2/23/2015 MMM

The time is flying by.  I can't believe February is almost through.  Remember the trimester ends this Friday.  Grades are due this weekend.  Please fill out this form when you have finalized and posted your grades.  It is just a yes question.
I would encourage any who are on Twitter to take part in the Wednesday night #Utedchat.  It is pretty neat.  This week's topic is more of an administrative topic, but since I am moderating, I could use some teacher feedback and responses.  The topic is "Juggling Classroom & Office time".  It is from 8-9 on Wednesday night.  Get on your twitter account, search for #Utedchat, make sure each of your posts have that hashtag in it.  Just so you know, information will be coming at you like a firehose.  You'll get in a conversation with one person and miss other info, but it is all archived if you want to go back and read.  Quite the learning experience.  There is an app called Tweetdeck that may help keep track of it all.  If you want to learn about it, come into my office or watch this tutorial.
I would like to come around and read a book to everyone each month.  Come talk to me about a time I can come in and read to you.  It is a great book.
You are all still welcome to comment on last weeks reflection topic if you would like.  I have heard from many that TodaysMeet is blocked.  If you are hardwired in, you will be.  If you are using the Staff WiFi, then you should be able to get to it.

To Be Aware of

• Flu season is not over.  Please take care of yourselves.
• For those of your students who didn't get a chance to finish the SAGE writing, today is the last day.  The State has given us one more day to get things done.  Ryan has opened it up again.
• The people at Edivation (Soon to be Edivate) are wanting to know if we want a training on March 9th starting at 10:30 or 1.  I need feedback so I can let them know when to come.  I hope from faculty meeting you were able to see Edivation as a benefit and something that will help you out as a teacher.  I hope you don't see it as "one more new thing", but as a resource you can use.  I have played with it often, and I enjoy listening to and watching the PD videos that are available.  I'm excited to get discuss many of them with all of you.
• Jeanne Bates came and my evaluation turned out how I hoped.  It is a relief to have it done.  Speaking of evaluations, I have to have all of yours turned in by the end of this week.  If you haven't been observed this last time, please sign up today for a time sometime this week.  I will try to make the post evaluation meeting short and sweet.  It will be a lot like years past in that there is a form you will have to sign on one side and initial in several places on the other.  It looks a lot like the old SET.

Cleaning Schedule

Sept.  Office

Oct. 6th Grade

Nov.  5th Grade

Dec.  3rd Grade

Jan.  2nd Grade

Feb. 1st Grade

Mar. 4th Grade

Apr. SPED and Computer Specialist

May  Kinder, Life Skills, & P.E. Specialist

Lunch Schedule

1st

11:31 Hull

11:32 Mac

11:33 McKell

11:34 Sharma

2nd

11:25 Herman

11:26 Higgins

11:27 West

11:28 Connell

3rd

11:56 Wilson

11:58 Whipple

12:00 Nichols

12:02 Wright

12:03 Schafer

4th

11:55 Fiorucci

11:57 Crossley

11:59 CJohnson

12:01 Austin

5th

12:20 MJohnson

12:22 Oswald

12:24 Day

12:26 Green

6th

12:21 Allen

12:23 Krall

12:25 Rooke

12:27 Paravato

Save the Date

2/24 PG PTA Council Meeting - Kyle 9:30

2/25 CTL Meeting 8:15

2/26 Principal Mtg 12:30

2/26 PGJH 6th Grade Music Pre-registration 1:45

2/27 Budget lab for principals 8:30-10:30

2/27 End of Trimester two.

3/1 Grades due for Trimester two

3/2-6 Battle of the Books

3/2 Dr. Seuss Day

3/3 Interagency Mtg 8:30 - Kyle

3/4 District Technology Buyers Guide 2:30 - Kyle & Zack

3/5 K-12 Seminar - Kyle 9-1

3/6 Administrative Conference Committee Mtg 1:00 - Kyle

*Look at the Faculty Calendar on Google for other events.

Happy Birthday

2/23 Nedra Baum

Celebrations/Things I Noticed

If any of you notice great things some of your teammates are doing, please share by commenting below or telling me so I can include it in future MMMs.

• Casey had a great conversation with his class on fraction/decimal equivalents.  He has a great way creating a curiosity with math with his kids.  Really fun to watch!
• The Invention Convention was a great success. Wonderful job 6th grade and 6th grade teachers.  I really liked how the kids had to come up with something innovative to go with their study of inventions.  Way cool!
• Sarah was talking about different types of volcanoes one day last week.  She was talking about stuff that came out of volcanoes, like lava, ash, gas, etc.  One boy was a little confused and said people spewed out of them.  Sarah knows the story a lot better than I do and tells it better.  It was quite funny.
• Alysha gave a great lesson on inference using an online puzzle program.  Maybe the reason I liked it so much was the puzzle was of me.  Actually, her pieces of information as clues to the puzzle were great and how she tied the activity into inferences in reading and writing was wonderful.

Great Video clip of the Week

Just plain great to watch and listen to.

Great Read of the Week
A short read and a podcast from one of my heros George Couros.  It is on innovation.  I hope you all get something from it.  Just out of curiosity, I am wondering how many actually listen or read these things.  Will you comment/email me a let me know if you do?  It won't stop me from including them here.  At least some will learn something from them. Thanks

Have a Great Week!  #PawPower!!

2/17/15 MMM

I would encourage any who are on Twitter to take part in the Wednesday night #Utedchat.  It is pretty neat.  This week's topic is "Standardized Testing".  It is from 8-9 on Wednesday night.  Get on your twitter account, search for #Utedchat, make sure each of your posts have that hashtag in it.  Just so you know, information will be coming at you like a firehose.  You'll get in a conversation with one person and miss other info, but it is all archived if you want to go back and read.  Quite the learning experience.
Also, if you haven't noticed the email concerning my evaluation, please go to this link and fill out the survey.  Thanks for being honest with this.  Jeanne Bates is coming to evaluate me on Friday.  I know how you all feel when I come into your rooms to observe you.  I am so nervous.
I would like to come around and read a book to everyone each month.  I would like to start this week.  I have openings from 10-10:30, 11:15-1, and 1:30-2 tomorrow.  Then on Friday, I have openings from 10:45-1.  Please sign up.
I would also like all of you to watch the video at the bottom of this page.  Commenting is available via the link attached.  Also, please read the article linked at the bottom as well.  It explains why I am passionate about Twitter and the like.  I did not write the article, but it sure made sense to me.
Hope all your long weekends were great.  I went skiing with my brothers in Telluride, CO.  It was awesome, but I tweaked my thumb a little.  It is hard to grip things with my left hand because of it. Despite that, I had a great time.

To Be Aware of

• Flu season is not over.  Please take care of yourselves.
• SAGE Writing testing has started.  Make sure to have Chromebooks scheduled with your team and if you are going to use the computer lab, to have that scheduled through the office.  There are still some glitches here and there, but for the most part, we've been able to work it all out.
• Faculty meeting tomorrow.  People from Edivation will be coming.  Please keep an open mind to the possibilities of this.  It may seem like one more thing, but it really isn't.  It is definitely a tool to help.
• Jeanne Bates is coming to evaluate me Friday from 1-4.

Cleaning Schedule

Sept.  Office

Oct. 6th Grade

Nov.  5th Grade

Dec.  3rd Grade

Jan.  2nd Grade

Feb. 1st Grade

Mar. 4th Grade

Apr. SPED and Computer Specialist

May  Kinder, Life Skills, & P.E. Specialist

Lunch Schedule

1st

11:31 Mac

11:32 McKell

11:33 Sharma

11:34 Hull

2nd

11:25 Higgins

11:26 West

11:27 Connell

11:28 Herman

3rd

11:56 Whipple

11:58 Nichols

12:00 Wright

12:02 Schafer

12:03 Wilson

4th

11:55 Crossley

11:57 CJohnson

11:59 Austin

12:01 Fiorucci

5th

12:20 Oswald

12:22 Day

12:24 Green

12:26 MJohnson

6th

12:21 Krall

12:23 Rooke

12:25 Paravato

12:27 Allen

Save the Date

2/16-20 Love your bus week

2/18 Faculty Mtg - Edivation Introduction

2/18 SCC Mtg 2:00

2/19 Principal Mtg - Kyle

2/20 Last day for SAGE Writing

2/20 Kyle's evaluation with Jeanne Bates

2/24 PG PTA Council Meeting - Kyle 9:30

2/25 CTL Meeting 8:15

2/26 Principal Mtg 12:30

2/26 PGJH 6th Grade registration 1:45

2/27 Budget lab for principals 8:30-10:30

*Look at the Faculty Calendar on Google for other events.

Happy Birthday

No birthdays this week.  Let me know if I missed someone.

Celebrations/Things I Noticed

If any of you notice great things some of your teammates are doing, please share by commenting below or telling me so I can include it in future MMMs.

• I saw Sarah facilitate an excellent activity with fractions.  One of the perks of being in your rooms more this year.
• I was able to "Vox" a conversation with Lauren's 6th grade class about the size of the Sun compared to other stars.  This all happened while I was on the road to St. George for a conference.  Voxer is a really cool tool that can be downloaded to your iPads.  Talk to me if you have any questions and would like a "Vox" between your class and me.

Great Video clip of the Week

Great video clip on overcoming fears.  How do we fit into this?  What do we fear and how do we get over it?  How do we help our students overcome fear?  Click on this link to answer or answer by commenting on this blog. The girl in this clip is in 4th grade.

Great Read of the Week
Do you wonder why I'm so passionate about social media in our school such as Twitter?  Please read this.  It explains it better than I can.  Click the link.  

Have a Great Week!  #PawPower!!

2/9/15 MMM

Scheduling for the 3rd evaluation on standards 1 and 2 is available now.  Click on the link.  We need to get all observations finished by the 27th of this month.  The sooner the better because I have to turn paperwork into the district by that last week.
I would encourage any who are on Twitter to take part in the Wednesday night #Utedchat.  It is pretty neat.  This week's topic is "Avoiding Teacher Burnout" and it is being moderated by Dave Horan from Freedom Elementary.  Considering what we are going through right now with SAGE/Common Core/SLOs/ and every other new thing coming at us, this would be an hour well spent.  It is from 8-9 on Wednesday night.  Get on your twitter account, search for #Utedchat, make sure each of your posts have that hashtag in it.  Just so you know, information will be coming at you like a firehose.  You'll get in a conversation with one person and miss other info, but it is all archived if you want to go back and read.  Quite the learning experience.
Also, if you haven't noticed the email concerning my evaluation, please go to this link and fill out the survey.  Thanks for being honest with this.

To Be Aware of

• Winter DRA Testing/data entry window is closed as of the 6th.
• Flu season is not over.  Please take care of yourselves.
• Parent Teacher conferences went very well.  When you get a chance, will you email me your attendance and if you've made arrangements with parents that didn't come.  You can also comment on this blog post with your information.
• iReady diagnostics are ready to use both in math and reading.  Please let me know when you are doing them so I can come around and watch.  I know several have already started.  Some of you have asked Emma to do the diagnostic during computer time.  This needs to be done on your time.  Schedule some time with Zack or I during free computer lab time.  If you would like her to do some of the activities after the initial diagnostic, that would be great.
• SAGE Writing testing has started.  Make sure to have Chromebooks scheduled with your team and if you are going to use the computer lab, to have that scheduled through the office.

Cleaning Schedule

Sept.  Office

Oct. 6th Grade

Nov.  5th Grade

Dec.  3rd Grade

Jan.  2nd Grade

Feb. 1st Grade

Mar. 4th Grade

Apr. SPED and Computer Specialist

May  Kinder, Life Skills, & P.E. Specialist

Lunch Schedule

1st

11:31 McKell

11:32 Sharma

11:33 Hull

11:34 Mac

2nd

11:25 West

11:26 Connell

11:27 Herman

11:28 Higgins

3rd

11:56 Wright

11:58 Schafer

12:00 Wilson

12:02 Whipple

12:03 Nichols

4th

11:55 CJohnson

11:57 Austin

11:59 Fiorucci

12:01 Crossley

5th

12:20 Day

12:22 Green

12:24 MJohnson

12:26 Oswald

6th

12:21 Rooke

12:23 Paravato

12:25 Allen

12:27 Krall

Save the Date

2/9-13 Kindergarten Registration

2/10 TAT team mtg in Kyle's office 8:15 am.

2/11-2/13 UAESP Winter Conference - Kyle

2/12 PGJH PT conferences 3:30-8:30

2/16 President's Day  No School!!

2/16-20 Love your bus week

2/18 Faculty Mtg - Edivation Introduction

2/18 SCC Mtg 2:00

2/19 Principal Mtg - Kyle

2/20 Last day for SAGE Writing

2/20 Kyle's evaluation with Jeanne Bates

*Look at the Faculty Calendar on Google for other events.

Happy Birthday

2/14 Lisa Schafer

Celebrations/Things I Noticed

If any of you notice great things some of your teammates are doing, please share by commenting below or telling me so I can include it in future MMMs.

• I saw many people doing the iReady diagnostic.  This is awesome.  Some have even said they like it more than Mastery Connect.  Have any done post diagnostic activities on iReady?  I would like to know and come watch.
• I was able to witness and take part in some amazing writing going on in both Pam and Sarah's class.  Pam's class shared with me their writing via google docs and both Pam and I were able to make comments on their persuasive writing in real time.  It was quite fun.
• We have a few more parents participating with us on Twitter.  I notice a few posts with #teamkid from parents and teachers this last week.  Thank you for taking part in this challenge.  It is fun to take part in the competition.

Great Video clip of the Week

If this video clip doesn't pump you up as a teacher, I don't know what will.  This inspires me.  Some may have seen this, but it's worth watching again.  Only 3 1/2 minutes long.

Great Read of the Week
If you are curious of how you could get your kids started with blogging, here is a paper activity you could try.  Click the link.

Have a Great Week!  #PawPower!!

2/2/15 MMM

Scheduling for the 3rd evaluation on standards 1 and 2 is available now.  Click on the link.  We need to get all observations finished by the 27th of this month.  The sooner the better because I have to turn paperwork into the district by that last week.
Give me your thoughts on Genius Hour.  Is there a place for this in our school?  You can get on Youtube and see all kinds of ideas about Genius Hour.  It is pretty cool what kids and teachers come up with.
For the past two weeks, I've been involved in a Twitter edchat for Utah educators. It happens every Wednesday night from 9-10. The hashtag is #Utedchat. It's really nice because it is usually after the kids go to bed. The format is really simple. At 9, the moderator starts out with a question (Q1) which everybody responds to with an answer (A1). Then for about 10 minutes everyone responds to each other before the next question is asked (Q2). There is always a topic of focus. Last week was on  UCET. The next week will be on evaluating teachers. All you need to do is get on Twitter and search for #Utedchat to start tweeting and learning. By the way, there are edchats happening pretty much every day of the week you could get involved in. There are edchats by grade level.  Just look up #[your grade]chat (such as #1stchat)  Two weeks ago, I also took part in #ptchat which is a parent/teacher edchat. It was fantastic!  Something to look at.

To Be Aware of

• Winter DRA Testing window is open till Tuesday.  The Data Entry window will be open till the Friday.
• Flu season is not over.  Please take care of yourselves.
• Parent Teacher conferences are this week.  I'm expecting some great ways to show parents what their students have done.  Last year we had some pretty innovative sharing and the parent really appreciated it.  Don't forget to leave with the kids on Friday.  Don't stay long.
• iReady diagnostics are ready to use both in math and reading.  Please let me know when you are doing them so I can come around and watch.  I know several have already started.
• SAGE Writing testing starts this week.  Make sure to have Chromebooks scheduled with your team and if you are going to use the computer lab, to have that scheduled through the office.

Cleaning Schedule

Sept.  Office

Oct. 6th Grade

Nov.  5th Grade

Dec.  3rd Grade

Jan.  2nd Grade

Feb. 1st Grade

Mar. 4th Grade

Apr. SPED and Computer Specialist

May  Kinder, Life Skills, & P.E. Specialist

Lunch Schedule

1st

11:31 Sharma

11:32 Hull

11:33 Mac

11:34 McKell

2nd

11:25 Connell

11:26 Herman

11:27 Higgins

11:28 West

3rd

11:56 Schafer

11:58 Wilson

12:00 Whipple

12:02 Nichols

12:03 Wright

4th

11:55 Austin

11:57 Fiorucci

11:59 Crossley

12:01 CJohnson

5th

12:20 Green

12:22 MJohnson

12:24 Oswald

12:26 Day

6th

12:21 Paravato

12:23 Allen

12:25 Krall

12:27 Rooke

Save the Date

2/2 Choir starts again

2/2 PG Cluster Mtg - Kyle & Zack 8:30-9:30

2/2 SAGE Writing Assessment window opens

2/2 Storytelling Kickoff

2/3 DRA Testing window closes

2.4 Pennies for Patients Kickoff Assembly

2/4-2/5 Parent Teacher Conferences

2/4 CTL Mtg w/ BYU

2/6 DRA Skyward data entry window closes

2/9-13 Kindergarten Registration

2/11 SCC Mtg 2:00

2/11-2/13 UAESP Winter Conference - Kyle

*Look at the Faculty Calendar on Google for other events.

Happy Birthday

1/1 Staci Robinson

Celebrations/Things I Noticed

If any of you notice great things some of your teammates are doing, please share by commenting below or telling me so I can include it in future MMMs.

• Lisa Schafer has been tweeting out some pretty sweet stuff.  If you notice those who favorite and retweet, you will notice that Kim Bird from the district is often on there.  Thanks to everyone who is tweeting out things that are happening in your class.  This is a way for us to be transparent with the public about what we are doing.  If you are doing it, keep doing it.  If you are not doing it, you need to start.  It is actually fun.  If you need help, let me know.
• Congrats to the Patriots on an amazing Super Bowl win.  Bad play call by the Seahawks there at the end.
• Lisa Robinson was able to go around this last week and do a few lessons to classes with speech.  Thank you for what you did.

Great Video clip of the Week

No video of the week this week, unless you look at genius hour clips from the beginning of the blog.  Focus on getting ready for PT conferences.

Great Read of the Week
No great read of the week this week so you can focus on PT conferences.

Have a Great Week!  #PawPower!!