Hackberry Howl
Vol. 3 No. 16
LOVE-SERVE-CARE
Be like Walt!
I'm currently reading a book for the second time How to be like Walt by Pat Williams and finding myself to be consumed by every word.
-Blurb from the book:
“Walt had a way of communicating that was just magical,” composer Richard Sherman told me. “Simple, but magical. He would give you a challenge and say, ‘I know you can do this.’ He made you believe anything was possible. He made you proud to be on his team. And it really was a team effort—Walt would roll up his sleeves and go to work alongside the rest of us. “He saw potential in people who had never really done anything great. My brother Robert and I really had no track record in the music industry, but Walt heard a few of our songs and he gave us an opportunity and inspired us to keep topping ourselves. Without Walt to inspire us, I don’t know where we’d be today. “Walt always wanted you to find something wonderful in yourself, to believe in it and consider it God’s gift to you. God gives you the gift, and the rest is up to you. Walt taught me that what you do with that gift is your gift back to God.”
Imagine if everyone embraced this attitude to make every student believe anything was possible. Look at each student and help them find their gift and make sure they know that you believe in them. Jill and I believe in each of you and we are looking forward to rolling up our sleeves to ensure Hackberry is a magical place!
Keep Howling!
-SR
Our One Thing: Early Literacy
Alphabet Matching
http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/alphabet_matching
Recommended by Darcie Brodsky & Ashley Measles
AVID-Strategy of the Week
Gallery Walk and Carousel Gallery Walk Goal:
To establish students’ prior knowledge and/or to set the tone or offer background information before reading a text. This strategy might also be used during or after reading as a way to chronicle and respond to one another’s interpretations or questions related to the text. Rationale: This strategy allows students to offer ideas and to interact with their peers’ ideas in a “safe” manner. It prepares students for a more thoughtful discussion because they have specific ideas.
Steps: 1. Choose quotations, pictures, cartoons, music lyrics, questions, words, or other primary source references that are related to the text you’ll be reading and that will elicit students’ prior knowledge or help them to understand some background information for the text. For example, using pictures of migrant workers from around the country and families living in the dust bowl might help establish background for The Grapes of Wrath. Using words such as apartheid, Nelson Mandela, South Africa, African National Congress, and Gandhi might help establish background for Cry, the Beloved Country. Using quotations from different poets/musicians on what poetry means might help establish students’ reactions to and feelings about poetry.
2. Post each item at the top of a sheet of butcher paper so there’s room below the quotation, question, word, picture, etc. for students to write.
3. Hang the butcher paper around the room in places where students can access them and with enough room between them for students to get around comfortably. If space is an issue, you might do the gallery walk in a hallway, in the library, etc.—somewhere where students won’t be distracted but will have enough room to move around.
4. Students and teacher walk around with a marker in hand, making comments, asking questions, or interpreting what they see on the papers. Students/teacher can respond to the prompt provided and to other students’ thoughts and questions. It’s important to establish what’s acceptable in terms of responding to other students’ ideas prior to this activity.
5. At a selected time, ask students to stop writing and to re-visit each paper, reading the ideas that are written there—it’s like moving from exhibit to exhibit in a gallery.
6. Pull students together to discuss the exhibits and to work through issues and questions that have arisen. This is the point at which the teacher can fill in missing information or help to establish a link between the exhibits and the reading.
By: Ruth Morales
Education Galaxy
Classroom Strategy of the Week
Timeout Strategy
Hundreds of studies support the timeout strategy, which is now considered an indispensable component of many evidence-based behavior management systems. Unlike the dunce cap punishment, which intentionally shames and stigmatizes students, a timeout is now used in progressive classrooms to provide an emotional breather in a less socially charged area of the room. It’s also a way for students to decompress, reflect on and enhance their self-awareness, and then return to their seats with improved self-regulation.
Article of the Week
Makerspace built by Elementary Students
Getting into the Christmas Spirit!
1. Jeans when we return from Thanksgiving break through the Christmas Break!
2. Elf on the Shelf- Starting Friday, December 1st Jill and I will hide an Elf on the Shelf in the building...Your job is to find Elfie and bring him to the front office. The staff member that finds the Elf each day and bring him to the front office will receive a fun Christmas prize!
3. 12 Days of Christmas Treats begins on Tuesday, December 5th. Be on the lookout for some AMAZING videos!
4. Make sure to RSVP for the Christmas Party. It is going to be a fun night with our Hackberry Family!
Christmas Door Decoration Contest
Hackberry Happenings!
Monday, December 4
ATTIRE: JEANS
Hours: 7:45am-4:00pm
Tuesday, December 5
- Faculty Learning Meeting 4:00-4:45
- Day 1 of "Hackberry Twelve days of Christmas"
- 9 am Fire Drill & Reverse Evacuation
Attire: Jeans
Hours: 7:45-4:00
Wednesday, December 6
- Day 2 of "Hackberry Twelve days of Christmas"
Attire: Jeans
Hours: 7:45-4:00
Thursday, December 7
Attire: Jeans
Hours: 7:45-4:00
Friday, December 8
- Day 4 of "Hackberry Twelve days of Christmas"
- Hackberry Christmas Part 6:30-10:30
Attire: Jeans
Hours: 7:45-4:00
Howl Outs!
Northcutt sends a howl to KARLA, for getting all the material needed for the outdoor classroom. Thank you for all the work you do. You are truly the BEST. I appreciate all you do to help me and Hackberry.
Northcutt sends a howl to Darcie, Vanessa Moya and Ashley for all the collaboration and teamwork during SST meetings.
Northcutt sends a howl to Mathews and the Social Pack Committee for helping us have a Christmas Party
Anderson sends a big jingle bell howl to Ana and Nelly for decorating my door! Y'all are the best!!!
Anderson howls to Moya for picking up Victoria while I am at my conference, thank you!!!
Anderson howls to Richardson for getting new Christmas trees for school, they are beautiful!
Sylvia howls to Vanessa for always helping
Sylvia howls to the cafeteria staff
Sylvia howls to Mr. Richardson and Mrs. Whitehead for all of the hard work
Lay Howls Carol Alonzo for all of her help and support.
Lay HOWLS to Karla Figueroa for helping in my office so I can go to lunch and assisting with difficult phone calls.
Lay HOWLS to Lecrecia Robinson for all she does for our students, and staff here at Hackberry. She is amazing.
Lay HOWLS to Sylvia Cruz for her help and laughs.
Lay HOWLS to Christie Beerley - she is wonderful. She does so much for our students and has such a loving person.
Lay HOWLS to Mrs. Branch - she does such an awesome job and loves her students.
Julie howls out to Ana for helping me with the library Polar Express doors.
Julie howls out to Ashley for being my MyON training partner and providing the crackling fire and snacks.
Colón howls Karla and Moya for creating a wonderful Christmas' door decoration for my classroom.
Colón howls PK-Kindergarten team for support and help each other..You are the best!!!
Measles howls to Del Valle for going above and beyond to care for her students!
Measles howls to Romig for all her hard work with her students!
Measles howls to second grade for sharing their snacks and sweet treats! Love y’all!
Measles howls to Ratliff for juggling her library classes & myon training so no one had to reschedule!
Wells howls out to Beulah for getting Friday Coffee
LeCrecia gives a big howl to the 5-grade team for helping me get all of the 5th grader's students registered for 6th-grade classes.
Lecrecia Howls to Jill for doing an awesome job leading meetings with parents this week.
Lecrecia Howla to Ms. Lackey for doing an amazing job with our music classes and working with some of our challenging kids.
Kate howls out to Hatcher for helping me with my allergies earlier this week.
Anderson sends a huge howl to Vanessa Lay for picking up Victoria and taking care of her while I was at my conference.
Whitehead howls to Northcutt for helping me create an attendance plan.
Whitehead howls to Robinson for helping with important issues this week.
Whitehead howls to Measles, Brodsky, Moya, and Northcutt for all of their hard work with SST meetings.
Lackey howls to Robinson for help with the choir this week!
Lackey howls to Thomas for saving me in my makerspace crisis this week!
Lackey howls to Lawson for always helping me with 1st-grade behavior!
Lackey howls to the 3rd-grade team as well for helping to reinforce behavior standards in music class!
Stephen HOWLS to Brena for her hard work with the CHoir and getting ready for the Christmas performance!
Stephen HOWLS to Mathews for her hard work in organizing the Christmas Party!
Stephen HOWLS to the PTA for the Birthday lunch on Friday!
Stephen HOWLS to Jill for her work in dealing with a difficult hearing for the school!
Stephen HOWLS to Delvalle for always always always going above and beyond when working with students.
Stephen HOWLS to Stephanie M. for her positive perspective and always willing to help! She is such a blessing to Hackberry!
Stephen HOWLS to Northcutt and Whitehead for their work with our attendance program at Hackberry!
Stephen HOWLS to Measles for allowing Remington to work with one of our amazing students!