Teaching Inspired

As I sit here on Sunday evening reflecting on the lessons I've learned this week I find myself thinking of the question I have been asked more than any other over the past 20 years. "Why be a teacher/principal?" I could launch into some long professionally written essay of how it is my life's passion to work with children. But, that is not the truth. The truth is I was inspired by several important folks to serve my community, my state, and my country through service. I was inspired by great people to give back. I was inspired by my faith to serve those who are in need. And daily I am inspired by the lives which I touch to smile and offer an understanding ear when hearts are broken, children need a stabilizing force in their lives, and when a tough decision which puts students needs' first has to be made. 
Yes, we spend our days at UTE analyzing data, creating lessons, engaging students through technology, communicating with parents, just to name a few. But, I do it all because I am inspired to serve. The Greatest Teacher in history remained humble as He served. So, with a humble heart I lead you who are servants to our community and continue to be inspired by you all each and every day. With the theme of inspiration and gratitude in mind, I am only going to leave a few notes and a link of a video I am asking you to watch.

Best Practices I've seen this week at UTE:
Student research turned into presentations about the presidents with Mrs. Becky.
Formative assessments with data analyzed to create the next day's lesson by Mrs Rayburn.
Students using a buzzer system to answer detail questions from storyline online with Mrs. Scott.
High levels of questioning, including critical analysis, by Mrs. Williams.

Please follow the link below to watch this 10 minute video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXDMoiEkyuQ

What inspired you to teach? What keeps you going? How do you express your gratitude?

I am humbled each day to serve families of our students and each of you. I hope my gratitude is evident in my actions,  as I hope the families of UTE see our gratitude in our interactions with them and their children. Have a great week and I can't wait to see the great lessons that are in store for me!

Every child...Every day!!!

This Week at UTE - Feb. 20th

As I promised in an earlier email, this will be replacing my Friday Focus newsletter that I have been sending out.  Since all of us have technology as part of our growth plan, I figured this is the way to go. If you have not subscribed to this blog, please do so today.  I expect each of you to read it and to respond weekly.  When you are subscribed to it, you will get an email alert that it has been posted.  I want this to be a place of professional interaction and pedagogical discourse.  That means, it cannot work without each of your voices.  So, please feel free to respond with your thoughts to any section any week.  I would love to know what best practices you have observed, or how initiatives which we are implementing are affecting your students.  This is one way to embed contiuous progress and learning for all into the school culture here at UTE!

   Lots of fabulous things continue to happen here at UTE.  I am always amazed at the hard work and dedication of all the folks here!  Thanks to you all for your many hours of important work and learning.

Best Practices I've observed at UTE this week:

• Anticipation/Reaction Guide in use with 2nd grade Science.
• Frayer Model posters in use with primary reading vocabulary.
• Current, proficient student work posted outside intermediate classrooms. (Please keep it current.)
• Student choice of their own work to post.
• Student reflection and accountability of center work in 3rd grade.
• Math and reading centers in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades.

Yesterday's PD at KEDC was wonderful!  I think it was great timing, considering we have had time to dig into Creating Strategic Readers prior to attending Ms. Ellery's PD.  I think that there were many moments that I deepened my understanding of the structure of her practice from the book.  What did you find meaningful that you intend to implement with students?  I think the teacher talk she demonstrated is very powerful and I know this is something that I think I did maybe accidentally, but I did not focus intentionally on it.  I know this would've made me a better teacher.

Next week promises to be an exciting one with great activities planned for Read Across America Day.  What will be our school learning target for these activities?  They are all literacy rich, and we want to make sure and send the message to students and parents that these activities are educational and rigorous.  Although they are fun, they do have a meaningful purpose.  Please make sure to read the notes from Leigh on this.  I want to thank Leigh and Jackie for working so hard to pull this together.  I am very much looking forward to it.

CSIP
It is time for our I&I check on the next two components of the CSIP.  So, please take time to look these over and get me any comments, concerns, suggestions you have by February 29th.

Each day that I visit with students and teachers here at UTE, I am comforted by the fact that we are doing everything within our current knowledge and power to make sure our students are succeeding at high levels.  The trick is for us to keep learning and staying abreast of the latest and most current research.  I hope that I am helping you by sending you links to professional articles and discussions on current education topics and issues.

I will leave you with this thought for the week from John Maxwell on striving for excellence.
"Learn to say no to the good, so that you can say yes to the best."

Every Child...Every Day!!!

High Expectations

Read the blog "The Stigma of Low Expectations",  found at this link.  What do you think? Leave your comments here.  http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/finding_common_ground/2012/02/