Terrible Blogger & New Beginnings

So, it goes without saying that the year got away from me.  My last posts were over three months ago, and they were pretty sporadic before that.  But, well, the year was busy, and I admit to dropping the ball with some things - like this blog - in order to leave asap after school to get home to my sweet daughter and just be a mama.

I apologize, because I know there is at least one avid reader out there.  Right?

Anywho, my time here has come to an end.  As of this Friday, I'll be hanging up my Curriculum Coordinator hat and starting a new journey as a part-time reading teacher.  I've honestly enjoyed my run as CC, but truth is, I miss working with the students on a daily basis, and I also want to spend more time being a mom and a wife.

I am SO grateful to have had the last three years to learn and grow and become inspired by the teachers at Moore, and I am also SO excited about what's to come.

I'll be stepping away from this little corner of the internet indefinitely as I embark on my new journey.  Though my attempts at posting have been lackluster, I have always enjoyed documenting some of my CC adventures here.

For now, it's time to turn off alarm clocks and step away from the SmartBoards - HAPPY SUMMER!

It's Magic

This morning, at our staff meeting, we covered the basics.  Teachers were given reminders, more things to add to their to-do lists.  Questions were asked.  And then the magic happened.

Each table had to brainstorm what they love about Moore Elementary School.  And then we shared our thoughts...

Of course there were practical things on the list - like technology, the elevator, and having a building without mold.

But the resounding answer was that we are a family.

And it's true.  I know many, many people who have worked at other schools and swear that Moore is different.  We have a different passion, a different, feel, a different energy.

An energy I felt the day I walked in for an interview eight years ago.

It's magic, y'all.

And though the days and weeks are long, some day we'll all look back and feel like the years were too short.  But hopefully we'll all look back and remember how it felt to be part of this family, OUR family.

Alphabet Soup

Anyone in education knows we live in a world of buzzwords and acronyms.  Walk into any meeting in an elementary school, and it's like witnessing an episode of Sesame Street highlighting alphabet soup.  Unless you live and breathe in our world, it often sounds like we're speaking a foreign language.

Some of those acronyms are short-lived... and some stick around for awhile and reshape our world as we know it.

Like PLCs and CFAs.

Professional  Learning Communities (PLCs) were the "new thing" back when I was still in the classroom.  Our reaction?  "Sure, okay, we'll try it, but this will probably just be a trend and disappear eventually."

And then I started graduate school, with a whole class focused on PLCs.  I learned so much... mostly that PLCs just MAKE SENSE.  And if you think about it - and learn about it - they're COMMON SENSE.  And I jumped right on the bandwagon.  A bandwagon that quickly parked to let us all know it was here to stay.

We no longer live in a world of "MY classroom" or "MY students."  It's about "OUR students."  It's about taking ownership of not only all of the students in your grade level... but all of the students in the entire school.  In order for that to work, we must collaborate, discuss, share, and believe in each other and what we can do for our kids.  And that happens in a PLC.  I've seen it happen, and have the opportunity to witness it each week in our building.

As our PLCs have grown, we've finally gotten comfortable with Common Formative Assessments (CFAs) which also just MAKE SENSE.  How can we improve our teaching, our methodology, without knowing how are students are progressing?  Marrying the arts of assessing and collaborating is key in creating a school environment in which we care about every kid in the hallway.  A school environment in which teachers make themselves vulnerable to each other in order to grow.  A school environment in which we, the adults, are continuous learners.  A school environment in which it becomes less about the buzzword, and more about making magic happen with our instruction.

I am SO proud of our teachers and their willingness to jump on this bandwagon with me, to learn the art of CFAs, to find the beauty in an effective PLC.

Because at the end of the day, all acronyms aside, these kids depend on us.  And if we're asking them to learn and grow, we should do the same.

The Common Core Ate My Baby!

Growing up, I always loved a good urban legend.  Particularly the scary kind that made butterflies flop around in my stomach.  One I will always remember has to do with driving over a bridge in my hometown... We spent many afternoons testing that myth!  Now, being much older and wiser, I'm a little more keen on when a myth is just that - a myth.

In the world of education, with new things coming and going before we even find firm footing, we're used to the, "Well I heard this is going to happen..."  or "Well I heard THIS is coming!"  What I think all educators will agree on is that the only thing that stays the same is things keep changing.

One big change we've been working with this year is the adoption of the new Common Core Standards, standards that are dominating classrooms across the country.  This change has brought hours of extra work, sleepless nights, and, you guessed it, urban legends.

In their December 2012/January 2013 issue, Educational Leadership put out an article titled The Common Core Ate My Baby and Other Urban Legends.  You can find the article here:

http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/dec12/vol70/num04/The-Common-Core-Ate-My-Baby-and-Other-Urban-Legends.aspx

In case you don't have time to read the full article, here are some of the urban legends surrounding the CCES that are addressed...

1.  The new standards prohibit teachers from setting purposes for reading or discussing prior knowledge.

• TRUTH:  There is no ban on pre-reading; however, the new standards require students to read more challenging texts and engage in close reading lessons, in which REREADING is a hallmark.  Let students give the text a try without over-preparing them.  All too often the preparation to read a story is far more extended than the story itself.  Let the students try to interpret the author's message on their own.  Pre-reading preparation should be brief and focus on providing students with tools to make sense of the text on their own.

2.  Teachers are no longer required to teach phonological awareness, phonics, or fluency.

• TRUTH:  Anyone who looks through the CCES will see the section titled Reading:  Foundational Skills.  The CCES start with reading comprehension and end with foundations.

3.  English teachers can no longer teach literature in literature classes.

• TRUTH:  The standards suggest that 70% of older students' reading should focus on nonliterary texts, but that refers to ALL school reading (in all subject areas).  Students will need to spend more time reading informational texts, but that includes science and social studies classes.

4.  Teachers must teach students at frustration levels.

• TRUTH:  Students should have an array of reading experiences in the same way that a long-distance runner has a varied training schedule that mixes different distances and speeds.  Such varied schedules enable a runner to build muscle, speed, and endurance - three key skills of reading, too!

5.  Most schools are already teaching to the new standards.

• TRUTH:  We STILL have to make significant changes to our practices.  We've only just begun to realize the rigor of the CCES, and it's going to take time and hard work to meet the demands of the new standards.

*According to the article, about 70% of students meet their state's standards and enter higher education.  BUT more than 40% of these "successful" students require remediation when they get to college, and most of them fail to graduate.  We have GOT to prepare our students to be college- and career-ready, and that begins with upping our rigor... starting in Kindergarten!

And for what it's worth, the Common Core did NOT eat my baby.  Just sayin'.

Rock On!

When I took the job as Curriculum Coordinator and completed my Master's program in School Administration, I promised myself I would NEVER forget what it's like to be a teacher.

To be on the frontlines of education... where the magic happens, where the kid remembers you for the rest of his life, where you see light bulbs go off after hours of teaching...

Where you work harder than anyone else in the professional world.

I think sometimes those of us out of the classroom can easily forget what it's like to be on the battlegrounds, and I don't ever want to let my memories become too hazy.  I want to always be able to understand and relate to the second most important people in the school (sorry, teachers - the kids came in first!).

So, during a time of year when we're all running out of steam, and patience, and mindpower, and energy - I just want to say THANK YOU to all of the awesome teachers in our building.

As we head toward the end of the first half of the school year, I'm so proud to work in OUR school.  It's been the most challenging year yet in education - at least as long as I've been a part of the educational world - and our teachers have taken things in stride, kept the kids first, and even managed to keep smiling.

I'm so honored to be a part of this staff, and so excited about all of the progress we're making as a school.  So during a time when you feel overworked and underappreciated, know that I ALWAYS appreciate what you do and will ALWAYS remember what it's like to be you.

And you're doing awesome.  With Common Core, PLCs, CFAs, new testing, TRC, DIBELS, conferences, report cards, progress reports, oh yeah - and teaching - You're not only surviving, you're doing a GREAT job.

Rock on!

Don't Forget!
December 7th - 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Classroom Spelling Bee Winners' Names Due to Peele
December 11th - TRC/K-3 Assessment Training for PRTs 9:00-10:30
December 12th - Set up Science Fair
December 13th - Science Fair Judging 9:30
December 14th - All Classes/Parents Invited to Walk Through Science Fair
December 18th - School Spelling Bee 1:30
January 7th - TRC/K-3 Assessment Training for ALL K-3 Teachers 3:45-5:15
January 10th - PLC Training for Facilitators at Kernersville ES 3:30-5:00

Wait for it...

Last week I was meandering through classrooms, observing and enjoying the view from the frontlines.  In one particular classroom, a teacher was giving a math lesson.  She asked a question, and called on a student who eagerly raised his hand.

He spouted out the wrong answer.

The teacher urged him to rethink his answer and rework his math.

Other than his pencil scribbling on his paper, the room was silent.

We waited.  And waited.  And waited.

I wanted SO badly to help him, give him a hint, call out the answer.

But we waited.

And finally...

He got it.

And the teacher moved on to the next problem, and the class went about the rest of their day as usual.  But I was so affected, by something so minor.

Because the teacher had given this child some wait-time, let him think through the process, given him as much space as he needed, he was able to find success.  Even moreso, the teacher had obviously conditioned her students to this type of practice, as not one student huffed or puffed in frustration at how long it took the little boy to answer, nor did anyone call out the answer.

They waited, too.

Giving students - children - this window of wait-time, this opportunity to take their time to think, explore, try, fail, try again, succeed... is imperative.  And sometimes we're all so consumed with moving on, getting to the next question, checking things off the list - we fail to allow for the awkward silence, the minutes when a child's brain is ticking, connecting, figuring things out.  But it's SO important to do that... let them figure it out without us always doing the figuring out for them.

So, remember, when we're wanting to jump in, and help, and hold their hand, and give them the answer...

Just wait for it.

Whew.

My AP is always telling me that Dr. Oz says you're supposed to take something like ten deep breaths every now and then to keep yourself calm and stable and healthy and happy and who has time to remember to take ten deep breaths when you're a full-time working mama to a mobile, constantly-moving eleven-month-old and a wife to a husband who works almost every evening and life feels like a race I'm never winning?

Or was it take deep breaths for ten seconds?

Something like that, right Mr. Maglio?

Anyway, lately it seems as though I've needed to breathe-in-breathe-out to a calming rhythm all day long.  Life has felt like, well, A LOT lately, TOO MUCH, even... So I can't begin to imagine how the teachers are feeling!  Because if you think about it, EVERYONE has their own "stuff."  Everyone has stress outside of work... and just because my stress is different than your stress, that doesn't mean one of us has more "stuff" than the other.

Sometimes we get so caught up in our own worlds, our own little bubbles, we fail to realize that the world is continuing to spin on its axis around us.  I am guilty of getting lost in my bubble... struggling to come up for air and letting the little things throw me for a loop and pushing on, and on, and on without enjoying the view.  Case in point - I have eaten lunch while furiously working since school started about a month ago.  I've never been the kind of person who works through lunch!

Breathe in - 1, 2, 3...

I think we're all in that place right now in the world of education.  The beginning of a school year is NO JOKE.  Especially when we're introducing a brand new curriculum and everything seems like it's changing.  Not to mention whatever else is going on in our lives outside of the walls of Moore.

But let's try to encourage each other to follow Dr. Oz's advice - I may give him the side-eye for some of his health recommendations, but I think he's on to something when he urges deep breathing.  Let's try to pause, take deep breaths, and know that this too, shall pass.  And while we're doing all this breathing, let's also try to remember that whether the person beside us may seem to have it all together or may seem to barely be hanging on, we all have our "stuff."  And sometimes the only way to get through the stuff is to lift each other up...

And, of course, breathe.

Will You Sleep on Sunday?

Someone once told me that if the time comes when you can sleep well the night before the first day of school, it's time for you to get out of the profession.

Whaddya think?

I always, always, always toss and turn and wrestle butterflies in my stomach on the first-day-of-school-eve.  Even now in my job as Curriculum Coordinator, there's just something about the anticipation of the first day that gives me the excited jitters.

I get SO excited to see the kids -- some rubbing their sleepy eyes, some holding back tears of nervousness, some bouncing up and down the hallways as if they never left.

I LOVE seeing their new school goodies - their clothes, shoes, bookbags, lunch boxes, and even their new 'dos.

I REVEL in the energy that quickly fills the school as those new shoes squeak across the freshly waxed floors.  As I've mentioned before, a school is just not right until it's full of children.

I BASK in all of the sounds that echo down the hallway as the day gets going - children talking, laughing, saying bye to their nervous mamas... the sounds of bookbags unzipping, pencils being sharpened, rules being taught.

You see, as hard as it has been to leave my little girl to come back to work, I honestly enjoy the first day of school as much as the last day.  And sure, on the last day of school, we were dancing and cheering and singing and grooving on the back sidewalk, shouting, "SCHOOL'S...OUT...FOR...SUMMER!"

But let's bring that same energy, that same excitement to our kids on Monday.

And I can guarantee that if you're tossing and turning on Sunday night, batting at butterflies instead of counting sheep... you're not alone.

Remember?

We made it!  We did it!

The last day is here…

We’ve officially survived

Another school year.

But wasn’t Open House

Just yesterday?

Didn’t we just meet each other,

And shyly say, “Hey…”?

It seems as if the school year,

Just got off to a start…

But now it’s already time

For us all to depart!

But before you pack up,

and race off to the pool…

Let’s highlight some memories

From this year in school.

Remember the decorated doors?

And Curriculum Night?

“Happy School Year!” we shouted,

As we started the year off right.

Remember when three mamas-to-be,

Waddled around the school?

Now their babies are here,

Full of babbles and drool!

Remember Jump Rope for Heart?

And cool Mr. Hicks…

Teaching us ways to be healthy

So we don’t live life sick.

Remember our awesome music teacher,

Guiding our productions, so neat!

Mrs. Noisette is so talented!

Always keeping us on beat.

Remember the way you learned to draw?

Our resident artist, Mrs. Wiles!

Who taught us to paint, color, and mold,

All with a smile.

Remember when you were having a bad day,

And needed an ear?

Mrs. Collins was there for you,

Ready to hug and hear.

Remember when you really wanted to read?

Or needed to find an AR book?

Mr. Brandt was your man,

Taking the time to help you look.

And what would we do without the ladies in the office?

Giving us a hug, a smile, or a band-aid.

Taking our money, calling our parents,

Letting us know it’ll all be okay.

Remember when you got into a little bit of trouble?

Or maybe needed help with your bus?

Mr. Maglio was always there for you,

Helping you while being fair and just.

Remember when our own Miss Hennings

Won Teacher of the Year?

She was so deserving, so special…

We’re all so lucky to have her here!

Remember when Mrs. Smith was all dressed up,

Like Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat?

She even had whiskers and a tail…

I bet you’ll never forget that!

Then there was Multicultural Night,

Birthday balloons, tie-dye, and hat days…

Field Day!  One of everyone’s favorites,

As you got to go outside and play.

Games, cotton candy, and the dunking booth…

Spring Fling was a blast, too!

There was so much fun to be had all year long,

What sticks out the most to you?

Most importantly, though, are the relationships formed,

Between students, teachers, families, and staff.

So please always remember each other fondly…

The good times, the hard times, the times we’ve laughed.

It’s time to bid farewell… for now.

So say goodbye to all of your friends…

Summertime is officially here,

We’ll see you in August when we begin again!

3 Things

True story.

I was a waitress for a number of years throughout high school and college.  I learned a lot of things - how to balance three plates across my arm at one time, how they make the tea SO sweet, how to use the lemon slicer, and how to roll up the silverware.  However, the most profound lesson I learned came from a scraggly old man who asked for a table for one.

I remember the day so clearly.

It was a slow lunch, and the hostess had taken a break.  So when he walked in the door, I took it upon myself to welcome him.

He was the kind of man who intimidates you at first.

He towered over me - and I'm a pretty tall drink of water!  He had holes in his clothes, an unshaven face, and dirt under his fingernails.  His voice was low, creepy.  But, he was nice enough.  "Table for one?"  He asked.

That was about all he said, other than placing his order.

He ate quietly and asked for the bill.  When he handed me his completed check, he said the following:

"I've left you a tip.  But I've got another tip for you... In life, you only need three things to make you happy:  someone to love, something to do, and something to look forward to."

Then he got up, and walked out.

Weird, I thought.  But for the rest of the day, his advice ran on repeat in my head.

And about 11 years later, I've always remembered his words.

It's true, if you think about it.  What more can we ask for in life, other than someone to love, something to do, and something to look foward to?  Life gets crazy, and overwhelming, and out-of-control - but at the end of the day, if we focus on these three things, we can feel full. 

And happy. 

And complete.

Don't Forget!
May 21st-May 25th - Remediation
May 29th-June 1st - EOG Retesting

June 5th - Kindergarten Celebration

June 6th - 5th Grade Celebration

June 7th - Last day of school!

June 8th - Cumulative Folder Check (Peele, Maglio, Cooper) in Office Conference Room

June 8th - Staff Luncheon

June 11th - Cumulative Folder Check (Peele, Maglio) in Office Conference Room

Enjoy the Ride

We all know I love making to-do lists.  For anything and everything.  I love having my tasks organized, checking off the boxes, and knowing what’s left to be done.  Sometimes, however, I get so focused on accomplishing my to-do’s I forget to stop and enjoy the ride.

         Especially as a full-time working mom.

On Saturday, I went for my typical 7:30am run.  I had my head down, focused on completing my miles, music blaring in my iPod.  About halfway through, I turned down a path that leads into a wooded area.  For one reason or another, I happened to look up, and it was beautiful.  The trees were so full of bright green leaves, the sun was peeking out from behind a cloud, making these little jagged rays of light.  Sounds simple, but it took my breath away.  (Or maybe it was the running that took my breath away?)  Anyway, here I was, so focused on accomplishing my run… and I realized I NEVER look up to enjoy what’s going on around me.

And then, about a mile later, my iPod died on me.

        

Now listen – I CANNOT run without music.  It’s like my fuel, especially when it comes to rounding out the last couple miles.  But I didn’t have a choice.  And all of a sudden, I was not only running with my head up, enjoying all of the things to see, I was listening to all kinds of sounds other than country music… like the birds announcing the start of a new day, a child giggling in a stroller, and a woodpecker working on a tree.  Again, simple – but enough to give me pause.

I have to admit that becoming a mom has forced me to live in the moment MUCH more than I used to.  When I’m with my daughter, I’m 100% focused on each moment we have together, especially now that I spend so much time away from her at work.  I love lying next to her on the floor, watching her play and discover new things.  She seems to figure something else out each day – it’s incredible!

But the minute I’m not with her, I’m usually all about tackling my to-do’s… putting my head down and moving down my list to check off the next box.

 

During this time of the school year, we all have a tendency to get stressed out - and hey, can you blame us?  There just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day to accomplish everything asked of us.  And there's so much pressure to make sure our students have mastered all they need to learn this school year.  So of course we put our heads down and truck through these last few weeks, counting down the days.  But let's all try to find a few moments to pause here and there - enjoy these last few weeks of crazy.  And know that with every moment you keep your head up and ears open, you're making a difference in the life of a child.

On Sunday, I turned twenty-nine.  My last twenties birthday!  And I think it’s time for me to start being a little less to-do oriented, and a little more focused on enjoying the ride.  So here’s to a new year, and an improved me… A me who runs with her head up, and maybe even sometimes with her music turned off.

Don't Forget!
April 27th-May 2nd - Extend 1 Testing
April 30th-May11th - DIBELs EOY Benchmark
May 1st - EOG Administrator Training in Bass' Room, 3:45-5:15
May 2nd - EOG Proctor Training in Wiles' Room 11:30-12:15
May 3rd - Dorene Bates visits PLCs
May 7th-May10th - Extend 2 Testing
May 10th - 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Class Spreadsheets Due
May 11th - 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Classroom Check
May 14th-May 17th - EOG Testing
May 21st-May 25th - Remediation
May 29th-June 1st - EOG Retesting

Everyday I'm Shuffling

I’m the type of person one looks at and says, “Live a little!”

         What they probably should say is, “Live a lot!”

I’m mildly Type-A, love checking off boxes on my To-Do list, revel in making plans, and have to take deep breaths when those plans veer off course.

However, since my daughter was born, I obviously have had to laugh in the face of my Type-A personality on many accounts.  There’s nothing like a baby to teach you how to live in the moment.  And, since going back to work, my personality is in a constant state of back-and-forth between not taking a single moment for granted and making sure all of the zillion To-Do’s are completed in the short time I have to get it all done.

Enter my New Year’s resolutions, which included being more spontaneous and not taking a single minute for granted.

         Yeah, I’m still working on that.

But I think I’m making some progress!  I really am trying to enjoy every nook and cranny of my days, I just wish I could get even better at being more spontaneous, not sweating the small stuff, and soaking in every single second.  It’s a process, I guess.

So anyway, every Friday afternoon when I pick up my daughter from her "school", we (or I) jam out and dance to the “Everyday I’m Shuffling” song by LMFAO (I can’t remember the actual title… but every time I hear that line, the song gets stuck in my head.)  It’s our little tradition, celebrating the fact that the weekend is here and we have two whole days to spend together.  So last Monday morning when I got into my car, the song was still cued up from Friday.  My first reaction was to change it – that’s the Friday song, not the Monday song!  But then I thought, why not?!  And I proceeded to car-dance all the way to school, with the song on repeat.  No joke, I was literally out of breath from dancing as I drove down the road.  People drove past me and looked at me like I was a lunatic.  BUT, most of those people ended up smiling and laughing at me.  So hey!  Maybe the positive energy was contagious, which we all know is needed on a Monday morning.

These days, I’m all about relishing in little moments like that, moments that can unexpectedly put a smile on your face.

What I’m trying to say, I guess, is that I’m attempting to live… A LOT.

In fact, the song doesn't say, "On Fridays I'm shuffling" -- It says, "Everyday I’m shuffling." J

 

Don't Forget!
*March 26th - March 29th - 3rd Quarter Testing

*March 29th - Kathy Bryant visits PLCs

*April 9th - Report Cards due to Administrators

*April 20th - Kindergarten Screening

The Light Bulb

I recently experienced trying to teach my four-and-a-half-month-old to eat from a spoon.  Sounds pretty basic, right?

It was a disaster.

At first.

It was a Friday night, and I was sooo excited for this huge :) event in my daughter's life.  She'd practiced sitting in her high chair and has great head control... so, with the recommendation from the pediatrician, we were ready to try rice cereal.  We pulled out the bibs and baby spoons and two different cameras (we had to take pictures AND video, of course!) - and she HATED it.  She fussed, and cried, and eventually screamed.  Poor girl had a giant eating utensil coming toward her and was expected to just KNOW to open her mouth and ingest the food.  We eventually gave up, put the cameras away, and decided we'd try again tomorrow.

Enter Saturday.  Same characters, same props, same scene - ENTIRELY different ending.  She did GREAT!!  Lo and behold she actually enjoyed the process the second time around.  She smiled and made her happy little noises, opened her mouth when the spoon "airplaned" toward her, and successfully managed to eat a few spoonfuls (while also getting quite a bit up her nose, in her ear, and all over me).

This whole process got me thinking about our job as educators.  I mean, we all know we "teach" - but have we ever really thought about what a huge responsibility it is?

Being a parent is agreeably the most incredible, most important job I'll ever have.  The lessons I'll need to teach my daughter will be far greater than eating off of a spoon.  But the whole rice cereal saga got me thinking about how amazing it really is to be teaching her something for the very first time.  Something I, as an adult, take for granted.

When our students enter our school, they are relying on us, depending on us to give them the knowledge they need to be successful.  Some days are better than others.  Some days they're "fussy" and not really ready to soak in the information we have to share - and some days they're actually hungry, and ready, and all of a sudden the light bulb goes off.

I think that's what we - educators - live for... the light bulb.

Sometimes the light bulb goes off right away, sometimes it's a little more delayed.  Sometimes the light bulb goes off faster for one child in one subject, but not another.  It is our job, as educators, to instill in ourselves the stick-to-itiveness to keep teaching until the light bulb is lit - even more challenging is the task of instilling in our students the stick-to-itiveness to keep trying until they "get it."

But practice makes perfect.  And a positive attitude can make all the difference.

When my daughter was crying and refusing to even TRY to eat off of a spoon, my husband and I kept smiling, kept giving her pep talks, and tried to keep the atmosphere positive.

Sure, it may be laughable to imagine us putting THAT much forethought into a tablespoon of rice cereal.  And sure, it may be a stretch to compare spoon-feeding with teaching fractions.

But to me, teaching is teaching and learning is learning.  During these last few long winter months, don't forget how important it is to stick-to-it, keep the encouragement rolling, and be persistent - eventually, the entire school will be well-lit. :)

Don't Forget!
*Now - March 16th - ACCESS Testing
*February 28th - March 13th - QSP Magazine Fundraiser
*March 1st - 30th - Extend 1 Field Testing
*March 2nd - Dr. Seuss's Birthday!  Staff members dress up as their favorite book character!
*March 2nd - 4th Content Writing Due
*March 6th - Multicultural Night
*March 15th - Kathy Bryant visits PLCs
*March 26th - March 29th - 3rd Quarter Testing

Today, I REALLY Missed Being a Teacher

I'm baaaaaack.

Truth is, I've been back for awhile now.  14 days to be exact.  But I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off, trying to figure out life as a full-time working mama, and I'm FINALLY getting around to the word "Blog!" on my To-Do list.

Man, what in the WORLD would I do without To-Do lists these days?!

So obviously, I've had my baby (the most perfect little girl in the WHOLE world, but I'm not biased AT all!), spent three and a half blissful months learning how in the world to be a parent, and now I'm back in the real world of working.  It was so, so hard leaving her after being around her all day, everyday, for 15 straight weeks.  But luckily for me, I LOVE my job and, even moreso, LOVE the people I work with - so the transition went much better than I thought it would.

So THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to the incredible staff, students, and parents of Moore for welcoming me back with open arms.  The hugs, the encouraging words, the smiles, the notes... It all helped me get through those first few days when all I could think about was missing my sweet girl.

Coming back to work has reminded me how much I do enjoy my job.  Most of you know I was a classroom teacher for five years before becoming the Curriculum Coordinator.  I absolutely, positively LOVED teaching - but after five years of teaching third grade, I was ready for a change.  This job presented itself, and I thought, "How cool!  I can try to impact elementary-aged kids from an entirely different perspective."  While there are many, many times (like now!) that I am so, so busy tackling the day-to-day tasks of Curriculum Coordinator duties (especially when it comes to testing!), I sometimes have the opportunity to get back to classrooms to teach or work with small groups of students.

As I said, unfortunately, right now I'm playing catch up from being out with my little girl AND administering testing sessions, so I can't exercise my love of teaching.

However, I am able to visit classrooms as an observer while doing my classroom walkthroughs.

And today, I was blown away by the teaching and learning I saw.  I LOVED what the teachers were doing, how students were interacting, the conversations that were taking place.  I was in AWE of the level of thinking going on, the student-guided lessons, the obvious planning that had been done.  I mean, I REALLY missed being a teacher today!!  I almost wanted to jump right in, put back on my teacher shoes, and see if I could still do it!  But, duty calls, so I just had to hold in my excitement and move on to the next task at hand.

But man, to my teachers in the building, you guys are ROCKING IT!  I know you're overwhelmed, and tired, and your plates are oh-so-full... but learning is obviously going on in your rooms, and I think you're all doing a fabulous job.

Now, off to tackle this To-Do list and get my head back in the game so that I can get back to some of these classrooms and be that TEACHER I miss being!

Don't Forget!
*Now - March 16th - ACCESS Testing
*February 27th - April 27th - DIBELS Progress Monitoring
*February 14th - WSFCS Science Fair (Good luck Syan!)
*February 17th - WSFCS Spelling Bee (Good luck Chloe!)
*February 27th - Milkshake Drinking Contest (Go me!)
*February 28th - QSP Magazine Fundraiser Begins!
*March 6th - Multicultural Night

Change

Change is inevitable.  Change is hard.  Change is refreshing.  These are three statements I believe to be facts concerning change - whether it's a change in your personal life or professional life.

I am about to go through some major changes personally as I am anxiously anticipating the birth of my first child. (!!!!)  So obviously change has been on my mind lately.

The teachers at Moore are going through major professional changes lately - with recent budget cuts and new curriculum standards rolling out across the state, teachers are more overwhelmed and overworked than they've ever been.  So it's hard for me, as a person who thrives off of helping and supporting teachers as their Curriculum Coordinator, to feel comfortable abandoning ship to go on maternity leave for the next three months.

I know, I know - once this baby comes, my mind will be anywhere but work.  However, I hope that anyone who knows me knows I am 100% committed to this job, a job that I love, working amongst the best school staff ever.  So it's difficult to just let go and leave when I feel like I'm needed the most.

But that also may be narcissistic of me, to think that anyone around here really NEEDS me.  Regardless, I just wanted to do one last blog entry before my maternity leave to remind my fellow staff members that WE CAN DO THIS.

I know it feels like just when we get a handle on things, something else comes our way that is totally unexpected and more overwhelming than we'd ever imagined.  But as I said earlier, change is inevitable - ESPECIALLY in education.  And since we can't control the changes coming our way, let's all try to control our attitude toward the change.  Easier said than done?  Sure.  Possible?  Absolutely.  We can fight the change, swim against the current as much as we want... and be miserable.  Or we can look at the change as a possibility, an opportunity, as something positive - and push through the stress, the exhaustion, the never-ending to-do list in order to spread an "I Can Do" attitude amongst ourselves.  Call me Suzy Sunshine if you must, but I've always believed in the power of positive thinking.  So since I'll be gone after today, I'm gonna need y'all to keep the positivity alive amongst yourselves and trust that it's all happening for a reason - a good reason - even if it's hard to see that now.

Yes, I'm about to be a sleep-deprived mom who doesn't know up from down or left from right, but I am going to miss this school while I'm gone!  I know the upcoming changes for all of us - both personally and professionally - are going to be difficult... But I'm excited about the future, and I intend to always feel that way.  So bring on the change and the challenges, because we can only grow from it all!

I'll see you in January!

Don't Forget!
*October 24th - 1st Quarter Test (Reading)
*October 25th - 1st Quarter Test (Math with a Calculator)
*October 26th - 1st Quarter Test (Math without a Calculator)
*October 27th - 1st Quarter Test Make-ups
*November 2nd-4th - CogAt Testing
*November 14th-16th - ITBS Testing

There's Only One YOU

Since the beginning of school I've been working to get into every single classroom to do a 30-minute lesson.  I like to remind the students who I am and what my job is, and - let's face it - I NEVER want to lose my connection with teaching.  I did these lessons last year, and was a little hesitant to tackle them this year, being that I'm 9 months pregnant... but I decided it was worth it, and I've been trucking along for the past month to get into each room.

I do a different story/lesson in each grade level, and first grade's is about how we are all different - some of us smaller, or taller, or rounder, or thinner.  It seems like a giant concept for a 6-year-old, but I had success with it last year and decided to try it again this year.

In one of the first grade classes, we were discussing the book I had just read (called The Big Seed, in case you're interested).  I was trying to get the concept across, trying to get the students to understand that the book was about more than just a little girl planting a sunflower seed.  One little boy raised his hand after he realized that his classmates just did not get the point.  (And now I'm going to attempt to quote him word-for word.)  "Well, it's like this... there's only one YOU.  There's never going to be another YOU again.  That's why we're all so different.  We can't be the same, because there's only one YOU."

Pretty profound for a 6-year-old.

While I looked at him in awe and continued the lesson with the class, I haven't been able to forget what he said.  Obviously we, as adults, recognize that there's only one of us.  But are we getting this message across to our students?  Or are we making generalizations and grouping them together without paying enough attention to individual differences?  As a teacher, it's tough to pay attention to the individual needs of 20+ students... but that doesn't make it any less important.

Your students will never have a teacher like you again.  Make yourself memorable - make your classroom a place where the student feels cherished, and special, and important, and unique.  Give each child the opportunity to grow as an individual, to reach his/her true potential - a potential that is incredibly different for each and every student.  Hold high expectations, but differentiate those expectations.  Get to know your children.  Don't make assumptions.  Don't make generalizations.

Remember, there's only one YOU.  And you're the only person who can be the best YOU.  So you'd better get started!

Don't Forget!
*October 3rd - SMART Response Workshop at Moore
*October 6th - Kathy Bryant visits all PLC's
*October 24th - 1st Quarter Test (Reading)
*October 25th - 1st Quarter Test (Math with a Calculator)
*October 26th - 1st Quarter Test (Math without a Calculator)
*October 27th - 1st Quarter Test Make-ups
*November 2nd-4th - CogAt Testing
*November 14th-16th - ITBS Testing

Lots of IMPORTANT Curriculum Updates ~ September

Math Updates - Velvet Simington

• New textbook trainings are THIS week!!
• 3rd Grade - 9/19 - 4:00-7:00 at Griffith
• 4th Grade - 9/20 - 4:00-7:00 at Griffith
• 5th Grade - 9/21 - 4:00-7:00 at Griffth
• Essential components of math include 90 minutes of daily instruction; integrating Week by Week Essentials, Indicators, and Classroom Strategies; Integrating problem solving through collaborative groups; Consistently using technology to deepen math instruction; Students having and using strategies notebooks
• Standards for Mathematical Practice should be implemented NOW!  If your math rep has not shared these with you, ask him/her ASAP!

Imagine It! Updates - Mary Ruth Teague

• Don't get slack on following the routines!!  Every teacher should be following routines exactly, or the program will not work the way it's supposed to.
• Everyone MUST use the sound/spelling cards the way they're supposed to be used.
• The Morning Message is a key component of starting the day off right.
• Make sure you're using "stick and ball" handwriting, NOT D'Nealian.  "Stick and Ball" should be used when teachers write AND when students write) -- the appendix gives explicit details on penmanship instruction
• The puppet should be used!
• Blending is one of the most important components of the program - Follow the blending routines!

K-5 Writing Plan - Janie Costello

• You will find a grid in your box laying out this year's writing plan.  This year students will experiment with different types of writing for quarterly prompts to prepare for the new Common Core.
• The Common Core ELA training on Rc days will be front loaded with strategies to teach these new, different types of writing... Grade level reps will then need to teach their teams.
• Writing will NOT go into the K-2 Data Warehouse this year since we're experimenting with different types of writing... this year is about learning HOW to teach it.

Science Updates - Benika Thompson

• For grade level science reps - Your meeting dates will be October 31st, January 23rd, and February 20th all at Sherwood Forest.
• For additional support related to Science Essential Standards, all teachers are welcome to attend the following sessions (all last from 3:30pm-4:30pm):
• October 12th (Speas), 13th (Lewisville), or 19th (Forest Park)
• November 15th (Old Town), 16th (Whitaker), 17th (TBA)
• March 13th (Southwest), 14th (TBA), 15th (TBA)
• For our Science Liaison (yay Mrs. Barney!), here is your meeting schedule:
• November 1st
• February 28th
• March 6th
• April 25th
• Next year in 4th grade, Ecosystems will switch to 1st Quarter.
• The STC kits have been realigned to fit the new standards... see my email.
• For all other updates, see my email. :)

Social Studies Updates - Patty Grant

• Each grade level MUST be represented at the upcoming meetings, which start next week.  The meetings last from 3:30-5:00 and there are two locations you can choose from.  If you have any questions about the schedule I emailed, come see me.
• Don't forget to use the online resources that go along with the Social Studies textbook - They are GREAT!
• For the new Social Studies assessments, sample items will be published on the online community by this Wednesday, 9/21.  Teachers are to examine these together... grade level reps who attend the meetings will bring feedback to the meetings to finalize assessments.  Final assessments will be emailed to me by October 5th.  I will then send these assessments to grade chairs, who will need to prepare copies and administer the assessments to students by the end of First Quarter.  Teachers will then turn in rosters with scores to me/Mrs. Conner, who will then forward results to Central Office.

Museum of Anthropology - Tina Smith

• Programs are offered for K-5
• The museum also offers kits for schools/grade levels/teachers to check out
• Students can go to the museum, or the museum can come here to Moore
• I will put handouts in your boxes from the Museum of Anthropology - there are some GREAT resources!  Especially with the budget being so tight!

??Have you ever heard of http://www.theteacherregistry.com/?  Check it out!

Don't Forget!
*September 12th - September 23rd - DIBELS BOY Window
*September 19th - 3rd Grade Textbook Training 4:00-7:00 @ Griffth
*September 20th - 3rd-5th Gradebook/Report Card Training 7:30am @ Moore
*September 20th - 4th Grade Textbook Training 4:00-7:00 @ Griffith
*September 21st - Call for Change Training in Media Center 7:30am REQUIRED
*September 21st - 5th Grade Textbook Training 4:00-7:00 @ Griffith
*September 26th - Door Decorating Contest Begins!

*September 29th - Curriculum Night!! (Doors judged and winner announced!)

*October 3rd - SMART Response Workshop at Moore

Living Each Day to the Fullest :)

So, we all know the old adage, "Live each day as if it were your last."  A little sappy, sure - But I feel like it describes my work-life these days!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to be too dramatic.  But as most (if not all) readers of this blog know, I am currently pregnant and due in about a month. (!!!)  I have already completed my paperwork for my maternity leave, and had to pick an "end" date.  Since I am due on a Monday (10/10), I went with Friday, October 7th.  And thus the countdown begins...

21 days left of work!!!!!!!!!  And while it's definitely exciting to think about staying at home with my little one, it also definitely stresses me out to think about all of the things I need to accomplish during my last 21 days here at work.

And let's be real - when do babies every REALLY come when they're supposed to?!  The truth is that Baby Peele could make his/her debut ANY day now, meaning that I am truly living each work day as if it were my last.  And let me tell you, I've never been so productive in my life!

I am trying to utilize every minute I can to cross off my To-Do's while also soaking in all of the things I love (and will miss) about Moore during my 3 months away.  So the old, sappy adage is definitely proving to define my work life, and it's got me thinking...

I know it's quite the cliche, but what if we truly all attempted to live in this manner?  I think that we, as a culture, take so many things for granted, believing that the next day is always promised.  But we are smart enough to know that it's not.  And I think it's time we start soaking in every minute life gives us, knowing that each of those moments is precious and never guaranteed.

And as for me and my expanding girth?  I'll be HOPING to make it to October 7th... But in the meantime, you'd better believe I'll approach each day as if it were my last day as a working non-mama. :)

  Don't Forget!
*September 12th - September 23rd - DIBELS BOY Window
*September 26th - Door Decorating Contest Begins!

*September 29th - Curriculum Night!! (Doors judged and winner announced!)

*October 3rd - SMART Response Workshop at Moore

**August Curriculum Updates**

REPORT CARDS

• K-2 will do a behavior report every two/two-and-a-half weeks.  The "O" and "I" have been eliminated, so teachers will only choose from "S" "N" or "U."
• There will be a midterm report every four and a half weeks.  (So parents will receive a behavior report, a midterm report, a behavior report, and then the report card.)
• Report cards are now on letter-sized paper.
• Early departures are now listed along with absences and tardies.
• K-2 now has Science/Social Studies as part of grades.
• For all grade levels, Reading and Language Arts are separate grading components.
• Music, Art, and PE are also included.
• Comments are in a drop-down box by subject area... in the Intervention/Enrichment section, teachers can write personal comments.  (There will be a guide/booklet of suggestions for teacher comments.)
• There is now a supporting document for parents that breaks down every skill in every subject for every quarter - this is already on the WSFCS webpage (under Parents/Community then Grade Level Expectations).
• 3-5 must enter grades WEEKLY into Parent Assist - make sure you click the "Post to Parent Portal" button!  Once grades are entered into NCWise, they will transfer into the report card.
• The data manager will have to print 3-5 report cards.
• At the end of the year, grade placement will have to be hand-written onto report cards.

CALL FOR CHANGE - NEW STANDARDS

• By the end of 1st Quarter, all teachers MUST go through an online training (in Moodle) titled "Call for Change."  I will have more details about this at a future staff meeting.
• All Common Core documents contain an unpacking tool - while the standards do not go into effect until next year, teachers should begin unpacking NOW.
• There are TONS of resources on the DPI and RttT (Race to the Top) website.  Check it out at www.ncpublicschools.org/RttT

MATH MATH MATH!!!

• Each grade level had a representative attend the K-5 Standards for Mathematical Practice workshop.  I also attended and received a brief overview for all grade levels.  Please read the following bullets CAREFULLY.
• For the Common Core standards, visit http://www.corestandards.org/
• Our implementation year is 2012-2013... this is also the year that the Common Core will be reflected in all assessments.
• There are standards for PRACTICE and standards for CONTENT... while the Content Standards do not go into effect until next year, teachers must adapt their teaching this year to reflect the new standards of PRACTICE.  This is MANDATED by the district.  Your grade level reps should be giving you the information they received so that you are prepared to adapt your teaching... this is VERY important.
• There are 8 Standards for Mathematical Practice:
• Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
• Students need to be able to make sense of problems, identify relationships, and work through them to figure them out.  Teachers should NOT just give the answers when students are incorrect!
• Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
• Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
• Students should work together, come up with ways to solve a problem, and communicate with each other while defending their methods.
• Teachers should talk LESS, act as the facilitator.
• Model with mathematics.
• Make everything relevant and applicable.
• Focus more on conceptual understanding rather than exact values.
• Use appropriate tools strategically.
• Students must have time to EXPLORE tools (http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html)
• Students should have access to tools all year long... don't just pull out calculators for EOQs and EOGs!
• Attend to precision.
• Students should give carefully formulated explanations to each other while learning to communicate precisely.
• Look for and make use of structure.
• It's all about patterns and properties.
• Let kids DISCOVER it before you point it out.
• Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.
• Let students repeat problem-solving skills to find patterns and make generalizations from something repeating.
• While this all may seem overwhelming, it's really about shifting our focus from the teaching to the learning.  Let it be all about the KIDS.  Math instruction should not be a teacher standing in front of a class, giving practice problems and waiting for students to call out answers.  Math instruction should be a collaborative experience, where kids form their own perceptions, work through problems, work together, talk about things, etc.  It's time for a change!!  It's time for us to adapt!!
• Once again, your math representative should help your grade level engage in a dialogue about all of this.  Here are the reps:
• Randleman
• Parris
• Rhodes
• Matthews
• Ermitano
• Hennings
• I will be putting a "Best Practices" checklist in your boxes today.  Start off this year changing the way you teach math!

HAPPY SCHOOL YEAR!!

• Curriculum updates aside, I can't believe today is the First Day of School Eve!!!!!  I'm sure I won't be the only one tossing and turning in bed tonight.  It's like the night before Christmas for me!!  I love the first day of school - I have since I was five years old, and I hope to feel the same way until I retire.  So teachers, students, and parents - Have a WONDERFUL first day tomorrow - You only get to do your first day once!  So make it worth it!!!

Don't Forget!

*August 25th - FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!

*August 31st - DIBELS Refresher Training 7:45am-8:30am

*September 1st - DIBELS Training for NEW Staff 3:45pm-4:45pm

*September 12th - September 23rd - DIBELS BOY Window

*September 15th - 4th Grade On-Demand Writing Training 8:00am

*September 20th - 4th Grade On-Demand Writing Test

*September 27th - 4th Grade On-Demand Writing Test Make-ups

*September 29th - Curriculum Night!!