Rocket Into Learning!
Remember to give yourself and your students grace as you build relationships and establish structure and expectations in the first few weeks. Behavior before academics! Go slow to go fast.
PBIS Updates
Remember to check out the shared PBIS folder. New resources are being added often. Thank you to Hollie and the third grade theme for uploading a new visual for expectations. Check it out under Tier I resources!
Remember Expectations, Relationships, Communication!
i_Ready Window Opens
Please see this important info from Scott.
i-Ready supports secure testing on Chromebooks, which requires students to enter their Chromebook in kiosk mode. This should be similar to how you tested in NWEA's lockdown browser. I've attached the directions from i-Ready for using the kiosk mode browser.
With the feature activated, your students WILL NOT be able to test in a standard browser, ONLY the kiosk mode is supported. Alternatively, students must leave kiosk mode and log into their Chromebook normally to use the Instruction module.
I've also globally set the diagnostic for "Brain Break" instead of "Activity Break". This means students will not get the 90 second "games", but rather a 90 second "refocus". This was guided by feedback from the pilot team last winter/spring.
Here is the padlet from Myrina that has LOTS of information in one place.
Here are the recommended testing sessions.
K-Three 20 minute sessions
1-Two 20-30 minute sessions
2-5 Two 40-50 minute sessions
Let me know if you need headphones!
Please only test in the morning!
Shout Outs
Thank you to everyone for making it such a successful first week of school!
Thank you to Alisha and Tammy for being flexible with breakfast and lunch this first week.
Thank you to everyone for being flexible with the new arrangements in the lunch room. So many kids! :)
Thank you to Diane for listening and Leilani for being a great friend.
Thank you to Julia on helping me learn to curl my hair and telling me what curling iron to buy! 😂
Staff Shout Outs:
Who would you like to Shout Out? Fill out the form here.
Orange Frog
I choose Brittany for the first Spark award because I saw so much joy and happiness in her return to school. Here were just a few moments of joy-spotting I saw in Brittany
- Brittany brought special Back to School sunglass and took everyone's pictures in them.
- Brittany brought Casey a new gnome (her favorite).
- Brittany took her love of Taylor Swift and transformed it into a way to build relationships with kids by creating a Taylor Swift Bulletin Board and Greetings Chart.
I asked Brittany the following questions.
- What brings you joy? Spending time with my family and friends and reading brings me joy.
- How do you bring joy to others? I try to bring joy to others by just supporting them!
- Who is someone that brings joy to you? Garrett brings me so much joy right now because his age is so fun and he is learning so much every day!
Spark will hang out with Brittany for a week. She is going to try to spot joy in others and will pass on Spark next week. Stay tuned!
Spark Student of the Week: Reyes M
Reyes brings his joy and happiness everywhere he goes. He is very high energy and is quick to give hugs.
I asked Reyes the following questions.
- What brings you joy? Hugs and Smiles
- How do you bring joy to others? Everyone thinks I'm so popular because I love to hug and smile!
- Who is someone that brings joy to you? Madeline, Hannah, Alexa, Ryker, and Nolan
Bite Sized PD
One of the things I found fascinating was how we get older we learn to defer joy, like joy is a luxury. "I can't go for a walk until I finish these lesson plans." "I can't have dessert until after I exercise." "I can't read until I'm in bed." "I can't have friends over until my house is perfectly clean." I'm afraid we do this to kids at school too. I'm also think that this might go along with the Happiness Advantage idea that it's not success that makes us happy but happiness that makes us successful. So don't always defer your joy; it just might make you happier and more successful. :)
