http://blogs.4j.lane.edu/chinn/?p=537
Hello Everyone,
I know the next couple of weeks will not be easy for people as we begin working on staffing plans for next school year. Besides having to deal with significant program changes, knowing that the decisions will impact our friends and colleagues makes it even harder. The decisions we need to make will not be easy ones, but I know I can count on the knowledge, professionalism, and experience of our staff to make the best possible decision for our students given our limited resources. Although these are certainly hard times for education, I cannot think of a group who I would rather work with as we get though this rough time.
I have six items of note for this week:
• School Choice Tours – This week is our first week of school choice tours. Please take note of the time and be ready for visitors to come through your room during this time. Also, if you have any student work to display in the hallway or classroom, that is something that always looks great to potential new parents. Here are the dates of the tours.
CORRIDOR
• Tuesday, March 1, 8:30-9:30 am
• Thursday, March 3, 8:30-9:30 am
• Wednesday, March 15, 8:30-9:30 am
• Friday, March 18, 2011 8:30-9:30 amYUJIN GAKUEN
• Monday, February 28, 2:45-1:45
• Wednesday, March 2, 9:00-10:00
• Tuesday, March 15, 12:45-1:45
• Thursday, March 17, 9:00-10:00• IIPM Meetings Moved a Week Later – Due to last Thursday’s snow day we did not hold the 3rd grade IIPM Data Meeting. To fix this, 3rd grade will meet next Thursday and all other grade level meetings will be moved a week later. The dates on the Zimbra building calendar have all been updated.
• Fire Drill Monday – Since our Thursday Fire Drill was snowed out last week, we have one last day to do our February Fire Drill. We’ll hold the drill Monday, February 28th at 8:40. If it’s raining at that time, we’ll hold the drill the first break in the rain that happens.
• ESD Workshop – “A Discussion About Adoption and Race” – Adoption professionals and local educators will present information about how adoption impacts children and what educators can do to foster positive interactions. A video, “Struggle for Identity,” will be shown. The event is scheduled for two hours in order to accommodate time for questions and discussion. The workshop will be March 2, 4:30-6:30 PM at the Lane ESD. More information can be found on the ESD Workshop website.
• 2011 SunWise with SHADE Poster Contest – The SunWise with SHADE Poster Contest is back! Students in grades K-8 can help raise awareness about sun safety and win great prizes by entering the contest before the April 1, due date. Visit their website to register.
http://www.shadefoundation.org/poster-contest.php
• What Do Students Mean When They Say School is “Boring”? – In this sidebar in a Kappan article, Colorado educators Lois Brown Easton and Michael Soguero say that educators’ response to students who say they’re bored is often, “We’re not here to entertain you. We’re here to teach you what you need to know.” But the most recent results from the High School Survey of Student Engagement (HSSSE) show that there are many meanings behind the word “boring”:– I’m not engaged.
– I’m not learning.
– I already know this.
– This has nothing to do with me.
– It’s too hard.
– It’s too easy.
– It’s not real world.
– I don’t like working alone.
– I don’t like working with this group.
– My problems are occupying my mind much more than this topic.
– I’m worried about —.
– No one really cares.
– No one knows me and how I learn.According to HSSSE, nearly half of students say they are bored every day, and 17 percent say they are bored in every class.
Here’s a link to the full article, “Challenging Assumptions: Helping Struggling Students Succeed” by Lois Brown Easton and Michael Soguero in Phi Delta Kappan, February 2011 (Vol. 95, #5, p. 4)
Have a good week!
Allan