Hungry for Books?!

 Principal Ponderings...

Are you ready for a virtual book tasting?  I have several awesome professional development books that I would love to order for you if you are interested in them.  I am going to record some short videos about the books, add in a picture of the book cover and a short blurb about the book.  Just to give you a little taste of the book.  I will send out a survey this week, and if there are books that people want, I will order multiple copies for you!

Math fact instruction is often ineffective: lots of worksheets, drills, and rote memorization. This kind of instruction doesn’t serve students well.  No More Math Fact Frenzy addresses this by examining current research about how to effectively build students' math fact knowledge. The authors then share a new set of best-practices: classroom activities that build students’ number sense and strategies that lead to flexible thinking.

Malke shows how pairing math concepts and whole body movement creates opportunities for students to make sense of math in entirely new ways. Filled with classroom-tested activities and detailed coaching tips, and supported with extensive online video clips, Math on the Move shows how movement can enliven the learning process rather than offer a break from it.

“We believe that play is one type of environment where children can be rigorous in their learning,” Kristi, Alison, and Cheryl write. They provide a host of lessons, suggestions for classroom setups, helpful tools and charts, curriculum connections, teaching points, and teaching language to help you foster mature play that makes every moment in your classroom instructional.

Topics such as race, gender, politics, religion, and sexuality are part of our students' lives, yet when these subjects are brought up at school teachers often struggle with how to respond. How do we create learning conditions where kids can ask the questions they want to ask, muddle through how to say the things they are thinking, and have tough conversations? How can we be proactive and take steps to engaging in the types of conversations where risk is high but the payoff could be even greater?

Equity by Design is intended to serve as a blueprint for teachers to alter the all-too-predictable outcomes for our historically under-served students. A first of its kind resource, the book makes the critical link between social justice and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) so that we can equip students (and teachers, too) with the will, skill, and collective capacity to enact positive change.

“Poetry is our wisest writing teacher.” Children’s writer and poet Amy Ludwig VanDerwater 

leads us on an adventure through poetry, pointing out craft elements along the way that students can use to improve all their writing, from idea finding to language play.

The kids are the least of our worries. Seriously. If that sounds blasphemous in a book for concerned parents and educators (and anyone, really, who worries about “kids these days”), then I am so glad you’re here. If you own a kid, work with a kid, or love a kid, you will find something inspiring in these pages. Dare I say game-changing. These words were born from the hundreds of stories of kids, their families, and their support systems I was lucky to meet as I worked across Canada and the USA. Regardless of who I met or where I met them, the message was always the same: our kids are okay ONLY if those of us holding them are okay. During the developmental years, schools—and educators—are the most significant connection point to most every child on this continent. But are the educators okay? I believe that most of the great educators want to make a difference. Many tell me, however, that they are finding it more and more difficult “these days” to love what they do. I think it’s time we did a better job of looking after them. First. Plain and simple. This book is for the educators: our teachers, bus drivers, administrators, educational assistants, librarians, administrative assistants, and custodians. And anyone who leads, loves, and supports them. If that’s you, I am so grateful you are here. 

In Leading Literate Lives, Stephanie outlines a framework for reading and writing that makes a direct connection between reflection and classroom practice. In each chapter you will find concrete ideas, tools, and activities for reading and writing to help move you from teacher reflection to instruction. For every specific reflection Stephanie will show you how to put the same idea into practice in your classroom.

Books as bridges enable readers to speak freely, think deeply, and take action.  In Reading to Make a Difference, Lester and Katie build on the work of Rudine Sims Bishop, extending the notion of books as windows, mirrors, and doors. They show you how to move beyond exposing your students to diverse children’s literature by offering an instructional framework that is applicable to any topic and can be adapted to your own classroom or community.

So many amazing choices!  I will send out a Google form later this week to find out what book you might want to dive into this summer.  Clearly, all of these are optional.  I just wanted to share a few great titles with you.  I will also add Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain to that list.  Several of us did a book study across the district with that book.  I enjoyed talking with staff across the district about it and would be willing to help facilitate another group discussion about it.

Hope you enjoyed this virtual book tasting!

Currently reading:

Emerson and I took a field trip on Sunday to Roots and Press, a small, amazing bookstore in Worcester.  And I think I want to spend more time in this space!  I purchased several amazing books, including a wonderful picture book titled Watercress.  This book tells the story of a Chinese family living in Ohio, and how a stop on the side of the road uncovers some powerful memories from the mother's childhood in China. 

I also purchased the beautiful book We Are Water Protectors, which tells the story of the "black snake" that threatens to poison the water and how a young water protector tries to help.  This book is about how we have to protect Mother Earth.

I also purchased and immediately started reading Stamped (for Kids).  I have been working my way through the original Stamped book.  Now I am excited for this book for our upper elementary students as an important resource to open up more conversations about race. 

Events this week:

Tuesday - CST meeting @ 8:00am

Wednesday - Staff meeting @ 8:00am, half day, Liz in a PLT meeting 1:30-3:00

Thursday - CST meeting @ 8:00am, Mountview transition meetings for 5th grade

Check it out:

Not that you don't already know this...

Spring Cleaning

 Principal Ponderings...

It's that time of year for spring cleaning.  Especially after a year of being mostly in our homes, everyone is ready to deep clean the whole house.  It's also time for us to do some spring cleaning in our curriculum house.  What do I mean?  Well this year has forced us to do things a little differently.  We have not been able to cover everything we normally cover.  We have had to prioritize and re-organize.  Before we prepare for next year, we need to look back at our lessons, our activities, our classrooms, our curriculum.  

What needs to go?  Some things were tossed out automatically because of the different way of teaching and learning this year.  Maybe some needs to stay gone?  Maybe some things that we tried that did not work should be tossed?  Maybe some things need to be recycled and used in a different way next year?

Do we need to dust some things off that sat on our teaching shelves this year?  Was there a lesson or an activity that you didn't get to use or implement that you really feel you should have done this year?  Just make sure it's really necessary to pull it off the shelf and dust it off.  I am not a fan of unnecessary dusting. ;)

How can we scrub and clean our curriculum?  Maybe we need to purchase some new materials to replenish and refresh?  Sometimes having something that's shiny and new helps reinvigorate me.  Will it be new supplies?  Will it be a new professional development book?  Will it be a new curriculum plan?  What do you think will reinvigorate you?

How about organization?  This was the year of Marie Kondo-ing your classroom and your curriculum plans.  Simple.  Clutter free.  Only teaching what was absolutely necessary.  Will you keep that type of organization for next year?  Will you slowly add some items back but in an organized fashion?  Maybe you need to make three piles...a keep pile, a toss pile, and a donate to a peer pile?

I know we still have several weeks left of this (fill in the blank) year.  But it's time to start spring cleaning.  It's an exhausting and overwhelming task, but I promise you will feel better after you've done it.

What will you do for spring cleaning?

Currently reading:

I was so excited to get a new book in the mail last week!  My good friend, Don Vu, is a principal out in CA who took the past two years "off" to be a dad and write a book.  He is a fellow reading lover like me.  Love his book called Life, Literacy and the Pursuit of Happiness.  I ordered a copy for our amazing Liz Hilton, but if anyone is interested, I will loan mine out when I am done.

I also started listening to Alex Trebek's book...was always a huge Jeopardy fan.  It was a family event to watch that show each night.  Fun fact...I once tried out for Jeopardy...came very close to being on the show!

Events this week:

Monday - PD Day for staff, No School for students

Tuesday - 5th Grade presentation on social media safety with Ellen Miller 2:00-3:00

Wednesday - Half day, CST meeting @ 8:00am, Liz in a PLT meeting from 1:30-3:00

Thursday - CST meeting @ 8:00 am

Check it out:

I was recently interviewed for a principal podcast with NAESP.  You certainly hear me enough, but if you want to listen to more of me...here you go! 

I was proud of the thank you note that my daughter wrote for her teacher.  Like her mama, she knows how hard teachers are working.  Thank you!  You are making a difference and people notice.  I appreciate you!

You're Kind of a Big Deal!

 Principal ponderings...

We didn't need a pandemic to tell us that educators are freaking rockstars.  We didn't need a pandemic to tell us that teachers work harder than anyone.  We didn't need a pandemic to tell us that you deserve way more than you get...more money, more time, more support, just more.  We didn't need a pandemic, but we got one.  And this past year, the whole world has had a window into your classrooms.  Not that you needed to, but you have proven time and time again that you are truly superheroes.  

Thank you.

We appreciate you.

We are grateful for you.

We love you.

Can we say it enough?  Nope.  Going to keep saying it...

THANK YOU MAYO STAFF!

Currently reading: 

I started reading This is My America over the break and could not put it down.  It's not a book for our students, but it may be a book you want to read.  Without giving anything away, the book focuses on a black man who has been wrongly placed on death row and his daughter does everything she can to bring him home. 

Julie Rondinelli recommended the book An Elephant in the Garden to me and I started reading it on Saturday...almost done!  Based on a true story, this book takes place in Germany during the war.  

Events this week:

Monday - Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!!

Tuesday - CST @ 8:00am

Wednesday - Staff Meeting @ 8:00am, 5th Grade Virtual Celebration Event @7:00pm

Thursday - CST @ 8:00am

Friday - Don't forget...PD Day on Monday!

Check it out:

Proclamation from the White House: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/04/30/a-proclamation-on-national-teacher-appreciation-day-and-national-teacher-appreciation-week-2021/

Teacher appreciation deals and giveaways: https://www.weareteachers.com/teacher-appreciation-deals/