Sunday, February 5, 2017

Hearts Are Popping Up Everywhere. . .

It's that time of year when we you see hearts everywhere you go. . .as we get closer to Valentine's Day, continue finding ways to show your learners each day how much you care for them.  Those little connections, smiles and acknowledging words of acceptance can help them so much in their journey of learning and growing. . .


Week of:  February 6th-10th, 2017

Monday- Angie Out (AM)
Fire Drill/Lock Down Drill - PM
Specials STEM Planning Day (jeans/sweats for specials team) - Kristan's Room 
Team Leader Meeting - 3:15 - Kristan's Room

Tuesday - Texan Town Schedule
Coppell Chorale Performance for K-5 - Gym - 8:30am

Wednesday - Jeans Day with TCE shirt or College shirt!
Vertical Meeting - TELPAS Training - 3:15 - Library

Thursday -  Brett Out (PM)

Friday -  Sweats/Jeans for our Fun Run!
Texan Town
PST/RTI Meetings - Kristan's Room
Chasing Cupid - Fun Run

Important Reminders
Engineering Extravaganza Night
Please make sure you have all looked at the stations and added any resources you will need for this night on the following link!

Responsive Teaching Padlet
Don't forget to watch the video from last week's blog: the importance of emotional first aid.  and post on the padlet below!  We will be discussing this during our monthly TLC meeting!

From the Desk of BS….volume 20

Ground Hog Day!

One of my all-time favorite movies, is the movie Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray.  If you have never had the opportunity to see this gem, you should check it out.  Phil Connors, Murray’s character in the film, is stuck in the little town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania and has to continue to relive the same day over and over, Groundhog Day.  This leads to him reexamining his life and discovering what true joy is.  


It seems as if this time of year, we are on repeat as well. We are back to planning, assessing, intervening, meeting…planning, assessing, intervening, meeting. It seems as though the cycle will never end. This can lead to a stress beyond measure. 

“The reason is that stress is what you feel when something that you care about is at stake. When you care a lot, you experience more stress. This is true for all the important things in life: relationships, parenting, your health, and yes, teaching. If you can recognize the link between meaning and stress, it’s easier to navigate the most difficult aspects of your job.”- Kelly McGonigal

This quote is very powerful, and came from one of the articles linked below.  Please enjoy these short reads about turning stress into a positive force, and beating the winter blues:



We love you, and appreciate each and every one of you. Thank you for all you do each day for the success of your learners, 

BS

Shout Outs!
Leigh Ann, Thank you for staying and providing extra Watson training for those of us that missed it the first time! What a great tool!

Staff, Thank you for you thoroughness in our 504 meetings! You really know your learners and it's great hearing the discussion about how we are best serving our kiddos!  BS

Mid year goal setters! Thank you for taking the time to touch base about how you are meeting your goals so far this year! We know time is of the essence always but it is so neat to hear how you are reaching your personal and team goals!  BS

Catherine, You are doing such a great job in your first year! Your work ethic continues to amaze me!! Keep up the amazing work!!!

Brett, thanks for the awesome idea of starting a lunch bunch for science tutoring! We appreciate all of your support and the great ideas you come up with to help us and our kiddos!!! –Jenna

Brett,  Thank you so much for the Science Lunch Bunch idea! I can't wait to get it started! -Kate

Casey, Rachel, Meredith, and Renee,  THANK YOU for helping out the last few weeks while I was out! I could not have done it without y'all!   -Kasey

Kristan, thanks for letting us take over your room and for being so accommodating with all of my post it, tissue, and hand sanitizer needs!

Thank you Candace and Katy McKinney for helping me with video for 100th Day. I appreciate your technology expertise! Can't wait to watch tomorrow! Thank you! Lorri B.

Megan and Heather- Thank you for letting me work with your wonderful second graders. They were so much fun to work with!

Shout out to LeighAnn and Tina for all of your help with our Influential Americans unit and all the Google site groundwork! Ya'll rock! Love Heather

Kelly Burks, The world needs more people like you. Thank you for being the kind hearted, humble, and strong educator/person that you are!! Your gentle spirit inspires me to be a better person! Love, Mary:)

Shout out to Kristan for all of your help with our writing lessons!! Love Heather

Tina and Leigh Ann, Thank you for helping us with Raz kids! We appreciate all your help!!! Thanks very much!!! Lori and Julie

Tina, Thank you for helping me with Reflector!!! My learners loved it!!! Thanks very much!!! Julie

Lorri, Thank you for the bagels!! You always spoil us!!! We love you!!! Kinder and First

Thank you Vincenzo and Torti for helping to facilitate the Geography bee for our kiddos!  It is greatly appreciated and  I love that you are willing to help with this event!!  - Angie

February Birthdays
Star Primera - 2nd
Ashlin Bowman - 10th
Heather Judd - 16th
Rachel Lim - 17th
Anne Lawler - 23rd

Cultural Awareness Connections
I would like for you to think about some of the connections you make for your learners in regard to their cultures and backgrounds through morning meetings, discussions and your lesson design.   

When thinking about our Cultural Celebration for later this year, reflecting on our experiences from our cultural plunges last year, and as you might be pulling in ideas to highlight African-American History month consider how you are helping your learners with acceptance and understanding.  

A huge part of our jobs as educators is to find ways to talk about individual differences and teach the value of appreciation of those differences, how to have empathy (not sympathy) and truly get to know backgrounds of individuals we come in contact with each day as well as those we may not see each day.  By having discussions in which you gaining insight into others thinking, backgrounds and beliefs, you will strengthen relationships and create a much richer learning experience for both educators and learners.  

Watch the following video to gain insight and think about how you or your learners are impacted by differences in color, beliefs, etc. 

How we might ensure we are appreciating and embracing each unique learner? As well as think about how our school benefits from them being a part of our TCE family?



Final Quotes for the Week
As we think about love being in the air with Valentine's Day approaching. . .I am thinking about how much love all of you show each day in your job and how much love our kids need in order to feel and be truly successful.  Here are a few  quotes to reflect on as we look at our job as educators as well as how much our kiddos need love.




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