Warner Update
Making a difference, one person at a time
Failure to Prepare = Preparing to Fail (Feb. 9 - 16)
-Warren Buffett
Not everyone knows this but growing up I was a Boy Scout. It can be hard to tell given the fact that I struggle to burn a pile of leaves unless I have a lighter.
As a Boy Scout I quickly learned our motto: Be Prepared!
Sometime around the age of 13 our troop went up north to canoe on the Au Sable river. This was a multi-day trip in the latter stages of Autumn. I distinctly remember packing for the trip. As a teenager I was confident I had everything I needed.
I could not have been more wrong.
Our first day on the river resulted in the canoe I was in tipping three maybe four times. It was a disaster. What I will never forget is standing by shore taking off all my wet clothes and then sitting by a fire with a windbreaker and underwear on.
Talk about a learning experience. A HUMBLING learning experience.
I look back as an adult and I chuckle, because I have learned from my youthful mistakes. But what was even more important than the experience was my ability to self-reflect and realize I had no one to blame but myself.
I relate that memory to my teaching days. What I know for a fact is, when I failed to prepare for my students and thought I could "wing it", the lesson NEVER met its potential. Plus, often times my failure to prepare led to increased discipline issues.
We are in the middle of February. Most routines and procedures are in-place and allow your class to flow. I urge you to prepare for these days just as you did in September. Plan for your WIN time. Prepare scaffolded lessons that will allow you to reach all of your learners. I can confidently say, you will set your self-up for a positive week if you fully prepare.
Next Week At A Glance:
Monday, Feb. 11th: 1st Grade PLC in the Board Room 8:30-11:30
Monday, Feb. 11th: 5th Grade PLC in the Board Room 12:30-3:30
Monday, Feb. 11th: 3:45 After-School Reading Month Meeting
Monday, Feb. 11th: Extra Recess for PBIS positive attendance students during January (see below for schedule)
Tuesday, Feb. 12th: Erin Kreger Mindfulness in classrooms
Tuesday, Feb. 12th: 8:30am SPED Admin Meeting
Tuesday, Feb. 12th: 9am Admin Meeting
Tuesday, Feb. 12th: 9:30am 5th Grade Band Testing in cafeteria
Tuesday, Feb. 12th: 6:30pm February PTO Meeting
Tuesday, Feb. 12th: Happy BDay to Shirley Campbell
Wednesday, Feb. 13th: Grades 3-5 Assembly at 8:45am
Wednesday, Feb. 13th: Giving Club meeting in cafeteria after school (5th grade only)
Wednesday, Feb. 13th: PLC Wednesday
- Q1 What do we want our students to know?
- Focus on formative assessments
- Plan for WIN time
- If time, look at your Q3 Essential Standard Pre-Test (How can we help all students learn what is expected?)
Thursday, Feb. 14th: Happy Valentines Day
Thursday, Feb. 14th: 5th Grade to All-Skate at 11:30am
Thursday, Feb. 14th: Crisis-Response Meeting at Admin 1:15pm
Thursday, Feb. 14th: After-School Yoga/Mindfulness with Erin Kreger
Thursday, Feb. 14th: Craft Club after school in cafeteria (grades 3-5)
Friday, Feb. 15th: No School (President's Day Weekend)
Monday's extra recess schedule:
10:30-10:45: 5th Grade
10:45-11:00: KDG
1:20-1:35: 2nd Grade
1:35-1:50: 1st Grade
1:50-2:05: 4th grade
2:05-2:20: 3rd grade