Thankful

Well, I'm writing the cliché "thankful" blog post of Thanksgiving week!  I just can't help myself... Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday, and I refuse to hold back on the tradition of reflecting on just a few of the things in my life that cause me to feel so very, very thankful.

• My husband.  (Alright now, in unison... "Awww.")
• My health.
• My family and friends.
• Cake batter flavored ice cream.
• Having a job I absolutely love.
• Being surrounded by children on a daily basis who remind me of the pure joys of life.
• Cookie dough.
• Running.
• A mom who I want to be exactly like when I grow up. :)
• Ipods and Zulu running socks.
• Jeans that come in extra long.
• My dog Bailey.
• DVR.
• The smell of Christmas trees and clean laundry.
• Everything in my past - every tragedy, every happiness, every everything - that has made me who I am today.

I could go on and on, but it's narcissistic to think you care that much about my thankful things.  My point is that whether it's the big things or the little things...  There are so many things to be thankful for this week and always...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

 Don't Forget!
-November 23rd:  Skip Prosser 4th Grade FINAL Book List Due
-December 3rd:  4th Grade Content Specific Writing Papers Due to Peele
-December 6th:  Fluency Training for K-2 7:30am-8:30am
-December 7th:  Fluency Training for 3-5 7:30am-8:30am
-December 17th:  4th Grade Content Specific Writing Scores Due in Moodle

What Was the BEST Part of Your Day?

When you were in elementary school, what did success mean to you?  Was it making the honor roll, completing your chores, pleasing your parents?  Was it beating a video game, getting a baseball trophy, winning the recess kickball game?  What about when you graduated from college?  Was it getting a job, paying off debt, getting married?  Furthering your education, moving out on your own, getting the bills paid?

What about today... What does success look like?  How has it changed?  What causes you to celebrate, feel proud, pat yourself on the back?

When is the last time you experienced success?

What success means to you probably changes week-by-week, month-by-month, year-by-year.  Our perspective on what and when to congratulate ourselves depends on our past, our present, and our future.  What success may mean to the person beside you could be totally different than what it means to you.  Thinking back and looking at success through the eyes of an elementary-aged student may, upon first glance, seem trivial.  But to that eight-year-old, seeing a smile of delight on a parent's face is just about the best thing in the world.  Have we forgotton how important it is to celebrate the little things?  Have we failed to remember what the little things are in the eyes of a child?

When's the last time you asked someone around you about their successes?  All too often we fall into the trap of ending our day focused on the pitfalls, the disappointments, the failures.  Instead, why don't we wrap up our day by relishing in a happy moment, a moment that made us feel complete and utter joy to the depths of our bellies?

I am married to an incredible man who makes me a better person.  One way he does this is by asking me each and every night -- "So, what was the BEST part of your day?"  We've chosen to make this a Peele family tradition, so that no matter how tired, stressed, or frustrated we are at the end of a day, we are always able to relish in a moment that makes it all worth it.

Try it.  With yourself, keep a notebook and commit to writing down the best part of each day -- Then you can refer to it on those days of struggle.  With your kids, have them keep a notebook.  Before the school bell rings or around the dinner table or before bedtime, ask about the best part of their day.

Yesterday, the very best part of my day was getting a thank you letter from a child for a conversation we had last week.  It was simple.  It was sweet.  But it let me know that I made a difference in her life.  And that, honestly, is a big enough success to fuel me for the rest of the year.

 Don't Forget!
-November 12th:  Quarter Test Books Due
-November 12th:  Practice ITBS Testing
-November 15th-17th:  ITBS Testing
-November 17th:  Imagine It! Rep Jane Rountree Visits K-2
                                 Last Day to Submit SCOS Charts for Contest
-November 18th-19th:  ITBS Make-Up Testing
-November 23rd:  Skip Prosser 4th Grade FINAL Book List Due

Connecting with Curriculum - October/November Updates!

MATH
"The opportunity to learn has the strongest relationship with student achievement."  -What Works in Schools, ASCD

• Intended Curriculum = SCOS
• Implemented Curriculum = What is delivered by the teacher
• Attained Curriculum = What is actually learned by the students

The Intended Curriculum and the Implemented Curriculum need to be correlated to be most effective.  Textbooks are usually the barrier between these two, as often the textbook is full of information that is not part of the SCOS.  Have you looked over your math standards lately?

Make sure you are intentional in your classroom activities and that you know your SCOS forwards and backwards.  Teach the SCOS indepth before branching to other topics.  Are the natural extensions necessary when we could be spending more time mastering skills listed on the SCOS?  Use Indicators and Descriptors if you have questions about objectives.  Really practice "Unpacking the Standards" -- I think this gives a completely different perspective of what we should be teaching.

DPI Resources:  http://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/22351032313573387/site/default.asp

Hey, Grades, 3-5, how well do you know YOUR SCOS?!  I'm holding a contest, starting today... Details in an email and in your boxes. :)

SOCIAL STUDIES
The Social Studies standards are being revised.  Click below to access:
K-2 Standards:  http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/acre/standards/phase2/social-studies/k-2.pdf
3-5 Standards:  http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/acre/standards/phase2/social-studies/3-5.pdf

How DO we integrate Social Studies into our day?  How CAN we integrate Social Studies into our day?

The strands will be Civics and Government, Geography, History, Economics, and Culture.  Global Connections will be woven into each strands.

K-3 Focus:

• Ability to demonstrate chronological thinking
• Ability to think and ask questions like a historian
• 3rd Grade introduces the five themes of geography

Grade 4 Focus:

• NC pre-colonial through reconstruction
• Draw parallels to contemporary issues and their historical origins

Grade 5 Focus:

• US history from pre-colonial through reconstruction
• Canda and Mexico removed

There will be Essential Standards rather than goals and objectives as well as a reduced number of standards.  The strands will begin with verbs to reflect higher-order thinking skills.  Feedback will be accepted until November 10th.  Send your feedback to DPI, but also send an email to Patti Grant to let her know that you have responded so that she can keep documentation.  North Carolina State Board of Education and Department of Public Instruction will receive public comments and create an operational roll-out plan for the fall of 2012.  Comments are being accepted at commoncore@dpi.state.nc.us.

GET READY FOR 2012-2013
The Core Standards for ELA, Math, Social Studies, and Science will go into effect with the 2012-2013 school year. 

From NCDPI:  “The new standards define the knowledge and skills students should have throughout their K-12 education careers so that they will graduate high school fully prepared for college and careers. The standards:

·         are aligned with college and work expectations;

·         are clear, understandable and consistent;

·         include rigorous content and application of knowledge through high-order skills;

·         build upon strengths and lessons of current state standards;

·         are informed by other top-performing countries, so that all students are prepared to succeed in a global economy and society; and

·         are evidence- and research-based.”

Useful links for learning more about the Core!!

http://www.ncpublicschools.org/newsroom/news/2009-10/20100604-01

http://www.ncpublicschools.org/acre/timeline/

http://www.corestandards.org/

As always, let me know if you have any concerns, questions, or POSITIVE comments. :)

 Don't Forget!
-November 1st-5th:  CogAt Testing
-November 5th:  Quarter Data Sheets Due
-November 8th:  Skip Prosser 4th Grade Book List Update Due
-November 9th:  Mark Esstman from Imagine It! Visits 1st Grade
                               Last Day for Math SCOS Contest for Grades 3-5
-November 12th:  Quarter Test Books Due
-November 8th-10th:  Make-Up CogAt Testing
-November 15th-17th:  ITBS Testing
-November 17th:  Imagine It! Rep Jane Rountree Visits K-2
-November 18th-19th:  ITBS Make-Up Testing
-November 23rd:  Skip Prosser 4th Grade FINAL Book List Due