Taking risks and growing

Principal ponderings...

You made it!  How did we get to this day?  It seems like just yesterday we were welcoming students off the bus on the very first day of school.  It is truly amazing how time flies!  Once again, I am amazed by your dedication to our students.  Your enthusiasm and love of all children is inspiring.  I know some of you will be taking courses over the summer, possibly teaching summer school or working other jobs, but I do hope you take some time to relax and take a break.  You all deserve time to put your feet up.

I want to thank you for all of the hard work you put into continuing to grow as educators this year.  You accepted the challenge of trying to provide a truly standards-based math curriculum for your students, complete with appropriate common assessments.  You all worked hard to learn a new educator evaluation system, including understanding how to best utilize Evernote.  You helped us become a school who believes that every student needs lots of time in front of books.  You began the difficult task of looking at your classroom libraries, reorganizing, leveling books, re-evaluating how you use the library with your students.  I am so excited about the massive amount of work that the lab teachers and Grace did this year in terms of reader's workshop.  I am so impressed with how our reading coach and your peers took on the challenge of being lab teachers and then went way over and beyond what was expected.  We will all benefit from their commitment.  The students in their classes have already begun to reap the rewards.  I am excited about the possibility of having instructional leaders in our building with classrooms that will be open for everyone to visit and learn from them as you all begin to implement the reader's workshop model in more depth next year.  You have become innovative teachers who have been integrating technology into your classrooms.  Looking forward to more new and interesting ways that we will help our students become 21st century learners who are ready to be part of a global education.

There is a poem that I have given out in the past called "The Hand Holders."  The first line is so true: "There is no job more important than yours."  You have all excelled at being the "keepers of the future."  I know that in the next few days you will say goodbye to your class and send them on to the next grade and the next teacher, for some of you, even onto the next building.  You should be proud of the amazing foundation you have given them.

I want to leave you with one of my favorite little inspirational stories:
Two seeds lay side by side in the fertile spring soil.

The first seed said, "I want to grow!  I want to send my roots deep into the soil beneath me, and thrust my sprouts through the earth's crust above me...I want to unfurl my tender buds like banners to announce the arrival of spring...I want to feel the warmth of the sun on my face and the blessing of the morning dew on my petals!"  And so she grew.

The second seed said, "I am afraid.  If I send my roots into the ground below, I don't know what I will encounter in the dark.  If I push my way through the hard soil above me, I may damage my delicate sprouts...what if I let my buds open and a snail tries to eat them?  And if I were to open my blossoms, a small child may pull me from the ground.  No, it is much better for me to wait until it is safe."  And so she waited.

A yard hen scratching around in the early spring ground for food found the waiting seed and promptly ate it.

Moral of the story: Those of us who refuse to risk and grow get swallowed up by life.

Thank you for creating classrooms that encouraged our students to take risks, to get dirty, to think, to solve problems, to build friendships, to help others, to play, to inquire.  And thank you for taking risks as educators this year, thank you for trying new ways of teaching, trying new assessments, trying new classroom environments.  It has been a true pleasure to watch you and your students grow!

Enjoy this last week.  Enjoy your summer.  I look forward to working with you next year!

Currently reading:
My summer reading list is growing and growing and growing!  Here are just a few of the books that I hope to read this summer:

What books are on your summer reading list?

Events this week:
Monday - Kindergarten Meet Your Teacher @ 4:00-4:30, Multi-age play performance @ 9:30 and 4:45
Tuesday - Report cards should be completed and teachers will be conducting a final check, Mr. Coronis and class field trip to SU at 9:30, Meet and Greet with new assistant superintendent, Katie Novak, 3:30 in the FloRo library
Wednesday - 4th grade moving up ceremony in the PAC @ 9:30, school-wide end of the year assembly in the afternoon (more info to come), Staff gathering at Maureen's house
Thursday - Last day!  Step up day to meet new teachers and classmates @ 9:30, Dismissal at 12:15, no lunch served
Friday - Summer vacation begins!!

Great things I noticed last week:

• We had a special presentation on Monday for two of our students.  Anthony and Kaiden were recognized as young heroes because one morning this past winter when their mom fell at home, they were the ones to call 911 and make sure that she was taken care of.  They knew exactly what to do, and as a result, mom received care right away and is fine.  Anthony and Kaiden were recognized by lots of special guests, and they got to have a very special ride home in a fire truck!
  
  
  
  
• Students had lots of fun singing along with Mr. Wiesner during field day.
  
• Our half day K students got the chance to spend the full day with us.  It was very exciting to get to eat lunch in the cafeteria!
  
• Mrs. Goddard ordered lots and lots of awesome beads so that all of the students got to make cool necklaces during the art station of field day.
  
• Mrs. Kineen created lots of fun stations on the back field, and thankfully, we had no rain!  I watched 4th grade using their muscles during tug-of-war.
  
• The dunk tank was a very popular station on the playground.  I have to say...we have lots of kids with really good aim!  Thanks to Mr. Dave, Mrs. Cahill and Mrs. Fulreader...the brave souls who joined me in being dunked.  Here is the princess seconds before being dropped into the water...
  
  
  

And I have to say....seeing the smiles on the kids' faces every time one of us got dunked...priceless!

Check it out:
A great post about how one teacher figured out how to make more authentic book clubs:
http://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2014/06/13/when-you-know-better-a-journey-to-authentic-book-clubs-by-jennifer-brittin/
Another book list for you!
http://www.epicreads.com/blog/30-books-that-will-change-your-view-of-the-world/

Summer Bloggin'

Principal ponderings...

With only two weeks until summer vacation begins, it's time to think about what you will do with all your time!  I have an idea...spend some time reading and following other educators' blogs.  The great thing about blogs is that you can sign up to follow certain ones and then anytime someone writes a new post, you will get an email sent to you letting you know there is something new to read.  So basically you don't need to go searching for professional learning, instead you can have it delivered right to your inbox.  To get you started I have compiled a list of blogs that I follow as well as some others that are popular education blogs.

http://thelatebloomersbookblog.blogspot.com/ A blog written by a reading teacher, all about books and reading, go figure!
http://www.principalj.net/  This is an elementary principal from Wisconsin that I follow.
http://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/ Lots of great discussion about teaching writing!
http://pernillesripp.com/ Teacher who created the Global Read Aloud, she has a lot of great things to say!
http://www.edutopia.org/ A lot of the articles I share with all of you come from Edutopia.
http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/ Another great place for thought-provoking articles and resources.
http://technicallyteamann.com/ This is an assistant principal at an elementary school who is big on technology integration.
http://www.kleinspiration.com/ Here is another teacher who loves technology integration.
http://www.nonfictiondetectives.com/ This is a blog written by two librarians who review non-fiction books
http://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/ This is a great blog written by 3 different teachers who want to share their love of reading with everyone.
http://bookwhisperer.com/blog/ Donalyn Miller, author of The Book Whisperer and Reading in the Wild, and a teacher who also writes a blog.

There are many other blogs out there, but at least this is a good list to get you started.  Happy summer reading!

Currently reading:
Some of you may have noticed that my reading has been greatly reduced over the last few weeks.  I still have my piles of books that I really want to read, but I just have not been able to get too much reading done lately.  There is a good reason for it.  Actually, there is one book that I have been reading:

Why have I been reading this book?  Well...because I am expecting!  Surprise!  As the school year winds down and I am entering the second trimester...it's getting a little hard to hide my growing belly.  But I am glad that I am finally starting to get my energy back so I can get back to more reading.  Growing a little reader is exhausting work! :)

Events this week:
It's the last full week of the school year!
Monday - 4th grade Enviroscape Program
Tuesday - Staff meeting with new superintendent @ 8:30, Smith and Guernsey library trip @ 1:15
Wednesday - Select staff at CPI training 11:30-2:30, Fournier and Crowley library trip @ 1:15, Report Card committee meeting @ 3:30
Thursday - FIELD DAY!!! (Cross your fingers for good weather!)
Friday - Spiczka kindergarten concert @ 11:10, Snow library trip @ 1:15

Great things I noticed last week:

• Mrs. Cragg's readers did an excellent job performing two different reader's theater readings for the kindergarteners.  All of the performers did an awesome job reading with expression and getting into character.  Plus, the kindergartners got a sneak peak of what 1st grade looks like!
  
• Two students from Mrs. Guernsey's class came to visit me to share a movie that they had made on the iPad.  It was a report about Florence Roche where they had interviewed or written about many different staff members, including me!  The girls were very proud of the work they had done.
  
• The true highlight of the week happened Friday night at the FloRo retirement party.  Florence Roche sure knows how to put on a party!  The performances and speeches were very entertaining.  My cheeks hurt from laughing so much.  The kazoo crew was certainly an unexpected surprise.  The food was delicious!  And the company was even better.  Ramona, Pam and Deb...what a special night for three very special teachers.  Hope you enjoyed your night!  Thank you for all you have done.  Happy retirement!
  
  

Check it out:
http://bookwhisperer.com/2014/06/01/what-remains/ A beautiful blog post written by Donalyn Miller...what many teachers are thinking around this time of the year.
http://www.joysticklearning.com/pedagogy/summer-reading-educators/ Some more summer reading recommendations for educators

Remembering Maya

Principal ponderings...
I was truly saddened to learn that Maya Angelou had passed away last Wednesday.  Maya Angelou was an amazing woman.  I feel so honored that I was able to hear her speak recently at the Hanover Theater.  One reason why I love her is because of her way with words so in honor of her, here are some of her words to remember her by:

This is one that I have often displayed on my desk!

And here are the last few lines of the poem that Maya wrote for Bill Clinton's Inauguration...

"The horizon leans forward,
Offering you space to place new steps of change.
Here, on the pulse of this fine day
You may have the courage
To look up and out upon me, the
Rock, the River, the Tree, your country.

No less to Midas than the mendicant.

No less to you now than the mastodon then.

Here on the pulse of this new day
You may have the grace to look up and out
And into your sister's eyes, into
Your brother's face, your country
And say simply
Very simply
With hope
Good morning."

Hopefully Maya Angelou's words have inspired you to go have an awesome first week of June!

Currently reading:
Since learning of Maya Angelou's passing, I pulled out some of her books that I have and started reading through them again.

Events this week:
Monday - MS AP talking to 4th graders at 1:20 in the cafeteria, Smith & Crowley Williams Barn trip
Tuesday - Crowley and Smith will be piloting the PARCC math assessment at 9:30, Guernsey & Fournier Williams Barn trip, 3 Sisters Garden experience Smith (1:00) & Crowley (1:40)
Wednesday - Crowley and Smith will be piloting the PARCC math assessment at 9:30, Snow Williams Barn trip, Kindergarten chorus practice, final staff meeting of the year!
Thursday - 1/2 day of school, 3 Sisters Garden experience Guernsey (9:30), Fournier (10:10), and Snow (10:50)
Friday - Kindergarten chorus practice, FloRo retirement party @ Groton Country Club!

Great things I noticed last week:

• The paraprofessionals were treated to a lovely luncheon.  When I stopped by it seemed like everyone was enjoying the food and the company!
  
• The 3rd grade concert was truly a magical experience.  The students sang like many of our other concerts, but they did so much more than that.  Students performed songs on the recorder that they had composed.  One student added a verse to the song "What Can One Little Person Do."  We started the show with a very special piano performance by one of our students.  One student wrote a song and performed it with several other 3rd graders.  And yes, I was sitting in the front row crying!  Wonderful concert Mr. Wiesner!
  
  
  
  
• And thankfully we managed to get our walk-a-thon in on a beautiful, sunny morning!  It looked like the kids and teachers had a great time walking the track and learning about the history of Groton.  We raised over $4,000 for the Blood Farm Employee Assistance Fund...way to go!
  
  
  
  
• Check out the awesome thank you cards that students made for the PTA.  They are hanging on the bulletin board in the front lobby.  Here is one done by one of our 4th graders...she is quite the artist!
  
• And on Friday night I attended our GDRHS graduation ceremony.  I saw many of our staff members children receive their diplomas.  Listening to the valedictorian speak, I couldn't help but wonder...will that be one our FloRo students one day?!
  

Check it out:
I love the idea of summer book chats.  Can't wait until I have more time to read from my giant 'to be read' pile!  Here is a link to someone who is organizing a summer book chat with educators through twitter: http://classroomcollective.tumblr.com/post/83943378954/summer-book-chat.  I am thinking I might have to join!

A great article about the importance of reading!
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/13/opinion/bruni-read-kids-read.html?_r=0

How do you know if it has been a successful school year?

Principal ponderings...

I was having writer's block leading up to writing this blog post.  So I took some time to read through several blog posts from a variety of educators that I follow.  A principal who I follow who also writes a weekly blog for his staff recently wrote about determining a successful school year.  His ideas helped me get over my writer's block!

We are down to the last few weeks.  Third and fourth graders managed to get through the math MCAS.  In another week, two of our third grade classrooms will pilot the end of year math test for the PARCC.  I just had a conversation with the other principals about when we will make the big leap from MCAS to PARCC for the whole district.  There are certainly pros and cons to consider when taking on a new assessment.  Whether it is the MCAS or PARCC, the big question is always going to be how much student growth happened over time?  And of course we want our students to be 'proficient' no matter what test they take, but I can't help wondering...if a student is not proficient, does that mean that student is a failure?

I was thinking about a student who I have been involved with since kindergarten.  He was a half day student so he didn't have as much time at school that first year.  But it was clear when he was here that he had not come to school with much previous support or education.  He had a difficult 1st grade year.  He quickly became known by his teacher and his peers as a behavior problem.  Forget about trying to have him make benchmark...we were just trying to get him to make it through a school day without being sent to the office, shutting down or getting kicked off of the bus.

When you have a student like that, whether he will be proficient or not on the MCAS, PARCC  or any other assessment...that is really the last thing on my mind.  I am always thinking how are we going to get this child ready for learning, because clearly he is not ready for learning yet.  Fast forward to this year, 2nd grade, and finally, we are seeing a child who is becoming ready to learn.  He has shown improvement on the bus.  He has actually had very few incidents of shutting down.  He has begun to show us what he knows and what he is capable of learning.  He is not a child that has a learning disability or one who needs special education.  Well...he needs special education of a different kind.  He needs teachers who will care about him.  Teachers who will not give up on him.  He needs special attention by the guidance counselor and the principal and assistant principal.  Will be make benchmark by the end of this year in math and reading?  I don't know.  So do I consider that a failure?  Absolutely not.  He is a success.  This school year has finally been a successful school year for him.  Will he be proficient on the MCAS or the PARCC next year?  It's hard to say...considering all of the holes in his foundation, it's not likely.  But if he continues to have teachers who believe in him and encourage him to grow not just academically, but socially and emotionally as well...then he will be a success story.

We live in an education world that measures success by academic growth.  I do agree that we need to do that.  However, not every kid is going to be proficient.  We certainly need to strive for that for all of our students, but there are going to be students who are not proficient or who do not meet benchmark by the end of the year.  We can not give up on those students.  Student growth comes in all forms, and that is how we determine if it has been a successful school year.

Think back to a student you have or have had in the past.  How did you make their life better during the school year?  Did you imagine what it was like to walk in their shoes?  Did you give them the love, support and patience that they needed?  If you made their life better, then I would say that was a successful year!

Currently reading:
Have to be honest...this week most of my time has been taken up with writing evaluations so reading has been put on the back burner.  My goal this week is to both finish evaluation writing and get back into my books!

Events this week:
Tuesday - Kindergarten screening @ Prescott 9:00-2:00, Grade 3 Chorus rehearsal 9:30-11:00
Wednesday - Kindergarten screening @Prescott 9:00-2:00, 3rd grade school chorus show @ 1:30, School Committee Meeting @ 7:00
Thursday - Kindergarten screening @ Prescott 9:00-12:00, Special Education teachers in a training from 9:00-11:30, Middle Assistant Principal talking with 4th grade in the cafeteria @ 1:20, Grade 3 concert @ 7:00
Friday - 3rd grade fire safety evaluations, Graduation at the high school @ 6:00

Great things I noticed last week:

• Mrs. Benkley and Mrs. Maynard were trying out the new Safari Montage...a digital media management system.  They had an area that students were struggling with so they looked up the standard and were given lots of recommended video clips to show.  The whole class was very excited to watch and learn!
  
  
  
  
• We were lucky to have Julie and Phyllis help us launch a new model for staff meetings...edcamp!  We had to do a shortened version, but it was still great to try out this new way to create your own professional development in the building.  Teachers were engaged in great conversations and learning from each other.
  
  
  

Check it out:
Read more about the idea of edcamp here:
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/why-edcamp-kristen-swanson
And here is a long list of edcamps all over the country in case you want to check one out this summer!
http://edcamp.wikispaces.com/Complete+edcamp+calendar

Looking back and looking forward

Principal ponderings...

In the past, when I have worked with new hires and mentor programs in different school districts, I always do an end of the year reflection activity.  I'm not sure why I have only done this with new hires; I think it's a good activity for any teacher or specialist to do at the end of the year.  It's important to look back over the year and celebrate successes.  It's also important to look back and think about what did not go well, what you might do differently next year.  Here's a list of questions to help you start the reflection process.  I recommend you either sit with a colleague or maybe do this by yourself.  Read over the questions, think about them, you might even decide to write your answers down so that you have them handy when you start next year.  You definitely want to do this sort of reflection now while the school year is still fresh in your head.  Even if you jot a few notes now, you can always continue to think about your answers and revisit them often over the summer.

What are some things you accomplished this year that you are proud of?

What is something you tried in your classroom this year for the first time? How did it go?

What is something you found particularly frustrating this year?

Which student in your class do you think showed the most improvement? Why do you think this student did so well?

What is something you would change about this year if you could?

What is one way that you grew professionally this year?

What has caused you the most stress this year?

When was a time this year when you felt joyful and/or inspired about the work that you do?

What do you hope your students remember most about you as a teacher?

In what ways were you helpful to your colleagues this year?

What was the most valuable thing you learned this year?

What was the biggest mistake you made this year? How can you avoid making the same mistake in the future?

What is something you did this year that went better than you thought it would?

What part of the school day is your favorite? Why?

What were your biggest organizational challenges this year?

In what ways did you change the lives of your students this year?

Looking ahead, Grace and I have been talking about summer reading for our students.  Since we have worked on a new and improved look at reader's workshop, it only makes sense that we look at a new and improved process for summer reading.  Students have become invested this year in choosing what they will read during independent reading time.  If we simply give a list of book titles to parents, then we are basically going against what we have worked to create this year: students making their own choices about what they want to read.  Be on the lookout for more information about this, but the thought is that we would have student be involved in the process of generating a summer reading list that they have been able to create.  We are also looking at some ways for our students to use technology to rate, review and discuss books with other students as they read this summer.  We want to keep the good book discussions going all summer long!

Something else to think about for next year...

I would like for us to participate in the One School, One Book program.  That means we will select one book that every grade level will use as a read aloud.  The whole school will share in a common text that we will read, discuss, and enjoy together.  Here is the website that explains a little more about this program: http://readtothem.org/our-programs/one-school-one-book/  We will generate a list of choices and have all of the staff vote for one choice.  I will order the books this summer so that every classroom will have a copy.

Currently reading:
Been reading and discussing one of my favorite professional books for the moment: Comprehension From the Ground Up.  Thanks to Laura Taylor for leading some great discussions with kindergarten and 1st grade in her book study.  If you have not taken a look at this book, I have several copies that will be available for teachers to borrow and read.

 

I shared this beautiful book with the kindergarten team...All the World by Liz Garten Scanlon. (I did not buy the book because I liked the author's name!)  It is a wonderful book, with very few words, yet powerful message and beautiful illustrations.  It would be a great read aloud that I think would spark lots of discussion.  Let me know if anyone wants to borrow a copy.

Another book up for grabs in my office...Seeds of the Milkweed.  This is a Scholastic book that was written by 2nd graders from Arkansas.  Learn about how the milkweed fits into the monarch butterfly's life cycle.

Events this week:
Monday - Kindergarten field trip to Beaver Brook
Tuesday - Grade level literacy meetings: Grade 4 in the am, Grade 3 in the pm
Wednesday - Grade level literacy meetings: Grade 2 in the am, Kindergarten in the pm, 3rd grade chorus practice @ 2:25 in the gym, Staff meeting @ 3:30
Thursday - Grade level literacy meetings: Grade 1 in the am, Blood Farm Fund Walk-a-thon, K-2 at 1:30, 3-4 at 2:00
Friday - Grade 2 field trip to Drumlin Farm, 3rd grade chorus practice @ 2:25 in the gym

Great things I noticed last week:

• Mrs. Nissi was helping her students revise and edit some writing pieces as they published them in the computer lab.
  
  
  
  
• Mrs. Wilkins's 1st graders were getting into the minds the characters in their books, thinking about how they would feel if they were the character.  First they did this activity with the book Noisy Nora, then they were able to go off and try it with their independent books.  I listened in on some of them reading, and it was great to hear a student say "Pay attention to how I read this part of the text."  She wanted me to see that she was reading with expression and she knew how to do it and why it was important to help her understand what she was reading.  Awesome!
  
• Mrs. Hoke's 2nd graders were using their inquiry skills to determine how many marbles in a container as they weighed and compared their answers using a balance.
  
• Mrs. Guernsey's 3rd graders were doing a special art project to go along with some artist research they were doing.  I saw some very talented artists and their masterpieces!
  
  
  
  

Check it out:
If you have not checked out this website... http://www.donorschoose.org/...well, then you should ASAP!  This is a site created specifically for teachers.  You can create a page that explains any sort of project you have in your classroom.  You ask for donations and then...people send things to you!  It is basically an online charity site for teachers.  People donate money and the site orders the materials and ships them directly to you.  It could be anything from books to iPads to indoor recess games.  Don't believe how easy this is?  Just ask Laura Taylor.  I told her about this site and I think in a few days she already had $275 in donations for her classroom library!