10-2-15

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

HONORING THE PAST

Thank You's, Kudos, and Recognitions

• Congratulation to Sabrina for surviving her first District Strategic Planning Day!
• Great admiration for our TOSAs who presented at Strategic Planning-Thank You Stephanie, Lisa, Cara and Katy!!

• Thank you also to Carlos and Caroline for their updates at the Strategic Planning Day!
• Kudos to Lisa Campbell, Estela Leidy, and Leigh Courtney for their leadership and presentations at the Writing Professional Learning days!
•  Have you checked out the Instructional Services BLOG?  Thank you to our TOSAs for taking on this challenge and making this dream a reality!

Innovate, Educate, Inspire
a community of learners in the Solana Beach School District

• Thank You to Debra Schade who visited many of our STREAM Labs this past week! And Thank You to our STREAM TOSAs for creating amazing spaces and engaging lessons!

**HAPPY PRINCIPAL MONTH!! SBSD LOVES OUR PRINCIPALS!!**

TREASURING THE PRESENT

What's Happening-Things You Need to Know

• 10/6  Solana Ranch Strategic Planning
• 10/7  Solana Pacific Strategic Planning
• 10/7 BTSA Social
• 10/8 Solana Santa Fe Strategic Planning
• 10/8  Board Meeting
• 10/14 Skyline Strategic Planning
• 10/15 Solana Vista Strategic Planning 
• 10/15 Shake Out Drill
• 10/16 Carmel Creek Strategic Planning

SHAPING THE FUTURE

Our Very Own PLN

• Leadership
• School Leaders-Gain from the October Oasis
• Essential Habits of an Excellent Educator
• Why Do More than Half of the Principals Quit after 5 years?

• Curriculum 
• 4 Tips for Writing in the Math Classroom
• 7 Videos that will make you immediately want to stat using comics in the classroom
• Teaching & Learning 
• Why the Most Important People in the Classroom are the STUDENTS!
• How to Move Away From One-Size-Fits-All instruction & Why you need to...
• 11 Ways to Teach Grit
• 5 Powerful Questions Teachers Can Ask Students

Tweets...

8 Tips to Create a Twitter Driven School Culture

 

Our Staff is Tweeting away...

 

It is great to see so many of our teachers and principals tweeting! If we don't tell our story, somebody else will!

A small word of caution-be careful not to include student faces in our tweets-I know it is sometimes hard to capture the student excitement without having them in our pics-be sure to only take pics of the tops and backs of their heads.  (<:

FINAL THOUGHTS TO PONDER

 

9/18/15

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

HONORING THE PAST

Thank You's, Kudos, and Recognitions

• Major Kudos to our TOSAs for all of the work they are doing to prepare for Strategic Plan!!
•  Thank you to Sal for providing the Mandated Reporter training at our DO Staff meeting!
• Thank you to Becky and her staff for allowing me to visit this past week!  Things are Lookin' Good at SSF!
• Kudos to Lisa R. and her team-I loved visiting Carmel Creek and seeing every classroom so on task and engaged in meaningful learning opportunities!

TREASURING THE PRESENT

What's Happening-Things You Need to Know

• 9/21 Principal Only Leadership-Thank You Lisa D for providing the snacks!
• 9/21 October Board Topics and Updates due
• 9/22  Kinder Writing Day
• 9/22  JN @ Solana Vista
• 9/22  TOSA Meeting
• 9/24  Strategic Plan-District
• 9/25  Ed Coalition

SHAPING THE FUTURE

Our Very Own PLN

• Leadership
• A little late...but a great article on Innovative Ways to "Flip" Back to School Nights
• Stop Burnout in it's Tracks!
• Curriculum 
• 10 Fun-Filled Formative Assessment Ideas
• Teaching & Learning
• 20 Classroom Setups that Promote Thinking
• Want Active Discussions, Try Instructional Carousels

Tweets...

#sbsdedu

Our staff is tweeting!!

"There was a kid at your school yesterday who didn't interact with anyone.  Find that kid, build a connection and change a life" @justintarte

"A goal should scare you a little, and excite you a lot!" @julikimbley

"Do NOT teach a tech lesson.  You teach content that uses tech!  Even if you are a "tech Teacher!" @alicekeeler

FINAL THOUGHTS TO PONDER

Isn't this the truth!

9/4/15

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

HONORING THE PAST

Thank You's, Kudos, and Recognitions

• Big Time Kudos to Lisa Campbell for an amazing day of Professional Learning for our Grade 5 and 6 teachers!
• The "Circle the Wagons" award goes to Caroline, Terry, Curt, Matt and the entire Solana Highlands Staff!  What a great team effort this past week in dealing with a difficult situation for all!
• Kudos to Caroline and Rebecca for developing and sharing the new Suspension Form.  Nice Work!  Let's hope we have very little use for this form!
•  Thank Matt for having me out this week to visit your classrooms!  Wonderful start to the school year!
• Thank you SP, Skyline, and SSF for letting us show off your STREAM Labs!  Great opportunities await our students!

TREASURING THE PRESENT

What's Happening-Things You Need to Know

• 9/7  YAHOO!!! TAKE THE DAY OFF!!
• 9/8  Fall MAP testing begins!
• 9/8  ELD Teacher's First District Job-a-Like
• 9/9  TOSA Planning meeting
• 9/10 School Board Meeting-All Principals attend

SHAPING THE FUTURE

Our Very Own PLN

• Leadership
• 8 Tips to Create a Twitter Driven School Culture
•  6 Non-Teaching Books that Every Educator Should Read
• Curriculum 
• Fun "Assessment" for Silent Sustained Reading
• Teaching & Learning
• If I Knew Then: A Letter to Me on My First Day of Teaching-Great Video!
• 11 of the Best Back to School Apps for Teachers for Starting and Staying Organized!
• 11 Ways to Teach Grit in the Classroom

Tweets...

• A 21 Day Twitter Challenge for Beginners

•  Another 21 Day Twitter Challenge...

FINAL THOUGHTS TO PONDER

 

Hmmm...Could we do this with our staffs as well?

8/28/15

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

HONORING THE PAST

Thank You's, Kudos, and Recognitions

• Congratulations to everyone for a supporting such a smooth opening to the 2015-16 School Year! What a great beginning to the new school year!  It was great to get out to the different schools and see all of the smiling faces!  (staff and students)  
• Thank you to the Tech Dept. for providing a School Wires Training!
• Speaking of our Tech Dept...Can you believe that our kids have iPads in their classrooms and ready to go during the first week of school!  Really?! WOW!
• Hugs and support to Matt and the Solana Highlands staff as they navigate their facility challenge!
•  Kudos to the many staff members who signed up for the Lucy Calkins writing days-Such a motivated group!
• And Thank You to Monica Smith for getting all of these dates organized and on the calendar-not an easy task!

TREASURING THE PRESENT

What's Happening-Things You Need to Know

• 8/31-Leadership @ 1:00
• 8/31- New Principal Meeting @ 4:00
• 9/1-  Grades 5/6 Writing 
• 9/1-  Red Ribbon Chair Meeting 
• 9/4- District TOSA Collaboration Mtg
• Discovery Lab Start dates-I am "cut and pasting" our notes from the 9/8/14 Leadership meeting to remind us of what we agreed to last year...
• Essentially, we agreed that all "pull-outs" would begin in Week 2 except for Media Center-which could be Week 2 or 3 as a site decision.  Do we need to revisit this??
  
  • Next year for trainings it may be better to use afternoons in the 1st week and pay them
  • Music - Start in week 2, no last week or 2 weeks if promotions
  • Media Center - Start in week 2 or 3 as a site decision, no last 2 weeks
  • Computer - Start week 2, no classes last week
  • Other Labs (Sci, PE, Art) - Start week 2 and no classes last week
    
    
     

SHAPING THE FUTURE

Our Very Own PLN

• Leadership
• #PBL for Principals-Find out what the Buck Institute recommends to Principals wanting to know more about Project Based Learning!
• Do you ask your staff what they want from a principal?  Great article on  2 Top Things Teachers Want from their Principal
• WOW!  A must share video on Growth Mindset and effects of Praise on students!
• If I Knew Then:  A letter to Me on My First Year Teaching...Watch Veteral teachers write a letter to their first-year selves
• Curriculum 
• 10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Give an Assessment
• 53 Ways to Check for Understanding
• Teaching & Learning 
• Redesigning the Classroom Environment (btw...Caroline and I are going to meet and discuss options for "district approved" purchases for flexible learning spaces!  Thank you to Caroline for always being open to our latest "needs!"
• 10 Unique and Creative Classroom Designs
• Does your Classroom Tell a Story?  How to create a learning space that evokes curiousity
• 3 Ways to Make Meaningful Connections with Your Students
• How to Motivate the Most Unmotivated Students

• Tweets...
• "This makes me sad...'What is expected of me in this class to receive a passing grade?"  First day student comment" @alicekeeler
•  "Do the grades in your gradebook reflect what a student actual knows, or do they reflect compliance & one's ability to play 'school' well?" @justintarte
•  "Your gradebook does not assess your students. YOU do!  Look at the student, does the grade reflect what the student knows?  No...THEN CHANGE IT."  :) @alicekeeler 

What if we modeled this...and we tweeted one thing a day about our school, dept, district??  Just sayin'...  #sbsdedu

FINAL THOUGHTS TO PONDER

Hmmm....Somethin' to think about...

8/21/15

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

HONORING THE PAST

Thank You's, Kudos, and Recognitions

• Welcome back to Terry Decker-Glad to see you upright!
  Kudos to Sabrina for stepping in and filling in for Terry and "leading" our Leadership meeting on Monday!
• Congratulations to all of the Principals!  It sounds like your staff meetings were a huge success!  Inspiring and Informative!!  Yahoo!  We are off to a GREAT start to the 15-16 School Year!
• A BIG Thank You to Caroline for organizing and presenting 7 informative Tech meetings-one at each site-And for inviting Instructional Services to attend!  Love having the sites see the two departments supporting each other!  And a special thank you to the TOSAs for being a part of the Road Show!  GO TEAM!
• WOW!!! Another AMAZING Health and Lifestyle Expo!  I know it is a lot of work coordinating this event!  We appreciate YOU, Susan Jensen!!
•  And how 'bout that YUMMY BBQ!!  Kudos to Carlos and the Nutritional Services Team!  It's so nice to have everyone come together and celebrate the new school year!  I must admit...there's a part (ok, a small part) of me that misses flipping pancakes and burgers!!
• A "personal" thank you to Kristie for indulging my calendar obsessiveness!  Some people are givers, and some people are takers...YOU were definitely the giver!

TREASURING THE PRESENT

What's Happening-Things You Need to Know

• 8/24  September Board Topics Due
• 8/24  SchoolWires Training @ CC
• 8/25 Happy First Day of School!!

SHAPING THE FUTURE

Our Very Own PLN

• Leadership
• 15 Apps to Keep You Organized
• Growth Mindset Kit- Resources for Educators
• 10 Questions to Help Start the Grading Conversation at Your School
• Google Classroom-8 Essential Tips Infographic
• Curriculum 
• 250 Things to do "instead" of Homework
• Talk about putting things in "Kid Friendly" Language...

• Teaching & Learning
• 4 Cues to Remember on the First Day of School
• Don't Waste the First Day!
• How to Create Productive Partnerships with Parents
• 8 Tips for Reaching Out to Parents
• Teachers-5Ways to Ease Back into School
 
 

 

Tweets...
"Remember that Classbuilding &Teambuilding should be done throughout the school year not just the first few weeks!" @BillAtKagan
"If we discourage them in order to get them ready for college so they never go to college..."@Alicekeeler
"How many times have you intended to ..."grade, lesson plan, make parent phone calls" but were too tire?"  Do we allow students this luxury?" @Alicekeeler 
"Real leadership is about letting individuals be individuals while at the same time getting them to accomplish a common goal!"  @ BBDaneDell 
"Discussing mindfulness in the classroom.  It's not just about academics...we need to develop the whole child!" @kelseyholo
A Great handle for Teacher to follow @realscientists 

FINAL THOUGHTS TO PONDER

HAVE A GREAT FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!  #WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

8/14/15

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

HONORING THE PAST

Thank You's, Kudos, and Recognitions

• Congratulations to Sal for hosting another great New Teacher Orientation!  Boy, these employees hit the Jack-Pot!  SBSD is an EduAwesome district to work!
•  Thank you to Jerry for organizing a second meeting for the principals to finalize your Strategic Planning agendas!
• Yahoo Eric, STREAM TOSA at SP for creating an EduAwesome STREAM Lab in time for ALL of us to see while attending the PD days!  How inspiring!! Welcome to the District and the TEAM!
• Kudos to Sabrina for stepping in at the last minute and welcoming our Teachers!
• OMG!!! Two AMAZING Professional Development Days!  Kudos to so many people! 
• Our terrific TOSAs and Presenters
• Melani and Monica for all of their "behind the scenes" work organizing the experience
• The SP Staff for welcoming us and letting us use their school/classrooms-special thank to Eleazar, Debi and Nancy!
•  The Tech Staff for working so hard to get everything ready for us...and for patiently trouble shooting any issues over the two days...AND always with a smile!

TREASURING THE PRESENT

What's Happening-Things You Need to Know

• 8/17  Leadership-Don't forget your Red Binders
• 8/18  Teachers Return-Good Luck at your first staff meetings!  Have Fun!
• 8/20  Instructional Assistants return
• 8/21  Mini Open Houses & Back To School BBQ 

SHAPING THE FUTURE

Our Very Own PLN

• Leadership
• How Twitter Can Power Your Professional Learning
• 7 Videos that show small classroom adjustments that make difference!
• Curriculum
• Padlet now offers an iPad App-5 Ways You Can Use it With Students
• 10 Google Slides activities to add awesome to classes
• Teaching & Learning 
• What Do Students Learn by Being Perfect-Valuable Failure
• The Ultimate Guide to Using iPads in your Classroom
• The Epic Tool Chest of Tools that You Can Use Right Now!
• 20 Tips for Creating a Safe and Open Learning Environment
• Does Your Classroom Tell a Story? Does the Space Evoke Curiosity? 

Tweets...
"There's no such thing as I'm just a __________' in education. Regardless of your role, you are hugely important!: Via Sheldon Smith @Justintarte

"FAIL-First Attempt In Learning. A great saying for all learners!" @jerryJonesRanch

"Don't look for ideas to confirm your thinking rather look for trends that will disrupt your thinking. @ DCulberhouse

"Learning can happen without schools, but schools do not exist with without students.  Learners should always be the prime focus of education!" @gcouros 

FINAL THOUGHTS TO PONDER

8/7/15

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

HONORING THE PAST

Thank You's, Kudos, and Recognitions

•  A behind the scenes thank you to Kristie for working with the staff at The Green Dragon to ensure that our retreat day ran smoothly and that the facility met our needs!
• Kudos to Terry Decker and Sabrina for all of the work and thought that went into developing our Leadership Retreat!  What a great way to set the tone for the year!
• Congratulations to Joel and Lisa R. for making it though the first official week back!  Great to have you at the helm of two of our Primary schools!
• Welcome to Curt!  I know he has been out making the rounds at our schools-Thanks for taking the time to get to know our sites!
• Thank you to our TOSA's who were able to join us at our Strategic Planning "planning" day!  So may ideas flying around the room.  We can't wait to tap into your energy, once everyone has their agenda set and focus areas identified.
•  Kudos to Caroline and her team for facilitating a wonderful Secretary/Clerk Task Force AND the information meeting once all of the office staffs were back!
• A BIG Shout out to Susan Jensen and Sal Gumina for getting all of our new staff hired and processed this summer! (over 30 and counting since July1!)
• Thank You, Thank You, Thank You to Melani and Monica for keeping our office so organized all summer and supporting Summer Enrichment and ALL of the Task Force work!
• Welcome Back to our Principals!  I am so inspired by your dedication to the students of Solana Beach School District!  I wish you all the very best year!

TREASURING THE PRESENT

What's Happening-Things You Need to Know

• 8/10  Leadership 
• 8/11  Strategic Planning "Planning" meeting Part 2 (Thank You Jerry!)
• 8/11  New Teacher Orientation
• 8/12  First Aid/CPR Training
• 8/13 & 8/14  Professional Development Symposium
• 8/13  Board Meeting (Principals do NOT have to attend)

SHAPING THE FUTURE

Our Very Own PLN

• Leadership
• Using Technology to Work Smarter, not Harder: Integrate Technology as a School Leader
• The Power of Gratitude-Who's Packing Your Parachute?
• 10 Things I'd Like to See More of in Our Schools
• Curriculum 
• Google Classroom-Student (and Teacher) Quick Sheet Guide
• Travel the World, Without Leaving Your Classroom-Free Virtual Field Trips
• Back to School-Pinterest Style! A Pinterest Board filled with ideas...
• Fostering a Growth Mindset is Key to Teaching STEM

• Teaching & Learning
• Flexible Learning Environments-Providing Kids What They Need
• 6 Things New Teachers Remind Me to Do Every Year
• 10 Easy Things to Try in Your Classroom in 2015
  

 

Twitter is Your Friend-Do you Follow these people?

• And don't forget to follow people from our very own district...more to come next week...Are you on twitter?
• @julienorby
• @terrydckr
• @julieunion
• @ajtremble

FINAL THOUGHTS TO PONDER

Click Here for Some Great Back to School Questions for You to Ask Yourself

 

"We can not always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future!" 

Franklin D. Roosevelt 

5/1/15

THINK WIN-WIN

PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST 

5/4  Principal Interviews
5/4  May Board Topics and Updates due
5/6  STREAM Site TOSA Interviews
5/7  Teacher Interviews
5/7  USD Spotlight Speaker Series (dinner afterwards)

SYNERGIZE 

*Kudos to Caroline and her team for a wonderful Facilities Master Plan Committee meeting!
*A big Shout Out to Jerry, Ellen and the entire Solana Ranch team for a FANTASTIC School Spotlight at the Board Meeting!
*Thank you to Nancy, Sal and Terry for spending so much up-front time Screening the Principal Candidates! Now the Big Question:  "WHO" is going to be selected?
*Congratulations to Nancy on her new adventure-We will miss you! You were exactly what this district needed!
*Hooray for Stephanie and Gina who will be presenting at the NSTA Conference in the Fall.
*Yahoo for Solana Ranch and Skyline who celebrated the year with amazing Open Houses!

BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Instructional Leaders

10 Creative Pre-Assessment Ideas You May Not Know 
The Educators Guide to Copyright, Fair Use and Creative Commons

10 Communication Secrets of Great Leaders 
Staying in the Game-Preventing Principal Burnout

SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Teachers

How to Refine Driving Questions for Effective Project-Based Learning 
12 Characteristics that make you a Teacher Leader

BE PROACTIVE

Terrific Twitter Tweets

"Passenger or a Pilot, it's your choice!" Rick Schmitt @SDUHSD

"Who are the other instructional leaders in your school?  The don't have titles, but their leadership matters" Justin Baeder @ eduleadership

"How do we take employees who are smoldering & inspire them 2 ignite their potential?  Challenge, encourage/support them 2 strive 4 greatness?" @casas_Jimmy

"Teachers will go above and beyond for students when they feel as though they are being supported tremendously by their admin @japhillips0722

"Are you a sailboat, a tugboat or an anchor? Do you embrace change or resist it?" @justintarte

"Strange as it sounds, great leaders gain authority by giving it away." James B Stockdale via @casas_Jimmy

SHARPEN THE SAW

Instead of saying this...Try saying this:

Are our students Engaged or Compliant?

LOVE THIS!!