2013-14 Volume 25

“The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.”

-Vince Lombardi

News/Timelines/Due Dates

Well I hope you all had another enjoyable week off!  Where else can you have snow storm, earthquake and weather in the sixties all in one week?  I have no idea about make-ups yet, and I know there is conversation about delaying the CRCT’s, but nothing is definite.  I will let you know as soon as I can.  Congrats to all our TOTY candidates.  They will be having their observations and interviews tomorrow.  Don’t forget we have our Korean luncheon this Thursday!

                 

Seven myths about rigor – Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing seven myths about rigor in the classroom from Barbara Blackburn, author of Rigor is not a 4-Letter Word

Myth 5. Resources equal rigor.

Recently, I’ve heard a common refrain. “If we buy this program, or technology, then we would be rigorous.” The right resources can certainly help increase the rigor in your classroom. However, raising the level of rigor for your students is not dependent on the resources you have.

Think about the resources you have now. How can you use them more effectively? Do you use a textbook that includes true-false tests? Often, they are not rigorous because students can guess the answer. However, add one step for more rigor. Ask students to rewrite all false answers into true statements, and it requires students to demonstrate true understanding. It’s not the resources; it’s how you use them that make a difference.

PRIDE –This Friday, February 21^st PRIDE is scheduled to be a silent reading day; however, please feel free to take the opportunity this week to complete the Team Building challenges we missed during the “Snowpocalypse” if you have not already done so with your PRIDE groups.

If you are deciding to take the challenge: 

It’s time for some team building fun and group challenges! Students will either take on a hula-hoop challenge (6^th grade), build a paper airplane (7^th grade), or take on a series of team created challenges (8^th grade) during PRIDE.

Teachers with 6^th grade PRIDE groups will need 2 hula hoops per PRIDE group. Please see a PE staff member to get the hula-hoops. (It is suggested that the PRIDE liaison or one person pick up hula hoops for several teachers so the PE staff is not bombarded with multiple requests – Thanks!) Please return the hula-hoops to the PE staff members after completion of the PRIDE lesson.

Happy Birthday

Kyleigh Slocum          February 18

Rusty Godwin            February 18

Denise Giancola         February 20