Saying "No" To Stay Balanced

Update for April 6-10

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/Daniel_Hochsteiner.jpg

I recently asked a teacher if she would be willing to participate with me in a summer workshop on creativity.  Knowing the teacher, I thought it would be right up her alley.

Before she answered, I saw the hesitation on her face.  Then she considered what she might have to say no to in order to attend.

So, I encouraged her to tell me "No".

The look of apprehension was replaced with a look of relief.

"Ok...no," was her answer.

I celebrated her healthy response and moved on.

This teacher knew her plate was full.  And she didn't want to add anymore to it.

It's important to go above and beyond for kids.  But it's also important that we have balance in our life.

I believe that truly living life is some of the best professional development than anything else we could do.

Remember that it's OK to say "no" to something that might tip your balance away from good professional development.

Have a great week!

-Herb



A Must Watch Video!  -- "This Is Genius"

Brutally honest monologue from a high school student.  A good reminder to listen to the students' voice.  Be brave and seek their feedback. As seen on Seth's Blog (Thanks to Jane for sharing!).




Articles Worth Reading

"Sharing: A Responsibility of the Modern Educator" | User Generated Education
https://usergeneratededucation.wordpress.com/2015/03/29/sharing-a-responsibility-of-the-modern-educator/

"What Does a School Need to Enable Learning Based on Student Competency?" http://t.co/nPLxUnP9dO"
https://twitter.com/HHigginbotham/status/583942362889523201

"Nourishing mind and body through school gardens" http://t.co/xVSq4d0WqR"
https://twitter.com/HHigginbotham/status/583939703272943616

Upcoming Dates

April 6

Tech PD with Kelly Riley, 7:45am

Apr 7

BIT Meeting, 8:15am (Moved for IEP meeting)

6th Grade Transition Meeting (Spec Ed Team), 3pm

**MEDIA CENTER being used after school, 3:30-7:30

Apr 8

School Community Meeting, 8:50am

PTO Brainstorming Meeting, 7pm -- Please come if you can.

Apr 9

Market Day Pick-up, 5:30pm

Apr 10

Building Advisory Meeting, 8am → May cancel if no agenda items received this week. If we have a meeting, it will need to wrap up by 8:25.

Apr 13

Dave & Busters Spirit Night, 5pm

PTO Meeting, 7pm

Apr 14

Student Housing Committee Meeting (Herb), 4:30pm

Apr 15

Walkathon Kickoff -- (Video with the news)

Apr 16

Admin Meeting (Herb), 8am

**  ADE Parent EdCamp! ** 6-8pm

Apr 17

K-5 Interims -- A good chance to update parents before the end of the year!

Apr 20

4th and 5th Grade ELA EOY State Assessments

Apr 21

3rd Grade Spring OAA Reading

Apr 22

3rd, 4th, 5th, Grade Math Unit 1 EOY Assessments

*** Garden Dedication, Celebration *** 2:00ish -- See Becky and/or Meredith for details for how the kids can help this BIG DAY!

Apr 23

3rd, 4th, 5th, Grade Math Unit 2 EOY Assessments

*** ART SHOW *** More to come!

Apr 27

Board of Education Meeting at Alton Darby, 7pm

Apr 28

Tech PD with Kelly Riley, 7:45am

Apr 29

ADE WALKATHON -- During each grade’s Related Arts Time -- AM/PM KG will combine with a grade-level.  Details to come!

Student Housing Committee Meeting (Herb) 4:30

May 1

Team Connection Meeting with Dr. John/Board Member, 8:00am -- Meet and greet, breakfast provided. Your chance to talk with Dr. John.

** Last Data Team Dates -- End of the Year / Class Lists **

Tentative Dates -- I will confirm by week's end

Thu Apr 30 -- KG AM / 1st PM

Thu May 7 -- 2nd AM / 3rd PM

Thu May 14 -- 4th AM / 5th PM


CREATIVITY WORKSHOP -- June 16-19, plus 3 additional sessions throughout the school year. I can take two more. Let me know soon!

AD/DC Project Dates

4/8—OPTIONAL Mixer Staff Meeting at Cindy’s house at 4:00 pm  -- Small group steering committee members lead.

4/13--Teacher Steering Committee meeting--Jennifer is going to ask Marcy McNight from Norwich to come and present to the committee regarding the PBL design in 5th grade she has helped to create.

4/14—4 Teacher Steering committee members from each building (Tricia, Bobbie, Donna, and Carolyn represent DCR) to visit 2 STEM schools in Reynoldsburg with CT and Herb.  This was originally scheduled on 5/8, however, Reynoldsburg couldn’t accommodate us on 5/8.

4/21--Staff Meeting with ADE/DCR staff at 3:45 pm at ADE--Teacher steering committee small group explains the vision/design for next year's extension opportunity to the staff as a whole

5/6--OPTIONAL STAFF MEETING--work time to collaborate/meet/plan with the people who are teaming up for the extension/design opportunity next year for students.

5/8--Teacher steering committee site visits and work session...

6 of the committee members from each building (those who didn’t go to Reynoldsburg) will go to Wickliffe with Herb, CT and Jennifer.  This team will see a Town Hall meeting that is completely run by students from 8:30-9:30 and then meet with, talk with, and tour the school with the principal until 11:00/11:30.  We will then meet back at CO at 12:00 with the ENTIRE Teacher Steering committee (the 4 who went to Reynoldsburg will need to put in for a ½ day PD request for the afternoon) to debrief and have lunch (provided and to be ordered through Aramark).  We will engage in conversation with the group regarding how to shift our practice as we continue moving forward with our design next year towards students defining their learning path through the options/opportunities that teachers can create/provide for them as experiences.  Could these/are these options/opportunities connected to the networks? This would support students defining the voice and choice in their learning and becomes the heart of student ownership within the design.

Additionally one GOAL for the day is to NAME IT...not pedagogically...or programatically....but based on our Guiding Principles.  So the IT that is named represents the way we do things grounded in those principles--the mantra of "Who We'd Like to Be".  We will be showing the teacher videos one more time and identifying how these ideas align to the principles established in our Guiding Principles and how these ideas can become opportunities for next year.  

5/13--last teacher steering committee meeting for 2014-15​--The purpose is the thank those who were on this committee and touch base/listen to their perspective of the buildings from which they represent, what they think is necessary for next year to move forward.  We will share with them our "list" of what needs to happen and ask them for their "list" in order to bridge the perspectives to move forward with SOME implementation of SOME ideas for the 2015-16 year.