The Hardest Decisions- Last Sermon for 2017

One of the best books I have ever read, as a school administrator, is entitled Good to Great Teaching: Focusing on Literacy Work that Matters by Mary Howard.  In the book, Dr. Howard focuses on moving current practice from one level to a higher one.  One of the reviews of the work states "No matter where you are in your teaching career, the real key to great work is what you bring to the table."  

When I began teaching, I assumed that all of my co-workers approached the job the same way I did.  I believed that we were all in the profession to change the world for the better and that all of us understood the importance of a strong work ethic and carried the heavy burden that comes with being a teacher.  I never imagined that some were in it to hold a place of  power or just to pay bills.  Or that some are just teaching because teaching was their Plan B.  

Sixteen years later, I have seen much more in the education world and my naivety has waned.  I have met the staff that I described above and can now admit that they were there way back in 2001.  I just had not had enough experiences to see it in action.

I also thought that staff planned the way that I planned for learning.  I would look at the standards that I needed to cover and then think of a variety of ways to approach each student based on their interests and abilities.  I had a plan and a back up plan and then usually my fall back plan for each lesson.  I had to look at learning in many ways to ensure that all my students could access what I was teaching.  Sometimes I was in charge, sometimes the students...and sometimes it was a complete mess and no one was. There were good lessons and bad ones and some that I still question. I learned through trial and error and an experienced teacher assistant who'd check me when I tried to control everything that learning happens in many different ways.  The quote below sums it all up...

The teachers who stand out and get the positive results for all of their students are those who figure out the HOW when it comes to implementing the curriculum.  This is an ART and the only way to get to this level is to approach your job with a GROWTH MINDSET and to be "all in" when planning and implementing lessons.  

It's hard work to be an effective teacher but I have witnessed, as many of you have, that anything worth having usually involved hard work. Many times the difference between a good and great lesson is not deciding to pull out a TPT activity or customize the activity to fit the students in your care.  No it is when you must make a decision between two good ideas/concepts to implement.  Let's move into 2018 with the resolve to plan with purpose and be intentional when teaching and interacting with our students.  Let's all aim for great and not give up when we fall a bit short! 
And...
One Last Thought (stolen from a fellow principal's FB page)...

You Did Not Choose Your:
🖍️ Students
🖍️ Their Parents
🖍️ Co-workers
🖍️ School's Leadership
🖍️ Lack of resources

Yet,You Can Always Choose to be:
✏️ Kind
✏️ Collaborative
✏️ Serving
✏️ Positive
✏️ Coachable
✏️ Hard working
✏️ The Best Version of U!

Hope everyone has an amazing week! -Angela



Week of Monday, December 11-15, 2017

Monday, December 11

• Hill covering Ms. Williams's Room
• 5th Grade Planning at 12:50
• Small Team Leadership SIT Mtg. at 3:30 PM

Tuesday, December 12

• Hill at NCDPI
• Arts Integration Mtg.
• 8-9: 1st Grade
• Johnson- Lanham
• Stoffer- Strimel
• Walker-Pond
• 9:05-10:05
• Majka- Carr
• McLaughlin- Buracchio
• 4th Grade- Eat Less/ Move More Program at 8 AM-9 AM in Theater
• 1st Grade to Library 9:45-11:00
• 3rd Grade Planning at 10:10

Wednesday, December 13

• PLCs (Data/ Intervention)
• Kindergarten: 8-9
• 1st Grade: 9:05-10:05
• 2nd Grade: 10:10-11:10
• 5th Grade: 12:50-1:50
• Middle Grades: 1:55-2:55
• 4th Grade - Library Visit at 10-11
• 5th Grade Field Trip - Arts Council at 2-3
• Beginning Teacher Mtg in Mrs. Samuelson's Studio at 3:30 PM

Thursday, December 14 (Samuelson's TOY NCDPI Visit 9 AM- Noon)

• 2nd/3rd and 4th/5th have adjusted schedules (please review revised scheduled emailed by Hill last week)
• 4th Grade- Eat Less/ Move More Program at 8 AM-9 AM in Theater
• Kindergarten Planning at 8 AM
• PLCs (Data/ Intervention)
• 3rd Grade: 12:50-1:50
• 4th Grade: 10:10-11:10
• Arts PLC at 11:15-12:45
• 2nd Grade Planning at 12:50-1:50

Friday, December 15

• Kindergarten Planning at 8 AM
• Middle School Awards Breakfast 8:15-8:45 in Cafe
• Samuelson (5th) - Library Visit 9-10
• First Grade Planning at 9:05
• Russ (Middle School) - Library Visit 9:15-12:00
• Ezell (5th) - Library Visit 9:45-10:45
• Administrative Mtg 9:30-10:30
• Fleming Library Visit 11-12
• MTSS Team Mtg 12:30-3:00
• 2nd Grade to Library 1-2

🦎👏 Chameleon Clap🦎👏

From Mrs. Hill

To Ms. Brown...Congratulations on graduating from UNC-P this past Saturday!

To Ms. Emily Johnson...Congratulations on your  recent wedding engagement!! So happy for you. ⚭

To Ms. Hughes... Great integration of music and science in your recent lesson on sound waves. Want to check it out? Click here

To Joe...for feeding us so well this past Thursday and Friday!!!🥞🥓☕

Reminders

• 12 Days Before Winter Break Continues...click here for details.
• Observations continue