November 18, 2011

November 18, 2011



Professional Development: Challenge By Choice

Have you ever 'thought' you made yourself clear to your students, only to find that the message wasn't clear? 

I 'thought' I had prefaced our professional development at the beginning of the year with the message that we would focus our efforts, for the first semester, around expanding our knowledge of digital tools - with the understanding that each of us needs to decide what makes sense for our time on Wednesday afternoon. The tech team creating the professional development has been communicating ahead of time what the focus of our professional development plans will be. This allows you to make a decision on whether you will join the group or not.

Collectively, we did (and will continue) to grow in our understandings of how to use these digital tools as tools FOR learning. We also recognized that everyone has a different level of knowledge as they enter into this learning. (Hmmm.. sounds like differentiation). 

If you have reached a point of saturation, where you need to fall back and take the time to APPLY what you have learned, then you make that decision. If you want to continue to attend so that you can have a broader overview of what is available or ready to learn a new chunk, then it might make sense to attend. If you are already up and running and need this time for Backwards Planning, genre work, etc. then you should do that.

In any case, I would ask that you reflect on your personal learning experience from these training sessions. 

What did you learn about yourself as a learner?

How does what you experienced transfer to your classroom and how you think about your learners?

How has it influenced the way you think about effective differentiation?

How has it influenced your thinking about reaching learning targets?

(You might consider posting your thoughts on Edmodo)

I've have personally experienced, just recently, having to put the brakes on the layers of my own, new learning and stop. Too much new information doesn't transfer to application. I need time to get comfortable and flexible with the new learning before I'm ready for more. I feel empowered to have the control.

Does this mean I shift into cruise? No way! I'm excited to apply what I've learned!

As I pondered my own learning I was reminded of 'Challenge By Choice'. We don't have a choice about whether we will challenge ourselves, but we do need to scaffold the challenge so that the outcome is success and empowerment!

The goal this year is to differentiate our professional development. We're learning how to do that. You need to know that it is desired and appropriate for you to be leading the choices and outcomes of your professional development.


Let's consider what this professional development has supported us with:
* Collaboration
* Opportunities for teachers to take leadership roles
* Sharing our discoveries and uses for digital tools
* Spending time together
* Pushing ourselves (look how far we've come!)
* Implementing our learning
* Unpacking the mysteries 
* Facing fears and doing it anyway
* Moving toward a new model of teaching and learning
* Identifying supports and colleagues within our building
* An 'eye' into other classrooms within our school
* Peer observations
* Cutting edge educators!

Calendar

Week of November 21 - 22nd (short week):

Tuesday, 22nd:

* RTI meeting 7:15 a.m.

Wednesday - Friday: 

* Celebrate with friends and family!

Week of November 28 - December 2nd:

Tuesday, 29th:

* RTI meeting 7:15 a.m.

Wednesday, 30th:

* All School Meeting

* Professional Development: Digital Tools

Thursday, 1st:

*2/3 Discovery Field Work: Denver Art Museum

Friday, 2nd:

*1st grade Field Work: Chinese Restaurant

Student Led Conferences

There have been a few questions around Student-Led Conferences and progress reports.  Julie opened the window so you can get to the EPR's (progress reports) early so those of you looking for an earlier opportunity to get started can get rolling. Thanks Julie!

You have two weeks to work with for scheduling your conferences. The goal isn't to stretch it out over two weeks, rather, to have some flexibility to meet your needs and schedule. You have both Wednesday afternoons during those weeks with which to use as suits your needs. I highly encourage you to save one for planning, etc.

If you have questions about filling out the EPR, please visit with myself or Noreene. If you are giving any student a score less than a 2, which would indicate that the student is making satisfactory progress toward the end goal, you should be talking to parents PRIOR to them seeing a score of 1 on the progress report. The progress report should not contain any surprises.

Sharing


Noreene's 5 Poems:

My Journey with Twitter in 5 poems--with a tip of the hat to Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and Shea Bennett who wrote “The 5 Stages of Getting Twitter”

Denial

don’t wanna

don’t hafta

couldn’t run away fasta

Twitter has nothing for me

don’t wanna

don’t hafta

couldn’t run away fasta

I don’t care if twitter is free

Anger

Twitter, twitter, twitter

why should I care what people are having for breakfast

why should I care what’s new on TV

why should I care that you’ve arrived at the bank

and why do you send such nonsense to me?

twitter...twitter....twitter....and, anyway...it’s a dumb name

Bargaining

OK, my friends are on twitter

My boss is on twitter

I’ll sign up ‘cuz twitter is free

My friends are on twitter

My boss is on twitter

I’ll try it so they can tweet me

Depression

I’m sad, feel bad

Twitter isn’t for me

There is nothing to do, nothing to see

And

Why are these people following me?

PS What is a hashtag anyway?

Acceptance

Not there yet

Not ready to say

I get it!

I will have to say, chats are a way

To participate

I will have to say, chats are a way

To build a PLN

I will have to say; maybe I’m one tweet away

From building a world I fit in

Apple Award Nomination

Deadline approaching fast!

Window to nominate closes November 23rd

http://schools.dcsdk12.org/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=205102&

Love and Logic

9 Essential Skills: Skill Number Seven

Using Choices to Prevent Power Struggles

Guidelines for giving lots of little choices

1. Never give a choice on an issue that might cause a problem for you or for anyone else..

2. For each choice, give only two options, each of which will be okay with you.

3. If the child doesn't decide in ten seconds, decide for him or her.

4. Only give choices that fit with your value system.

Some Examples of Little Choices
1. "Should this paper be due on Wednesday or Thursday?"

2. "Feel free to do the first half of this assignment of the second half."

(Be sure to give an assignment that is twice as long as you want.)

3. "Feel free to do this in pen or pencil."
4. "Would you like recess on time or late?"

5. "Can you stay with us and stop that, or do you need to leave for awhile and come back when you are calm?"

6. "Feel free to choose where you sit as long as it doesn't cause a problem for anyone else."

Backwards Planning

What is it?
* Planning Process that focuses on assessment first and activities last.


Planning developed in three stages:
1. Desired Outcomes
- focus on most important content and skills (depth not breadth)


2. Authentic Evidence
- Appropriate assessments that determine a students understanding of the concept
- Provides students with specific feedback on skill development
- Skills and content assessed together


3. Learning Activities
- Sustainable learning the sticks/students understand, evaluate and create
- Students are frequently doing work that requires them to evaluate and create
- Teachers are partners and coaches


Backward Design in classroom: What to look for...
* The goal is evident - ideas and questions drive toward the goal
* Evidence of the Big Idea/Questions
*Clear connection to the Four C's (collaboration, communication, creativity and critical thinking)
*Formative assessments fill gaps and drive instruction
*Students are asking questions/articulating understandings
*Students are engaged
*Everyone knows the purpose/goal
*Students and teachers reflect on learning and depth of understanding - adjustments are made as necessary/more questions are asked


How are your PLC's going? We are focused on using Backwards Planning as we work through our genre units of study in writing. Please remember to post your progress/thoughts/questions/reflections on Edmodo. You should be posting at least every two weeks.
(Scheduling this will help)
Our work on our genre units is our Unified Improvement Plan goal. Our goal is to articulate expectations of student writing at each grade level within genre studies.

Featured Folks

Authored by Josh Smiles

Deborah asked me to write about myself and I began to wonder…where to begin, where to end and what do my colleagues want to know about me?  I am still not sure, but I decided I would throw a few links up here and you can look and listen to as much as you want.

Most people know that I just returned from 2-years two years teaching in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.  I really enjoyed my time there and I miss parts of my lifestyle, as well as my friends.  I miss the vacation options and cost of living, but in no way doubt my decision to come to Colorado.  My images from this last trip to Asia can be viewed at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vnsmiles/sets

I did show and sell my work in a handful of backpacker bars and restaurants.  If you want a glimpse into my classroom from last year you can see it here: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXmiLE_sFuE

Before I was in Asia, I was living in Portland, Oregon.  I moved there after four years of living in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  I was substitute teaching in Jackson when I decided to move to Portland to attend Lewis and Clark College and get my MA and teaching certificate.  While I was there, I began selling photo greeting cards and other types of photography.  Those images can be found at:
www.flickr.com/photos/sasmiles/sets

  

You might also notice a travel set within this webpage.  I spent my first year out of grad school teaching in Taiwan and then two years later found myself banging around South America.  I did do some teaching and studying, but the most rewarding thing I got involved with was volunteering with a disaster response organization in Pisco, Peru.  My heart is still there.

Aside from photography I also spend a fair bit of time playing music.  I used to play percussion in some bands but now I generally just strum my guitar - on my couch or outside alone.  I recently put some of the songs I recorded up on a site and it can be accessed at:
http://www.reverbnation.com/user/login#!/joshsmilesaudacityproject

In addition to photography, music, and travel, my passions lie in the outdoors.  I have been riding over at Ridgeline Open Space many days after school on my mountain bike.  I love the “flow” of the turns on those trails and watching the sun go down over there. But after last weekend’s time change, the sun seems to be down before I can even blink and I must now change my focus.  I have three day of skiing and snowboarding under my belt so far this year and after two plus years away, it feels great to be playing in the mountain snow again.

There are a number of reasons I choose to come back to the US and more so, to Colorado.  First, REMS seemed like the kind of place where I would fit and be valued.  I hope to drop some roots here and stick around for a while. I really enjoy my students and I appreciate both the support and flexibility this school provides me.  I recognize how unique a place it really is.

I also came for family. My little brother lives here in Denver and he has two little boys that are pretty adorable.  The final reason I returned has mostly to do with quality of life.  I came for the live music scene I heard so much about, for the sunshine, and for the chance to play outside in the mountains.  My introduction to Colorado has been all positive and I look forward to many more adventures in the future.

My crew’s photos can be found at:
http://jsmilescrew201112.shutterfly.com/

 and my blog is: http://unopenedfern.wordpress.com/

And I guess that is me, at the moment at least.  Thanks for reading and have a great weekend J

Focused Feedback:

I started by asking kids questions about what they were learning and why it's important to them. I'll do that next week too. I'm also going to start asking staff questions about what works for them and I'll post the answers.

Here's what one student told me...

Peek Into the Life of our School:

Brittney's students are so involved she can just take a coffee break!

And here's what her student had to say about that...

Board meeting of Chief Executive Officers

The joys of teaching!

Partners in learning

Diana could sell ice to Eskimos!
Awesome Book Fair!!!

Thanksgiving...

Next week we'll depart on Tuesday afternoon and shift our focus to our families and friends as we gather together in the spirit of thanksgiving. As I look forward to that special time I am also reflecting and giving thanks for our school community. How fortunate I feel to to be working and learning with such a passionate, dedicated and talented community of educators. The hardest thing about what we do is that it matters every single day. We give it all we have and are never satisfied. We should all pause and be thankful: we make a difference to students and each other every single day. To each of you, I say, "Thank you. You are exceptional. I am honored to be with you."

November 11, 2011

Friday Flash, November 11, 2011




Calendar

Week of November 14 - 18th:

* Book Fair Week!

Tuesday, 15th:

* RTI meeting 7:15 a.m.

*Thanksgiving Lunch with family visitors

* Book Fair Family Night: 4:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday, 16th:

* Professional Development 1:30 p.m.

Week of November 21 - 22nd (short week):

Tuesday, 22nd:

* RTI meeting 7:15 a.m.

Wednesday - Friday: 

* Celebrate with friends and family!

Nice to Know

Our REA (Renaissance Educational Alliance aka: PTO) is undergoing some organizational changes. The name will also be changed to R PTO. Our old label was just too confusing for folks. I'll let you know what the organizational changes are as the work is done. There is an evening work session and an all day work session on Saturday, November 19th. Big commitment of time for our parents in leadership roles.

In addition, the fundraising committee is hard at work organizing our spring fundraiser: Life Is Art. We need to decide what our financial needs are as a school. Please provide your input to me as we are thinking about that. Likely, budget reductions will impact decisions about where our funds are needed. In the meantime, we are looking at aspiring to have a cart of computers or Ipads in every classroom (lofty goal!). To do so, we are going to have to help our community know how we use digital tools FOR learning. Our parents didn't grow up with digital tools as learners and are unclear about how we are doing that. It would be so helpful if you would highlight and think about ways you can 'show' this through your blog to parents. More about that when we have our professional development together. We can share how we are doing that on Edmodo!

As you know, Marci needed to reduce her time at Renaissance this year. The special education department is supplementing our needs by providing an educational assistant. We have hired Wendy Maier and she will start November 21st. More about Wendy next week!

Love and Logic

9 Essential Skills: Skill #6

Setting Limits With Enforceable Statements

Limits are set when the adult says:

"This is how I'm going to run my own life."

for example: "I'll be listening to those who raise their hands."

Limits are enforced when the adult does not engage in arguments about the limits.

For example: "So when will I be glad to listen to you?"

                        " Thanks."

Ineffective Technique                                                    Love & Logic Technique

Please be quiet. It's time to begin.                              I'll be glad to start as soon as you show 

                                                                                           me that you are ready.

Don't sharpen your pencil while I'm talking.            I allow people to sharpen pencils when

                                                                                          I am not giving directions.

Keep your hands to yourself.                                      Feel free to stay with us when you can

                                                                                          keep your hands to yourself.

Featured Folks

Authored by Lauren Gunn

Andy and I out exploring fall colors

Here are some things about me: I grew up in a small ski-resort town in the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. At the University of California, Irvine, I double majored in Women’s Studies and Global Cultures (with an emphasis in Hispanic/Latino cultures) and minored in Education. I studied abroad in Granada, Spain for a summer, and someday I hope to become fluent in Spanish.

My family is something I value most. I have a close relationship with my parents, two brothers, and extended family. I married my best friend and high school sweetheart. Andy is my more adventurous half, who has inspired me to be a risk-taker, dirt bike rider, and enjoy the adrenaline of skydiving. His latest endeavor has been building and competing in a grassroots racecar series, and so now I am the proud wife of a racecar driver. Together, we enjoy the outdoors, spending time with our two cats and two dogs, and trying new things.

Music has been an inspiration throughout my life. With my mother being a skilled pianist, I grew up singing alongside the piano. The broadways musicals of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Rodgers & Hammerstein continue to be my favorites. I have taken vocal lessons in high school and college to support my love of musical theater and choir. How special that my mother had a piano in her first grade classroom and I enjoy the same privilege!

Working at Renaissance has been a true blessing and journey of growth. I came to Renaissance, working as a kindergarten educational assistant. I was so inspired that it prompted me to get my teaching license and master’s in education at the University of Denver. It has been a dream to return to Renaissance and work alongside such an incredible staff with the common vision and passion for education, first in fifth grade and now in third grade. As a life-long learner, I am never content and always striving for better.

In my free time, I love to read, take pictures, scrapbook, do yoga, hike, camp, and explore Colorado. I have never been so touched as I was participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. I plan to climb my first 14ner next summer. I don’t like to eat pickles or fish. I love the quote “To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.” Lastly, I hope that I can inspire a future generation of learners.

One of my favorite captures as a photographer

Authored by Marci Murray - 

I was born in Wheatridge, Co. and grew up in Golden, as did my parents…and their parents ~ I am a true Pioneer (and even qualify for the license plate)!  Matt (my amazing husband of 23 years) and I have been blessed with an awesome family.  We fostered over 40 beautiful children and have five children of our own.  We are close to being empty nesters and have Kiana and Morgan, both 17, at home.  Our oldest son, Josh, lives in Denver. Jessica married a year ago and lives in Laramie, Wyoming with her husband where they attend the University of Wyoming.  Our youngest son, Jeremiah, is in his second year at the Colorado School of Mines.  Home is 40 acres 12 miles south of the tiny little ‘town’ of Strasburg.  I wake up to and beautiful views and fresh clean air…oh, and 2 cats, 3 dogs, and an ever-changing number of chickens! 

I always knew (well, after a fleeting dream of becoming a truck driver) that I either wanted to become a teacher or a nurse.  With three little ones to care for, we decided that the shift work that came along with being a nurse would not mesh well with family life.  So, I began taking classes, one at a time, to earn my degree.  I have a BS in Behavioral Science from Metro, and my M. Ed. in Education from Regis.  My doctorate(s) continue to be a work in progress, however, I’m not sure I will continue on that journey.  That door remains open…Teaching is my passion and I have been living that passion for 10 years now (this is my 5^th year at REMS).  I am constantly in awe of the wisdom of children and often wish I could see things through their eyes!  Teaching continues to bring me joy, and even with all its challenges, there is always something to smile about at the end of the day!

When I’m not teaching I love to travel.  Matt and I spent three weeks in Nicaragua this summer and fell in love with the people.  We hope to go back soon! 

When I am not on the go I love to take pictures, read, garden (a new endeavor), hike, and fly-fish! 

Peek Into the Life of our School

Community of learners!
It sure was evident by the posts on our Edmodo site that learning together is powerful!

Thanks for making the effort to use Edmodo while we see if it is a tool that will prove to be meaningful. I know with my own experience, initially, I have to be very intentional about the tool, and then it gets easy!

Thank you to all the teacher leaders who have been sharing and presenting!

Some learners prefer quiet spots...

others like to sit in groups.

All School Meeting:
A Ritual that builds community,
builds leadership,
and matters to kids.

Neil, you did a great job preparing your crew to lead the meeting!

Grooving to the music at All School Meeting

All School Meeting...a fun place to be!

During my lunch with kids on Wednesday, once again they shared resounding enthusiasm for our All School Meetings. They love it! It warms me to my toes to see our students embracing the leadership role of facilitating our meetings and coming together as a whole school crew.  The kids told me that one of their favorite parts of All School Meeting is the sharing component. They love to see what other crews are learning in their classrooms. Think about what you have going on and be sure to network with the crew leading ASM to fill the 'sharing' slot.

Diana...your passion is contagious!
Everyone is excited about the Book Fair!

Challenge by choice

Doug finds ways to add challenge to the climb for kids...
climb blindfolded!

Happy Parent Volunteers -
They know they are Crew!

Thought to Ponder



I got this excerpt from the Two Writing Teachers Blog
http://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/
(Jill suggested it in her Edmodo post)

“Find a need and fill it.”

— Henry J. Kaiser

At the end of the day I want to believe if  I found needs and filled them, then the day was a success. Then I start thinking about all of the needs I found, but didn’t fill and I feel, well, I feel inadequate. If I think a little more, then I realize there were needs I didn’t even notice. The ones I was too busy to take in, and I feel disappointed.

What I’m learning and what I’m trying to accept is my little is enough. Right now there are high demands on teachers and quite often, at the end of the day, we can leave school wondering if what we are doing is enough. We can wonder if this is really how we should spend our time day in and day out. Despite all of the chaos I believe it is. Our little makes a difference. When I place my little next to yours and next to his and next to hers, it makes a difference. We make a difference together. As a team. Working toward a goal of changing lives through teaching writers. Just fill one need and know you make a difference.

As we let our own light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love

Have a great weekend!

November 4, 2011

Friday Flash, November 4, 2011

Saphier (2005), an educational researcher makes this comment; "Educators who believe in effort-based ability believe that all students can do rigorous academic work at high standards, even if they are far behind academically and need a significant amount of time to catch up. Educators who carry this belief into practice are not unrealistic about the obstacles they and their students face. They simply have not given up. And we know for sure that they will get results if they translate this belief into appropriate practice. "

Part of what makes Renaissance great is the fact that our teachers believe in our students and will go the extra mile to ensure success for all learners. At Renaissance, our teachers communicate on a daily basis that being smart is "something you can get" and not simply something with which you are born. In schools at which the faculty values effort-based ability, teachers constantly remind students of three crucial messages (Saphier, 2005):

1. "This is important."

2. "You can do it."

3. "I will not give up on you."

If we consistently send these messages to students regarding our belief in them - even our most at risk - will begin to believe in themselves and become motivated. Why? Because someone cares about them...someone wants them to succeed...they know what to work on in order to do well...they know what good work looks like and where their current performance is in relation to it..they know how to exert effort...they believe it would be worthwhile to do well...and they believe they are able to do well.

Not giving up on our students is one of the many ways we teach with passion at Renaissance.

Calendar:  

 Remember to add to your personal calendars:
*  Weekly grade level PLC
*  Post to Edmodo your progress/thinking/discoveries/wonderings/aha moments from your PLC (and/or other work)....
*  Weekly check-in to Edmodo to read what others have shared/make comments
(Edmodo references will makes sense after our Professional Development session on Friday)

Week of November 7 - 11th:


Tuesday, Nov. 8th:
* Woodland Park School District visiting Renaissance


Wednesday, Nov. 9:
* All School Meeting
* PD 1:30 pm


Thursday, Nov. 10th:
* 6th grade fieldwork to Keystone Science School (Thursday and Friday)


Friday, Nov. 11th:
* Book Fair begins


Week of November 14 - 18th:




Wednesday, November 16th: 
* Professional Development 1:30 p.m.


Nothing yet....




Note:  Student Led Conferences are scheduled in a block of two different weeks:
 *  December  5- 9th and December 12 - 16th. .
You decide which week you want to use for your conferences.  
*  The Elementary Progress Report (EPR's) window will open November 28th
 *  EPR reports are due Thursday, December 15th 
*  Parents will be able to see the reports on Friday, Dec.16th
This means, parents will not have seen the reports before they come to student led conferences. Please visit with Noreene or myself with questions or concerns.

Housekeeping:

The drone of the front door buzzer....

If parents are coming early to school to assist you with anything (for example the breakfast parties this  past Monday) please let the office know so we can unlock the back door. THEN, please direct parents arriving early to enter through the back door, just as is the process we are asking them to pick up kiddos involved in enrichment after school.

Having parents buzzing the front door is impossible for our very few front office staff. They can't get anything done AND we often don't have anyone in the office on duty to buzz the door open. Thanks in advance for helping!

Twitter Chats:

Here is the link to the archive of Sunday night's title talk. I watched and tried to keep up! The focus was on read aloud's and thought you might enjoy reading the archived conversation. You'll see posts by Jill and Mary Sue.

What are your favorite Read Alouds?

http://titletalk.wikispaces.com/October+30,+2011

Featured Folks:

Authored by Bill Brown

Stuff I love doing:

Spending time with my best friend (aka my wife, Jodi), my favorite two year-old (aka my son, Landon), and my extended family; learning; teaching; reading; writing; running; hiking; biking; drawing; playing games (like Mastermind, Scrabble, darts, etc); going to church; Bible study/teaching; praying; building stuff (like models); thinking/debating weighty issues (no, really); listening to music (especially classical, jazz, and seventies/eighties rock); checking out old cars, especially from the 30’s, 40’s, and 60’s. (Speaking of old cars, the car I wish I’d never sold: my 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass Convertible (sweet-down-shifting, hair-raising, head-turning, Detroit-bred, machine of unbridled youthful automotive lust that it was)). 

Some of the places I’ve lived or visited:

Born in Baltimore, MD  (When? Hint: while my mom was giving birth to me, my dad listened to the Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) – Sonny Liston rematch (fathers were not allowed in the delivery room in that era); Big Rapids, MI; Englewood, CO; Littleton, CO  (3 X); St. Louis, MO; Minneapolis, MN; Tuapse, Russia; Tampa, FL; Salem, OR; Palmer Lake, CO; Mexico; Germany; The Netherlands; Turkey; Latvia; Czech Republic; Hungary; Kazakhstan; Ukraine

Some of the work I’ve done:

Waiter; College TA for communications course; commercial property insurance underwriter; temping in machine shops; property and casualty insurance claim rep; TESL teacher; humanitarian aid worker; bookkeeper; missionary training school leader;

bean counter/on-site manager for a Qwest procurement contractor; teacher (2 years in Jeffco; 3 ½ years at REMS)

Some things not many people know about me:

I’m 6’4” / 285

I’m in the witness protection program

I wear a prosthetic arm due to my time in ‘Nam

(You’d think you’d know someone after working with them for four years!)

                                              

              1985, with my baby (’68 ‘stang)        

        2010, wow, have my priorities changed!

 Authored  by Jodie Lamb

How I ended up at Renaissance:

Hard to believe I have been at Renaissance for about 4 years.  In 2004, I decided to quit my job ( I worked for a plastic surgeon for 15 years, I could actually use the free surgery now ) and become a full time mom.  After doubting I could do it well, I realized I was actually really good at it and really enjoyed it.  It has helped a lot that my husband is also very hands on.  Having a close family was a dream for both of us.   When my youngest started school full time and my husband starting working from home (that wasn’t going to work, both of us at home), I decided to get a part time job.  Naturally, I gravitated to the school.  I had spent years in the classroom volunteering with my children.  I there realized how much I loved other people’s children, as well.  I have worked along side some of the best teachers ,  between Sedalia and Renaissance , that have taught me a lot about how to give each child an opportunity to learn, in the style that suits that learner.  There is nothing that is more satisfying to me than to have a kiddo say “Thanks ,  Miss Jodie,  I get  it”.  Or to have a kiddo run up and tell me a very exciting piece of their life.  For now this position is meeting my needs.  I have enjoyed the family I have worked with here at Renaissance, and have enjoyed watching the love and dedication of everyone involved and watching the school turn into one of the most caring schools.

 On the personal side. Watching my boys turning into intelligent, athletic, loving and great leaders, has given me a great  sense of pride.  This year they have excelled in football , basketball, baseball and track. They have both made honor roll in their new middle school and high school. Jack will be making his confirmation this May and Justin enjoys searching for his spiritual side( I walked by him the other day, on his knees, with his hands together, holding my husbands cross necklace). I don’t know what he was praying for, but I knew he was looking in the right place. Watching the two of them care and laugh together, has been a blast.  We, as a family, are all entering a new phase of life and independence, with the boys growing up and not needing us as much.  Who knows what will be next…

Love and Logic:

9 Essential Skills: Skill Number Five
Developing Positive Teacher - Student Relationships

The one-sentence intervention
Research clearly shows that the primary element contributing to success with at-risk students is a positiive, human relationship between the student and the teacher.  The research also indicates that this relationship is developed most effectively when the teacher displays interest in aspects of the student that are not traditionally school related.  That is, the relationship blossoms when the teacher notices and accepts the student as a unique being ... rather than just a pupil.

1. What are the student's nonacademic strengths and interests?
2. Name six brief statement you can use to notice these strengths and interests:
Example:  "I've noticed that you really like to draw."
(Go ahead, try it...six statements that begin -
"I've notice that ______________________________." (Do not end the statement with something like, "...and that's great!"

3. When and where can you make these statements without embarrassing the student?
4.  Which other teachers will help you use this technique with the student?
5.  Approach the student, smile, and use the statements identified above at least two times a week for at least three weeks.
6. Listen to the student if he/she wants to talk about the strength or interest.
7. Do not use this technique when the student is upset. Save it for calm times.
8. When the student is about to do something you don't want...or if you want him or her to do something else, experiment with saying, "Will you do this just for me?" or "Just because I like you, should I let you do this?"

Peek Into the Life of Our School:

Hanni is using Ipads for Independent Learning Centers.
This is a student who is challenged to stay focused. I couldn't even get him to look up!

Lisa's students actively researching using digital tools.

Older students supporting our young readers -
what a purposeful leadership opportunity!

Collaboration...
Kathy made a peer visit to Mary Beth and they
are busy debriefing on the spot.
Peer coaching and learning!

"This is important. You can do it. I won't give up on you."

Individual  attention and caring...
gifts to our kids.

Queen of multi-tasking...and always with a smile and happy spirit!

Mary during Read Aloud -
Adventure Genre Study

Outdoor Learning Environment (OLE) Work Day

We had about 18 volunteers (including our own dear Andrea and Mary Sue along with their hubbies) who came all day Saturday to help with the work day.It was a very productive day and we were able to accomplish a number of projects:

*Garden - construct and build raised garden beds, irrigation, and fence the garden!

*Create a digging area -completely dug up a 30X30 area, laid chain link fencing down so they couldn't dig to China, refill and border with logs. 

* Plant 10 new trees

* Change out hammocks

Next up:

* Paving the walk-ways

Andrea hard at it!

Mary Sue wanted this picture...she's taller than me here!
(Did I mention she's standing on top of the raised garden bed?)

Welcome to Dana Deidrich!

Our new first grade educational assistant in Mary Beth's Crew!

Welcome BACK Dolores!

You were missed!

Teachers facilitate learning....

Doug and Aidan preparing to model for learners.

Reading Recovery

You have to look to find the teacher...
Josh supporting learning.

Quotes


"It is better to travel hopefully than to arrive."
-Robert Louis Stevenson




Thought to ponder:
Choose a colleague you admire, then make two lists.
What makes this person a good colleague? What would
be on the list this colleague makes about you?

Isn't it absolutely amazing how much happens in a week?
Have a great weekend!