Lots to Say
You can click on the links below to visit other blogs I'm creating. I hope you see others you'll enjoy. Let me know, if you do.
The Organized Principal - tips and techniques for personal and professional organization.
SLE Mission Statement Revision - read and participate in our efforts to refocus our sites on our school's mission.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Education in the News
Mr. Henderson Speaks to Thursday Club
The Thursday Club of Walnut Grove invited Mr. Henderson to speak at their April 2 club meeting. He planned to show them his blog using the Walnut Grove Library computer as he talked about the recent McHenderson Zoo events. Watch for a picture soon!
The Carthaginian Covers SLE
The local paper, The Carthaginian, did a great story about SLE's McHenderson Zoo activities. You can find it by clicking on the link above and going to the page 1 of Section B. Check it out! A big 'Thank You" goes to Ms. Nettles for contacting the paper and to Jacob Grimes for Covering the story.
Caterpillar Still Hungry After 40 Years
Eric Carle's "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" celebrates its 40th birthday this month. There is an interesting article in Newsweek this week. Click here to read it. The article mentions an interesting fact about his days in first grade that all teachers should read. Carle's books has sold more that 29 million copies worldwide, and his product take in $50 million a year. That's sounds like some grown-up cash to me!
Checkout the "Education" section of Newsweek's online magazine. It is a great resource for keeping up with education and social issues. Columnist George F. Will has an interesting take on our current educational settings after 8years of NCLB. And the best thing about these sites - they're FREE!
The Thursday Club of Walnut Grove invited Mr. Henderson to speak at their April 2 club meeting. He planned to show them his blog using the Walnut Grove Library computer as he talked about the recent McHenderson Zoo events. Watch for a picture soon!
The Carthaginian Covers SLE
The local paper, The Carthaginian, did a great story about SLE's McHenderson Zoo activities. You can find it by clicking on the link above and going to the page 1 of Section B. Check it out! A big 'Thank You" goes to Ms. Nettles for contacting the paper and to Jacob Grimes for Covering the story.
Caterpillar Still Hungry After 40 Years
Eric Carle's "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" celebrates its 40th birthday this month. There is an interesting article in Newsweek this week. Click here to read it. The article mentions an interesting fact about his days in first grade that all teachers should read. Carle's books has sold more that 29 million copies worldwide, and his product take in $50 million a year. That's sounds like some grown-up cash to me!
Checkout the "Education" section of Newsweek's online magazine. It is a great resource for keeping up with education and social issues. Columnist George F. Will has an interesting take on our current educational settings after 8years of NCLB. And the best thing about these sites - they're FREE!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Stennis Space Center Trip Postponed Until April 7
Bad weather and poor driving conditions have forced us to postpone our field trip.
Friday, March 23, the 5th and 6th grade students were planning to drive to the Stennis Space Center. In addition, we planned to visit the Armed Forces Museum at Camp Shelby on our way back. We will try to go there April 7, this is the only time the center has open before the end of school. They are busy!
Click on the items below to learn more about various aspects of our upcoming trip:
Who was John Stennis?
What is the Stennis Space Center?
Where is Bay St. Louis?
What is the Armed Forces Museum?
What is Camp Shelby?
What questions do you have? What have you learned as a result of going to the website above? Leave a comment, and I'll try to find links or answers to your questions.
Friday, March 23, the 5th and 6th grade students were planning to drive to the Stennis Space Center. In addition, we planned to visit the Armed Forces Museum at Camp Shelby on our way back. We will try to go there April 7, this is the only time the center has open before the end of school. They are busy!
Click on the items below to learn more about various aspects of our upcoming trip:
Who was John Stennis?
What is the Stennis Space Center?
Where is Bay St. Louis?
What is the Armed Forces Museum?
What is Camp Shelby?
What questions do you have? What have you learned as a result of going to the website above? Leave a comment, and I'll try to find links or answers to your questions.
Friday, March 6, 2009
McHenderson Zoo Closes
What a great week it has been for SLE students and staff. We have really had some "Super Learning Experiences" as we've participated in the activities. On Friday students in grades kindergarten through fourth grade showed off their acting skills as they presented skits based on Dr. Seuss stories to a packed audience in the gym. Parents were treated to refreshments provided by Mrs. Burkes, her sister Laura, and the PTO. In the afternoon students in fifth and sixth grade were treated to a demonstration of the intricate art work of Mark Johnson's "story" sticks.
It was announced the students will be adopting a Fisher Cat at the Jackson City Zoo. The exotic animal has not arrived at the zoo yet, but the children's donation will help support its care when it does. The Fisher Cat, also known as the European Pole cat, will also have the school's name listed as its adoption partners. Click on the hyperlinks above to see what it looks like.
Thanks to everyone who made this week possible. Don't let the fun and energy stop. Keep expressing yourself through art! Parents, ask your school board and superintendent to put public school music and art back in the curriculum.
Below is a record of my blog's posting during the week:
Monday, March 2 · Students walk through building to view habitats and artwork Students in grades 4-6 will assemble in the gym at 12:30 p.m. to meet artist Joshua Summers · Vickie Kelly speaks to 3rd and 4th grade students in the gym
Tuesday, March 3 · Writer Anne McKee speaks in the gym to o 1st graders at 1 p.m. o 2nd graders at 1:30 p.m. o 5th graders at 2 p.m.
Wednesday, March 4 · K- 4 students only will perform skits based on Dr. Seuss stories for Phillip, Rosenbaum, and Upton.
Thursday, March 5 · Smokey the Bear will speak to K-3 students in the gym at 9 a.m. (Tommye will seek someone in the community to wear the suit.) · Outdoors sportsman Tony Kinton will speak to 4th, 5th, and 6th graders in the gym at 1:30 p.m.
Friday, March 6 · Parents Day at the school o 8:30 – 9 a.m. – Parents walk through building o 9 a.m to 9:30 a.m. – Parents read to classes o 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – K-4 graders assemble in gym for a performance of skits from students. Also at this time, we will reveal the zoo animal SLE adopted (Burke's dog "Max" will come for this) Students in 5-6 will assemble in the library from 1:30 to 3 p.m.; artist Mike Johnson will present his work
Help SLE Adopt Its Own "Wild" Animal
Students will collect quarters to donate to the Jackson Zoo to adopt a special zoo animal. Please help students by donating them your pocket change during the first week of March. The total will be announced Friday, March 6.
o Mrs. Burkes will head up the "Donations for Paw Prints" project as we collect money for the Jackson Zoo adoption. Procedure: Burkes will give "paws" to teachers who will put students' names on them and return them to her to be put on the hall walls. At lease a quarter a paw is our goal.
Tommye Rosenbaum and Jill Upton said they say saw some very good classroom skits Wednesday. Thanks to all the classes that participated. They selected the following groups to perform their skits during the assembly Friday morning: Ms. Wilson and Mrs. White's class in third grade; Ms. Tate's class in second grade; Mrs. Rushing's class in first grade; and Mrs. Watkins' class in kindergarten.
Forestry Outreach Coordinator Bill Kitchings talked to students in grades kindergarten through third grade Thursday as part of our McHenderson's Zoo activities and also because March is forest fire prevention month. This kids loved giving Smokey a hi-five as they left the program. The school also thanks special guest Brit Barnes for bringing Smokey alive for the kids. Click on Smokey Bear for more fun and information about this legendary icon.
It was a great first day of our McHenderson Zoo Week activities! Thanks to all the staff and students who made the day a success. Joshua Summers kept the fifth and sixth graders spellbound as he demonstrated his drawing skills live. Vicky Kelley entertained the third and fourth graders with a reading of her first book.
Vicky Kelly and Joshua Summers kicked off our McHenderson Zoo activities today, March 2. It was great to see the work teachers and students have put into the hall decorations. Joshua had the students spellbound as he demonstrated his art to the fifth and sixth graders. Vicky was very entertaining and fielded some great questions from the third and fourth graders about her book and the writing process.
It was announced the students will be adopting a Fisher Cat at the Jackson City Zoo. The exotic animal has not arrived at the zoo yet, but the children's donation will help support its care when it does. The Fisher Cat, also known as the European Pole cat, will also have the school's name listed as its adoption partners. Click on the hyperlinks above to see what it looks like.
Thanks to everyone who made this week possible. Don't let the fun and energy stop. Keep expressing yourself through art! Parents, ask your school board and superintendent to put public school music and art back in the curriculum.
Below is a record of my blog's posting during the week:
McHenderson Zoo Week Activities
March 2-6, 2009
Monday, March 2 · Students walk through building to view habitats and artwork Students in grades 4-6 will assemble in the gym at 12:30 p.m. to meet artist Joshua Summers · Vickie Kelly speaks to 3rd and 4th grade students in the gym
Tuesday, March 3 · Writer Anne McKee speaks in the gym to o 1st graders at 1 p.m. o 2nd graders at 1:30 p.m. o 5th graders at 2 p.m.
Wednesday, March 4 · K- 4 students only will perform skits based on Dr. Seuss stories for Phillip, Rosenbaum, and Upton.
Thursday, March 5 · Smokey the Bear will speak to K-3 students in the gym at 9 a.m. (Tommye will seek someone in the community to wear the suit.) · Outdoors sportsman Tony Kinton will speak to 4th, 5th, and 6th graders in the gym at 1:30 p.m.
Friday, March 6 · Parents Day at the school o 8:30 – 9 a.m. – Parents walk through building o 9 a.m to 9:30 a.m. – Parents read to classes o 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – K-4 graders assemble in gym for a performance of skits from students. Also at this time, we will reveal the zoo animal SLE adopted (Burke's dog "Max" will come for this) Students in 5-6 will assemble in the library from 1:30 to 3 p.m.; artist Mike Johnson will present his work
Help SLE Adopt Its Own "Wild" Animal
Students will collect quarters to donate to the Jackson Zoo to adopt a special zoo animal. Please help students by donating them your pocket change during the first week of March. The total will be announced Friday, March 6.
o Mrs. Burkes will head up the "Donations for Paw Prints" project as we collect money for the Jackson Zoo adoption. Procedure: Burkes will give "paws" to teachers who will put students' names on them and return them to her to be put on the hall walls. At lease a quarter a paw is our goal.
Tommye Rosenbaum and Jill Upton said they say saw some very good classroom skits Wednesday. Thanks to all the classes that participated. They selected the following groups to perform their skits during the assembly Friday morning: Ms. Wilson and Mrs. White's class in third grade; Ms. Tate's class in second grade; Mrs. Rushing's class in first grade; and Mrs. Watkins' class in kindergarten.
Forestry Outreach Coordinator Bill Kitchings talked to students in grades kindergarten through third grade Thursday as part of our McHenderson's Zoo activities and also because March is forest fire prevention month. This kids loved giving Smokey a hi-five as they left the program. The school also thanks special guest Brit Barnes for bringing Smokey alive for the kids. Click on Smokey Bear for more fun and information about this legendary icon.
It was a great first day of our McHenderson Zoo Week activities! Thanks to all the staff and students who made the day a success. Joshua Summers kept the fifth and sixth graders spellbound as he demonstrated his drawing skills live. Vicky Kelley entertained the third and fourth graders with a reading of her first book.
Vicky Kelly and Joshua Summers kicked off our McHenderson Zoo activities today, March 2. It was great to see the work teachers and students have put into the hall decorations. Joshua had the students spellbound as he demonstrated his art to the fifth and sixth graders. Vicky was very entertaining and fielded some great questions from the third and fourth graders about her book and the writing process.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Communicating with Parents Effectively
Here are some excelent ideas from www.kdsi.org for teachers wanting to sharpen their communication skills with parents:
1. Make your first communication with parents a positive one. This means contacting every parent in the first two weeks of school. Introduce yourself and say something positive concerning his/her child and the upcoming year. Phone calls and short notes home can set the stage for a strong partnership.
2. Set aside time to conference with parents throughout the year. Make yourself available for phone calls during specific times before and/or after school. Make sure you let parents know when and how you prefer to be contacted within the first week of school.
3. Make an effort to "catch" students doing something well or coming up with a good idea. Make note of this and share it with parents between report card periods.
4. Create an email address specifically for classroom communications. Check this often; this is an excellent way to communicate with parents without needing to arrange a real-time meeting.
5. Create a webpage for your classroom. Post upcoming events and highlights.
6. Create a weekly newsletter. Send it as an email document, post it on your classroom website, or print out and send home copies to parents who do not have access to the Internet.
7. Increase parents' interaction by communicating about upcoming projects or events by sending home a wish list. Include small, easy-to-contribute items such as baby food jars, as well as more expensive items such as white board markers. Parents love to contribute but often don't know how.
8. Distribute a volunteer list. Make it specific and manageable, such as "4 parents are needed for Thursday from 1- 2 pm to help manage small groups during a science project."
9. Early in the year, send home a questionnaire to parents, asking them to supply key information about their child that will help you meet that child's needs. Be sure to provide space for parents to communicate anything they believe you should know.
10. Make sure you are aware of households where communication in English may be a challenge. Arrange for a translator to be available during conferences. Free translation services are available on the Internet.
1. Make your first communication with parents a positive one. This means contacting every parent in the first two weeks of school. Introduce yourself and say something positive concerning his/her child and the upcoming year. Phone calls and short notes home can set the stage for a strong partnership.
2. Set aside time to conference with parents throughout the year. Make yourself available for phone calls during specific times before and/or after school. Make sure you let parents know when and how you prefer to be contacted within the first week of school.
3. Make an effort to "catch" students doing something well or coming up with a good idea. Make note of this and share it with parents between report card periods.
4. Create an email address specifically for classroom communications. Check this often; this is an excellent way to communicate with parents without needing to arrange a real-time meeting.
5. Create a webpage for your classroom. Post upcoming events and highlights.
6. Create a weekly newsletter. Send it as an email document, post it on your classroom website, or print out and send home copies to parents who do not have access to the Internet.
7. Increase parents' interaction by communicating about upcoming projects or events by sending home a wish list. Include small, easy-to-contribute items such as baby food jars, as well as more expensive items such as white board markers. Parents love to contribute but often don't know how.
8. Distribute a volunteer list. Make it specific and manageable, such as "4 parents are needed for Thursday from 1- 2 pm to help manage small groups during a science project."
9. Early in the year, send home a questionnaire to parents, asking them to supply key information about their child that will help you meet that child's needs. Be sure to provide space for parents to communicate anything they believe you should know.
10. Make sure you are aware of households where communication in English may be a challenge. Arrange for a translator to be available during conferences. Free translation services are available on the Internet.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)