9-26-14

THINK WIN-WIN

PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST 

9/29  Kick Off Energy Unit in the Discovery Labs
9/29  Site Strategic Planning SKY
9/29  Principal Leadership Meeting Click Here for Agenda

9/30  Site Strategic Planning SSF
10/1  BTSA mtg.
10/2  Site Strategic Planning CC
10/3  Pelican Radio Check @ 1:30

SYNERGIZE 

*Thank You to Melani for coordinating the registration for the STEM conference-I think everyone had a great two days!  Such an exciting topic!
*Thank you to all of our Discovery Lab teachers/instructors for their energy (pun intended), excitement and hard work getting ready for our kick off unit.  Our students are so very lucky-I can't wait to see and hear about all of their wonderful discoveries! And a Big Hooray for Stephanie for working with all of the schools and all of the instructors to prepare for Monday!
*Good Luck to Lisa D, Becky and Terri D as they put on the final touches for their Strategic Planning days!

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Blogs/Articles/Videos for Instructional Leaders

•Check out Kevin Honeycutt's Video What's would your 30 second legacy be?  Do you have the courage to film it?

•Reasons Why I Love my Job 
•5 Ways to be a Great Teammate

SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Teachers

•Great article on 7 Ways to stop the Parent-Child Power Struggle Over Homework
•7 Questions to ask Parents at the Beginning of the Year

•It's Time to Stop Averaging Grades...
•Is Your Gradebook Supportive of Student Learning?

BE PROACTIVE

•Please send your DELAC representative name and contact information to Melani.  Our first meeting is scheduled for December 8. 

•We will be talking about Walkthrough process and protocol on Monday at the Principal Leadership meeting.  Please bring anything (ideas or documents) that will help us design the perfect process for us as we add teachers to our group.

STREAM is everywhere at our schools!  Don't forget that the Kick Off Integrated Unit on Energy begins Monday-Remember to ask your students, "What did you discover today?"

SHARPEN THE SAW

Sir Ken Robinson-Why Happiness is So Important!

9/19/14

THINK WIN-WIN

PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST 

9/22-STEM Symposium-You might want to consider Carpooling-Parking is limited and expensive
9/22- October Board updates and topics due
9/23- STEM Symposium
9/23- Site Tech Job-A-Like
9/24-Site Strategic Planning Dress Rehearsal
9/25-TOSA meeting
9/26-Ed Coalition Meeting

SYNERGIZE 

*Thank you to Susan Jensen and all of the members of the Insurance Committee for their commitment to this very important task!
*Thank you to Angie and Jo for taking the time to listen to possible future ideas regarding maximizing home to school communication!
*Hugs to Katy and Cara for fielding all of the questions and concerns re: Eureka Math-Not to mention delivering material directly to teachers-Such Service!  Speaking of lifting boxes-Katy, I'm sure you are NOT lifting heavy things-right? (hint, hint...)
*Kudos to Patti Malmuth, Stephanie A. and 2 parents from SP who met this last week to outline a 5 week communication plan to send out to parents each week highlighting STREAM! (So excited about this marketing tool AND that they are willing to share with all schools!)
*Hooray to all of our teachers who attended the Apple PD this past week!  So much to learn!
*Thank you to Jerry and Elisa who agreed to help me plan our first Principal PLC meeting on September 29!

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Blogs/Articles/Videos for Instructional Leaders

•12 Powerful Ways to Make People Feel Powerful-Great article on Shared Leadership
•10 Tips to keep in mind when providing Staff Development (Great advice for all of us who consider ourselves Instructional Leaders)
•Interesting Article-Maybe Fun and Grit are Related? 

 SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Teachers

•12 Rules the Best Teachers Live By 
•9 Tips for Teacher to Make This Your Best School Year Yet!  Great embedded videos to illustrate the Tips!
• To make learning fun for our kids, we need to meet them where they are -True differentiation!  Great video for your Tech Reluctant staff 

BE PROACTIVE

So True!!  Every child deserves that we always "Bring our Best!"

A Rendering of Earl Warren Middle School-WOW!!

I Believe!
Do You Believe?

SHARPEN THE SAW

Love this Analogy!!

The First Twitter??



Modern Twitter!!

9/12/14

THINK WIN-WIN

PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST 

9/15  Leadership (Lisa Ryder has snacks) 
9/15  International Dot Day-Celebrate Creativity, Courage and Collaboration!
9/16 & 9/17 Apple PD @ the District Office-Don't forget to Sharpen you Saw-this Professional Development opportunity is not just for our teachers!  Come and learn right along side of your staff!  Be the change you want to see...You get the point-We'd love to have you join us for one of the two days!
9/16 Strategic Planning Office Hours
9/17 BTSA meeting @ 3:30
9/18 Insurance Committee Mtg.
9/18 Wellness Committee Mtg.
9/18  "New" Principal Meeting @ 3:30
9/19  Strategic Planning PowerPoints due to Terry Decker

SYNERGIZE 

•A HUGE Shoutout to Terry Decker for all of his thoughtful and hard work preparing the District Strategic Planning Day!  A great day for our district!
•And how 'bout those TOSA's!  OUTSTANDING presentation Katie, Cara and Stephanie!  You absolutely nailed your presentations! 
•And we all know that behind every good video are amazing Tech people who make us look good!  Kudos to Jo and Angie for all of your support and behind the scenes effort-not to mention integrating Today's Meet into the meeting!
•Thank you to Sal for getting the interview dates on the calendar early-Now that's early planning-Thank you Matt (or was it Jerry?-I know it was one of our male principals!) for making the suggestion!
•Thank you to Caroline and Jenny for working on re-sending the NWEA passwords-So sorry that your dept. had to double back on this one!
•Kudos to all of our Principal's for their short and sweet Board presentations on the opening of school! I heard that you were all FAB!

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Blogs/Articles/Videos for Instructional Leaders

*Wanna boost your PLN?  The top 25 educators on Twitter!
*Great Quotes to emphasize Growth Mindset! 
*3 EduAwesome Images on Leading Change 
*Jerry Blumengarten @cybraryman is a wealth of information and collection of   Educational Web Sites-Great page on Leadership 

SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Teachers

*Think Pedagogy First, Technology Second

*Very Timely article about the First 5's with iPads! First 5 minutes, First 5 Days...Great reminders as we distribute those devices in our 1:1 classrooms!
*40+ New Teacher Resources (again, I would argue that this is a great resource for ALL teachers!)

BE PROACTIVE

Wonder for the day...Why do crops need to be rotated?  If you and your teachers are not checking out the daily wonders at Wonderopolis.org, you are really missing out on daily opportunities to inspire curiosity and thinking in our students! You also can follow them on twitter-@wonderopolis 

"We are ALL influencers whether we want to acknowledge that or not. The question is; Are you a positive or negative influencer?"

Dr. Justin Tarte

@justintarte

"Sometimes our Stop-Doing list needs to be bigger than our To-Do list!"

Patti Digh

"Outstanding principals know that if they have great teachers, then they have a great school!"

Todd Whitaker

@Toddwhitaker

SHARPEN THE SAW

9/5/14

THINK WIN-WIN

PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST 

9/8  Leadership
9/9  FFL Board Meeting
9/9  ELD Job-A-Like
9/11 District Strategic Planning
9/11 Board Meeting (Opening of School Update)

SYNERGIZE 

*Our TOSA's are EVERYWHERE!!  It is so fun to see all of the support that they are providing our sites AND all of the shifts that they are facilitating!  Thank you to everyone for letting them film, film, film at your sites.
*Congratulations to Matt and Becky!  Their Site Strategic Planning Pre-Meetings went GREAT!!!
*Thank you to Caroline for all of her efforts working with the Technology Instructors to bring them up to speed on MAPS and Technology Lab instruction.
*Hugs to Monica for being the Curriculum Queen and getting all of your materials in a timely fashion.
*Thank you to Rebecca for modifying the Tardy policy for everyone-we like simple!

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Blogs/Articles/Videos for Instructional Leaders

•10 Phrases that will Make You a Better Leader
•25 Ways to Ask Your Kids 'So How Was School Today? (Great Newsletter article...)
•Ted Talk-The Myth of Average- A MUST SEE!!  How do we nurture the potential of every student?
•The Secret-What Great Leaders Know and Do
•6 Things We Need to Stop Saying in Education

SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Teachers

•A Checklist for Back to School Night

•A Flipped Classroom?  Or Should it be Sideways?

•8 Easy Strategies for Engaging students
•Epic Ice Breakers

Great Teachers refuse to settle for less than their best!  Would YOU want to be a student in your class?

BE PROACTIVE

Who do you want telling the story of your school?  Department?  Classroom?

SHARPEN THE SAW

Notice the Color Scheme...Go Bronco's!!

8/29/14

THINK WIN-WIN

*@casas_Jimmy suggests "a note a day to a staff member will change your attitude and your lens for that teacher and your school."  Imagine what it will do for those receiving the notes?  Are you up for the challenge?

PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST 

9/1  Holiday-YEAH!!! Enjoy your 3-Day Weekend!
9/3  Strategic Pre-Planning Meeting for SSF and SH

9/3  BTSA Mtg
9/4  New Principal Mtg @ 4:00

SYNERGIZE 

•A Big Drop in the Bucket for Stephanie for doing a fabulous job sharing the STREAM Energy Unit with all of the Discovery Lab Teachers/Instructors-Love the Da Vinci analogy! Was Da Vinci a Scientist, Researcher, Engineer, Artist or Mathematician? 
•Congratulations to all of our schools for a smooth and positive opening of the school year!  Everyone seems so Happy!
•Thank You to Terri Davis for always taking such EduAwesome notes for all of us!  Strategic Planning is made easier with your notes!
•TOSA Land is an amazing place to be!  Talk about Synergy!  Room 16 @ Carmel Creek is a major Think Lab!  Our TOSA's are busy, busy preparing for Strategic Planning!  Thank you to everyone for allowing them to video our kiddos doing incredible things!
•Thank you to Caroline and her staff for supporting our Media Centers and Technology Labs with an updated Alexandria and NWEA training.
•WOW!  Did you know that the San Dieguito Alliance for Drug Free Youth hosts a planning meeting for ALL of the Solana Beach, Encinitas and San Dieguito Red Ribbon Chairs.  Awesome resources for our Volunteers.  Red Ribbon Week is October 27-31.  Solana Beach City Council Meeting will be October 22 @ 6:00
•Monica Smith is slowly digging her way out of Curriculum ordering Hell!  If you are still awaiting materials, know that Monica is working as hard and as fast as she can!
•Kudos to Katy and Cara for being on top of the Eureka Math needs.  By working closely with the Media Center Teachers, classroom teachers and Terry Decker, we've been able to get the right materials to the right people at the right time!  Not an easy task!

BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Instructional Leaders

•A GREAT resource to continue our conversations about Happiness in your life and work place: Work Happy Now with Karl Staib. Karl focuses on unleashing your SuperPower to be the best that you (and your work place can be)  Sign up for his 7 Part E Course-It is Excellent!! The first 2 parts (emails) that he sends are similar to what we did on the retreat.  #3-7 are new information.  Following the 7th course (email) he sends great little reminders to keep you on track!  I've been enjoying his positivity!
•STEM is Everywhere-Lots of Resource Articles
•5 Essentials for Developing Remarkable Leaders

•Become the Storyteller-in-Chief for your school!
•Great Video on how one person and persistence can make a difference-How are you going to make a difference? Unsung Hero Video
•8 Videos to make you think (& laugh) about our obsession with technology

SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Teachers

•5 Back to School Tips for New Teachers (I would argue Veteran Teachers also!)
•Love this fresh perspective on classroom rules-Does your classroom follow these 9 important rules?

•The 7 Characteristics of a digitally competent teacher
•Excellent Back to School Resources for teachers (and Instructional Leaders)

BE PROACTIVE

*Great Meeting with the Discovery Lab Teachers/Instructors.  Please remember that they will need guidance from you as to how you would like them to implement the School Wide Energy Unit.  We've asked them to go back to the sites and schedule a time to meet with you and your Media Center teachers to ensure that you are all on the same page.

*Please be sure that the Williams Settlement signs are posted in EACH classroom in English and Spanish.  The notice of Public Hearing should also be posted at the entrance to your school.
*Progress Reports are being formated! Parent Info night are on the calendar! (October 15, 16 & 21-Skyline, Solana Pacific, and Solana Ranch respectively)  Video Release in Mid October!  YAHOO!

SHARPEN THE SAW

8/22/14

THINK WIN-WIN

Isn't this the truth!

PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST 

8/25  First day for students-YAHOO!!
8/25  September Board Topics and Updates due (sometimes Principals get a reprieve for this month...Kristie??)
8/27  Strategic Planning pre-meeting for SP, CC, SKY, SV, and SR
8/28  Strategic Planning pre-meeting for CDC
8/28  Job-A-Like for ALL Discovery Lab teachers/instructors 9:00-11:00 (We will be giving an update on the STREAM Summer Task Force work and the Energy Unit.  We will also give each sub group time to work together on strategies of implementation.  Principals are welcome to attend-but not required.

SYNERGIZE 

•A drop in the bucket to Caroline and her staff for their EduAwesome presentations at each staff meeting this week!
•Congratulations to Rebecca for not only surviving, but thriving at her first SPED  Welcome Back!  Rumor has it that the team gave her a Standing Ovation!
•Thank You to Shabir and the Food Service gang for all of their hard work at the Back to School BBQ!  YUM!!
•And we can't forget our chefs-Great job Cabinet members!  From flipping pancakes to flipping burgers-Such talent!
•A big round of applause to Susan Jensen for another well planned and delivered Wellness Faire!
•Kudos to the Site Office Secretaries and Clerks for a job well done-getting the sites ready to go and keeping all of the teachers happy is not an easy job!

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Blogs/Articles/Videos for Instructional Leaders

•In honor of our Sports Fans...A great article using the analogy of Basketball Tips for School Leaders
•In keeping with our SuperHero theme:  With great power comes great responsibility!
•Blogs to Follow (aside from Friday Focus-Instructional Leader Style:  A Principal's Reflections; te@chthought; Edudemic; Getting Smart; Free Tech for Teachers; Ed Tech and Mobile Technology; and one of my favorites-Connected Principals

SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Teachers

•5 Ways to make your learning space more Student-Centered
•By building relationships, teachers can transform the future!
•Personalized Literacy-Tech is making this easier and easier!  (Thank You Ms. Gauthier for tweeting this article!)
•International DOT Day is coming!  Celebrate Creativity, Courage and Collaboration
•13 Ways to make homework more meaningful.  The blog is for grades 4-8, but this article could apply to primary grades as well.
•26 Questions to ask students in the first week of school

BE PROACTIVE

Dear Administrators, Don't forget about the little things...Great Article about Dreaming Big, and the importance of remembering the small stuff too!
10 Organization Tips for Back to School-Scheduling-This is a great way to use the app "Remind"  (which used to be Remind 101) for teachers and principals!

SHARPEN THE SAW

8-15-14

THINK WIN-WIN

"You only get one first day of school-Inspire them!"

PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST 

8/18  Teachers Return-Happy 2014-15 School Year

8/19  Special Ed Certificated Staff Mtg. @11:00-3:30

8/20  Special Ed Classified Staff Mtg. @11:00-12:00

8/21  Mini Open House & District BBQ/Wellness Faire

8/21  Cooperating Teacher Orientation @3:30-5:00

8/22  Work Day for Teachers

8/22  Leadership @1:00

SYNERGIZE 

WOW!!! What can I say-The Professional Symposium Days were Spectacular!  Where do I even start?

*Kudos to Terry Decker for all of his organizational expertise!

*Big Drops in the Bucket for our TOSA's (Angie, Jo, Cara, Katy and Stephanie) for absolutely ROCKIN' their sessions!! What amazing teacher leaders!

*A big round of applause for all of our teacher and outside presenters-Great content and very well delivered!

***Great big Thank You's to***

*Monica and Melani for all of their hard work ensuring that everything was copied, that the classrooms were organized and stocked with everything that they need and the hundreds of other things that they did to make this event run so smoothly and look so professional!

*The Solana Pacific staff for so graciously hosting the event...again!

*The Incredible Tech Team for giving away their best gift ever-Knowledge that we can all use!  Not to mention making sure that all of the tech was ready and working for the PD days!

*Our School Board and Superintendent for supporting these two days and valuing the importance of Staff Development for our teachers!

*Another Drop in the Bucket for Sal Gumina on another very successful New Employee Orientation!  And a big shout out to Casey Choate for all her efforts to get all of our new employees processed!  I think we set a record for new hires this year!

*Positive energy for Nancy and Carlos as they continue to navigate some sensitive issues-they joys of being "at the top!"  We love you!

*Congratulations to all of our Principals as they get ready for the new school year!  I know that the first couple of weeks back are incredibly busy and stressful-but they are also very exciting!  I wish you all a FABULOUS new school year!

*Lastly, Thank You to everyone for their active participation during the Admin Retreat!  We have such an EduAwesome Team!! It is a real honor and privilege to work with all of you!

BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Principals/School Leaders
*50+ Resources for School Leaders
*Quick Ways to Model "Digital Leadership"

*11 Time Saving Advice that you probably haven't considered
*SAMR Model for Administrators-How to use technology to Redefine the way we lead

SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Teachers

*Another year begins...(A heartfelt account of what it means to be a teacher)

*5 ways to make your classroom more student-centered
*5 Questions every educator should ask themselves
*Awesome Chart- Alternatives to Traditional Homework
*Bunch of iPads in your class-Need a quick start of ideas?
*Wonderopolis-An EduAwesome Website-Here's how one teacher uses it daily in her class

BE PROACTIVE 

What is your 5 word GPS?  You may remember that I posted a video on the last Friday Focus Blog in June by Dave Burgess-of the Teach Like a Pirate fame.  (He's also great to follow on Twitter) I am reposting this week because I think it is a great way for all educators to start the year.  What is your 5 Word GPS Video?  If we don't know where we are going, how can we set our course?  I challenge ALL of us to determine AND tweet (don't forget #sbsdedu) what your 5 word GPS would be for your school (or department) this coming year-How do your actions support your GPS?  Click here for Video

SHARPEN THE SAW

Included the 7 Habits here, since the graphic may not have been included in the email...