Falcon Focus
May 16,2016
To Do's and Calendar Updates
- May 16th: Math CFA window - K-2
- May 17th: Falcon Press Celebration 2:15 in the Cafeteria
- May 19th: Fourth Grade Play Day
- May 19th: Kindergarten Orientation 4:00-5:00 (be sure that the halls and classrooms are nice and neat for our new families and students to tour)
- May 20th: Intent to Return Forms are due. Thanks for your help in encouraging parents to get these in.
- May 23rd: Third Grade Student Council Officers Campaign
- May 23rd: PTA program and Fourth grade performance
- May 24th-27th: BOGO Bookfair
- May 26th: Third Grade STUCO officer speeches beginning right after announcements. Third grade classrooms please tune in - voting will follow. (all classrooms are also welcome to tune in, if you are interested)
- May 27th: Mayfest
Calendar of Events
http://portal.kellerisd.net/sites/campuscollab/es/fes/Pages/default.aspx
Be sure to accept the 2016-2017 Outlook Calendar that Farah sent out last week. The above link to our k-Connect site will no longer be used after June 3rd. All school information and events will be on the Outlook Calendar. In fact, many (not all) things have already been scheduled, so that you may refer to it when planning next year. Thanks!!!
RTI
May 2nd - 27th: EOY DRA Window K-2
May 2nd- 16th: ISIPP Window for K-2 and 3rd and 4th TBD
May 11th-31st: Third and Fourth Grade EOY Running Records
Be sure to update blue literacy folders with reading levels and turn in a copy of your DRA/Running Record class level sheet to Farah.
Character Quality
"Only surround yourself with people who will lift you higher." Oprah Winfrey
Professional Development and Learning - Faculty Meetings, PLC's, and Kelly Leach Visits
May 19th: Kelly Leach Visit - She will come to you (2nd and 3rd grade)
May 25th: Letterland Launch - Kinder and First Grade
"Never Lose That Look" by George Couros (be sure to watch the video clip-so sweet)
What I love about this clip is how the excitement becomes contagious. I have watched new parents look at learning through a totally different lens when they have children. They ask questions, point out wonder, and just have an excitement that their own child exudes.
I was fortunate enough to spend the year with Winnipeg School Division, and I end my year with them full of excitement, as we focused on a renewed view on the power of learning for the educator, not just the student. When educators are excited not only about teaching, but more importantly, learning, their passion becomes contagious.
Yesterday, I listened to the awesome George Pearce share that instead of spending his nights aimlessly looking at social media streams, he now spent his time seeing what his colleagues were sharing of their own learning on a shared hashtag. It was truly inspiring.
This great post from Stephane Gautron last night talking about his own shift in thinking this year really resonated with me:
"Having had my head in the sand for so long, it was a steep learning curve but one that has helped me love and get excited about teaching and connecting with students again. One that has allowed me to share, encourage, ask questions, find inspiration and perhaps inspire. One that has allowed me to reconnect with students at a time where I thought humanity was doomed.
…To learn about Twitter was to become more technologically literate at the least. At best, it summed up and made use of the most recent and important developments in social media and technology from the past 10 years. It allowed me to speak and experiment with this new language. It also meant free professional development anytime, anywhere. The upside seemed appetizing, so I dug in. (Read the whole thing.)"
Slowing down to go fast is sometimes important, but only if we are focused on deep and powerful learning. To watch the journey of so many educators over the year become really excited about their own learning has been something that has increased my enthusiasm for my own work.
As it says on the side of my blog, “I believe we need to inspire our kids to follow their passions, while letting them inspire us to do the same”. "Kids" should read “learners” as I have been moved by the passion of learning of so many through this project. If we can be excited about teaching that’s great, but if we become excited about our own learning, the differences we can make in schools moving forward will be immeasurable.