Lost and Found

 Principal ponderings...

It's no surprise that I love to read and love to talk about reading.  I am excited that I have several literacy talks coming up during the month of October, including a presentation for the Literacy for All Conference.  During my talks, I often share a quote from the author Alex Gino:

I believe it with my whole soul.  Books really do save lives.  This year, this month, this week...I am thinking there are many educators and students who need books more than ever.  And they don't just need any book.  They need the right book at the right time.  

I love that we get to be part of the "lost and found" affect of books.  Finding the right book so that a kid can get lost in the story...it's the best!  My foster son is a kid who gets lost in books.  For him, books are a calming factor.  His impulsivity, his inability to keep his body still, it all magically goes away as soon as he gets lost in a book.  I wish I could get as lost in a book as he does.  I feel like this year we as adults need to remember to find time for ourselves to get lost in a book.  It's ok to step away from the to do list, from our responsibilities, and just get lost in a book.  And not a professional development book.  Really step away and read a book just for you.

If we get lost in a book, if we encourage our kids to get lost in books, sometimes we will get lucky enough to find ourselves.  Sometimes our students will find themselves in books.  And that's just magical.  Recently, I got to witness the moment when one of our students found themselves in a book I was reading aloud.  As soon as the child realized that the book took place in Vietnam, where her family came from, she lit up and shot her hand in the air to share with the rest of the class her connection to the book.  That moment was awesome, especially since this student is typically very quiet in class.  But it got better.  Her teacher shared with me that the student went home and because she loved the book so much, she got her parents to order the book that night and then she wrote all about it in her Friday letter at school.  One book.  One amazing book did all that for one child.  Those are the moments that we need to be striving for this year.  

COVID and all that comes with it continues to mentally and physically wear us all down.  But books can help.  Books can lift us up.  Books can help us escape.  Books can be a comfort, a security blanket.  Books can wake us up, energize us.  Books can save us.

How will you help your students get lost and found in a book?

Have you scheduled a time for yourself to get lost and found in a book yet?

Currently reading:

I was able to visit my favorite bookstore earlier in the week.  I picked up some new books, including some awesome picture books.  Love the message in the book Be Strong; we must find strength in the unlikely places.  This book is by the author who wrote Be Kind.

I was so excited to get a copy of Amanda Gorman's picture book, Change Sings: A Children's Anthem.  Can't wait to share this one with kids of all ages!

I am in love with the book A Walk in the Words.  This amazing book is for any kid who has been labeled a "reluctant reader" or a "slow reader" or "dyslexic."  Readers can be inspired by the author's own story of struggling with reading, taking his time, learning to love words.  I will be recording a read aloud of this book to share with all of our students. 

Events this week:

Monday - CPI training for some staff members, new dismissal plan starts, Laura at Paxton from 10-1, coverage during extra library for common planning time, 4th grade sharing Curriculum Night videos with families this week

Tuesday - CPI training for some staff members, Chess Club in the library 3:30-4:30, 5th Grade Meet the Teacher 6:00-6:30, 3rd Grade Meet the Teacher 6:30-7:00

Wednesday - Global School Play Day at Mayo!, Half day - dismissal at 12:30, no lunch served, bag lunches available, We will meet in the library at 1:00 for some time together before we split up into grade level teams

Friday - We made it to October!  5th Grade Student Council applications due, PTA Fall Social from 6:00-7:00, STAR assessments 1st-5th should be completed

Great things I noticed last week:

• I have had fun covering classes in library.  Loved catching these two boys reading with each other. 
  
  
  
• 5th graders in Mrs. Baird's class working hard during math lesson about decimals. 

  

  
  

Check it out:

I saw this tweet and immediately fell in love with it.  We must not let Mondays take our Sundays!

This 👇🏼 https://t.co/6eLfsxHhci

— Liz Garden (@PrincipalGarden) September 26, 2021

I am going to try to participate in #TeachWriteober21 where I write in some way every day of the month of October.  Maybe some of you want to join me? https://www.teachwrite.org/teachwritetober

 

A Little Bit of Wonder Goes a Long Way

 Principal ponderings...

On Sunday, we discovered a secret fairy trail in Shrewsbury.  Actually, thanks to our amazing lunch monitor, Alice, for reminding me about this place.  We told the kids we were going to a secret place and when we pulled up, it looked like a trail that we normally take our dog to on walks.  At first there was a lot of groaning...why do we have to go here?...I don't want to hike...when are we going to do something fun?

And then something magical happened.  As soon as we got a few feet into the trail, they started discovering all kinds of surprises along the way.  I wish I could have bottled up the squeals of surprise and wonder that suddenly filled up the forest...coming from their little bodies.  Their groans were replaced with...look at this mommy!...I found this!...come here quick!

As we got deeper into the secret trail, we discovered shiny pieces of crushed glass in the ground.   Fairy dust!  Even my husband turned to me and said this is pretty amazing.  (After I reassured him that it wasn't broken bottles, and it was supposed to be there!) Every time we turned a corner or peaked under a branch, we found a ceramic bunny or a positive quote on a tree or a stone carved into an owl.

This secret world we discovered brought out so much excitement and wonder in my kids and myself!  There were benches and little tables, spots to stop and observe the magical surroundings.  And what was amazing was we right behind a neighborhood where you could just make out the houses.  It's like we were in a little magical bubble, so close to the real world, but able to be transported to a special place that no one at the time seemed to know about.  We could have spent hours here.  And of course, there was a little free library so naturally getting books from the secret trail made it even better.

I went and searched for more info about this place after we got home.  One of the houses, an offshoot of the trail leads you to it, is owned by the man who created this enchanted spot.  I wonder if he realizes how many kids he has had an impact on?  Just by adding little (and big) items here and there, sprinkling in crushed glass, fairy dust, into the trail, he transformed a simple nature trail into a place of wonder.  I don't have to remind all of you of the power of wonder.  What can you take from this story of our Sunday adventure?  How can you sprinkle in some "fairy dust" into your lessons?  How can you turn groans into oohs and ahas?

While a beautiful tiled bench or a giant metallic dinosaur are amazing creations, you don't need something so big or complicated.  Honestly, I think my kids were most excited about the tiny pieces of crushed glass mixed in the dirt, guiding them on their path of exploration.  

A little bit of wonder goes a long way.  

How will you mix wonder into your classrooms this week?

Currently reading:

I am reading another Alan Gratz book, Allies.  I just love his historical fiction books! 

I am excited to start listening to a new Audible book I got called Start Here Start Now: A Guide to Antibias and Antiracist Work in Your School Community. 

Events this Week:

Tuesday - Liz out of the building for MSAA Convocation and Board Meeting, Chess Club starts, 3:30-4:30 in the library

Thursday - Liz at PLT Meeting @ 8-10:00

Friday - Library Committee Meeting @ 4:00, Last day to order Spirit Wear

Great Things I Noticed Last Week:

• The 3rd grade team made their mark on Dot Day! 
  
  
  
• Thank you to everyone who was understanding and chipped in to help when we were extra short handed with custodial help.  Our amazing office secretary proved yet again that she can do anything! 

  

  
  
• Mrs. Leroy's 1st graders shared stories about people choosing to be nice and how it made them feel.  We almost have every student's signature on our banner! 

  

  
  
• The new gaga pits were a big it at recess this week! 

  

  
  

Check it Out:

I "C" You!

 Principal ponderings...

This Wednesday, September 15th-ish, is International Dot Day!  It's a day (or week) of celebrating creativity, courage and collaboration.  As we talk about our students being seen and heard, this is a perfect day to start helping our students find the courage to make their mark, to be creative, to share who they are.

I learned about this song which I thought went well with the message of Dot Day.  It's by Alex Sampson and it's called "Cannonball."

The line that says..."don't shy away from who you are, jump right in and do a cannonball...", that's the message that Peter Reynolds shares in his book The Dot.  You have to not be afraid to make your mark.  We want our students to know that "everyone else is taken, just be you!"  As we continue to talk about identity, who we are, what we each have to share, I hope we can encourage all our students to do a cannonball...just jump right in!  Start with a dot and see where it takes you.

What will you "C" in your students?  What will they "C" in you?

Creativity?

Collaboration?

Courage?

Connection?

Cannonballs!

Currently reading:

I listened to a great book right before school started called Chop Wood, Carry Water: How to Fall in Love with the Process of Becoming Great.  It was a short listen, but had lots life lesson nuggets in it.  It's the story of a young boy who is training to be a samurai warrior, but his biggest battle he must face throughout the story is the man in the mirror. 

I got a great new picture book called Sticks.  Can't wait to read this one to kids. 

Events this week:

Monday - 6 feet starts in lunch again, 30 desks in the gym and 2 to a table in the cafeteria, no assigned seating, we are also starting to serve snacks in 4th and 5th grade this week

Tuesday - Bus evacuation canceled for today, will be rescheduled

Wednesday - Dot Day!

Thursday - Liz meeting virtually with the Commissioner at 10:00

Great things I noticed:

• The gaga pits are here!!!  Huge thank you to the PTA and parent volunteers for making this happen.
  
  
  
• Mrs. Desruisseaux's class brainstormed many words associated with choosing to be nice and then when they put those words into wordle word art...look what happened! 

  

  
  
• It was so great to come together as a staff during our first staff meeting of the year.  Excited to start our work of making sure every student in our school has an adult to connect to. 

  

  
  
• So far I have met with 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, and 5th grade to launch our Choose to 
  Be Nice campaign.  Excited to head into 1st and K classrooms over the next two weeks.  Once I have everyone's signature, we will find the best spot to hang our banner! 

  

Check it out:

We will be discussing pronouns and identity more, but I wanted to share some articles and posts for you to start reading about and thinking about this important discussion:

https://www.nais.org/magazine/independent-school/summer-2020/trend-lines-the-importance-of-pronouns-in-lower-school/

https://www.gse.upenn.edu/news/educators-playbook/erin-cross-pronouns-gender-identity

https://www.weareteachers.com/teaching-pronouns-myths/

Also, I subscribe to a quarterly box distribution company called Little Justice Leaders.  Each box contains a book, along with activities, information about organizations, and a focus on social justice topics such as hunger, mindfulness, race, etc.  I will be keeping the boxes in my office, but please feel free to stop by and look through them and borrow anything you want from them. 

If You Create It, It Will Happen

 Principal ponderings...

Vision boards make me think of the movie "Field of Dreams."  I love that famous line, "If you build it, they will come."  With vision boards, if you create your vision, I believe it will happen.  This year, our North Star guiding us is: Every child should be profoundly seen and heard.  That is a lofty goal, but one that I know we can strive for.  Amplifying student voice will help us on our journey  towards our North Star.

I knew that we couldn't start the year on our staff day with just talking about student voice.  We needed students' voices to be part of the day.  I loved being able to gather and share some initial voices through this video compilation:

I asked them all the same three questions.  

1. What is one thing you wish your teacher knew about you?

2. What is something new or different that we should do at our school?

3. What is something that we should not do anymore at our school?

We are going to be surveying our students throughout the year, using the terms sunset, amplify, and create.  It will be interesting to see their answers.  It will be even more interesting to see if they notice that we are listening to them.  That we are taking their thoughts and their ideas and turning them into realities.  We can talk about how we want to amplify student voice, but actually doing it and actually helping students see that their voice matters...that's much harder to accomplish.  But the thought of it is what gets me jumping out of bed each day!  I think asking students the first question, one thing they wish you knew about them, will be a great opportunity to begin to build connections.  Their answers might surprise you!

I took a risk taking the student voice idea to another level and inviting 5th grade students in to help us kick off the year.  But seeing the end results, the amazingly unique vision boards created by students and staff together, the risk paid off!  Watching all of you interact with our "education experts" filled my bucket.  The kids were excited and loved coming to school a day early!  It's an amazing thing when you can watch educators light up simply by having them work with students to create vision boards.  My goal is to interview the students who created each board to hear more about what the boards represent and what it was like working with all of you.  (Planning to start a Mayo podcast - another way to amplify...literally...student voice!)

Check out each board...I put a few thoughts under each one with things that I noticed, but there's so much awesomeness packed into each one! 

I love the mountain lion boldly stating "a really big family!"

Did you notice the elephant on this one?  Always remembering the baby elephant story.  This group thought outside of the box, or the board, with the sign saying "you belong here."

Love all the rays of positivity and inspiration coming out of this board!

Check out the emphasis on writing and illustrating on this board, even with a tiny notebook and pencil! And I love the statement "all the love you need."

Did you know that the kids who worked on this board left their mark by including their fingerprints on it?! Love the bright colors and the amazing words painted on this board.

Check out the beautiful hearts formed by hands on this board.  And it may be in small print, but the message is huge: "you put students first."

Choice and play - so important.  Love the image of the two different light bulb ideas coming together to make the best idea!

Each board is so unique.  Each board is a product of educators and students working together to visualize what school could be.  We created them, now this year is about making them happen!

What will you do today to start turning these visions into reality?

Currently reading:

I just started reading a book called What Elephants Know.  It's about a young boy who was discovered in the jungle. 

I am enjoying reading stories from educators across the country in the book Because of a Teacher.  George Couros curated lots of inspirational stories, including one by Katie Novak about a principal that made a huge difference in her life. 

I just got a funny new picture book in the mail called Chairs on Strike.  Imagine what chairs would say if they complained; imagine if they finally had enough and went on strike! 

Events this week:

Monday - Labor Day, No School

Tuesday - 5th Grade CTBN Assembly @ 2:30, Library Volunteer Training @ 7:00pm

Wednesday - Staff meeting @ 8:00 in the library, 4th Grade CTBN Assembly @ 9:15, 3rd Grade CTBN Assembly @ 2:30, PTA Meeting on Zoom at 6:30

Thursday - Liz @ PLT Meeting from 8-10:00, 2nd Grade CTBN Assembly @ 2:30

Great things I noticed last week:

• It was a great first week of school and I am excited to be able to get around more this year and take pictures of all the action happening in our school.  Feel free to send me photos as well, since sometimes I am stuck in the lunchroom covering lunch duty!
• Can't wait to kick off our Choose to Be Nice program this week.  Loved seeing everyone in their shirts on Friday! 
  

  

  
  
• I love that kids were trying to collect confetti all day on the first day of school after our countdown to start the year! 

  

Check it out:

Some great picture books to start the year with: