Coming off the long break, this last weekend didn't seem to do much, but here we are and I hope we are all ready to welcome the kids back to another great week of learning experiences. I'm excited this week because I hope to have a fun learning experience with kids and you each day this week. It is my one word so I better be working on it.
Thank you for using our new hashtag. I've wanted the community to be more involved in helping to tell the Grovecrest story, but I have yet to see much there other than when Belle Cahoon did the food drive. Her mom posted on our Facebook page. If you don't know, the hashtag is #WeRGrizzlies. Continue to use #PawPower and #teamkid whenever you can, but make sure from now on, you use #WeRGrizzlies.
Thanks to those who shared your one word for 2016. If you haven't, please share. It has been really good for me to see the reasoning behind the one word pledges of those who have shared so far. We have words like, Connections, Intent, Love, and Smile. I know there are more out there. I know also many of you have had activities with your students with creating goals and resolutions for the new year. Have you considered incorporating the #OneWord2016 challenge with your students? Think about it if you haven't and have them share with the rest of the staff via this blog in comments, or in some other way.
Question of the Week
I've been contemplating this question of the week for a while because I can see how it could be a bit controversial in some circles. I'm going to ask it anyway because I see it being a very reflective question and a way for me to gage how I can be of better service to you. Here it goes. Do you feel that the core, traditions, or school culture holds you back from doing things with your class you know are good for their learning? Please respond via comments and share why. Thanks
Please pay attention to the To Be Aware Ofs. There is some important information there.
Save The Date
To Be Aware Of
- There is a question of the week above. Please respond. We want to use it as a conversation piece. Please take part.
- REMINDER: Don't ever leave a student unattended with a device or in the computer lab. There was an incident at another school here in PG where the teacher left some students unattended and they accessed some inappropriate material. This goes for use of chromebooks. Make sure your instruction takes place behind the students so you can see the screen. If there is a need to move to the front of the room, think of what you could do so you are always aware of where your students are (maybe send a student up to write on the board). I just don't want anyone to get in trouble.
- How is Edivate going for all of you? I'm wondering if it is beneficial to you. Are you just using video PD, creating video to collaborate about, taking courses, what? Please let me know.
- Keep track of what duty you have each week. There have been a few times where there hasn't been someone out on duty. We need to make sure the kids are safe. Here is a link to the duty list for quick reference
- Make sure to complete your self evaluation on Observertab if you haven't already. This is REQUIRED and shouldn't take you too long.
- Please look at the calendar for openings for the 2nd round of evaluations. I'll be focusing on standards 5 and 6. Schedule "B" people, you need to schedule times as well and let me know what indicators you want me to observe you on.
- Grovecrest now has a Facebook Page. www.facebook.com/grovecgrizzlies. Please like and post whenever you can. We want our community to take part in it as well. I hope they will post using our new hashtag #WeRGrizzlies. When talking to parents, encourage them to take part.
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
Refer to the schedule. Here is a link.
Save The Date
1/11 Alio/Skyward training for Sheila 1:00 pm.
1/12 Interagency Mtg at PGPD 8:30 am for Kyle and Zack
1/13 Faculty Mtg 8:15 with Ellie Young from BYU
1/13 SCC Mtg 1:30-2:30 in Faculty room
1/13 Gigg Social Media Mtg for Zack 1:00 @ D.O.
1/14 Divisional Principal's mtg for Kyle 2:00 pm.
1/18 Martin Luther King Day. NO SCHOOL
1/19 Council PTA Mtg here at Grovecrest in Media Center 9:30 a.m.
1/21 Elementary Principals' Mtg 9-12 for Kyle
1/21-22 Principals' STEM Academy for Kyle.
1/12 Interagency Mtg at PGPD 8:30 am for Kyle and Zack
1/13 Faculty Mtg 8:15 with Ellie Young from BYU
1/13 SCC Mtg 1:30-2:30 in Faculty room
1/13 Gigg Social Media Mtg for Zack 1:00 @ D.O.
1/14 Divisional Principal's mtg for Kyle 2:00 pm.
1/18 Martin Luther King Day. NO SCHOOL
1/19 Council PTA Mtg here at Grovecrest in Media Center 9:30 a.m.
1/21 Elementary Principals' Mtg 9-12 for Kyle
1/21-22 Principals' STEM Academy for Kyle.
*Look at the Faculty Calendar on Google for other events.
Happy Birthday
1/9 Denice Apgood
1/17 Jackie Hull
Celebrations
- Congrats to all the Reflections winners. I'll announce them in the assembly. Please congratulate them sometime this week.
- A big Congrats to Wendi for being one of PG's Chamber of Commerce Educators of the Year.
- Sheila is finally on Twitter! Yay!!!
Great Video of the Week
Really quick video about using technology for formative assessments. Think about how this could be done in your grade. I can see it working in any grade.
https://www.pd360.com/#resources/videos/12119
Funny of the Week
This is for all you English gurus.
Quote for the Week
https://www.pd360.com/#resources/videos/12119
Funny of the Week
This is for all you English gurus.
Quote for the Week
Have an Amazing week!
I do feel like the core gets in the way with my writing. I used to do way more with fiction writing. Have them write fantasy stories, more stories about their lives, etc., but now I do one and then feel the need to have to only do non-fiction writing--summarizing, persuasive, etc. because that is what they will be tested on.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the school culture holds me back and I try to look at my "traditional" items that I do each year and look to see if they would still be appropriate to do again this year, or if I should shelve it.
I don't feel like any of those things hold me back. If it's important enough to me to still do it, I find a way to keep it.
ReplyDeleteFor instance, with the changing math core over the years I've taught, some concepts were moved out of my grade. But I found that the kids still needed some of that, so we build it in.
I can see how the core could hold back some good writing units. For me, I feel like it's made me a better writing teacher
I don't feel held back. Given that I am so new to teaching, I feel like it makes more accountable, and gives needed direction. If I had been teaching for a number of year, and had things that I HAD been doing; I would be like Casey and find a way to fit them in.
ReplyDeleteNow that I am more aware of the core standards, it helps to see how what I do fits within the classroom curriculum. It does sometimes make it tough to customize the work that I do to each individual student. I appreciate the school culture (motto, goals, etc) because it gives a reference when I am teaching students appropriate social communication and interaction. Compared to other schools, our kids are generally well behaved and respectful.
ReplyDelete'unknown' above is Lisa Robinson - duh, I'll figure this out soon...
ReplyDeleteI don't feel held back. The core provides high expectations that are good for my students and I. Our school culture has consistent good behavior expectations and procedures that support learning. I feel that I am able to love my students and my job and the kids can feel it which helps them succeed with high expectations :)!
ReplyDeleteThis is from Tambee.
ReplyDeleteMy one word is Calm :) It is good for everybody.
And here is my response to this weeks question:
I think I agree with Casey on doing what I feel is important. I like the core because it has taken my writing instruction further than what I was doing before and first graders CAN do it.
Our school culture fosters continuity and acceptance. WE focus on desired behaviors/actions and deal with the negative ones when they arrive.
I like what Tambee had to say about our school culture. I think it promotes learning and growth, rather than holding us back. I don't feel like the core holds me back either. I think the newer core standards especially push me to work a little harder and to expect more from my students than I did during my first couple of years in teaching.
ReplyDeleteTradition might be one thing that I sometimes feel is holding me back, but that's not tradition's fault. It's mine. Sometimes I opt for the good, already-planned, familiar stuff, rather than the possibly better, requires-lots-of-time-to-plan, new stuff.
My one word is calm as well.
ReplyDeleteI do what I want to do and the only thing that holds me back is not having enough time to prepare.
I love the school culture and the school wide behavioral expectations. It helps us all, students and teachers, feel like we are part of a greater whole. That's a stabilizing and unifying effect for all of us.
I feel like Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, that tradition also provides solidarity, continuity and a history to build upon.