The Power of One Conversation

I believe in the power of one conversation.

Be it with a friend, a family member, or (especially) a child, the words that color one conversation can have an everlasting impact.

Take, for instance, the last conversation I ever had with my father.  I'll never forget it.

Another example is a conversation my mom had with my siblings and me not long after the conversation with my father:  "We can get through this... together."

There was a time my third grade teacher told me, "Jessie... You can DO anything.  You can BE anything."  (It was at that moment, fueled by that conversation, that I decided I wanted to be just like her and affect children's lives the way she had affected mine.)

My mom and third grade teacher may or may not remember those conversations, but I will never forget them.  It was in these simple, succinct conversations that I built a foundation upon which all of my successes could be born.  Conversations can be powerful.  And if you know anything about children, you know they have a tendency to breathe in, to soak up every single word you say.

As an educator, I don't take conversations lightly.  It may very well be a, "Good morning!  So glad you're here!" or a "WOW!  Look at those new shoes!" or even a "How'd the football game/soccer game/dance recital go?"  These simple statements can provoke a conversation that lets a child know how much you care.  In the fast-paced world of education, we tend to skip, hop, and jump through curriculum (and we sometimes have to!) without stopping to treat children as...well... children.

During the hustle and bustle of this holiday season, don't underestimate that what you say to a child today may be remembered for the next twenty years.  Don't take for granted how important your words are to those tiny bodies around you.  And don't forget how powerful one conversation can be.

What will you say to a child today that impacts the rest of his/her life?

Don't Forget!
-December 7th:  Fluency Training for 3-5 7:30am-8:30am
-December 14th:  Benika Thompson Visits to Discuss Science 9:45am
-December 17th:  4th Grade Content Specific Writing Scores Due in Moodle
-January 13th:  Moore Elementary Spelling Bee (for 5th graders)
-January 14th:  2nd Quarter Testing (Science)
-January 18th:  2nd Quarter Testing (Reading)
-January 19th:  Title I Literacy Breakfast
-January 19th:  2nd Quarter Testing (Math With a Calculator)
-January 20th:  2nd Quarter Testing (Math Without a Calculator)
-Week of January 24th:  DIBELS MOY Benchmark Assessments
-January 26th-28th:  Moore Elementary Science Fair (for 5th graders)

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

When's the Last Time You Did the Hokey Pokey?

Because I did it today.  In a classroom full of joy and excitement, surrounded by kids beaming from ear-to-ear.

I was rushing (but not running!) down the hallways, on a mission (as usual), feeling stressed (also as usual)... And I heard it.  Joy.  What does joy sound like to you?  To me, it's simple - children laughing.  And today the sound of children laughing pulled me right out of my one-track, stressed, testing-focused mind and into a classroom where joy rippled through the air.  Without hesitation, I dropped what was in my hands and immediately joined in on the dancing and singing.

And oh how I needed that break from the rapid pace of my morning.  It was like drinking a Red Bull, giving me just what I needed to power through the rest of my day.

Kids -- They do it to me every time.  Make me take a step back and gain a new perspective.

JOY.

You put your right hand in, you put your right hand out...

 Don't Forget!
-October 27th:  1st Quarter Testing - Math (with a Calculator)
-October 28th:  CogAt/ITBS Proctor Training 8:00am
                             1st Quarter Testing - Math (without a Calculator)
-October 29th:  Teacher Work Day
                             CogAt/ITBS Administrator Training 9:00am
                             CogAt/ITBS Proctor Training 10:00am
-November 1st-5th:  CogAt Testing
-November 15th-17th:  ITBS Testing

It's Not How You Planned It... But What Are the Possibilities?

I have to give credit for the quote above to our guidance counselor, Anne Collins.  She emailed it to me over the weekend to post in the hallways of Moore (alongside our other positive quotes), and it has been on my mind since I opened the email...

Hi, my name is Jessie Peele, and I am a planner.  A planner of EVERYTHING.  I live by a checklist and become overjoyed at checking off the little square boxes down the side of my To-Do list.  You name it, I plan it.  Upon becoming a teacher and now a Curriculum Coordinator, I have quickly learned that while you may plan every detail, things don't always go according to that plan.  And as the quote above suggests, rather than wallowing in the disappointment and stress of things going a little off track, why not look for possibilities?

As I reflect on my past five years of teaching, I realize some of the best teaching moments came when I wasn't necessarily doing something written word-for-word in my plan book.  It goes back to being PRESENT and living in the moment.  Now, I'm not suggesting plans aren't important in the world of education... But what's equally important is knowing when you need to veer off of the plan.

Life has a funny way of working out.  Sometimes things go just as we'd hoped, imagined, dreamed of, planned for... Sometimes they don't.  And a lot of times, in retrospect, we understand why the plan didn't carry out the way we'd envisioned.  By being PRESENT, we can continuously be aware of the possibilities surrounding us, making the most out of each and every moment - planned or not.

 Don't Forget!
-October 19th:  6:00-6:30 Parents Supporting Learning in the Upper Grades
-October 26th:  1st Quarter Testing - Reading
-October 27th:  Fluency Training at Staff Meeting
-October 27th:  1st Quarter Testing - Math (with a Calculator)
-October 28th:  1st Quarter Testing - Math (without a Calculator)
-November 3rd-5th:  CogAt Testing
-November 15th-17th:  ITBS Testing

Ferris Wheels, Funnel Cakes, French Fries... FAIR!

I LOVE FALL.  I love college football, the cool air, and the changing leaves that crunch underneath your feet.  But what I love MOST about Fall is the FAIR!  You can see signs of the fair in children's eyes before the last bolt goes into the ferris wheels.  There's just a feeling in the air that the fair is in town.

I've been pondering why kids love the fair so very, very much.  I wonder if maybe it has something to do with how it appeals to all five of their senses?  Their sense of touch (as they win that furry stuffed animal!); smell (you can smell the food a mile away!); hearing (the roller coaster zooming past, the carnival music!); seeing (there's so much to look at!); taste (where do I even begin?!).  Children love the fair because it clutches their attention from all angles.

While our classrooms will probably never quite measure up to the fair, imagine how much kids would enjoy learning if teachers sought to stimulate children from all angles using all five of our senses?  Our school's theme revolves around Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences theory and all teachers strive to differentiate instruction to reach all eight "smarts."  However, sometimes we get so overwhelmed with To-Do's, assessments, and paperwork, we lose sight of teaching to all learning styles.

So let's use this time of year to remind ourselves how important it is to create classrooms that are inviting for all learners, whether Music/Self/People/Nature/Logic/Word/Art/Body Smart!  Create environments that stimulate a child's sense of tasting, touching, smelling, hearing, feeling, and seeing.  Make children want to "Step right up!" and try out a new math technique or art technique or read a new book.  Make learning fun by finding your inner-child and realizing that in order for students to be engaged, they must be interested.  It's up to you to make it interesting.  No juggling, stilts, or cotton candy required.

For research purposes, I'll be headed to the fair this week. :)

 Don't Forget!
-October 7th:  PTA Bingo Night
-October 8th:  4th Grade On-Demand Writing Scores due in Moodle
-October 19th:  Gateway Meeting
-October 26th:  1st Quarter Testing - Reading
-October 27th:  1st Quarter Testing - Math (with a Calculator)
-October 28th:  1st Quarter Testing - Math (without a Calculator)