Bring on the Sunshine
November 11th - 15th
The Magic of Mistakes
Veterans Day Recognition - Monday, November 11 - Meet at the Flag Pole - have students leave their backpacks by the door they would come in. We will do our flag ceremony, sing a school wide song led by Juliann and then present the Veterans in attendance a "picture" to hang at the VFW! Our Veterans have been invited to come a bit early for a pastry and coffee - please stop by and thank them! Let's make this a special day for them and let them know how much we APPRECIATE them!
At 11:00am on Monday, November 11 - we will also hold a moment of silence to remember those that have and are serving. I will share a small bit of information during this time. Kindergarten, please hold off for a moment coming to lunch.
Message from our Literacy Instructional Coaches
This is our last week of sharing reflection sheets around literacy instruction. The last reflection sheet is around instructional environment, organization, and management areas. Take note of the focus wall sections. We have seen some amazing focus walls in classrooms. We will be going around and taking more pictures to add to our gallery of focus walls.
Cafeteria Marks
So, above is a graph that shows the marks that each class has earned each week. Even though a class does not earn DoJo points - they still are getting credit for their marks that they are earning each day! Remember, that 3-4 marks (signatures) equals 3 DoJo points - doubles if you are the winning class for the week; 5 marks (signatures) equals 5 DoJo points - doubles if you are the winning class for the week!
I am very happy with the behaviors we are seeing in the cafeteria!
We are still working on getting the flags more visible! The K-2 Class that has the MOST Marks by December 20 will earn Root Beer Floats during their lunch!
IMPORTANT Information: When Sunset goes into A Shelter In Place and you DO NOT have kids at the time, please immediately report to the office for possible next steps.
Blue Staying Afloat folders....I have passed out a folder to each teacher (if you didn't get one, you'll find one in your box on Monday morning). The purpose behind these are to provide some supports on the managerial side of your job (copies, laminating, cut outs....). Put your needed items/task in your blue folder, place your blue folder in the office in the blue tray - when your task is completed, your folder will be put back into your mailbox!
DoJo Communications
1. Remind parents that breakfast is served at Sunset starting at 7:40 for $1.50.
2. When you use the Kiss and Go Zone please pull all the way up to allow the vehicles to get off the street.
3. Remind them to use the Cross Walk areas - I still have parents cutting across or student that are dropped off in the parking lot that cut across - even though we are vigilant in watching, we don't want to miss anyone
4. Book Fair starts Monday - will be open Monday and Tuesday until 7:00pm and then Wednesday - Friday until 4:00. The Book Fair will also be open each morning at 7:30am until 8:00am.
Open enrollment is open - please go in to IVisions completed!
Sneak Peek at the Upcoming Week....It's gunna be a busy one!
Parent Teacher Conferences: Monday and Tuesday
Dinner Monday: Potato Bar
Dinner Tuesday: Taco Bar
Dibels Testing: PM Red
No Daze testing - Next Daze Testing = Week of November 18
Thursday/Friday: Deep Planning - Thursday we will Deep Plan with all grades except 3rd - will get with you on Friday due to the Assembly)
Monday, November 11: Veteran's Day Celebration - 7:45am
Monday, November 11: Moment of Remembering - 11:00am
Monday, November 11: PAWS Lunch - McDonalds
Monday, November 11: P/T Conferences, 3:30-7:00pm
Monday, November 11: Decorate the stage for Go-Getter Lunch (Hafey)
Tuesday, November 12: Hafey/Parent/Hankins meeting - 8:00am
Tuesday, November 12: CST/IEP - 9:00-11:00
Tuesday, November 12: Formal Observation - 9:40- Betsy Smith - Math
Tuesday, November 12: Go-Getter Lunch - on Stage - starting at 11:00
Tuesday, November 12: Pre-Observation - Zulian - 2:20-2:40
Tuesday, November 12: P/T Conferences, 3:30-7:00pm
Wednesday, November 13: Math Time with Mary - 8:00-10:15 Will will be in 4th grade and 5th grade classrooms during this time
Wednesday, November 13: Hafey - meeting with two volunteers for a Photography class
Wednesday, November 13: Formal Observation Zulian 12:00-1:00ish
Wednesday, November 13: Math Training - 4-6 at CMS
Thursday, November 14: 7:15 Rti - Kindergarten - BP - Beaver
Thursday, November 14: Harlem Wizards Assembly in Gym - 9:00am (3rd Grade - Ford/Juliann will take your kids) so you can have a plan
Thursday, November 14: 3:30 - Pre-Observation - Brooke - 3:30
Thursday, November 14: Harlem Wizards Night at HS - 7:00pm
Friday, November 15: Rti - Kindergarten - Amy Jones - JH - 7:15
Friday, November 15: Deep Plan with 3rd - 9:00-9:40
Friday, November 15: Formal Observation 9:40 - Brooke - Math
Friday, November 15: Hafey/Bade/Megan meeting at 12:00
Friday, November 15: Hafey/Parent Meeting 2:00pm
Whew......we made it!!!!
To Do:
1. Please send Hafey where you are in Math
2. Go into RANDA and sign off on your Professional Goals
Parent Teacher Reminders
BE PREPARED..Have your information in order and ready - don't present yourself unorganized....
Be sure to Hand Out:
1. Report Cards
2. MAPS Fall Data
3. AR Data
4. Dibels Data (given to you last Friday during Data Dialogues)
Be ready to share:
1. Celebrations
2. Samples of work
Things to Remember:
1. Start with the positives
2. Be specific with concerns - with examples
3. Stay within the time limit - if it needs to go longer - set up another meeting
Lesson on Critical Thinking and Perseverance
Dr. J's Lamps
A Lesson on Critical Thinking and Perseverance
Thursday morning one of my third grade students raced into my office after morning announcements - "Dr. J, Dr. J, Dr. J I had a five yesterday on my behavior report! Are you proud of me?" Sure, I replied! Keep up the good work Eric! I'm proud of you lil guy. I'll be to your classroom today to see you in action. Hey Eric, do me a favor and turn on those two lamps for me.
Eric's face lit up as he had an opportunity to help me out. He approached the first lamp, stood in the chair, looked at it, and all you can hear was click click as the light turned on. Dr. J I did the first lamp. Let me do this second one for you. Thanks Eric! I appreciate you was my response.
As Eric approached the second lamp, he realized it was different. He became very quiet as he examined the lamp. The look eventually turned into confusion. He rubbed it and twist the switch attempting to turn the lamp on the same way he did the first lamp.
Next, Eric began to look at me waiting for instructions on how to turn on the lamp. I continued to type acting as if I didn't see him looking at me. He then begin talking to himself when he realized I wasn't going to help him. " This one is very different! I've never seen one like this before." I could tell he was very frustrated and was ready to throw in the towel when he asked " Dr. J may I go to class now?" Not until you figure out how to turn on that lamp! He sighed with frustration as he approached the lamp again.
It was at this point, that something magical happened. He became laser focused and you could see the determination in his eyes as he said to himself " I'm gonna get it this time!" It was only then that I offered some support. Eric would you like for me to help you? I asked. No he responded, then he said wait give me one clue, but don't tell me." Well Eric look at the switch. "Okay Doc I'm looking!" Now think for a second can you twist it? " No" he responded. Now figure out the different ways to turn it on other than twisting. Give me some other things you can do with that switch! Look at it again. "Oh it looks like you can pull it." I then turned around and watched him pull it twice before pushing it. Once he pushed it, the lamp came on and Eric's face lit up like a Christmas tree. " Dr. J I did it. I've never seen that kind of lamp before. That's why it took so long." No problem Eric. I give you 3 A's (you're awesome, you're amazing, and you're appreciated."
As I reflected on these 5 minutes with Eric, I couldn't help but think about how often we rob our children of these experiences. I thought about the times we had to figure it out on our own. These were powerful lessons in thinking critically.
To all of my parents, teachers, administrators, mentors and anyone else working with kids remember the importance of failure to the learning process. There's no learning without it.
"When it comes to failure learn to hate it, expect it, respect it, and appreciate it because you can't avoid it and there's no learning without it " ~ Marcus Jackson, Ed. D