Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Snowdays Rock!


I can't believe that we had two snow days in a row!  Craziness!  I hope you have all been bundled up and getting to rest, have fun, and just enjoy these two days!  I know I have taken advantage of this "mini vacation" and tried to just breathe a bit!  Looking forward to this short week and hope you enjoy the rest of your day!

I know having the snow days has kind of messed up our donations with our Red Health Awareness Week!  So, if you donate $5 you may wear sweats/jeans the rest of this week and Monday and Tuesday of next week! 
 
Upcoming Weekly Events

February 23rd-27th, 2015

*$5 Donations will go toward the American Heart Association

Just give your collection to Marnie!

MondaySnow Day!

Tuesday
Snow Day!
 

Wednesday- Sweats/Jeans with donation!

No Vertical/PLC (we will just bump to March!)
 
Thursday- Sweats/Jeans with donation!

1st Grade Program - 8:30am and 6:00pm
   
Friday-  Sweats/Jeans with donation!

Texan Town
RTI/PST Meetings - C106

Jump Rope for Heart - All Day Gym


Announcement Weekly Info  

Life Principle: Honesty

Cowboy Courtesy:
Take only your fair share.

ABC of Etiquette:
  Do not chew with your mouth open. 


Important Reminders and Updates
Technology Survey
Please remember to take the survey I emailed out last week.  Team leaders let me know when your team has completed.  Also 3rd-5th grade make sure your students have taken as well!
Book Fair and Open House
 Just a reminder to make sure and go to the book fair preview on Friday.  Also, that Open House will be coming up next Thursday, so make sure we continue working on our hallway displays of learning and what you may want to showcase in your classrooms for your parents!  
Book Studies
If you could please make sure that you have both of our books, Choice Words and Opening Minds, read by our faculty meeting in April.  This way we will be able to continue follow up discussions, etc. 
 
February Birthdays
 Estrella Primera - 2nd

Ashlin Bowman- 10th

Cathy Wilson- 14th

Heather Judd- 16th

Jennifer Martin - 23rd

Delaine Jordan - 27th

Engineer of the Week

Please remember that Brett or I will cover a morning/afternoon or lunch/recess duty for you during the week!  Just email us to let us know what might work out!  Also, you may leave early one day once your kiddos are dismissed!


This week we are celebrating: Katy McKinney

  Final Quotes



Saturday, February 14, 2015

Happy Valentine's Day People!

Looking forward to having a little bit slower week this week!   Hope all of you are enjoying your Valentine's Day and enjoying any special treats!  For all of the single ladies, I hope you all are treating yourself to something fun today to celebrate!  
 
Upcoming Weekly Events
February 16th-20th, 2015


MondayJeans Day!
Alan November at CHS morning starts at 8:30 

Afternoon-Campus Responsive Teaching

Tuesday
Educator Mid-Year Goal Meetings
 

Wednesday-   Brett Out (all day)

Progress Reports Due
Educator Mid-Year Goal Meetings
No PLC Meeting
 
Thursday- Marnie Out (all day)

Educator Mid-Year Goal Meetings
   
Friday- Marnie Out (all day)

Texan Town
RTI/PST Meetings - C106


Announcement Weekly Info  

Life Principle: Forgiveness

Cowboy Courtesy:
If someone bumps into you, say, “Excuse me,” even if it was not your fault.

ABC of Etiquette:  Do not smack your lips or chew noisily.



Important Reminders and Updates
Professional Learning -Monday
Please remember to try to carpool over to the high school on Monday.  There is limited parking with the construction going on!  Everything starts at 8:30 in the auditorium, so you may want to meet at like 8ish and then head over from TCE!  Our afternoon we will be back on campus in the library working on several Responsive Teaching activities.  We will start right at 1:00 and should be finished by 3-3:15.  
February Birthdays
 Estrella Primera - 2nd

Ashlin Bowman- 10th

Cathy Wilson- 14th

Heather Judd- 16th

Jennifer Martin - 23rd

Delaine Jordan - 27th

Shout Outs! 
Marnie for doing the shopping for our Spud of Love luncheon and wrapping all of the potatoes!  You rock!

Star and our fabulous ladies in the cafeteria for helping to get our potatoes cooked and making our salads!  We are also proud to share that they received a 100% on the recent inspection by the food department!  You ladies are awesome!

Rosa, Marina and Sara for receiving the number one spot again for cleanest school this month!  

Classroom teachers for helping the kiddos to have lots of fun during their Valentine's Parties on Friday!

Everyone for jumping in and making our first ever Engineering Extravaganza such a success!  You are amazing and the kiddos and families had a blast doing the stations!

Everyone for another fabulous visit from our groups with the Transformation in Action!  They were once again blown away with your level of technology integration and displays of student learning throughout the school! 


Engineer of the Week

Please remember that Brett or I will cover a morning/afternoon or lunch/recess duty for you during the week!  Just email us to let us know what might work out!  Also, you may leave early one day once your kiddos are dismissed!


This week we are celebrating: Lauren Torti

Responsive Teaching
As we are working on responding to all learners and teaching them the power behind relationships with others, I thought several of these pics had some good ideas. . .



 Final Quotes
I liked these quotes to go along with what we will be doing with responsive teaching on Monday. . .

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Hearts, Love and Valentines!


I hope you all are enjoying this beautiful weekend weather!  I have moved our Spuds of Love luncheon to Friday, so we could celebrate you more toward Valentine's Day!  Let's do a jeans day tomorrow to kick off this busy, fun week!  
 
Upcoming Weekly Events
February 9th-13th, 2015


MondayJeans Day!
Educator Mid-Year Goal Meetings
Site-Based Committee Meeting 3:15 - C106

Tuesday- Visitors from
Highland Park ISD Tour (Transformation in Action-highlighting Technology Integration - Blended and Flipped Learning) - Several educators, principals, etc.   Will let you know exact time tomorrow!

Angie Out (All Day on the visits)    
 

Wednesday-  Staff/Class Pictures Individual
Educator Mid-Year Goal Meetings Vertical Meeting 3:15
Engineering Extravaganza Night 6:00-7:30pm (Jeans/Sweats with a TCE shirt)

Thursday-Educator Mid-Year Goal Meetings
   
Friday-  Texan Town
Educator Mid-Year Goal Meetings

Spuds of Love Luncheon (hosted by office)
Valentine's Day Parties



Announcement Weekly Info  

Life Principle: Courtesy

Cowboy Courtesy:
If you are asked a question in conversation, you should respond.

ABC of Etiquette:  Do not lick your fingers. There is a napkin for the purpose of cleaning your fingers.



Important Reminders and Updates
Engineering Extravaganza
 Here is what I have so far from our Google Doc!  Please make sure you have gone in and put where your station will be!  I would like to keep all stations downstairs if possible. 

TCE Engineering Extravaganza Stations

Big Ideas with littleBits (lead by Mrs. Coffee and Mrs. Brown)
Are you interested in circuits and electronics?  If so come explore with littleBits electronic modules.  Learn about each of the different modules in our new workshop sets and how they easily snap together to create different features.   After learning about the different modules in a hands-on way, you will have the opportunity to use the modules to create different projects.  


Tower of Terror :A110(lead by Mrs. McKinney and Mrs. Kennington)
Are you ready to build a tower of cups to terrifying heights? If so, come explore your architectural side to see how tall you can build your structure.


Snap Circuits - Library (lead by Mrs. Montgomery and Ms. McGraw) Calling all engineers!  Have you ever wondered what makes the lights turn on or the ceiling fan move?  Come try your hand at making circuits and find out! 

Marble Mazes - C105 (Miss Martin, Miss Kemp) Come amaze us with your magnificent maze manufacturing!  You will get the chance to use a variety of materials to create a unique maze of your own and put them to the test. 

Straw Tower Challenge:  C114 (Mrs. Hruby, Miss Rohani, Miss Jordan)  Have you ever thought straws were just for drinking?  Come slurp up some fun with us as you design the tallest tower that can hold a tennis ball for 60 seconds.


Paper Chair Challenge B 110(lead by Mrs. Wagner and Ms. Garnier) Can you create a chair that can hold a stuffed animal using only paper and tape?  Join us to see the different ways to complete this challenge.


Straw Boat Challenge (lead by Mrs. Parker  and Ms. Seifert) Can you make a boat that can hold 25 pennies without sinking?  If so, join us to see who can save their pennies!


Little Einsteins A106 (lead by Mrs. Torti and Mrs. Vincenzo) Even the youngest TCE Texans are ‘Einsteins’ when it comes to engineering!  Come and explore different ways and tools that you can use to engineer our future!


Tower Builders B104 (lead by Mrs. Sork and Mrs. Bowman)
Are you up for a challenge?   Can you design a standing tower with the greatest height using only two supplies? If your answer is yes, the Tower Builders is the choice for you!


Keva Block Challenge: A 103 (lead by Mrs. McShan and Miss Rice)
Come explore with our NEW Keva blocks.  You will be challenged with different building tasks to see how far and tall you can go with your Keva blocks.

Toothpick Challenge: B103 (facilitated by Mrs. Judd and Mrs. Yates)
Can you see yourself as the architect of the Golden Gate Bridge?  The Tower of London?  Maybe the pyramids in Giza?  Now, imagine a tower, bridge, or pyramid made only from toothpicks!  Can you design and build it?  Come try the Toothpick Challenges to find out if your design might impact our world! 


Creative Construction: Library (facilitated by Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Hansen) Calling all builders!  This is your opportunity to design and build creative structures using our new Joinks and Arx kits.  All you need to bring is your imagination!


Jack’ Beanstalk Engineering Challenge: Room A-104  (facilitated by Mrs. Brehm & Ms. Peccarelli) Use your “Imagination” and come help Jack design the tallest free-standing beanstalk.  Test your design to see if it can hold the most weight without collapsing.


Artistic Engineers: Room A-101  (facilitated by Mrs. Garza & Coach Martin) Do you want to engineer a sculpture? Come design and build a freestanding sculpture using recycled art materials. Combine your artistic abilities with your engineering skills and see what you can create!


Soundscape/Sound Mixer: Computer Lab (Mrs. Garrett)  How do you build a soundscape? Use virtual blocks to edit the sounds of animals, wind, water, and humans. Then, use a virtual mixer to adjust the volume and location of each of your sounds - very cool! You're a sound engineer!


3...2...1...PUFF! Cafeteria (facilitated by Mrs. Burks & Miss Tonemah)  Come design and launch your own rocket.  Learn about nose cones and fins to help create a stable and accurate rocket.  Let’s see who can blast their rocket the farthest!


Keva Block Challenge 3-5 (Miss Natherson & Miss Taylor)
Let’s explore with our NEW Keva blocks.  Challenge yourself to accomplish different building tasks and see how far and tall you can go!

TCE Transformation in Action Tour
Our tour group this week will be the last one for a while.  Going to hold off on scheduling any more tours until later this April or May.  Please remember that the group this week will be looking for how we have transformed our learning by incorporating technology into our learning!  Lori Vincenzo and Marly Natherson will be with me in McKinney ISD seeing learning at two elementary campuses this day.  Brett will be in charge of showing our visitors around!

If you could please make sure you highlight technology during this visit that might showcase assessment, choice in learning or differentiation through flexibility in learning. (these are the kinds of things the group will be looking for on their tour!) Thank you again for always making our guests feel welcome and for all you do in planning for lessons each day!

February Birthdays
 Estrella Primera - 2nd
Ashlin Bowman- 10th
Cathy Wilson- 14th
Heather Judd- 16th
Jennifer Martin - 23rd
Delaine Jordan - 27th

Shout Outs!
Shout out to everyone at TCE for making our TCE tours such a success for both districts!  They were blown away and I appreciate you sharing your expertise in teaching and lesson design with others!

Kelly Spears and Mary Kennington for leading us into our next lens for looking at responsive teaching strategies!  We appreciate the time and energy you put into preparing the info shared!

Lisa Hansen and Kelly Spears for getting TELPAS training completed and the work behind the scenes in preparing for it all to happen!

All of our campus for implementing relationship and behavior strategies to help our whole campus be successful  for our learners!
 
Engineer of the Week

Please remember that Brett or I will cover a morning/afternoon or lunch/recess duty for you during the week!  Just email us to let us know what might work out!  Also, you may leave early one day once your kiddos are dismissed!

This week we are celebrating: Kasey Kemp

Final Quote
I enjoyed this quote today as I feel I sometimes forget how wonderful life can be to just let go and live in the moment. . .
 

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Will the Groundhog See His Shadow?

Will he see his shadow?
Getting ready for some Super Bowl watching today. . .even though I sure wish the Cowboys were the ones I get to watch today! Interested to see if the weather will start warming back up or if we might get colder weather in the next few!  For sure though we will need to be warm tomorrow, so let's wear sweats or jeans to start off another amazing week! 
 
Upcoming Weekly Events
February 2nd-6th, 2015


Monday- Sweats or jeans day!
Groundhog Day
Educator Mid-Year Goal Meetings

Tuesday-Visitor from Marshall ISD Tour - Just one principal approx. 8:30 arrival

Educator Mid-Year Goal Meetings

Wednesday-  Educator Mid-Year Goal Meetings

Faculty Meeting 3:15 - Library (plan on staying till about 4:45-5:00, due to several things on agenda

Thursday-
Visitors from HEB ISD Tour- Several administrators, upper admin and educators 8:15 arrival
Educator Mid-Year Goal Meetings
   
Friday-  Texan Town
Educator Mid-Year Goal Meetings


Announcement Weekly Info  

Life Principle: Sincerity

Cowboy Courtesy:
Be genuine when you say, “Thank you.”

ABC of Etiquette:  Never place your elbows on the table.



Important Reminders and Updates
Engineering Extravaganza
Thank you so much for everyone who has signed up so far on the board by the elevator!  Please make sure that you have signed up for a station if you haven't already!!  We are trying to please limit it to no more than two teachers per station!  

IMPORTANT:  I need for you to click on the following link by Tuesday of this week and input a catchy name that describes your station and a brief paragraph/blurb that will entice our kiddos to want to come to your station!  (basically like our Tech. Showcase or Texan Town blurbs!)

Click here!
 
TCE Tours
Please remember that our tours this week are on Tuesday and Thursday.  We will have one more tour next week on Feb. 10th.  Then we will not have any other tours for a while!

Please make sure that learning in the classroom as well as the hallway are showcasing and reflecting our STEM initiative.  

 This could include highlighting the engineering design process, technology usage for learners, various types of assessments for learning or innovation/creativity for learners.  

Keep up the great job showcasing learning in the hallways!!  They are looking so incredible and portraying many ways that our kiddos learn!  Thank you for the hard work on getting them ready! 

Super Teacher Awards
Please try to nominate one or more of your fellow TCE teachers for a Super Teacher award!  The Coppell ISD educator recognition program highlights the 21st Century learning environments, learning designs, and assessments that educators are implementing all of the district to transform teaching and learning.
You may nominate and can provide supporting evidence of transformation with photos, videos and/or written descriptions.
Click on the following link to nominate a Super Teacher now! 

Click here to nominate a Super Teacher!

Book Study:  Opening Minds
We will be doing several activities in the upcoming months focusing around the readings from Choice Words and Opening Minds.  If you could please make sure that you have completed Choice Words as well as have read Chapters 1-4 in Opening Minds by our Professional Learning Day - 
Monday, February 16th!

Shout Outs!
Kasey Kemp, Renee Rohani and Delaine Jordan for receiving our first Super Teacher Awards for this year!  The lesson was from their UbD unit on Impact.  Check out their websites or visuals in their hallway to see more!  

Everyone on the amazing presentations of learning in the classrooms and hallways during our visit from Cannon Elementary!  They were so impressed with the level of accountability across the grade levels in writing, technology and small group instruction!  

Casey Wagner and Candace Coffee for helping with a data dive in science!  They will be helping to share their findings and possible strategies to help us with science/reading instruction at our next vertical meeting!  

Kasey Kemp for getting our Science word wall ready to go and all of those Science teachers who will be helping to get it up and going!  We will start with 4th and 5th and then move down to the lower grade levels!

Everyone for helping to get our Innovation Station and Math/Science Lab going!  They are looking better and I appreciate you going the extra mile to help redesign these rooms!  

Design Team:  Thank you for those of you that were able to come and discuss the progress for the redesign of TCE!  Excited about the possibilities and I appreciate your time!  (Vincenzo, Brehm, Rice, Bowman, Coffee, Shelby, McShan, Kemp, J. Martin)  I know some couldn't make it and we can catch you up for the next time we meet!  
 
Engineer of the Week
Please remember that Brett or I will cover a morning/afternoon or lunch/recess duty for you during the week!  Just email us to let us know what might work out!  Also, you may leave early one day once your kiddos are dismissed!

This week we are celebrating:  Marly Natherson
 
Resources 
We will be looking at several resources to help with non-fiction readers this next week.   As well as we will be looking at strategies to help our learners with comprehension, questioning and inferencing in both fiction and non-fiction readings.  Here are a few that I found to get us thinking about these areas of instruction! 
 


















Final Quote
I liked this quote, because I think some days as educators we put so much of ourselves into what we do each day and it can be truly exhausting. Not every day is the most positive and there may be times when your frustration level runs exceptionally high.  It is in those times we must take a step back and remember why we do what we do each day. . .and keep pushing ahead to make a difference.