Thursday, January 28, 2016

My First Sunset...

Winfield Middle School Staff Blog
Jan 28, 2016

From the first sunset I ever “saw”...

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One evening over Troy, we noticed this stunning setting and images blew up social media from all over Lincoln County.

As a young man, I remember driving a 1969 Ford Bronco across the country to Colorado, fixing or repairing it daily, spending time working on a ranch, waiting for what was next in my life. Summer parlayed into the following ski season so I just stayed, got a job at Winter Park Ski Resort and began a semi-professional career as a “ski-bum!” One evening, after working on the mountain, driving home, I looked up and saw my first sunset. (The above picture is not that sunset) It was the first time I had ever noticed a sunset.  Of course I had seen sunsets before but it took me till that stage of my life to take complete notice of my surroundings. As a youngster, I couldn’t get past thinking only of myself.  Recently I read Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself, less. (Thanks KG) Before that sunset, my focus was on today, right now and what’s right in front of me. I even thought to myself, “I wish I had a set of paints.”  I imagined I could just put some colors on a page and it would look as cool, inspire others or even just balance the same way. It seemed, the LESSONS CAME ALONG WHEN THE PUPIL IS READY.  Prior to this date, I ignored sunsets, but now, a sunset seems like a pallet presented just for me, whether driving west home from work or walking the dogs.  


February Warrior Word of the Month - CONSIDERATION
Like empathy, consideration means careful thought, especially over time, payment for an item or holding others in higher esteem.  In the middle school, our students are still learning to consider or think of classmates, friends and strangers.  Neurology confirms our students are still growing, developing, maturing and transitioning from childhood to adulthood.  Students are NEITHER.  The group of students we work with are still developing these skills.  We spend many hours teaching content as well as teaching manners, consideration, integrity and other SOFT - SKILLs


Special Accolades - Black Card or Red Card Status
Everywhere in life, we are evaluated, judged, ranked and scored. Sometimes it is discouraging to be under the microscope so often, but at the Middle School we want that competition to pay off for our students. We award special status to a few different groups of students meeting higher expectations in regard to behavior, academics and attendance. Our school uses a Distinguished Warriors positive recognition program at Winfield Middle School designed to be accessible for all students. Qualifying students will earn Distinguished Warrior recognition that entitles them to different levels of privileges. There are two levels of Distinguished Warriors; Red and Black.
To qualify for a Red Level; students must have a 3.5 or higher GPA; 95% or better attendance; no major discipline referrals and no more than two minor referrals in one week.

To qualify for a Black Level; students must have a 3.0 or higher GPA; 95% or better attendance; no major discipline referrals and no more than two minor referrals in one week.

Our local newspaper made a special note.

Snow days  -  Mark your calendars
As addressed in our district Calendar, our SNOW MAKE UP DAY will be a full day slated for Feb 15th, President’s Day.

Upcoming Schedule
Monday - 2/1 -
Binder Teams - Unit of Instruction work

Tuesday - 2/2 - GroundHog Day

Wednesday - 2/3
Early Release -
Hosted Lunch in Room 300 then head to High School for Presentation -
Discussion Items:
  1. Hall Passes
  2. CIPA Filter via Jared
  3. Crosswalk/bus passing details
  4. Frequency of SIS updates
  5. Curriculum Planning Tentative Dates May 25, 26 & 27 and items to address
      1. TIA Document
      2. What are other schools looking
      3. Mimic the UofI format?
      4. google docs
      5. ELA
      6. Template
    1. Days
    2. Focus on the lower areas starting with MATH
  6. Pretty Big Deal details
  7. Tina Meier Foundation Presentation to Staff at the High School
  8. Tina Meier Foundation to present to parents after school at 6pm at Central Office

Thursday - 2/4
Tier 1 Meeting @ Davis Rm
Steering Committee mtg in Higgins Room

Friday - 2/5
(Still working through these details so feel free to share input, thoughts or ideas)
8:00 ? - Ac Lab Challenge
(Idea? Kahoot, class against class over bullying school culture questions)  
9:00 - Followed by presentation by a Tina Meier Presentation at the Middle School

Upcoming
Feb 17- Harlem Wizards PLUG  is rescheduled - See Outlook for Details
Feb 19 - It’s a Pretty Big Deal THEN Middle School Glow Dance right after school until about 4:30pm. Please plan accordingly. Special discounts will be available for students earning Black Card or Red Card status.
FEB 28 -  www.harlemwizards.com Tickets available at Central Office.


A carry over from the Parent Blog

@McCracken63



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This name of this “Holiday” gave teachers plenty of things to talk about.  
One room full of students responded to the prompt this way.


...To  “The teacher arrives when the pupil is ready.”

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This sunrise looking to the east shows the distant edge of our “snowmagedden” easing over Lincoln County and preparing to dump over eight inches of snow, shutting school down for days.

Point of the sunset story.  
Sometimes we have to continue with the same story, over and over again till the learner is receptive to the message. I did not notice the sunsets for quite some time, but I finally did.  Similarly, we have to continue to try and admonish, encourage, support and urge our students to reach their potential, even when they may appear so far away from “the goal”. They may not get it the first, second or even 12th time. Yet, we stay the course, persist and continue to allow them opportunities to learn, get better and improve. We are teachers.

From our daily announcements:  
Show respect, even to people who don’t deserve it,
not as a reflection of THEIR character,
but as a reflections of YOURS!  
Thanks Ms Gross for always mining such good nuggets for us


Staff Clarification
Too Much Communication?

How often should Middle School Teachers update grades in SIS?
  1. Daily
  2. Weekly
  3. Progress Report time (3 weeks)
  4. Other (why)
It seems like we at the Middle School  would never be accused of sharing too much information.  I have heard a few comments from parents regarding our communication.  How often should we update our grades?
One of our computer programs reports to me daily those of us that have posted grades in the far past.  Like my emails are weekly, please try and give parents weekly feedback on their students performance using the SIS program.  Of course special circumstances may apply but let’s interpret “timely manner” into once every seven days, or at the most 10, under extenuating circumstances.



Thank you

Tom McCracken

Friday, January 22, 2016

Diversity in people, motivations and methods: What works?

Winfield Middle School Staff Blog
Jan 21, 2016

Politics as usual during this election year???

BOE 16.jpeg


Board Member Appreciation Week
A public entity like a school district is typically lead by a team.  By democratic vote through the election process, this group earns the responsibility, burden, task or duty of guiding and steering the entire district.  Decisions permeate the entire culture and climate of a district, and like Washington DC, a crucible of ideas, perspectives and eventual outcomes centered on students. There will and should always be some negotiation and sharing of ideas and at the end of the day, the best final result.
Please make a special effort this week to express gratitude and appreciation to those citizens who make this extra effort to serve the community in this capacity.  It is often a thankless position but these servants seldom do it for the power, prestige or position but to serve children, futures and the community.
It is from this serving attitude we at the Middle School would like to express our most sincere thanks to our Winfield School Board, Mike Bash, Mike Bromwich, Jen Bryan, Kristen Burkemper, Melanie Jordan, Craig Politte and Jim Taylor.
THANK YOU, TEAM.


An abridged staff version…

Snow days  -  Our make up day will be a full day slated for  Feb 15th.

Schedule
Monday - 1/25
Binder Team meetings - Work on Team U of I or student work samples
Progress Reports are emailed and hard copies sent.

Tuesday - 1/26
I may have an ADMIN meeting at central office.
An inner - agency meeting follows

Wednesday - 1/27

Thursday - 1/28
Tier 2 / Care Team Meeting in Daugherty’s Room

Friday - 1/29

Upcoming
Feb 3 - Early Release - 6th Grade Binder Team & SPED to host
Possibly followed by a Tina Meier Presentation at the High School
eValuate Rewards Finishing touch details - http://knockerballweststl.com/photos/  
U of I work in teams/individually
Happiness Advantage Activity: 7 seconds, 8 seconds, 9 seconds or 10 seconds (not 70 seconds)
Attendance Challenge Progress
Pizza or Cookies for first AC LAB to earn 5 days of 100% attendance.
Then, contest focuses on the next hour of the day.
Google Docs
Feb 19 - Middle School Glow Dance
FEB 28 - Not sure about a rescheduling of the www.harlemwizards.com yet. PLEASE THROW YOUR HAT IN THE RING IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE AND WILLING TO PLAY.   I know they are looking for faculty in the contest.  TICKETS AT CENTRAL OFFICE
Harlem wizards.jpg

On another positive note…

{See the building January data below}

...eValuate Cycle A of Content Tested

{steady overall growth.  Very nicely done!}


...and...
...the Cycle B of Content Tested


Resources:
www.worditout.com. Link to a wordcloud maker.

Besides food, there are other additional student incentives we may audit this semester.




We will get our MAP dates together ASAP to assist in planning.

Intrinsic or Extrinsic?
I am hearing great comments, thoughts and questions about motivation.  Of course we want all students to be perfectly motivated, excited and willing to learn every day and always wanting to do their best, but this is still the middle school.  That might not happen.
In the meantime, we work with them, encouraging them, watching true growth and learning happen and are even encouraged ourselves.  Do they work for food?  Would they work to go bowling?  Would knockerball take it over the top?  Is Six Flags a true carrot? Is our relationship that matters the most?  Does knowing their name and using it politely help? Do their lives matter?  Are their interests worth asking about?
It seems like these questions could go on and on, like the diversity among a population.  And maybe that is part of the solution?  Maybe all of these have their place?  Maybe each will work with various sub-groups? Maybe some students just want to be noticed and mentioned?  Maybe some need more to continue their development?
A 5th grader I met last weekend showed me a “book” she had written.  It took all of her 4th grade year, and one could tell she had invested many hours in the finished product.  Optimal motivational techniques for her?  She might want to spend time in a game and social interaction.  Her brother will want to go outside and take risks.  Like their diversity, our students have diversity and all of our programs are intending to reach different students.  One program doesn’t solve all the issues but all of them together demonstrate we are willing to serve each sub-group specifically, individually and intentionally.  Like our diversity, they have diversity.  Hence, we respond with diverse and varied interventions.  Will one work, everytime with every student?  Of course not.  Let’s develop what works for them.
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK:  PBiS, Binder Teams, Grade Levels, Steering, classroom rules and procedures, buddy sheets, HOT Sheets, ASD, ISS, OSS, lunch detentions, hall restrictions, pink sheets, individual conversations, class discussions, attitudes, consistency, healthy confrontations, and relationship building that each of you do with our students daily.

Thank you

Tom McCracken

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Staff Blog - Wordclouds 011416

Winfield Middle School Staff Blog
Jan 14, 2016

Hey Middle School Teachers and Staff,
While looking for a clever quote to title today's blog, I realized the best things come from right inside ourselves*. This word cloud originated from your feedback, inteventions and thoughts shared last Wednesday during our PD time.

During PD time on Wednesday January 6th, we shared out our collective and individual interventions to help our students succeed.  Above is a brief summary of the our feedback via www.worditout.com.   

*Parenthetic Note:
(Which reminds me...Ms Hoff asked me to share my favorite superhero, and why with her 6th grade speech class. See the conclusion for my thoughts).

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A few had asked about the chocolate treat.  
Here are the details about the Ferrara Strawberry Chocolate Ball…
Kinesthetic culinary adventures all around.

Besides food, here are other additional student incentives we may audit this semester.
&

We will get our MAP dates together ASAP to assist in planning.


Next Week


Monday
MLK Day - No school

Tuesday
Binder Team is cancelled Monday but Terri will be in District today and stop by in the PM after her AM at the Intermediate. She will stop by the rooms and be available to support folks working on CFA data or Unit of Instruction Review.

Harlem wizards.jpg
We will invite the Primary and Intermediate to watch the preliminary presentation from www.harlemwizard.com. They bring a partial event to prime the community for the large event later.
TICKETS FOR THE LARGE EVENT ARE SOLD AT CENTRAL OFFICE

Wednesday
Early Release
eValuate Rewards Finishing touch details - http://knockerballweststl.com/photos/  
U of I work in teams/individually
Happiness Advantage Activity: 7 seconds, 8 seconds, 9 seconds or 10 seconds (not 70 seconds)
Attendance Challenge
Pizza or Cookies for first AC LAB to earn 5 days of 100% attendance.
Then, contest focuses on the next hour of the day.
Google Docs

This just in…  At 9:00AM, we will host a www.harlemwizards.com event inviting the Primary and Intermediate schools to  join us for the entertainment.  There will be a future event in February and this is the pre-event to get the community ready and informed.  It is for the Lincoln County Educational Foundation fund raising and entertainment.  There is a post on Winfield Middle School facebook as well.  You were invited via OUTLOOK to attend.  It looks like we will leave the bells alone and take the end of 3rd and most of 4th hour.  We will sit in the bleachers and the other buildings will load the floor.

Thursday
A PBiS Meeting was rescheduled for this morning to allow the attendance of our special guest.

Friday
End of Progress 5 in the Gradebook - Grades due this weekend.


And on a positive note…

...eValuate Cycle A of Content Tested...

SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER INCREASES:


...and Cycle B of Content Tested.

OCTOBER TO DECEMBER INCREASES


Conclusion
Ms Hoff is teaching a PUBLIC SPEAKING class to 6th graders. They seem to be enjoying it. A while back, they asked me to share my favorite superhero and why. Not to go against the trending #batman I said Hulk. Primarily becasue he is not a gear guy. He can do it all by himself and within himself. I began to reflect and wonder if I perceive myself as a frustrated gear guy and this is a manifestation of a deeper subconscious desire to be more independent. Or was I just over analyzing??? Regardless, it was fun to be able to share but please don't let me highjack your lessons. I will never be offended! It is an honor to get work alongside and support each of you...

Tom McCracken