Head U Gator News
November 6, 2016
A grateful heart...
My heart is grateful for....
...Linda Fullhart, who didn't hesitate to take on a big challenge to help a student.
...third grade for organizing the Spirit Lunch Friday. We had a great representation of alphabetical food and lots of fun enjoying it together!
....Terri Freyou, who pulled a rabbit out of a hat in order to help one of our staff members in a big way.
....Donna, Marnie and Jeanette who also participated in helping someone out this week.
Survey on professional development
Staff Survey: Starting Friday, November 4, all GCISD teachers will have the opportunity to participate in a brief, anonymous survey about professional development that will be open through Friday, November 18. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TM96X29
We are halfway through the implementation of LEAD 2021 and over the last five years, we have made great strides not only in the classroom, but also with our intentional differentiation of professional development for our teachers. Because LEAD 2021 speaks to the transformative work made possible when we all learn together, we are asking all GCISD teachers to complete a brief survey concerning the types of professional development attended and how prepared teachers feel to fulfill our mission.
The survey will run Friday, November 4 through Friday, November 18 and may be completed by clicking here. The results of this anonymous survey will be shared with our C&I department, as well as, campus principals for the purposes of reflection, program evaluation and future professional development opportunities.
Thank you for your dedicated service to our GCISD community!
GTU
TED video
https://www.ted.com/talks/sal_khan_let_s_teach_for_mastery_not_test_scores?language=en
There should be lots in this TED talk that you can relate to. Sal Khan, who originated Khan Academy talks about mastery learning.
4 Powerful Mindsets for Turning Stress Into a Positive Force Kelly McGonigal—Stanford psychologist, award-winning teacher, and author of the book The Upside of Stress—shares ideas for avoiding burnout and boosting resilience.
Try a Growth Mindset
You’re already teaching your students how to have a growth mindset. But are you practicing it yourself? A growth mindset isn’t just about getting better at math or coping with a bad grade. It can protect against some of the harmful effects of stress. For example, women in one study who saw past mistakes as learning experiences reported greater purpose in life, better relationships with others, and more confidence in their ability to handle the challenges they faced.
Importantly, this is a mindset you can choose. Another study asked participants to think about a recent experience that triggered anger, sadness, or shame. Normally, this would cause stress levels and blood pressure to soar. However, when participants thought about what they could learn from the experience, they had a healthier cardiovascular response. They also reported feelings of gratitude and joy.
Put it into practice: When you find yourself dwelling on a negative situation, ask yourself how it can contribute to your personal goals. What lessons can you take from what happened? Can it be a starting point for positive change in your classroom or your school?
Calendar
Monday,Nov. 7
Math Lab 2:55
Art Club 2:55
Tuesday, Nov. 8
La Academia Spanish classes 2:55
GTU
Election Day
Wednesday, Nov. 9
3rd-5th grade Choir 2:55
Thursday, Nov. 10
Good News 2:55
Mad Science
Veteran's Day program
Friday, Nov. 11
Running Club 2:55
La Academia Spanish 2:55
Bricks 4 Kids 2:55
Bowman Sports 2:55
10 school days until the Thanksgiving holiday!