Friday, April 3, 2015

4/3/15

THINK WIN-WIN


I think this pretty much sums up the past couple of weeks!!

PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST 

4/6-4/10  Spring Break-Yipee!!
4/13  Leadership
4/14  Teacher Interviews
4/14  Golf Group begins!  Fore!
4/15  Kinder Math PD
4/15  Technology Replacement Plan Meeting
4/15  BTSA
4/16  1st Grade Math PD
4/16  New Principal Meeting
4/17  Grade 2 Math PD
4/17  Cara's Last day!  Wishing her all the best!!

SYNERGIZE 

*A big hug to Lisa Denham and her staff!  They have been stellar throughout the events of the past two weeks!
*And Thanks to all of the principals and staffs for their flexibility as we reviewed and revised Safety Procedures for our students!
*I think we all can agree that our Superintendent has done a terrific job navigating and leading us through the past couple of weeks!  Thank You Nancy!
*Kudos to Cara for completing the Grade 3-6 Math PD days!  She is a ROCK STAR!!
*Hooray for Solana Santa Fe and Solana Visit-both who had successful and exciting Open Houses!
*Congratulations to Solana Vista, Solana Santa Fe and Solana Pacific!  Our final walkthroughs were AMAZING! So many wonderful things happening at our schools.



MATH MANY WAYS ACROSS OUR DISTRICT!




ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS-CCSS
WE ARE MAKING THE SHIFT!
Hmmm....So, these are the tools that SSF uses to keep their playgrounds safe! 




YOU have got to watch this video!! Proof that "Real Men"  do teach Kindergarten!  The Water Cycle like you have never seen it before! 
(make sure you clear your filter first...)


BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Instructional Leaders
Favorite Things About Being a Principal-What would you add to the list?
Rethinking Staff Meetings-I LOVE this article!!

SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND


BE PROACTIVE

Terrific Twitter Tweets



"Management is keeping the plane in the air & on course.  Leadership is overhauling the engine  & charting the course." @eduleadership

"I never lose...either I win or I learn!" #IDedchat

"School climate is like your attitude...can change pretty quickly.  School Cutlure is like your personality...not so easily changed." @justintarte

"If you want to bust a culture, celebrate Mondays!" @ToddWhitaker



SHARPEN THE SAW


The Life of a school leader is primarily about balance.  Tend to the other parts of your life this Spring Break!  #Balance @ MarkWilsonGA
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14-15 Template

THINK WIN-WIN




PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST 

9/26



SYNERGIZE 




BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Instructional Leaders


SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Teachers



BE PROACTIVE

SHARPEN THE SAW


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Friday, March 20, 2015

3/20/15

THINK WIN-WIN


What's Your Spark?

PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST 

3/23  Field Trip to Skyline STREAM Lab @ 12:00
3/24  Grade 5 Math PD
3/24  Walkthrough @ Carmel Creek
3/25  Grade 6 Math PD
3/25  Walkthrough @ Solana Vista
3/25  BTSA
3/26  Walkthrough @ Solana Santa Fe
3/26  Special Board Meeting
3/27  Walkthrough @ Solana Pacific

SYNERGIZE 

*Thank you to Lisa D, Matt and Jerry!  Round 3 Walkthroughs went GREAT!  Such amazing examples of collaboration among grade level teams, use of technology in meaningful ways, teachers "shifting" their instruction and highly engaged students working on higher level curriculum and activities!  WOW!


 REAL LIFE MATHEMATICS!!


THE 4 C'S!!


MR. JONES AND MR. JOHNSON, WHAT ARE YOU DOING??

*A big Hurray for Cara for surviving the 3rd and 4th grade Math PD days-sans her partner in crime-Katy!  The teachers are LOVING these days and the support that our TOSA's are giving them!
*Speaking of Katy...
Have you seen this beautiful baby? OMG!!

*Kudos to our Summer School Principals! Teachers and Instructional Aides are all placed and ready to go!  Registration begins April 1!!
*Thank you to Stephanie, Lisa Owen and Gina Thackery for working with the Discovery Lab Instructors and Media Center Teachers to ensure that all 7 schools are represented at the San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering EXPO Day this Saturday at Petco Park!  Yahoo!!
*Congratulations to Elisa and SP for a successful (and fun) Amazing Quest!

Board Members Julie Union and Vicki King joined Elisa and Nancy for the fun!

BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Instructional Leaders

SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Teachers

BE PROACTIVE

Terrific Twitter Tweets
"If you can google the answer, why is it on the tests? @jcorippo
"Why are some teachers wary of not knowing something...how can we possibly know everything?" @aliceKeeler
"It's not about MAKING learning happen.  It's about LETTING it happen" Sugata Mitra @sugatam
"Dematerialisation-old technologies that have disappeared-into the phone:  The pen, slide rule, camera, maps..." @debboliver
"A minimum goal for PD is that everyone needs to be more excited about teaching tomorrow than they were today! @toddwhitaker
"Great principals never forget that it is about people, not programs that determine the quality of a school." @Toddwhitaker
"It's Ok to let students struggle.  We don't need to make meaning for the!" @LS_Karl
9th grade son said, "Teachers go to lots of trainings & meetings.  How come things never seem to change when they come back?"  OUCH! @mwniehoff

SHARPEN THE SAW

What if instead of discipline plans, we had Care Plans...just sayin'





What are your students "researching?" What are you "researching?"
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Friday, February 27, 2015

2/27/15

THINK WIN-WIN


PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST 

3/2  Negotiations!  Good Luck Team!
3/2  Leadership-Time to talk about STREAM-bring your clever ideas and STREAM dreams
3/5  STEAM Connect Conference at Qualcomm
3/5  Temporary Teachers Meeting with Sal
3/6  Ed Coalition  

SYNERGIZE 

*Wahoo!!! Our Common Core TOSA's ROCKED the Primary Math PD days this week! Simply Amazing!
*Congratulations to Stephanie for setting up and coordinating a TERRIFIC Professional Development on STEMScope Digital Curriculum!  Loved that the focus was on Pedagogical shifts and not just the resources!
*Thank you to our Kinder teachers for serving on the Kinder Task Force sub committee!  They are working very hard to get a protocol in place for our district!
*Thank you to Erik Johnson and Tabor Samuelson for working so hard to get the Summer Intervention program organized-working with the sites, interviewing candidates and assigning teachers to classrooms!
*Loved spending time with so many at the USD Spotlight on Education and hearing Kevin Honeycutt!  

BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Instructional Leaders
Interesting ideas about 21st-Century Libraries:  The Learning Commons
10 Things That All Educators Should Commit To!
8 Things We Can't Accept in Education

Love This!!!  
"People listen to your words; they observe your actions.  It's your actions that determine if they listen a second time..."

What's your school motto?  (See article below about What's your motto in the classroom?) I challenge all of us to develop a motto for your school or department!

SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Teachers

BE PROACTIVE

Terrific Twitter Tweets
•"Dance with your own greatness today!  Don't be a wallflower in your own life. The rhythm is your heartbeat and it only plays so long.  This is your song...dance!" @Kevinhoneycutt
•"Nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion." @ASCD 
•"Take responsibility for the energy that you bring into a space!" @ipdx15
•"If teachers can get in each other's classrooms then all teachers can become like the best teachers!" @ToddWhitaker
•"It's good for people to think differently about education, but what really matter is for them to act differently!" @ToddWhitaker
•"Educators going to resist most new stuff cause they don't feel like they have gotten good at what was new last year." @cybraryman1
•"The #oscars would be really boring without twitter!  (just sayin!)
•"We are shifting from giving a 'report card' to parents where we simply 'report' results back to parents.  Instead, we are shifting to a 'Progress Report' which communicates the 'progression of their child's learning toward their year end goals/standards." Becky Gauthier (ok...it wasn't a Tweet, but it was in her Monday Memo!)

Hmmm....What are we doing about this??

SHARPEN THE SAW


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Friday, February 13, 2015

2/13/15

THINK WIN-WIN


PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST 

Week of February 16-Holiday!!  Yeah!
2/23- March Board Updates and Topics due!
2/23- Leadership (Bring $25.00 check for ACSA dues)
2/24- TK/Kinder Math PD & Kinder Task Force Follow Up meeting
2/25- 1st Grade Math PD
2/25- ACSA Social @ WineSteals
2/26- 2nd Grade Math PD
2/26- USD Spotlight on Education Speaker Symposium-Kevin Honeycutt -I have one ticket left if anyone is interested in attending.  4:00-7:00 pm
2/27- STEM Scope Staff Development @ DO

SYNERGIZE 

*Thank you to everyone for taking the time to attend the STREAM Envision Team meeting!  I think the day was exciting, productive and inspiring!  I can't wait to see the plans that our schools design!
*Speaking of the fun day at the Thinkabit Lab-Kudos to Stephanie for helping to facilitate the day and the meeting place!
*Good Luck to our Summer Program Principals as they begin selecting teachers, interviewing for Secretaries, Computer Instructors and Instructional aides!  Fun times!
*Congratulations to Becky and Matt!  They both did an exceptional job Spotlighting their school at the Board Meeting!  Such incredible programs that we are able to offer students!
*Fun times for Lisa Ryder as she works with her staff to integrate STREAM into the Preschool and her after school programs!  Love the connections with a District Focus Area and district principals and teachers! 
*Kudos to Angie for working so closely with the Apple Trainer to develop the two days of PD for our teachers.  Both days were unique and tailored to the needs of the group!

BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Instructional Leaders

SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Teachers
100 Books that Every Teacher Should Read-Check on the first book in Section 9!

BE PROACTIVE

Terrific Twitter Tweets

"Clicking on "Recent" in Google Drive is so helpful!" @AliceKeeler

 "We need administrators who are digital leaders; we need them to model and be an example for others to follow!" @jcasap 

 "Should homework cause a student to fail?  Are we grading compliance or understanding/mastery of a concept?" @justintarte
"This is why it is wrong to average grades!" @jenhegna

"Remember, Future Ready is NOT about technology.  It's about teaching and learning.  We must always lead with learning, NOT with devices! @thomascmurray

Thank You Angie for the great graphic!

SHARPEN THE SAW

Post-it elves leave notes on kids lockers-Hmmmmm...What would your staff do if you were the Post-it Elf and left Stickies on their desk, or in their box??  
"Love watching you interact with students!" The Post-It Elf

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Friday, February 6, 2015

2/6/15

THINK WIN-WIN


LOVE THIS!!!


PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST 

2/7  Foundation Strategic Planning Meeting
2/9   Envision Committee Meeting @ Qualcomm
2/10  ELD Job-A-Like
2/10  Summer Principal Meeting (Erik & Tabor) Thank you Lisa R for coming too!
2/11  Apple PD
2/11  School Board Meeting (Note day/date)
2/12  Apple PD
2/12  "New" Principal Meeting (Lisa R, Matt, Becky)

SYNERGIZE 

*Thank you to the entire Negotiating Team for working hard this week on behalf of ALL Solana Beach Employees!
*Thank you Melani and Monica for all of their set up for Task Forces, Committee meetings and PD days!! Wow!  You two make it look so easy!
*Kudos to Terry Decker and Nancy for facilitating a great meeting with our Kinder teachers to talk about Early and Late Kinder Registration Protocol!
*Whew!! Our Common Core TOSA's, Katy and Cara have been busy getting all of the Eureka materials for the next module ordered, copied, put together and shipped to the sites!  Thank You!
*Gotta Love Carlos-Thank you for agreeing to help me put together a wonderful spread sheet breaking down the cost of our Discovery Lab Instructors.  
*A great big THANK YOU to Cesar and his staff for making a special delivery of the 5th grade Eureka Materials this week!

Spread a little love today...Someone needs it!

BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Instructional Leaders
10 Phrases That Will Make You a Better Leader ("I don't know." is my favorite!)
School Culture-Rewired. How to Define, Assess and Transform it! Great review of the the ASCD book that we all received

SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Teachers

It's Time to Stop Averaging Grades-Why it is no longer pedagogically sound practice. (Very Timely article as we approach the end of the grading period and progress report writing.)
6 Ways We Kill the Joy of Reading-Bet we are all guilty of at least one...
6 Characteristics at the "Heart" of a Great Teacher 
5 Practices for Tomorrow Every Teacher Should Adopt Today!  Want to know what a "More Beautiful Question is?"  Are you asking More Beautiful Questions to your staff?  Are they asking More Beautiful Questions to their students?

BE PROACTIVE

Terrific Twitter Tweets
"Everyone makes mistakes, and don't be too hard on yourself!" @edutopia

 "You will never achieve what you are capable of if you're too attached to things you're supposed to let go of." @MalachiPancoast

 "What's the one non-negotiable, the one daily event, the one thing everyone in your school know and does without hesitation?" @justintarte

 "Kids run in the hall.  We don't say-we're not using the hall any more!"  Address the behavior-move on.  Don't blame the tech! @averyteach

 "Dont talk to me about risk-taking, creativity and engagement if your meetings and PD model none of this!" #walkthetalk @burgessdave

How do you model Risk Taking?


SHARPEN THE SAW


OH YEAH!!


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Friday, January 30, 2015

1/30/15

THINK WIN-WIN




PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST 

2/2  Negotiations
2/2  Leadership
2/4  Kindergarten Start Date Task Force
2/7  Foundation Strategic Planning Day

SYNERGIZE 

*Congratulations to Becky, Jerry and Terri on successful Walkthrough days! So many wonderful things happening in our schools-It was great for our teachers who joined us to begin spreading Best Practices across our district!

STREAM-At Any Age!



COMMON CORE MATH STRATEGIES EVERYWHERE!!






We are seeing more and more posting of the objectives...



 *Once again our TOSA's knocked it out of the park with the Math PD Days!  The teacher feedback has been outstanding!  Thank you Cara and Katy for supporting our teachers on this Common Core Math Journey!  It was also nice having Angie make a "guest appearance" each day to show Tech Integration!


*Thank you to Lisa D and Jerry for representing the principals on the Parent/Teacher Conference Task Force.  Special Kudos to Terry D and Nancy for taking this on and facilitating such a great process!
*Yeah for all of our schools for participating in The Great Kindness Challenge!  So great for our kids!
*Fun visit to Qualcomm's Thinkabit Lab!  What an inspiriting place!

*Congratulations to Erik Johnson and Tabor Samuelson-they will be our Summer Enrichment Principals!

BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Instructional Leaders
•Research Supports Engagement: 5 Reasons to Improve Yours-Excellent article highlighting why it is important to Engage our teachers in our schools!
•OMG!!! If you are not following this Facebook Page/Twitter Feed/Blog, YOU are missing out on something AMAZING! (Thank you Elisa for introducing it to me!)
Humans of New York is so inspiring!  Currently running a story about a boy and his principal.
Facebook-Humans of New York
Brandon Stanton@humansofny 

SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND

Blogs/Articles/Videos for Teachers

BE PROACTIVE

Great ideas from Twitter this week...
..."If culture is a school's personality, climate is its attitude."
..."You don't have to prove who's in charge, everybody knows who's in charge.  The more you try to prove it, the more people try to prove you wrong."
...If Everyone is happy, then you're not doing it right..."
...What are the characteristics of schools that Students, Teachers and Parents knock down the doors to get into each day?

USING OLD TECH TO TEACH THINKING SKILLS!


WOW!!


SHARPEN THE SAW




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