February 19, 2016

What I noticed in the first 30 minutes of a Wednesday morning....

Chapter book discussion

Parents read to kindergartners

Teachers listen to readers

Big Sisters read to kindergartners

First Grader Genevieve reads to kindergartner

Another big sister reading in kindergarten

How to choose from all the book choices?

Conferencing with students as they finish a good read

Recording thinking while reading

“We read to know we're not alone.”

― William Nicholson, Shadowlands

Get ready to jot these down...

For your reading/listening pleasure, here's what staff is recommending:

Kenny:

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children 

-Harry Potter meets the X-Files. 

Tacopedia: The History of Tacos

The End of Average: How we Succeed in World that values Sameness; 

Todd Rose 

Podcast: Moth Story Telling, Serial

Melani:

I have enjoyed the "Kate Burkholder" series by Linda Castillo. It is a mystery series set in Amish country. Kate Burkholder, a strong female lead character, is the sheriff in the small Amish community of Painter's Mill. Kate grew up as Amish then left the community due to a tragic situation. Her Amish background and censure from the community serve as a double-edged sword as she solves crime in her capacity of sheriff.

I also enjoy any book written by Lisa Scottoline. The lastest Scottoline book I read is entitled Keep Quiet. I found it to be a page turner. Many of the books by these two authors can be downloaded an an ebook from the Douglas County Library System. 

Melissa:

I am reading "I Will Never Be French (No Matter How Hard I Try)" right now. It's a fun account of the author's experience moving to Brittany for a summer and eventually buying a home there.  It's a light read, but perfect if anyone is escaping to a beach this Spring Break! It's an adult read as there is some language.

As far as podcasts, I enjoy "The Simple Sophisticate." The focus varies from life skills to pop culture to goal setting. The woman who does the podcast is a high school teacher in Bend, Oregon.

Both of these recommendations are purely for enjoyment...not much deep thinking going on!

Andrea:

I'm enjoying "JFK and the Unspeakable; Why He Died and Why It Matters" by James Douglass. By no means is it a 'fun', relaxing read but it is very interesting (and scary).

Brooks:

My landlord insists I read "Flourish" by Martin Seligman.  We had been talking about Renaissance and mindset (and building social skills); he got really excited and loaned me a copy of this book to read.  I hope to get around to it this Spring.

Brittany:

Books:

 - Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (YA)

 -  The Martian by Andy Weir (adult)

 - Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (adult)

Podcast:

 - Pop Culture Happy Hour

Jenni Carlson:

I read, almost a year ago, "Leaving Time" by Jodi Picoult, which is an adult fiction novel. It was a different style for her writing but I loved the story line and the main character's journey. I think I may have even told you about this book during my interview :-)

I still refer this book for anybody who asks for a good recommendation!

Suzi:

Game of Thrones by George Martin-Adult

I figured telling you what I was currently reading was the easiest way to answer this question.  It is too hard to pick out my favorites.  

Deborah:

C.J .Box- The Joe Pickett Series 

If you are a Lee Child fan, you'll likely enjoy these. There are over 15 in the series and all set in Wyoming. My father recommended them to me, and I have to admit that the first book was just okay. The rest are MUCH better. You wouldn't have to read them in order, but they do follow a sequence.

Podcast: Happiness Project

Lauren:

A Walk in the Woods (Bill Bryson)- hilarious account of two men walking the Appalachian Trail

The Other Boylen Girl (Phillipa Gregory)- historical novel of some of the wives of King Henry VIII

Podcast:

From Curious to Discovery (NPR Ted Radio Hour)-- Adam Savage is my favorite speaker

http://www.npr.org/programs/ted-radio-hour/342134398/from-curiosity-to-discovery

Behind the scenes...

Winter Voyages heading out - 

Preparing the meds

That was easy?

There's something so right about the way the hallways were looking -
So us - right?!

Dana organizing the troops

 Calendar

February 22 - 26:

Monday, 22nd:
* Visitors from Innovation and Safety Summit members
* 3rd Graders leave on their Winter Voyage
Tuesday, 23rd:
* RTI 7:30 a.m.
Wednesday, 24th:
The Beat
* Discovery 2/3 and Discovery 4th leave on their Winter Voyage
*PD 1:30 - Protocols for Instruction
* 4:00 Anxiety Training Class in library
Thursday, 25th:
* First Grade leaves on their Winter Voyage (day trip)
* 9 - 10:30 Cindy (school director) makes a school visit
* Renaissance Secondary School Info meeting 6:30 pm in the gym




February 29- March 4:
Monday, 29th:
* REA/SAC meeting 5:30 p.m. (rescheduled)
Tuesday, 1st:
* RTI 7:30 a.m.
Wednesday, 2nd:
* PD: Defining the criteria for Showcase of Learning Presentation
* 4:00 Anxiety Training Class with Allison
Thursday, 3rd:
* Deborah out of the building PK12 admin. meeting
* Kim's Crew - fieldwork to Snow Mountain Ranch
Friday, 4th
*CERT training 9-11
(Deborah, Andrea, Eric, Debbie, Jodie,Elisha out of the building)

Featured Spaces

If you haven't seen this on our website, take a look!

On the home landing page, you'll also see that we've added a tab for our mission statement and our Professional Development.

Thank you Melissa for the work on our website!

Learning Spaces: updates to our web site

One short week ago we were gathered together to learn.

Feedback responses to PD

Have a great weekend!

Deborah

February 5, 2016

Mission Statement On the Move

The Building Leadership Team (BLT) is meeting this Friday. The team needs to continue to develop our building plan, monitor our growth and consider implications for next year. The team will also develop the agenda for our Professional Development for the coming Friday. We'll send that agenda along to you afterward.

In addition, the team needs to make decisions about a model for a school-wide balanced assessment system. We need to identify those tools we will use to monitor growth of our students and how we are doing as a school. This work will all revolve around the desired state we identified for our school, so that we can deliver on our mission statement. 

Each of you do a great job providing students with feedback about how they are doing and what is the next step for the student. We share that information with parents in presentations, student-led conferences and Showcase of Learning (Portfolios).  Our next important step is to be able to share with our community how we are doing as an entire school. How can we tell our story with our community?

Parents talk. Neighbors talk. When our parents are out and about and interacting with the public, they talk about their kids, and they talk about their school. I know our parents want to brag. They are happy with our school. And beyond the State 'report card', what information is available to them to share about the success and growth of their school?

Currently, they talk about the 'cool stuff' their kids are doing and experiencing. That's why making the learning visible is so important for them, and to them. I think we can do more. We have a very fine tuned mission statement. (Hee, hee) Now, how do we know we are making it happen? How can we figure that out and then share our success and share our next steps?

As always, share your thoughts with a representative of the Building Leadership Team, send me an email, stop and chat...we are our own best resource!

However far we get as a team, we'll be sharing our discoveries and first iteration with all of you.

If you couldn't see it with your own eyes, 

how could you share it so others would know?

How could you be credible?

How do you know when something is 'good'?

When I think about how daunting the work is for the Leadership Team, I am humbled by a visit to watch Chelsea at work creating The Beat from scratch each time. Look at all those students who have input and have such a short amount of time to put it all together! Wow!
Yeah,  Chelsea and Melissa!!

Sweet little kindergartners in Lauren's room doing a mystery piece- jumping in to their new Learning Expedition. Look at those sweet little tables!

How cool is this Lauren! A mystery piece using technology and the kids recording what they are noticing and wondering. Look how far they've come since August! Woo hoo!
Yeah, Lauren!

I had to snap a picture of this student in Billie's Crew. Talk about a digital native! Three devices in action and...a comfy cushion! Hmm...that doesn't look like a traditional student desk?

This is a poor photo - it didn't capture the high seating that Billie
has purchased and kids are loving in her classroom.
So many of you have moved forward with creative learning spaces - be sure to get
around and check out all the cool spaces!
Yeah, Billie!

Calendar:

February 8 - 12th:

Monday, 8th:
Discovery 5th leaves on Winter Voyage
PLC grade level meetings with the Assessment Team


Tuesday, 9th:
RTI 7:30 a.m.

Wednesday, 10th:
The Beat
PD: 1:30 Library - Instructional Protocol Study

Thursday, 11th:
2nd Grade Fieldwork to Wildlife Center
Deborah out of the building for Elementary Admin. mtg.

Friday, 12th:
No Students
Professional Development for Teachers - 8:30 in the library


February 15 - 19th:

Monday, 15th:
No School

Tuesday, 16th:
RTI 7:30 a.m.
Grade level teams meet with Deborah -
* CITE 6 baseline data entry
* Setting the template for EPR
REA meeting 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, 17th:
2nd Grade and 4th Grade leave on Winter Voyage
PD: 1:30 Library - Instructional Protocol Study

4:00: Professional Development opportunity
focused on managing anxiety in children -offered by Allison

Thursday, 18th:
Love and Logic 4:30 p.m.

When I popped into Melani's room, she was co-teaching with Sharon Combs, DCSD Instructional Technology Designer. Melani and Kim meet with her once a week as part of a pilot program to teach children coding and computer science. Last semester students learned to code and used their skills to program small robots called Probots. This semester the students are engaged in a Storytelling Unit. They will use coding to animate their original stories.
Yeah, Melani and Kim!

The Art of Teaching
One teacher - six kids
A million decisions to make in a nano second.
The Noticing Teacher.
Mary Beth, making every second count.
Yeah, Mary Beth

Sara making the hallway work for some guided support.
Comfy, happy, engaged learners.
Yeah, Sara!

I had to use willpower not to grab a book off of Jen's bookshelves and plop down on one of those pillows in the meeting area. Jen cracks me up with her apron for teaching.
It must me a messy job!
Look at the walls! Full of student thinking.
Yeah Jen!

The count down has begun for Pam. Life Is Art, with the Artist's Edition is fast approaching!
I can hardly manage my two grandchildren painting with watercolors without feeling frazzled by the time we are done. How do you support and keep up with all these budding artists Pam?
Truly inspiring and amazing!
Yeah, Pam!

Our lucky, lucky kids - to experience such an authentic experience
and discovery so much about themselves and the world around them.

I love our school.

Have a great weekend!

Deborah