked so they run into and not out of class each day? What is it that will make them want the information? It was a great thought provoking video for me.

Quote I’m pondering —

"Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved." —Thomas S. Monson

What I’m watching —

The Power of Yet

Thinking about what Alma is teaching us this year with the Growth Mindset, I thought of this fun little video.

Favorite Article This Week —

Differentiation Is Just Too Difficult: Myth-Busting

I read through this and thought about how hard I thought differentiation would be when I started looking at implementing it. This article has some great ideas to think about. 

A Big Thank You —

Thank you second grade. Thank you for your work with Mindset implementation. Hearing some of the stories you tell about how it is being used in your classes is great for the students. I also want to thank you for handing out the first few Principal 200 club. It is also great that you have started looking at how you can start CSIP. Thank you second grade for all your hard work. We appreciate what you do. Thank you.

PS —

The thank you point is getting harder to show just one team because all the amazing work that is going on in our school. Just know that we see what is happening at school. Thank you

I appreciate all of you and your hard work.  Have a wonderful three day weekend.

Stakeholder Input

Teachers,

Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday. 

Stakeholder Input—

Stakeholder input is always interesting to gather. Everyone wants a say and they all deserve to be given a chance to say what they feel. Sometime we don’t know how someone is feeling unless we ask and give them a chance to share, especially when it is anonymous. I remember having students reflect on their school year and having some of the most interesting comments about what they thought was the best and what was the worst. Most of the worst comment had to do with being disciplined or having to accept consequences for their actions. Being in trouble does not feel good. But the comments that they felt they were not listened to, or that they felt picked on were heartbreaking for me. I heard about a team that surveyed their students often asking how things were going throughout the year to make sure they were not missing something. They also asked parents the same questions about their students. The team always had the students complete their surveys anonymously and as a whole grade level so they got group information. This did not single out one teacher, but made it a team effort. The hardest thing for me was hearing that I was terrible and they hated the class. That only happened once in a while, but it was hard to hear. But if we dismissed the comments we do not like we are not being fair to that student. Each student has a right to their opinion. The only way we get better is to understand from those we work with what we need to change and how we can make it better. Not everyone will get what they want. We need to keep to the plan we have and be true to our personal goals,  ideals, programs, and what we know is right. But if we truly reflect on what we are doing and look at the input from those around us, we can be the best we can truly be. I appreciate your comments on my survey. It helps me see what I need to refine to do a better job.

Quote I’m pondering —

“I can’t tell you the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everyone.” ― Ed Sheeran

What I’m watching —

Believe in Your Maths Potential – Set Yourself Free

This is my favorite Maths teacher. Jo Boaler is a leader in the math revolution going on. Not much of a revolution of math, but a revolution of learning and teaching math. Believe in your math potential.

Favorite Article This Week —

Science Says Kids Learn Better When Their Teachers Do This

What is something we can do in our classrooms that only takes five minutes each hour? Oh, and many of you do it already. That's right, read the short article.

A Big Thank You —

Thank you Dave. You seem to be in the middle of everything helping out and making sure students and parents and whoever is in the right places and getting the best experience possible. You are also the one that is first to either volunteer or be nominated, without complaining, to wear a costume, ride a bike, or do whatever is needed. Thank you for sharing your talents with the students and all of us. Thank you for all you do for our school. Thank you for your personality. Thank you for all you do for students. You make life at Dixie Sun a fun life. Thank you. 

I appreciate all of you and your hard work. Especially all you did for the dance festival. All the work you put into the dances for your students. It is these activities students will be talking about for years. It has been an amazing year. The Dancing was so much fun. Thank you all for your hard work. Thank you. Have a wonderful weekend.

Building Suns

Teachers,

Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday. 

Building Suns —

I was at Death Valley NP during Spring Break and it was hot! 101˚ to be exact. On weekend nights the rangers do talks about the park and on Friday they did a Star Walk. It was amazing. I saw amazing constellations and bright stars. One of the rangers started talking about the Orion Nebula. To find the Orion Nebula you find Orion’s belt, three starts in a row in the Western Sky, and right below the belt is a haze and that is the Orion Nebula. He told us that a nebula is where stars are made. Nebulae are made out of interstellar gas and dust and as it comes together it compacts and bang, a star is made. So when I heard this I started thinking about what teachers do. You take all this knowledge, information, behavior modification, life skills, and fun and  start to build people our of our little ones. As they gather all this learning for you, Bang, they turn into little stars. And since our sun is a star, you are creating Dixie Suns. We are the Dixie Sun Nebula taking knowledge and creating little stars. As we get close to SAGE testing, we will see how well our stars are doing. How much knowledge they are retaining. We do need to remember that tests do not make stars, the learning does. Keep providing strong Tier 1 teaching and they will become the suns we know they can become. 

Quote I’m pondering —

“It always seems impossible until it's done." — Nelson Madella

What I’m watching —

My Journey to yo-yo Mastery

This yo-yo champion talks about finding his life’s passion. His story in the beginning is worth listening to, but the yo-yo work he does is pretty amazing also. one to show your class about how to take your passion and make it a job.

Favorite Article This Week —

When Mindfulness Feels Like a Necessity

Starting out each day with a little mindfulness activity could make a difference in the school day. This article is written by a secondary school teacher, but is there a way to make it happen in an elementary school class? 

A Big Thank You —

Thank you Karla. You have really stepped up into the leadership position in Fifth Grade. You really make sure things get done. An the coaching you are doing for Derrell has been very helpful to him. He mentions it all the time. He also mentions how much Teryn has helped him get right into the lessons and make his class work. Thank you Karla. Thank you for all you do.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work. Enjoy another wonderful weekend.

Searching

Teachers,
Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday.

Searching —
If has been a busy month and I did not get to the tech training that I wanted to do. We just had so much we have been doing as a school that I thought another thing would push everyone over the edge. So I will start here. Searching. Not googling. Searching. I was listening to my wife talk about why she can't find a certain document for work because the name was changed and she does not know how to find it. So here are a few rules when naming documents. First rule is to name it so you can find it. Long names are fine. Sentences are not. When you are sharing a document, like lessons plans, with someone, put your name on it. It makes it easier to find and it will not get mixed up with someone else. When you are searching for a document in google Docs, the search will look through the document for words also. So if you forget the name of the document, search for a prominent word or phrase in the document and it should be able to find it. The last thing I want share with you is about sharing. If you do not want the people you share with messing with your document, select the view only box and they will be able to see it, but not add too it. I hope this helps as you are naming documents and searching on your computer.

Quote I’m pondering —
"There is much more to life than increasing its speed." Mahatma Ghandi

What I’m watching —
Why It's Time To Forget The Pecking Order at Work
Another TED talk that talks about super chickens and how to make teams work better together.

Favorite Article This Week —
100% is overrated
I always think about how many times my teachers told me I was smart because I got 100%. Then I think about the times I did not get 100% and how I felt that I was not as smart as I should be. I like how this article suggests we change our labels.

A Big Thank You —
I want to thank a couple of our unsung heroes at school. Our lab aides, Nicola and SherryAnn. They help our students with usernames and passwords, collecting data for Imagine Learning and iReady. They keep us on track, and we need that. Thank you for all your hard work with our students and especially keeping us where we need to be. Thank you ladies. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work. Have a wonderful weekend.

Bells and Schedules

Teachers,
Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday.”

Bells and Schedules —
I just got trained on the bells and I feel so much better about life. Please make sure you are heading to pick up your class right before or as the bell rings. We know it might take a minute to get out to pick up your class, but please plan accordingly. Please don’t make your students wait very long outside. Thank you for helping us get our schedules set and going. Thank you for being flexible. It has been fun planning around all the things we do in school. As a teacher I always wished I could just take a day and teach my students without any interruptions… but then I think about all the services we give our students and how they need the little things to help them be successful. So, we will have the LLI Schedule ready to move after Labor Day, Library Schedule will be ready next week, unless I haven't gotten times for your grade level. iReady will hopefully be ready soon, Specialists are going strong in their classes, Resource will be out and about helping our students, Speech is moving and grooving, Language Acquisition groups will be starting after Labor Day, Gifted and Talented will be starting in a week or two, Amanda is taking referrals for students in need, Alma is coaching her heart out, Kirby is keeping our school beautiful and running smooth, and Kim and I are visiting classes to see great learning happening with students. So many services, so many opportunities, so much love for our students.

Quote I’m pondering —
“People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. But that’s not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I’m actually as proud of the things we haven’t done as the things I have done. Innovation is saying no to 1,000 things.” – Steve Jobs

What I’m watching —
Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are
This is another Ted Talk. It is longer than the last one (20 minutes), but it is great information. take the time to help you feel better and even use it with your students. It can change their attitudes about work, activities, and dealing with situations. it can also help when dealing with parents and administrators. Key phrase with this one, “Power pose”.

Favorite Website This Week —
Kahoot!
I have mentioned this website in passing, but I want you to gather the full glory that is Kahoot! This website is a assessment site that gathers information but turns it into a game. Players get points for getting the answer correct, but also how fast they answer. Players put in a username and play on any device. An easy one to do with students is one called “Classroom Stuff” by davidll. All it is is pictures of classroom stuff and four answer students can choose from. It is a great place to start for any grade. My fifth graders loved to play it. Your class can play as individuals or as teams. Sign up. Try it out. Your kids with thank you for it.

A Big Thank You —
We sure appreciate the Fifth Grade for helping keep our school safe. Safety Patrol is going great. They are learning the ropes and helping to keep us safe. Please take a minute in all the classes to mention that they are there to help us and to mind them if the Safety Patrol asked them to walk or be safe. It is important to have good examples in the top grades. Fifth Grade Team, keep up the great work! Thank you.

Bonus Point — Sign up for PTA. $6 for a shirt and membership. Our goal is 100%. Support the Parents that provide more opportunities for our students. Thank you

I appreciate all of you and all you do meeting with students and parents. Have a wonderful weekend.

Principal’s 200 Club

Teachers,

Here is another weekly dose of “5-Point Friday.”

Principal’s 200 Club —

I have appreciated the teachers that are sending down the cards already for the Principal’s 200 Club. The reason we give out principal’s 200 Cards is to encourage students to be Respectful, Responsible, Resourceful, Safe, and Unified. When students show one of these qualities, make a big deal about it and give them a card. Write a small blurb about how great they are on the bottom and send them to the office. Resourceful is a great one to use when students make a mistake and then find a way to correct it. One thing we do not want is for all the cards to come down at once. It should be student specific, not done as a class. I will put 2 in your box each week, please send two students down each week. If you have questions, please ask. Make it a habit to catch students that need redirection when they deserve a card. We will Rise!

Quote I’m pondering —

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” - Lao Tzu

What I’m watching —

Grit: The power of passion and perseverance by Angela Duckworth

I love Ted Talks and this is one I have watched over and over. It is about 6 minutes about her research on perseverance. She quickly realized that IQ wasn't the only thing separating the successful students from those who struggled. Here, she explains her theory of "grit" as a predictor of success. Enjoy.

Favorite Chrome App This Week —

Google Keep 

This is an app I use everyday to track my notes and lists. It is an app you can download on any smartphone. Once you sign in you can get your notes on any device you sign into. It is Kim’s new favorite app.

A Big Thank You —

Kindergarten started without a hitch this week. Thank you Kindergarten for your preparations and hard work to get the students comfortable with being in a new place. thank you for taking care of our little ones. This is where they get their love for education from. Everything I ever needed to know I learned in Kindergarten. Everything else build on that beginning. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work. Remember Monday is an early out day. We will meet at 1:30 for learning and growing. Have a wonderful day.