Ramey Reporter
October 2015
Avoid the October Blues
For many teachers, September brings grand plans for the new school year. October sees those plans fall under the weight of classroom challenges. Before you hit a low point on Halloween. Many of us have been running on so little sleep, trying to be that teacher that you see in the movies that turn everything around for children. Before you use adding more math problems to their homework as a punishment because it makes them hate learning, here are some uncomplicated recommendations:
• Refresh your surroundings… Clean and reorganize that classroom! Set aside some off-school hours time, perhaps on the weekend or late after school and revamp your classroom. By mid-October things can get messy.
• Re-ground yourself in the “why”…such as, why am I doing this?” Take some time to reflect and remember what it was that made you want to be a teacher. Write these reasons down or talk about them and recall the beginning of your teaching experience. Doing so will evoke those early days and hopefully positive feelings too!
• Celebrate the successes…and don’t merely focus on how far off you are from accomplishing future goals. Summon up moments when you’ve felt energized in your work and think about those students of yours where your relationship has enhanced. Set your sights on the small but positive changes that have occurred.
• Optimize your time…by examining how you’re spending it. By doing so, you may discover that some activities are worth the time and effort. You may realize some classroom routines are unproductive. It may help to merely revise your routine.
• Take a day off… and do fun! Do a personal at-home project or simply take a nap. Wearing yourself down won’t help you, nor will it help your students so make sure to take a personal day or two. Most importantly, enjoy it!
Anchor Charts Purpose
- Anchor charts build a culture of literacy in the classroom, as teachers and students make thinking visible by recording content, strategies, processes, cues, and guidelines during the learning process.
- Posting anchor charts keeps relevant and current learning accessible to students to remind them of prior learning and to enable them to make connections as new learning happens.
- Students refer to the charts and use them as tools as they answer questions, expand ideas, or contribute to discussions and problem-solving in class.
A prize will awarded for the best displayed anchor chart. Extra credit for student created charts!
Book Study Chapter 1-2 p. 3-45 Reflection Due by October 31
Chapter 1
1. As you read through Chapter 1 what -
a. Surprised you?
b. Made you feel uncomfortable?
c. Did you agree/disagree with?
2. Can you think of a time you faced an important opportunity or challenge with a fixed mindset? What were your thoughts and worries--about your abilities? about other people's judgments? about the possibility of failure? Describe them vividly.
Chapter 2
1. When do you feel smart? When you’re doing something flawlessly or when you’re learning something new?
2. How can we shift our thinking/beliefs to make striving, stretching, and struggling into something that makes us feel smart?
3. Did you ever label yourself a failure or loser after something negative happened—failing a test, losing a job, being rejected? Describe a time this happened. How could you have been more like Jim Marshall, who made his humiliating experience into a life-changing opportunity?
A prize will be awarded for the best incites.
Cooperative Learning Strategy
A prize will be awarded for the best video of this strategy.
District Professional Day October 12th . A brief overview can be found on Attachment #1 -- Gallup Student Poll opened Monday. It is to be given to all 5th grade students in the district. See Attachment #2
Dates to Remember
10/1 Tornado/Shelter In Place/ Lock Down Drill; K-1 TEKS in Action (PDC); Aware Documentation Meeting (Computer Lab)
10/5 Finalize Grades Deadline 9 am; Aware Documentation Deadline 3 pm
10/6 Fantastic 15 Meeting (Conference Rm)
10/7 Great Program Begins 5th grade only; Staff Meeting (Library)
10/8 Oral Health Program (Rm 117A); Report Card Day; 2015 Employee Recognition (Cauldwell); Gospel Village Desert Coffee Event (Grace Church)
10/12 Staff Development Day (TBD); E Conduct Free Dress
10/13-11/2 TELPAS Writing Simulation Window Opens
10-14 A and A/B Honor Roll Free Dress; Data Process Meeting
10/15 A Honor Roll Free Dress; Board Meeting
10/16 Shades for Goals; Fall Pictures Uniform only
10/21 Staff Meeting
10/22 AVID Elementary Coaching Visit; K-1 Parent Literacy Workshop (Cafeteria)
10-26 Finalize Progress 2 Grades Due;
10/26-11/20 GT Open Referral Window
10/27 Progress Report Day
10/28 Data Process Meeting
10/30 Snapshot Rooster Day
Nominate Outstanding Educators for H-E-B Excellence in Education Award
(Humble Tribune © 09/22/2015)
Know of an educator in Texas who has gone above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of their students and their community? Submit the name of a teacher, school district, early childhood facility or school board today for a 2016 H-E-B Excellence in Education Award, placing them on the path toward win-ning cash prizes ranging from $5,000 to
$100,000.
Nominations for the awards are being accepted online atwww.heb.com/
education through November 1, 2015
Email: michelle.jarnagin@tylerisd.org
Website: ramey.tylerisd.org
Location: 2000 N Forest Ave, Tyler, TX, United States
Phone: 903 262-2505
Twitter: @rameytylerisd