Hampton Bays Middle School
Monday Memo #21
F.I.A.T.
Dear T.E.A.M. :
I hope this week's Monday Memo finds you and your families warm and safe in this weekend's winter weather.
Do you remember what school was like when you were between the ages of 10 and 15?
For so many of us, adolescence was a time of mixed emotions...a roller coaster that was sometimes joyful, sometimes uncertain, and sometimes challenging. And sometimes...these emotions seemed to happen within a very short period of time...or even all at once! (My sixth grade son reminds me of this almost daily.)
: )
Teachers are busy people! But getting "snowed in" for part of this weekend, at times, had it's advantages. While it presented an opportunity to tackle some overdue at-home projects (as well as shoveling out and taking the kids sledding), there were pockets of time here and there that I filled with one of my favorite things to do: READ.
As a Principal, I read...A LOT. It's an important part of my job. But I find the majority of my reading has to do with staying on top of what it takes to lead a successful school. While I enjoy this kind of reading a great, deal, I also miss reading...for the enjoyment of reading. I usually find the summer months and longer winter and spring breaks to be a good time to read for pleasure. But this year, I've decided to get back to reading...just for the fun of it.
Since the summer, my goal has been to read 25 pages a day...of something I enjoy reading. Of course, this is on top of all the other responsibilities that accompany having a busy lifestyle, so there have been times it hasn't happened.
But this weekend was different, because I was able to finish a book (photo below) that I'd like to recommend to you. In short, it's a book that's geared towards adolescents that helped me appreciate how kids succeed.
Fish in a Tree (FIAT) is a book about a middle school student who learns differently, the impact of caring adults, and the life lessons our kids learn, both in and out of school.
If you're anything like me, you may have a tough time putting this book down. It's easy to read in short spurts of time, and will get you thinking at the end of each short chapter.
If you do read FIAT, I'd love to hear what you think. One of my favorite conversations at school is when I get into a good discussion with a student about what he/she is reading, when I can learn more about a student's favorite author, series or genre. I'd love to have that similar discussion with you, if you'd like.
I also encourage you to take a look at this week's Monday Memo resources and photos. If you have additional photos you'd like to share, please send them to me and they can be included. And, if you read something that piques your interest or have an idea that we can explore together, please don't ever hesitate to reach out to me directly.
Thanks for you dedication to our students and our middle school program. Let's work together to make this week great for our students!
Dennis
5 Articles to Push Our Thinking
4 Blogs for Reflection
3 Images to Discuss with Kids
2 highly effective instructional tools
1 must-watch video clip
Powerful Learning at HBMS this Week!
Let's keep sharing and celebrating the great things happening in our classrooms and school.