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/

Joyfuel

 Principal ponderings...

Don't worry, it's not a typo in the title of this post.  Yes, I am exhausted after our first week of a return to full in person learning.  But I wasn't so tired that I misspelled the word in the title.  I definitely took Saturday to rest and recover from the week and my second shot.  And as I was getting gas this weekend after grocery shopping, I had a spark of inspiration.  As I told the guy working at the gas station to "fill it up" I couldn't help but think about a different kind of fuel.  

Joyfuel.

Some of you might remember the poster I gave everyone a few year's ago.  I have it hanging in my office as a constant reminder for me.

I said in one of my last posts that this year has caused many of us to be running on empty.  We are playing the dangerous game of seeing how long we can drive with the needle pointing very close to E.  Will we make it a little further before having to stop at the gas station?  Or will be break down?  More often this year I have seen the latter happen.  For me as well that has happened too often.  The cup is empty.  The gas tank is empty.  I have felt empty.  I came across this image the other day and man it hit me like a ton of bricks.

I would bet money that many of you have felt this way at some point this year or feel that way right now.  This feeling of being split in many directions.  This feeling of exhaustion.  This feeling of being overwhelmed and under-appreciated.   How about this statement...

I see you.  I know that you are not fine.  But we are coming to the end of this marathon year.  I am not a runner, but I know that you need fuel to keep going, to finish the race.  Joyfuel.  This year has felt like an eternity.  This past month like a lifetime.  Last week felt like shoving a month's worth of work and energy into a week.  But the good news is the pit stop came to us.  The students.  They are our joyfuel.  Their smiles, their energy, their positivity...that is fuel that will help us get to the finish line...or at least to our next stop next week.  

Fill your cup.  Drink their joy up.  Forget about what didn't get done.  Don't worry about if you will finish the unit in time.  Be in this moment with your students and feel your needle move from E to F.  None of us are getting any prizes for seeing how long we can go with the needle on E.  Fuel up.  Siphon some joyfuel from your students.  They have plenty to share.

Currently reading:

I got the best new picture book at Target this weekend!  I plan to do a read aloud of it this week.  I love the idea of kids asking questions and "the road" calmly giving answers.  

I have had a hard time putting Ground Zero down.  I just love the characters and story lines that Alan Gratz creates.  He makes you want to keep reading just one more chapter! 

I finally finished listening to Obama's book...it's a long one, but a good one.  I am excited to be listening to The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person now.  

Events this week:

Monday - One week until vacation...you got this!

Tuesday - Report cards available to parents in PowerSchool

Wednesday - Half day, 12:30 dismissal, School Pictures Retake day

Friday - Wahoo, you made it!  Enjoy your spring break!

Check it out:

Haha, meant to share this last week...

And this statement... #truth

Remember a year ago, a few weeks into remote learning and homeschooling, when everyone was talking about how challenging teachers’ jobs were and how they deserved way more support and way more pay? That’s all still true and they still do.

— Jarrett Lerner (@Jarrett_Lerner) April 12, 2021

The Best Day Ever!

 Principal pondering...

Last week, some of us got an email from a parent thanking us for what we did for her daughter on her birthday.  The student came home and told her mom that it was "her most favorite day ever in her life!"  We are still surviving a pandemic.  In a hybrid model, with only half of our students in front of us while the rest are in Brady Bunch boxes on our screens.  We have to keep most of our faces hidden behind masks.  Kids don't get to be close to each other and there's not really any high fiving or hugging happening.  Yet, we somehow managed to help this little girl have the best day ever.

How did we do that?  How can any kid feel like these are great days?  Us adults...I know I am not alone when I say that over the past year I have had some of my least favorite days ever, some of my worst days.  Many times I did not want to get out of bed.  Many times I cried myself to sleep.  Many days I thought...just get through it.  I am sick of washing and wearing masks.  My hands are raw from washing and sanitizing.  I just want to be able to hug every kid and have the biggest lobby dance party ever.  Yet, we somehow managed to help a little girl have the best day of her life.  Simply by being here and paying attention.  Her present was our presence in her life.

That thought is going to keep me going.  Next week when we return to full in person learning...our goal is to have more kids feel like it was the best day ever.  I know it won't always feel that way for us, but we have to remember that our students don't see our after hours stress or our middle of the night panic moments.  Next week, most of our students are going to see you in front of them, not on a screen.  Most of our students are going to see their friends in person for the first time in a long time.  They are going to be doing school almost the way they are used to from a year ago.  Yes, there will still be masks and hand sanitizer and reminders to "space out."  But we have a chance to give them the best day ever.  On April 5th and all the days after that.

While it will be nice to have more in person faces listening to your module 4, lesson 12 math lesson, and it will be a welcome change to not have to chase kids back on camera, remember that it's your presence in their lives that is going to make the best day ever.  And we of course want kids to continue to learn about glued sounds and the difference between fiction and non fiction, but it will be how we interact with them and how we show we care for them that will make these last months of the year the best days ever.

This year, we often find ourselves running on fumes.  Let their enthusiasm, their joy, their energy fuel you. 

Now go have the best day ever!

Currently reading:

On Sunday, I read Long Way Down.  It's a novel told in verse by the amazing Jason Reynolds.  It's about a young Black kid who feels like he has to seek revenge for his older brother's death.  And during an elevator ride he encounters several ghosts, friends and family members that were victims of shootings.  Probably not for our students to read, but you might be interested in reading it.  

I also got some great new books delivered from our virtual Scholastic Book Fair.  Can't wait to do some read alouds or book talk some of these...

Events this week:

Wednesday - Last remote Wednesday! Staff meeting @ 8:00am, Liz in a PLT Meeting from 12:30-2:30

Thursday - Masked Reader Event - virtual family event and announcing Read-a-Thon winners - 7:00pm

Friday - Rest up and get ready for Monday!

Check it out:

How true is this?!...

Unfinished Learning

 Principal ponderings...

Here's a thought....the kids will be okay.  The adults - well that's another story.  But our kids are going to be okay.  They have persevered.  They have surprised us.  They have shown us that they can learn in the classroom and at home.  Yet, everywhere you look, people keep talking about and writing about "learning loss."

I am part of a group through NAESP called "Innovative Principals Circle."  Principals from across country gather online once a month to share ideas and support each other.  The other night I was listening to different principals talk about how we are handling "learning loss."  I loved how one principal said they were choosing to look at it as "unfinished learning."  Yes.  That makes more sense to me than "learning loss."

Our kids have unfinished learning.  Lucky for us our kids are elementary age so their learning is always unfinished for us.  That's why they finish a year and then get to come back for more learning the following year.  This year, due to a pandemic that affected the entire world, there just happens to be more unfinished learning than normal.  

But the kids will be okay.  We will meet them wherever they are and help them work towards "finishing" their learning.  (Side note...I don't feel like we ever finish learning, so let's stop worrying about a deadline.). And whatever learning we don't finish this year, well we will be back at this whole educating kids thing again next year.

You may have seen this going around on social media.  

Thought it was appropriate to share with all of you:

In twenty years' time...

People will not ask the children of 2020 if they caught up with their studies.

They will not ask them what grades they made, despite the year off of school.

They will ask them with wonder ‘what was it like?’

They will ask them ‘how did you cope?’

‘How did you feel?’

‘What do you remember of those days?”

They will listen in awe to the tales of clapping on doorsteps for the medical workers.

They will sit open-mouthed to hear of daily walks being the only life we saw and how much we missed human contact and gatherings.

They will be amazed to know about empty supermarkets, online concerts, birthdays spent on a screen and a life lived inside.

They will listen, then sit back with amazement and say, ‘Wow. You went through so much.’

So think about what you would like your children to take away from this whole year.

Tell them they are not behind.

Tell them they are not missing out.

Tell them they are extremely special indeed and they will be forever made stronger by this unique time.

Tell them catching up is not even a thing because they have grown so much in so many other ways.

Remind them too of the fun stuff, the family jigsaws, the window rainbows, the zoom bingo.

The feeling of safety and togetherness amidst the chaos.

Let them take that thought with them through life.

Change the narrative now and it will travel far.

Tell the children they are not behind.

They are special.

They are special.

—Donna Ashworth

Let's change the narrative, our kids do not have learning loss, they simply have unfinished learning.

Currently reading:

I was convinced by 5th graders to start the Wings of Fire series so I am into book 1 and enjoying it so far.  I am also working on finishing Unplugged by Gordon Korman.  And I only have 4 hours left of listening to Obama's The Promised Land.

I also got a great new book from Scholastic called Standing on Her Shoulders: A Celebration of Women.  It's a wonderful picture book that is described as "a stunning love letter to the important women who shape us."

Events this week:

**Virtual Scholastic Book Fair all week, 2nd week of our virtual fair

Tuesday - SIMCO Meeting @ 3:30

Wednesday - Green pod furniture and 1st grade will be moved into rooms, Liz in PLT meeting from 12:30-2:30, 3rd-5th Grade Bookelicious Info Event @ 2:30, no staff meeting today, but I may try to meet with a few grade level teams

Saturday - Custodians will be working from 8:00-12:00 to finish distributing furniture and setting up the gym cafeteria space.

Check it out:

Interesting read from teen's perspectives of living through the pandemic: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/08/learning/teens-pandemic-art.html?smid=tw-share

And this...

Earrings

 Principal ponderings...

I have always loved earrings.  I am pretty sure I get that from my mom.  She was always a big jewelry fan and always loved wearing bold, colorful, different jewelry.  I got my ears pierced when I was 4 years old, but it wasn't until high school and college that I started to use earrings as a form of expression.  Little known fact about me...I used to have a lot of piercings in my ears.  And I wore all kinds of hoops, studs, and funky earrings.  These days...I have scaled back and only wear one earring in each ear, but I still try to find and wear all kinds of fun earrings.

Why am I talking about earrings?  Well in a crazy year where connections and relationships are even more important, my earrings have helped me realize how crucial connections with students are right now.  It's not every year that 4th and 5th grade boys can list off many of the different earrings I own!  When they started talking to me about my earrings during lunch, I realized...they are paying attention.  Definitely need to capitalize on that.  So I am very conscious of the earrings I pick out to wear and sometimes the earrings have a story that goes along with them so I share that story with students.  For example, I told a 5th grade class that I own a pair of earrings where one is an exclamation point and one is a question mark.  When I was a high school biology teacher, I would wear those earrings when I was going to give a "pop quiz."  Kids figured it out and news would travel fast as soon as someone spotted me wearing those earrings.  

Since a majority of the time, students are seeing me and hearing me through video with my morning announcements, it's clear that they only see a small part of me.  My earring collection is coming in handy this year!  

I am not saying that the way to connect with students is to go buy a bunch of earrings.  Trust me it's an expensive addiction!  (If you haven't checked out https://thesunriseshopnesloney.com/ yet and you want some awesome earrings...check her site out!) But I am saying find something, whatever it is, to connect with kids.  They are paying attention.  They are craving that attention.  They want to connect.  They want to see you and they want you to see them.  They want to hear your stories and they need to be able to share their stories with us.  

How did you connect with our students today?

Currently reading:

It was so good to have several days over the vacation where I could take time to sit in my favorite reading chair or lie on my couch and read!  I finished A Home for Goddesses and Dogs.  It's another great story by Leslie Connor.  There is loss in it, but it's also full of love and belonging and a family taking care of each other.  If anyone wants to borrow it, let me know.  And it was fitting that I started reading Gordon Korman's book, Unplugged this week.  Always love how he creates different characters.  This book takes place at a Mind and Wellness Retreat in the middle of nowhere Arkansas...no devices allowed!  And I just read Allergic this weekend, a perfect graphic novel for so many of our students who are frustrated with being allergic to different things. 

Events this week:

Monday - Happy March!  Announcement of our March Read-a-Thon!

Tuesday - Read Across America Day! (But really it's Read Across America Month!)

Wednesday - Remote learning day, Staff Meeting @ 8:00am, Liz in a leadership meeting from 12:30-2:30, Laura in a team chair meeting from 2:30-3:30

**Read-a-Thon will take place next week March 8-March 14.

Check it out:

Saturday morning I joined an EdCamp with several teachers from Mayo and educators from across the state and across the country.  Here is a newsletter where there is a link to the collaborative notes that were taken during the event.  So much amazing information shared!

And because Gerry Brooks always knows how to say it better... https://youtu.be/xmsoFewV1Fw