Slow and Steady Wins the Race

January 26, 2017

2017 over 2016!!!

Comparing the current eValuate score card with last year, again this month we notice positive, clear growth worth celebrating.  It is better than last year across the board.  

Well done, Team.  Keep up the good work.

“Don’t Smile!”

Students typically bury their heads in thought and contemplation.  Frequently, this is the real deal!  They needed very little prompting to “look like they were working!”  These views, although obviously posed, were actually real only moments before.  Some could not keep from smiling, even when instructed “not to smile” and “pretend you are working!”

#BestPlaceEver

Cold and Flu Season is upon us!

Who is that masked man wearing the cool word cloud NJHS shirt?

Ask the photobombers!

To improve your chances of staying healthy, stay clean and wash your hands frequently. Limit the hi-fives and try a fist bump, instead.

Additionally, remind students that the yearbooks are on sale. Order NOW but delivery won’t be till May.  Here is a little step where we can encourage them to plan ahead.  For only $15, they get a great nostalgic memento!

Schedule for January 30th - February 3rd

Monday

• Valentine's Day Chocolate Fundraiser Complete TODAY.  
• Students to hand in moneys to office today

Tuesday

• PBiS Tier 2 Meeting in Strouds Room?
• Community Bright Futures Meeting at the Central Office at 6:00 pm.

Wednesday

• Early Release Feb 1st AND it’s also the date for our NAEP tests -
• We provide the locations and students.
• NAEP will come and bring everything necessary.

Thursday

• Chess Club in Mr. Utlaut’s room
• 6th Grade ELA Collaboration Day
• Binder Teams to work in the afternoon - Data Cycles, Common Assessments, Collaboration or U of I’s.
• 6th ELA Collaboration Day - To be rescheduled

Friday

• Valentine's Day Fundraiser Kick Off -
• Sales over today

Upcoming/Ongoing items to keep on your radar

• Yearbook Sales Window - Jan 23rd - Feb 17th
• Feb 6-13 NJHS candy grams at lunch, delivered 14th during ac lab
• February 13-15 METC Conference
• February 14th - Glow Dance 2:45-4:30 (will need chaperones)
• Harlem Wizards at TBHS, Feb 19th @ 2:00 pm
• NJHS - DodgeBall Tournament - February 22nd - 2:45-4:30 (will need help)
• The Megan Meier Foundation is Hosting the Feb 24th Workshop
• March 10th - NJHS volunteer day at Food bank (7th/ 8th grade only)
• Math Vertical Collaboration day with the High School - tbd
• April 6- Bumper Volleyball Tournament 2:45-4:30 (will need help)

Six Flags

 

#BestDayEver

The Activities Committee met and discussed a few preliminary concerns about our Field Trip parameters surrounding our Six Flags Trip.

Near $40 for the final price,

Including Meal Ticket and Park Admission &  Sponsor Tickets

Transportation:  Early Bus and Late Bus sign ups to know up front to get estimation of transportation needs.

Ac Lab Registrations

#NoDryEye

A bit more about #goodbye21. Emma came to the board meeting to listen to the recitation of her poem.  Arriving early, her family gathered together in the lobby to prepare for the Middle School portion of the meeting.  We had a few minutes to wait while the other buildings presented their Recognition.  When asked if she was ready to read the verse, Emma replied with an emphatic “No!”  We did not want to pressure her into the recitation but when it came time to read the poem, she was right there, ready to perform and willing to confront the saga, one more time.  

Moving, heartfelt and authentic!  These are just a few terms that could describe the experience.  Those fortunate enough to be in the room, saw a little girl overcome her barriers and conquer the obstacles of fear and rejections that might hold others back.  Many in the audience were visibly moved by the event and those familiar with her backstory seemed most impacted.

About halfway through, Emma was about to break down when asked by her uncle, “Do you want Mr McCracken to finish?” she mustered up her courage and said “No, I got this!” Redoubling her efforts, taking comfort from her little niece, Emma pressed onto the finale, got through and received a raving round of applause from the audience.  Thank you, Emma, for sharing your heart with us.

Here’s a video of the author reading that Poem.

Goodbye 21

God has a way of saying Goodbye

He says it through those who fly

They soar Through the Sky Seeking those who Cry

He tried to Run

But at Twenty-One he drifted toward  the Sun

He had A Goliath Heart and a Brand New Start

She is a Sweetheart With a face like a piece of Art and oh so smart

He was her Dad Who Wore plaid it was So sad  

Who Knew that little Green car Could leave Such A Scar

Left, Head Spinning, She’s just Skimming All the Memories

So, Loving But no one to Love She’s left alone in Sorrow wishing there was no tomorrow

Jesse, He was a family Man he just wanted to love his Daughter, now he Never Can

No one could ever be as Happy as Gabby Until there was no more Daddy

Candius Is a Great Mom she knew to be calm and knew her daughter like the back of her palm

The bond between that little girl and her Dad was Amazing it’s like she Would praise him

And for that little Girl nothing could  phase him

Without her Dad there’s an Empty Space inside, that little Girl lost all Her Grace

She was so sad it was like I watched her Heart Slowly Crack down the Middle

Sad doesn’t even Start to Express her emotion Her tears as White as the waves of the Ocean.

#Backstory

An organic experience like that, where things come together and a student gets a chance to overcome, build confidence and reach beyond themselves reminds me of WHY we all take these jobs in education.  After Emma presented to the Board of Education, her parent wrote:

Thank you to you for the opportunity to teach Emma that there are situations that arise in life that although may be difficult are worth the temporary struggle and uncomfortable environment. She was so proud of herself for facing all those people despite her fears when we left!  She was terrified. What a great life lesson especially when facing a fear. Teaching her in a scary situation that she felt pressure in, to have Faith. That in a situation (even like the ones she confronts at school) in the end she did it. It wasn’t all that bad even if it seemed terrifying in the beginning!

;)

This would be one more contribution to a scrapbook, one like we all build, reminding us of the children, families, lives and in turn, the future that we influence daily and with every conversation.  Keep up that great work and remember it is for today AND tomorrow that we serve Winfield School District.

Hidden, in Plain View

Honored and pleasantly surprised to find the nice WOW providing authentic feedback and

discretely placed where I might readily notice it!

Thank you for the Staff Written WOW regarding feedback from our PD day last week.  It was energizing to watch you work, overhear the conversations and see each of you make valuable contributions to the Middle School, the students and the community as a whole! Thank you and Thank you.

Humbled by all each of you contribute,

Tom

How do we motivate others?

Jan 19, 2017

Grades Due January 21

What are our focus areas?

Achievement, Attendance and Behavior.

Fundraisers

At lunch, a few (10-20) students have received a little sample treat from our fundraiser guy, Rick.

These really are some of the best chocolates available.  

The students are selling these to raise funds for various activities, like Knockerball last year…

Motivation?

A little reminder of how much fun we had at Knockerball.  It seemed like a good motivator but had little effect on student achievement.  Teachers diligent work on the Question du Jour seems substantially more effective than another assembly.  Of course every case is different but this indicates a good case for Intrinsic Motivation over Extrinsic Motivation.  Motivation flows from students when teachers use relevant materials to present rigorous content based on relationships gleaned from their wards.  

We really do have to reach them to teach them!

Schedule for Jan 23rd - 27th

Monday

• Valentine's Day Chocolate Fundraiser all week

Tuesday

• Activities Committee meet in Higgins Room
• Board of Education Meeting at Central Office at 6:30pm
• Highlights include the Student Work Sample
• Student of the month candidates

Thursday

• Chess Club in Utlaut’s room
• Binder Teams to work in the afternoon - Data Cycles, Common Assessments, Collaboration or U of I’s.

Here’s a fun #TBT pic from an attendance contest last year

Friday

• Myra Collins in the building
• Valentine's Day Fundraiser Kick Off -
• Sales over today

Upcoming/Ongoing items to keep on your radar

• 6th ELA Collaboration Day - To be rescheduled

• Yearbook Sales Window - Jan 23rd - Feb 17th
• Math Vertical Collaboration day with the High School - tbd

• Activities Committee - Jan 24th -
• Initial Preliminary Discussions about the Six Flags Trip
• PBiS Tier 2 - Jan 31st
• Early Release Feb 1st AND it’s also the date for our NAEP tests -
• We provide the locations and students.
• NAEP will come and bring everything necessary.
• Harlem WIzards at TBHS, Feb 19th @ 2:00 pm
• The Megan Meier Foundation is Hosting the Feb 24th Workshop
• I have sent the SubFinder Number to your phones via REMIND.  Please save it.
• (570) 266-7646.
• We may have to duplicate our efforts for a bit till we get EVERYONE accustom to the service on all sides.

See our Board Report for Additional discussions pertinent to the perspectives we address during our lunch talks.

Nice work KG!  

NOTES

1. If you need a sub, call sub finder at (570) 266-7646.  
1. To begin the process, the machine will ask for your phone number
2. We may have duplicated efforts during our transition period.
3. I have sent you the number on Remind 101 as well.
2. Harlem Wizard event will be Feb 19th at 2 PM at Troy Buchanan High School.  
1. Sign up to have fun and go out there for the sake of a good cause.
3. Please continue mailing out another round of postcards for your AC LAB student.  You may also send them for students in your class but not in your AC LAB as well.  Feel free to grab some from the stack in the copy room.

The Shoppers Test for Teachers:

Anyone else?

Our ELA Collaboration Days w/ Jana Schmidt have lead us to many great insights, discoveries and plans!  See below...

*Identified most assessed standards on the MAP

*Of those, we selected the top seven that were the lowest scored

*Identified wording used on the MAP by analyzing the practice MAP

*Took the lowest six standards, compared those to eValuate questions, and used those as our new DATA cycle tests

*Of all questions asked on the MAP, our students had the most difficulty with the Tech Enhanced questions

How everybody can help:

*Continue using technology for reading and answering questions

*Whenever possible, have students select two answers out of five choices

*Whenever possible, give students two part questions, where Part B is based on the answer from Part A

*Whenever possible, show students a brief video and then have them answer questions based on the video; (it could even be having students answer one question, but holding them accountable for information from a video is key)

Word of the month:

“FAIRNESS”

Trying to stay as brief as possible, I wanted to reiterate on ALL the positive I see throughout the building.  Authentic praise, sincere smiles, high fives, (or fist bumps during cold and flu season) teachers out of their comfort zone, teachers connecting and building relationships through the shared activities done in class, many interesting stories shared by teachers to build relevance and teachers holding student to their individual high standards esteeming rigor over difficulty, mindful that fair does NOT mean equal.  Assignments may actually differ but each student gets what he or she needs to succeed!  That is the true educator, one that takes each person to their next level!   

Conclusion:

Continue the fun and expressive use of the student WOWs, please.  

Gamification is one way to help students learn to overcome the fear of failure! Authentic praise and encouragement from a caring adult is another.

There is no way to match, copy, reproduce, duplicate or even truly describe the colored nuances between the two cloud sets, seen in the same sky. Even this photo fails to portray the depth and breadth of the beauty displayed over our Lincoln County Sky. In the same way, we can’t reach the true acme or pinnacle of perfection. Failure is necessary, mandatory and even vital for life changing growth. Students are often handcuffed, stifled and maybe even act out to avoid the trial or educational adventure if the fear of failure rests in their consciousness.  

We, as their teachers, adjust our attitudes and actions, speaking words of hope, positivity and encouragement among ourselves and with our students with NO COST TO OURSELVES to overcome this negativity.  I have heard it quoted, students need anywhere from four to twelve positive interactions to overcome a negative comment. (Even then, the negative comment still remains lodged in their cranium.)  The positivity permeating this place extends far deeper than these walls!  Keep it up, Middle School. You are truly changing the world, one positive comment at a time!

Humbly,

Tom McCracken