What Comes First??

There's been a lot of conversation on Instagram and Twitter lately (and I am sure Facebook although I am not up there enough to see it) about how we must focus on Maslow before Bloom.  What all of these educators are saying that building relationships and taking care of students' needs comes first and that little to no learning can take place until students' needs are met.

Just in case you're unfamiliar with Maslow and Blooms I have posted the respective triangles below.

Maslow Triangle

I agree with this idea and this is why I believe I have always been a strong proponent of taking the first ten days of school to build culture in classrooms while reviewing procedures and expectations to ensure student success.  I guess where I do differ and where I worry that educators can go wrong is when they believe that you can only focus on one area at a time.  I have seen this go wrong when teachers LOVED their students so much that they struggled to maintain high expectations and basically "loved them to DUMB".  They protected them from the struggle while withholding high expectations because they wanted kids to feel good about themselves. 

I actually believe we can take care of students' basic needs while pushing them towards being the best version of themselves.

Great teachers have high expectations for their students, but higher expectations for themselves. 

Todd Whitaker

What are your thoughts? Would love for you to comment via this blog or email. I hope everyone has had an amazing week and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow! -Angela

Week of Monday, March 18-22, 2019

Walk thru focuses for remainder of March: Rigor Rate, Instructional Strategies, Focus on Instruction,  Student Engagement and Grouping!

Monday, March 18

• Penny Wars Begin and runs through Spring Break!!!
• Dress Down Week (Sponsored by 4th Grade)
• Please see email from Hill for details
• 3rd grade SWYK rough drafts due
• 4th grade to library 9 AM and 1:15 PM
• 5th Grade Planning 10-11
• Planning for Middle Grades Math (Ezell and Clough) 2-3 PM
• Planning for Middle Grades ELA/Humanities (Motsinger, Fiore, Connors) 2-3 PM
• TCEA Board Mtg in Ms. Scriven's Studio at 5:30 PM

Tuesday, March 19

• MTSS PLCs Facilitated by Mrs. Samuelson (either in person or via phone)
• 5th Grade 10-11 AM
• 4th Grade 12-1 PM
• 4th grade SWYK rough drafts due
• Dress Down Week Continues
• 1st grade Awards Day 8-8:45
• Hill at A+ Training in Wilson 
• Builders Club at 11:30 in theater
• TED-ED Club at 11:30 in theater (Ms. Pond and Mr. Kline will supervise students working on research for speeches- I will have laptops for them)
• 3rd Grade Planning 12-1 PM
• AIT Meetings 1:05-1:35 PM
• 4th Grade
• Majka- Riffle
• McLaughlin- Akers
• Planning for Middle Grades Science (Ezell and Hughes) 2-3 PM

Wednesday, March 20

• Dress Down Week Continues
• 5th grade SWYK rough drafts due
• Hill out (presenting at the CCES Conference...🤞)
• Thomas, Falls, and Covington gone to Establishing a Core Tier of Behavior Support - East
• MTSS PLCs Facilitated by Mrs. Pond (K-2), Mrs. Samuelson (3rd) and Mr. Falls (Middle School)
• K: 8-9
• 2nd Grade: 9-10
• 1st Grade: 10-11
• 3rd Grade: 12-1
• Middle School: 2-3 Mr. Falls will reschedule and email you a new date/time
• Arts PLC 1-2 PM
• 5th Grade Field Trip to Civil Rights Museum
• Beginning Teacher Mtg at 3:30 in Mrs. Cane's Studio

Thursday, March 21

• Scholastic Book Fair
• Report Card Conferences
• 10 AM- 6 PM
• Dinner will be served after 3 PM in Lounge (Pizza and Salad)
• Hill out 1/2 Day at Conference (PM)

Friday, March 22

• Scholastic Book Fair
• Report Card Conferences
• 7:40 AM- 3:40 PM
• Lunch will be served at 11 AM in Lounge (Subs and Salad)
• Hill out at Conference all day
• FEO - Parents Night Out: 5:45 – 9:15 PM
• No GIVE FIVE this week!!

🦎👏 Chameleon Clap 🦎👏

From Mrs. Hill

• Thanks to Mr. Kline for bringing Junie B. Jones to our school. Great job directing as well.
• Thanks to Ms. Payton for hosting all of our guests from MU this year.
• Thanks to Mr. Salisbury for a smooth lottery this year and to Ms. Lanham, Mr. Thomas, and Ms. Trojan for helping out!
• Thanks to all core teachers for completing slides for Board Presentation tomorrow night!