Wednesday March 1st, 2017

Please help remind students and families about our Spring Title 1 family night on Thursday. We have several fun activities planned.

The Spring Book Fair will be during conferences week. Please help share the information with students. This flyer will be posted around the school as well:

We had several staff members to recognize for the February Staff Oscars:

February Staff Oscars

This is a great reminder of how just a few minutes checking in with a student, can change an entire day. Even if there are still struggles during the day, understanding the reason behind the behavior can change our mindset of how we approach the situation:

Tuesday February 28th, 2017

This article references the school library, but reading is everywhere. The school library/media center is a resource to support classrooms and students. Anywhere a student is reading, diversity is important. This is not only books, but also online reading. This is not just skin color and where a student is born, but also different strengths and talents:

Diverse School Library

This article is a great reminder for diversity of students with special needs:

Walgreens

This picture gives us all hope. It's normal to see kids walking in the halls holding hands. They don't see skin color, disabilities, or any differences. All these girls see is friendship. We live inclusion at our school. Just a normal day at Harrison:

Great reminder:

Monday February 27th, 2017

Duties for the week: 
     
     AM Bus: Moore
                 Anderson
                 Hammond
     PM Bus: Ardito/Kober
                 Pauley
                 Thomason
     Staff Room: Kober
 
 
  Meetings/Reminders for the week:  
 
   February 27th, 2017- Monday- Spring Pictures

   February 27th, 2017- Monday- Eval Team

   February 27th, 2017- Monday- Spelling Bee at Roper, 6:30 pm

   February 28th, 2017- Tuesday- Intervention Meeting

   February 28th, 2017- Tuesday- Principal's lunch with February student leaders

   March 2nd, 2017- Thursday- Title 1 Family Night 5:30-7:00- No after school programs

   March 3rd, 2017- Friday- Student leaders selling pencil top erasers for .50 cents each

   March 3rd, 2017- Friday- Friday Fun- Super Hero Day

                                       

Habit of the week/Classroom leading morning announcements:
 
  Fullmer- Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind


We have a great Title 1 family night planned for Thursday. Please help remind students and families. We've had a family activity almost every month, and every activity brings different family members. That is always great to observe. From the public library, arts, STEM, food, the new Science Fair, and more:

Spring Title 1 Family Night


Here are few pictures from this last week:

Pictures This Week


This is a great positive video that could even be shared with students:

Overcoming a Challenge with Great Success, With Sign Language


This blog post link below reiterates what we have talked about in regards to the current climate in the community and the US. School should be a safe place for all kids. We all work with a very diverse student population, and every student and staff has a story.

We have recently had the nurses at our school for both the fourth grade hygiene talks and the fifth grade puberty talks. The nurses were very complimentary of how kind and respectful students were as peers shared personal situations and questions. That's the safe place we have worked hard to create, especially with all the social and emotional learning, as well as daily classroom community circles. Here are a few tips to help with conversations and questions:

Teaching Diverse Students in an Age of Uncertainty


I think we can all relate to this post by a teacher's husband. As the authors mentions, we usually just ask what size when a kid needs something:

In the Classroom

This image is a great visual to help distinguish between traditional approaches to discipline, and the restorative approach that we use at our school:

image: @LCCommJustice

Friday February 24th, 2017

A big thank you to everybody who helped with shoveling, calling families, inside recess, and other behind the scene tasks on Thursday. Many of our students stay after school for tutoring and enrichment. Having to cancel and inform families could be tricky, but kids were all picked up quickly when school ended. Buses were full and really quick at dismissal as well. Thank you!

Please help remind students and families about Spring pictures on Monday.

Have a great weekend:

Thursday February 23rd, 2017

This article is a great resource for social-emotional learning ideas. The school mentioned might be a high school, but it really starts with students our age. There might be an idea that could be integrated with small groups, classroom community circles, or one on one with a student. Ideas like #13 are great real life skills that are great for all ages:

13 Powerful SEL Activities

Here is a great resource for integrating writing with math. The best learning is cross content, and applied with real situations. The image below the link is from Educational Leadership, and is a great overview to keep for a reference:

Why Should Students Write in Math Class

Thought for today:

Wednesday February 22nd, 2017

We have a staff meeting after school in the library, and the goal is to start by 3:25.

Increasing rigor is important for all students. This is why inclusion is important. All students need opportunities to be pushed, with support, towards more rigorous activities. Remembering DOK levels is helpful when planning. Having high expectations for all kids:

Rigor- with Support and High Expectations


Thought for today:

Tuesday February 21st, 2017

We have grade level teaming today.

This is a great article about the importance of emotional intelligence in teachers, or any staff member. This includes triggers, processing of emotions, modeling for kids, knowing strengths and areas to grow, reflecting, and remembering to laugh and be positive. This fits with being proactive, your mindset:

4 Questions to Ask Yourself to Increase Your Emotional Intelligence


Being positive attracts other positive people: