Sunday, April 27, 2014

Thrift Store Puzzles

This weekend I had the pleasure of hearing from Suzanne Cox at my church's Ladies' Retreat.  She is married to a preacher of a LARGE church near Birmingham, AL.  Before taking on this role she served a Teen Challenge Ministry near New DelhiIndia, which rescues young girls from prostitution rings.  She is very interesting and if you want to learn more about her life please click here.



Anyway, at the close of the weekend she told a story about her grandmother who liked to put puzzles together and she would go to the local thrift stores to purchase these puzzles.  Well as you can likely guess...some pieces of the puzzle would be missing because it was a second hand puzzle.  She related the puzzles pieces to the women in the room.  She shared that we all were needed to create a masterpiece.  You could not view the complete picture if a piece was missing.  You also could not really pick which piece was more important than another piece because the pieces ALL worked together.  YES...if you do the edges first you at least have a "guide" on where to go next but you needed all pieces "working" together to achieve the goal.  The pieces actually depend on each other and link together to form the picture.  Each piece by it's self seems insignificant and might have a weird shape but when it was linked to the one next to it...it looked just right.

Now this example had to do with our place in the world and that God needed us to be in place to ensure that all people had a chance to know God and reach perfection (Heaven).  I shall not preach now but feel free to stop by before or after school and I will share more!  What I do want to say is this... By ourselves the task of changing the world one child at a time seems impossible.  We receive results from benchmarks and we wonder...what class has this child been in all year?  We watch a student who's behavior has improved greatly in recent weeks make a bad decision and end up in the office.  If you are me, you watch an educator that has so much potential question their ability to teach so much they are suspended in fear...muddling through the rest of the year trying to be something they are not!

We have something special at ERWIN ELEMENTARY.  Each of us is at our school for a reason and do not think it just "happened".  We are each a piece of the vision of success we have for all students.  You do not know how important a piece of the puzzle is until it is missing.  A students might go without that needed hug if you aren't in place for breakfast duty.  Your co-worker might go without that kind word of encouragement because you decided to stay in your room during planning and not attend the grade level meeting.  A parent might feel hopeless without that positive call home to thank them for all of their support or the smile you give them as they enter the office. The type of change needed in our community starts with each piece coming together to create the masterpiece.

I am privileged to work with each of you and when I talk about our school to others I feel immense pride in the work we do on a daily basis.  We need each piece of the puzzle to continue to grow the future lawyers, doctors, firefighters, teachers, pharmacists, dentists, PARENTS, chefs, preachers, administrative assistants, cafeteria workers, bankers, truck drivers, welders, plumbers, coaches, citizens, etc.  If we don't model this idea of each small part being important to the big picture our most important puzzle pieces- THE STUDENTS WE TEACH- will not show up and play their part in creating our masterpiece.



Have an AMAZING week and remember the reason why you decided to take on the TOUGHEST JOB you'll ever LOVE!

Angela

Week of April 28- May 2
Summatives and Evaluations Continue
Boot Camp Begins in 3rd and 4th Grade

Monday

  • 3rd Grade Planning/ PLC Day/ Score RtA
  • mClass Assessments for 3rd graders
  • 4th Grade PLC/ Planning Day
  • SIT Meeting @ 3:30 in Media Center (We will give every staff member a form and please have that form back in Mrs. Lemon's box by 1:00 if you have something you want to add to agenda)
Tuesday
  • 5th Grade PLC/ Planning Day
  • mClass Assessments for 3rd graders
  • RtA Assessment
Wednesday
  • Hill Out (Attending Literacy Workshop in Chapel Hill- SUPER EXCITED)
  • 5th Grade Trip to Coats-Erwin Middle School 8:45-10:15
  • RtA Assessment
  • Circle of Quality Meeting in Lillington
  • PAY DAY $$$$$$$$$
Thursday
  • Zaxby's Night 5:00-8:00 Please come out and volunteer and/or buy dinner for the whole family; Money to help fund trip to Myrtle Beach for students who met AR/IXL goals all year.
  • Tailwaggin' Program
  • RtA Assessment
  • Mentor Meeting at 3:30 in Hayes' Room
  • Grade Analysis Sheet Due to Hill by 3:30
Friday
  • Honor's Chorus workshop at CU (Please see email from Busch for info)
  • Goody Day
  • Dunkins Out

Reminders
  1. Please make sure you email me your planning information by 4/30.
  2. Classroom Teachers: You will need to bring a classroom roster, your EVAAS log in info, and your laptop to your PLC this week.
  3. Teacher Appreciation Week is next week!!!!!
  4. Data Analysis Sheets are due 5/8 for final benchmark info
  5. Goal Sheets for EOG will need to be completed by 5/26. I will share sheet with 3rd and 5th grades this week during PLCs. 4th grade is moving forward with their revised sheets.
  6. PEP Audit is coming up 5/6.  I will send out information the team will be looking for.  I will be coming to your room on 5/5 to pull PEPs.  This will be random so all will need to be complete by then.

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Do What I Say And Not What I Do!

Today I was at the gym and a story came on the news about the number of educators that have decided to leave the teaching profession in Wake County and the reasons why they decided to do so.  When I go out in public I TRY to blend in and not identify myself as an educator so I can hear what people really think when topics surrounding education come up.  But today, I could not hold it in.  As I jogged beside my sister and another runner, I started "talking" to the TV when it was stated that the reason why educators were leaving the profession had nothing to do with recent legislation (25% decision, no pay for Master Degrees, raise for only beginning teachers, lack of respect, etc.) but it was all because of Medicaid, the previous governor and her decisions, and the lack of professionalism found in educators.  REALLY???

Now this is not an anti Republican rant...I really do not care about WHY the state of NC has found it's self in this mess.  All I want to know is what are we going to do about it NOW to ensure that more qualified and passionate educators do not leave our profession.  That is what's important!  I recently gave staff members an article about leadership in last Faculty Summit and it stated that we can not wait for someone else to make change happen...we have to lead it!  I ask you: What are you willing to do to ensure that our students have the best educators in front of them on a daily basis?  What are you going to do to ensure that ALL students have a chance to a free quality education?

I believe it is time to really put into action what we say we're about.  I encourage to speak out in support of public education.  Write letters to local newspapers.  Talk about the impact these recent legislature decisions are having on you and your family.  We must be the change we want to see in the world.

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi

Hope everyone has an amazing week!




WEEK OF APRIL 21-25
* Administrative Assistant Week
* Summatives Begin
* Observations Resume for Staff not Evaluated on TNL

MONDAY

  • 4th Grade PLC
  • 3rd Grade PLC/ Score RtA Passages
  • Faculty Summit at 3:30 
TUESDAY
  • 5th Grade PLC
  • Awards Day at 1:30
  • RtA Passage
WEDNESDAY
  • RtA Passage
  • County EC Lead Teacher Meeting
  • Hill out for Harnett Leadership Class
THURSDAY
  • RtA Passage
  • County Volunteer Breakfast
  • Hill out in AM (7:45-10:00/ DR. Appt for Children)
  • IXL/AR Field Trip (Mrs. Gaines and Ms. Dunkins will be sending out more information)
FRIDAY
  • Hill out at 1 PM through rest of the day
  • RtA Makeups
  • Enhancement PLC

Looking forward to next week...
1. Harnett County Job Fair on Saturday, April 26 (I hope you've discussed with me the possibility of you not returning next year, if that's your choice, so I can start looking for good people to replace you. You owe it to our students to allow me time to find quality!)
2. 1/2 day plannings and PLC on Monday and Tuesday
3. Hill out all day Wednesday (4/30)
4. PAYDAY on 4/30!!!!!
5. Bootcamp BEGINS!!!!!!
6. Zaxby Fundraiser on 5/1
7. Goody Day on 5/2 and Honor's Chorus Gone

Sunday, April 6, 2014

What's In It For Me?

Have you ever been in a meeting and wondered why you were there?  I mean you actually start thinking in your head "Why is this important and how will this help me in the future?"  I know I have.  I used to have these thoughts a lot...but the frequency of these thoughts have lessen much because I have started to see my job as one where I must learn a little something here and there to make changes that will benefit the children of Erwin.  I have realized that although the entire seminar or presentation might not be directly for me, I can learn from any situation that I find myself in.

Now, let's think about our students? How many times do you think our learners question "How am I going to us this in the future?"?  And, "Why is this important?"?  I believe that many times students are left wondering how will this benefit me and because of this way of thinking they are unable to take the education they gain in the classroom and apply it to the real world applications and/or the End of Grade test.  This "isolation learning" is not the way to prepare students for the future.  I believe the key is having students apply what they are learning to real world problems.

As many of you know, my dream is to open up my own school.  Now, what many of you do not know is the school of dreams already exists.  And there are many of them across the US.  I am including a link to one school who is making this type of learning a reality.  Wouldn't it be great if Erwin Elementary could become the first of this kind in NC and the second elementary school model?  I believe so but I need to know if the team "likes" this model and can see themselves teaching at this type of school.  Let me know what you think and take time to reflect on this type of school.  I know this is nothing we could take on next year or probably the next, but could you see yourself working in a true community based school the year of 2016-2017? I could see all of you there.  We could begin next year my incorporating some of these ideals: town hall meetings for students, community service projects led by our students, planning our units with the "real world" situations where this information can be used and inviting those groups into the school to work alongside our students (since this is not a middle school/high school model).

The video clip embraces the high school version of the Big Picture Schools Model.

Take time to view the link and video below and dream with me!

 
Elementary Model:
 
Weekly Update for April 7-11, 2014
Monday, April 7

  • EOY Reading Benchmarks- please see schedule sent by Backus on Friday
  • Observations Continue
  • Post Observation Conferences Begin
  • RtA Scoring in 3rd Grade PLC
  • 4th Grade PLC- Begin Learning Focused On-Line Class
  • 3rd Grade PLC- Begin Learning Focused On-Line Class
  • Committee Meeting afterschool; We will meet in auditorium and then separate into groups. ALL certified staff MUST attend a committee meeting. Groups meeting are: Relay for Life, Give 5, Read 5, MTAC, and Science Olympiad (if you can not attend this meeting, please send M.Lee email)
  • Book Fair Begins
Tuesday, April 8
  • EOY Math Benchmarks- Mr. Backus will be sending a schedule to you
  • 5th Grade PLC-Begin Learning Focused On-Line Class
  • RtA Assessment in PM
  • Book Fair Continues
Wednesday, April 9
  • 4th Grade Suntrust Visit
  • Hill Gone from 2:30-4:15 for EC Coach Grant Mtg at DMS
  • Book Fair Continues
Thursday, April 10
  • Hill Gone Until 1PM to Principal's Mtg.
  • 5th Grade Suntrust Meeting
  • Book Fair Continues
  • Family Read In Event: 6-7:30 PM (Comp Time for all staff that attends and helps out; also your name will go in drawing for a SPECIAL prize).
Friday, April 11
  • Book Fair Ends
  • Enhancement PLC
  • Make A Child Smile Plate Sale Delivery (if you are still interested in buying a plate please sign up)
  • Gentlemen's Club Interest Breakfast at 9:00 (Will let you know who's been selected by Tuesday)

SATURDAY- FIRST EVER ELEMENTARY SCIENCE OLYMPIAD EVENT IN HARNETT COUNTY! YEAH, MRS. LEE!!! If you can help her out on Saturday, please join us as Erwin makes history AGAIN!!!