I'm in Control

Teachers,

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

I'm in Control  —

Pat Cross said, “If it weren’t for students impeding our progress in our race to the end of the term, we could certainly be sure of covering the material. The question, however, is not whether we, as teachers, can get to the end of the text at the end of the term, but whether our students are with us on that journey.” We control what happens in our classrooms. We control the environment and how engaging our lessons are. We control how we act and react to what students do each day. We control how we perceive the actions of others. We control us. We cannot control students. We do not control student behavior. If we try we end up in a fight-or-flight situation for the student and the teacher. When a student misbehaves (talks, walks, does nothing, etc.), we need to remember it is not a threat to us. Address the situation with the student and move on. Answer the question, What is best for the student? We can find a way to change their behavior by thinking it as a puzzle that needs to be solved, not a threat to be removed. A physical threat is a different situation that needs a different consequence, but we still need to ask, What is best for the student? Let’s make their days better for being here.

Quote I’m pondering —

To think is easy. To act is hard. But the hardest thing in the world is to act in accordance with your thinking. ― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

What’s Happening —

Mon. April 22 - No School Tues. April 23 - Character Ed/Steam - PLC Making Class Lists Tues. April 24 - Character Ed/Steam - PLC Making Class Lists Fri., Apr. 26 - No Fit Walk Fri., Apr. 26 - Field Day 1st-2nd grades Fri., Apr. 26 - Last School Store 10:00am Fri., Apr. 26 - Ice Cream During Lunch	Mon. April 29 - TAT 3rd Grade 8:15 Tues. April 30 - Choir Concert 2:30 Wed., May 1 - PLC 8:15 Thu., May 2 - Mini Color Run for Boxtops Fri., May 3 - Last School Store 10:00am
April 15-18 - Lunch Workers: Beraz and 2 from Sparks/Paxman	April 29-May 3 - Lunch Workers: Marchant and 2 from Ping/Fuchs

Favorite Article This Week —

Bigger than Basketball

Dwayne Wade is a basketball player that is retiring this year. This short video is a tribute to him. Who would trade jerseys with us at the end of our careers?

A Big Thank You —

Thank you, Mrs. Howard, Mrs. Clark and Mr. Hansen for all you do for our students that need a little more attention at our school. You are truly always thinking about how to help and work with students in our school. What a resource you are to teachers. We appreciate all your time and effort in making sure students are getting their needs met each day. We appreciate all you do for students and for teachers. We appreciate your help. Thank you for all you have done. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work. Have a great 4 day 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 of 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 20-minute video at TED: The Ignorance Project.

Quote I’m pondering —

Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping them up.” —Jesse Jackson 

What’s Happening —

*Mon., Apr. 15 - TAT with 2nd grade 8:00 *Monday Dress up day- Chick Day *Tuesday Dress up day- Bunny Day *Wed., Apr. 17 - Faculty Meeting w/Tami Curtis 8:00 am *Wednesday Dress up day- Egg Day *Wed., Apr. 17 - Fire Drill 2:15 pm *Thursday Dress up day- Pastel Day *Sat., Apr. 20-First day of National Park Week-Free Entrance *April 19-22 - Easter Break *April 15-18 - Lunch Workers: Cox

*Tues. April 23 - Character Ed/Steam - PLC Making Class Lists *Tues. April 24 - Character Ed/Steam - PLC Making Class Lists *Fri., Apr. 26 - No Fit Walk *Fri., Apr. 26 - Field Day 1st-2nd grades *Fri., Apr. 26 - Last School Store 10:00am *April 15-18 - Lunch Workers: Beraz and 2 from Sparks/Paxman

Favorite Article This Week —

Perfect Can Paralyze You

Progress, not perfection. That is what we are looking for, or should be, in ourselves and others. I love the last paragraph.

A Big Thank You —

Thank you Lunch PD group this last week. What a great discussion we had about vocabulary and what great things are happening in the classrooms and for discussing new ideas to use in the classroom. What an amazing opportunity Susan and Lesa have out together to have wonderful discussions. And discuss we did. I appreciate the thought that went into the articles and for coming prepared with what you learned and questions you had. The one constant that we have in education is that there is not enough time to get everything in. I sure appreciate all the time and effort you put into your students. Thank you for a wonderful discussion. 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.

The Curse of Knowledge

Teachers,

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

The Curse of Knowledge—

The Curse of Knowledge is that once we know something we find it hard to imagine not knowing it. Our knowledge has “cursed” us. We have difficulty sharing it with others because we can’t readily re-create their state of mind. We are not always able to put ourselves in their shoes when they do not understand what we already know. I taught that to you yesterday. You should know it today. My 16 yr. old son has this curse. He expects that because he knows something, everyone should know it and when we do not, he gets angry at us. As teachers, most of us were the perfect or semi-perfect student in our own education. We did what we were asked, tried to stay out of trouble, and got our work done. We loved school. If this is us, how do we relate to the students that are not perfect and do not do their work? We break the curse of knowledge by living up to the concrete language we say when we describe ourselves as teachers. “Every student can learn.” “We will do what it takes so every student will be successful.” Stories force us to use this concrete language. We tell stories about a student that has overcome something and was successful. We read stories that bring us hope and excite us to be more engaging or to teach the lesson that we could sell tickets to. Use these concrete lessons and stories that we share with others of why we are in this profession to remind us that students are worth our every moment. Students are tiring sometimes, but they all need something and you can give it to them. Concrete language of who we are and stories of why we do what we do brings success and defeats the curse of knowledge. Defeating the Curse of Knowledge helps make students more successful. 

Quote I’m pondering —

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. --Henry David Thoreau

What’s Happening This Week —

Mon., Apr. 1 - TAT with Kinder grade 8:00

Tue., Apr. 2 - PTA Meeting 12:15

Tue., Apr. 2 - Student Council Meeting 12:15

Wed., Apr. 3 - PLC 8:15 Library

Wed., Apr. 3 - 1st Grade Program 9:30 and 2:30

April 1-5 - Lunch Workers: Paxman and 2 from Ping/Cox

Mon., Apr. 8 - TAT with 1st grade 8:00

Tue., April 9 - PD Lunch

Wed., Apr. 10 - Faculty Meeting with Tami Curtis 8:00

April 8-12 - Lunch Workers: Fuchs and 2 from Tuitavuki/Beraz

April 19-22 - Easter Break

Favorite Article This Week —

Simple Tips for Boosting Teacher Resilience

We are at the time of year when testing is starting and we are feeling the pinch that the end of the school year is closing in. Here are a few ideas for being resilient. Do your best. Don’t wipe yourself out.

A Big Thank You —

Thank you Kellie, Michelle, Julie, and Jeff for all your help. Keeping us in line and helping Kim and I understand what we are doing. We appreciate all your patience with us as we get questions and are figuring out the new things we are doing. There is the principal of a school and then there are the people that run the school. The secretaries and custodian run the school. We are a testament of that statement. The school will keep running because the secretaries keep the schedule moving and everyone where they need to be. The custodian keeps the school moving and running smoothly. Thank you for your help. This school does not run without you. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work.

Building Stars

Teachers,

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

Building Stars —

I was at Death Valley NP during Spring Break. It is my family's yearly trek for a family reunion. The Rangers do talks about the park each night and on Saturday they did a Star Walk. They had a telescope showing 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 stars in a row in the Western Sky, and right below the belt is a haze. 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 from you, Bang, they turn into little stars. We are the Arrowhead Nebula taking the knowledge and creating little stars. As we get close to RISE 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, learning does. As long as we are keeping our students engaged and they are learning, they will become the stars we know they can become. 

Quote I’m pondering —

Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.
―Epicurus

What’s Happening This Week —

Mon., Mar. 25 - TAT with 5th grade 8:00

Mon., Mar. 25 - PLC Day Early Out 1:15

Mon., Mar. 25 - RISE Testing begins

Wed., Mar. 27 - PLC 8:15 Library

Fri., Mar. 29 - School Store

Fri., Mar. 29 - Team Leader Meeting 2:15

Mon., Apr. 1 - TAT with Kinder grade 8:00

Tue., Apr. 2 - PTA Meeting 12:15

Tue., Apr. 2 - Student Council Meeting 12:15

Wed., Apr. 3 - PLC 8:15 Library

Wed., Apr. 3 - 1st Grade Program 9:30 and 2:30

Favorite Article This Week —

Hattie’s 2017 Updated List of Factors Influencing Student Achievement

A reminder about what research says about what works and what does not work in the classroom. If it is not effective and high impact, we need to rethink what we are doing in the classroom.

A Big Thank You —

Thank you for another great week. I want to thank 3rd grade for the great discussion about technology during their PLC meeting. I have found that everyone has such a great attitude about Arrowhead and what we can do to help the students be more successful. I appreciate the work you do as teams. Thank you for all you do for students and the care for their success. Thank you for being amazing teachers. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work.

You Got This

Teachers,

5 Point Friday is a little email I like to do each week to share with you a few thoughts, a quote, an article or video, and the calendar items for the next few weeks. I hope you enjoy something in it. If there is something you would like to see more of as we go through the year, please let me know. If you don't enjoy it at least read the calendar. Have a wonderful day.

Teachers,

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

You Got This—

This was sent to me in an email this week and I thought I would share it with you.

“It's not where you are right now, it's where you want to go. It's where you plan to go. 

Where are you going to go? Do you know what you want to master?

Can you see yourself, deep in the process? Loving the process? Totally absorbed in the process?

There are a million distractions in the world right now. You could easily distract yourself from your dreams. But you know how it feels when you're in a state of avoidance. When you're just passively passing the time. That's not where you want to be.

Be active. Get focused. Shut-out the noise. 

99% of the world is distracted right now. They don't have a vision. They aren't absorbed in the process. They aren't pushing through powerful boundaries and going deeper and deeper into the flow.

This is a brilliant opportunity you have. Choose, based on your values and perspectives, which makes the most sense to master. 

Become the best version of yourself. Get clearer and clearer on what is most essential to you. Become more courageous and confident by blocking-out the non-essential. Complete those things you've been procrastinating.

You've got this. —Ben Hardy”

You are amazing teachers. You’ve got this. 

Quote I’m pondering —

Your vision of where or who you want to be is the greatest asset you have. Without having a goal it's difficult to score."- Paul Arden

What’s Happening —

Mar. 11-15 - Spring Break

Mar. 18 - 4th Grade TAT 8:00am

Mar. 19 - Choir 7:45am

Mar. 19 - BTAT

Mar. 19 - Principals Meeting

Mar. 19 - Spring Portraits

Mar. 19 - PLC-Character Ed./STEAM

Mar. 20 - Earthquake Drill 2:55pm

Mar. 20 - Faculty Meeting 8:15am

Mar. 20 - PLC-Character Ed./STEAM

Mar. 20 - Class Lists

Mar. 20 - Music

Mar. 21 - Choir 7:45am

Mar. 21 - Music, PE

Mar. 21 - K-PLC 11:50am

Mar. 21 - K-2 Digital Training 9:00am

Mar. 22 - Meet The Masters 8:15am

Favorite Video This Week —

Compasses Mejor Conjunto Festival

I always thought the maracas were a toy for kids. Not with this maraca player. He is mesmerizing. If you only watch 30 seconds, start at the 2:00 mark and watch him. This reminds me that the littlest items can actually make the biggest difference. And a lot of practice.

A Big Thank You —

Thank you for helping Kim and I this week. It was a whirlwind of new schedules and new school layout and just a lot new. We appreciate you helping us and being patient. There are so many amazing things going on here at Arrowhead. I am so excited to be a part of it. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work.

Holy Freak

Teachers,

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

Holy Freak—

I can prepare for change all I want, but when it shows up it is always a little scary. I have been so privileged to work with you over the last couple of years. I have seen improvement in myself as well as everyone here at Dixie Sun. Everything you have done to keep this school going has shown me the love you have for the students at Dixie Sun and your love for teaching.  I just want to say Thank you for all you have done for me. I think I have come away learning more than I could ever have taught you. Change comes and goes throughout our lives and no matter what changes it is, we seem to make it work and keep on moving. There is so much for each of us to learn in this life. Without change, we would not learn as much as we should. I really appreciate you. Each one of you. Thank you.

Quote I’m pondering —

Worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles, it takes away today's peace. -- Anonymous

What’s Happening Next Week —

Monday, Feb 25-March 1 - SEP conferences. Out at 12:15. Please make sure you have report cards finished and printed. Kim will have a letter for you. Let Heather know about your IEP students. 

Monday, Feb 25-March 1 - Dr. Seuss Week. You ready for a play on Friday?

Monday, Feb 25-26 - No Kindergarten

Friday, March 1 - Dr. Seuss Assembly

Friday, March 1 - 2:15pm Utah Food Bank

Friday, March 1 - Spell a thin Money Due

March 11-15 - Spring Break

Favorite Video This Week —

KitBull

Even if we feel like we are beaten down and on our last straw, there is always someone we can help or befriend. Be the kitty. 

A Big Thank You —

Thank you for all you have done. You all make a huge difference in every student’s life. We have made huge Gains in reading so far. Keep up the amazing teaching you are doing. It is getting close to Spring break. After the testing starts. Don’t give up. Keep your class moving until the last week of school. Be positive and loving. The students will keep it together as long as you do. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work. One last word. Relationships.

The Sweet Ones

Teachers,

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

The Sweet Ones —

What can we do with mild behaviors that are interrupting the classroom? Is there a magic bullet for these children that do not seem to want to be in school? Why is it happening to me? I remember having those thoughts as I worked with students in my classroom. My classroom, like all classrooms was not perfect. I had one student that would start throwing things and swearing as he was yelling the classroom. It was a nightmare. No trigger. Part of his behavior. He could have harmed many students as he lashed out. I saw him this last year and he was calm and told him he has worked hard to keep himself under control. It was great to see him. I also had a student a few years back that used to steal and pick on other kids. His siblings did the same and they roamed around causing havoc in the city. I had a chance to keep him with me for 2 years and I did. I would talk with him frequently about his behavior and how he could break out of it. I talked with him a couple years ago. His siblings are not doing well. He, on the other hand, was in the nursing program at Dixie State and doing well. Relationships don’t cure everything, but a couple minutes with each student talking about them and reminding them how to act is important to them and can go a long way in their development. I know, but what can you do for me right now! I want to put together a class during lunch to teach students how to act. Some students have never been taught. They have not had the role models or the exposure to how to act and they are flying by the seat of their pants. Right now you can retrain your class as often as you need it. If that means you need to retrain every Monday for 30 minutes. Do it. We have academics to get through, but if the majority of the class is not doing what they need to, then retrain. And hold them to it. Some classes are tough and tire us out every day for 180 days. Sometimes it is just a few kids that need reminders and retraining. Phone calls home for good and bad, more good when possible, can help. A weekly meeting with parents to let them know how it is going can help. I wish there was one answer, but I will help find answers and work with each student that needs it. I will do more to help. Don’t give up on any of these children. They need each one of us. 

Quote I’m pondering —

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
—Dr. Seuss

What’s Happening This Week —

Starting Monday - WIDA

Tues., Feb. 5 - Faculty Meeting With Tami Curtis at 2:30

Tues., Feb. 5 - LavaRidge Tour for 5th Grade 12-2

Fri., Feb. 8 - Safety Patrol Breakfast

Favorite Video This Week —

Can Flip Phones end our Social Media Addiction?

This is a great Ted Talk about social media and phones. The speaker will be speaking in town on February 21 about social media. This is a great talk. 

A Big Thank You —

Thank you Julie Wood for all you do in the Family Center. We have had these wonderful people from the Foodbank leave a few extra items and you have given them out to those that need them. You make everyone that comes to the family center feel like you are their best friend. You have made the Family Center an important part of our community and you need to know that we are grateful for all your work. Thank you for all you do for the community and for our families. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work.

P.S. I apologize this came out late. I thought I had it going out this morning, but I accidentally set it for tomorrow. I just caught it as I was checking my email. Sorry. Have a wonderful weekend.