Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy your time with your family and friends!! My schedule is on the calendar page. If you want to meet, don't hesitate to email or call as the schedule is often flexible. :)
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Admist all the fall festivities, turkey, full bellies, and football games,it's sometimes easy to forget about what we are grateful for. Gratitude does more than just make adults and kids feel good; "it also improves their mood, mental health, and life satisfaction, and it can jumpstart more purposeful engagement in life at a critical moment in their development, when their identity is taking shape" (Berkley, 2013). Gratitude is an emotion towards others...and something that is often "practiced". Here are two simple practices to get students reflecting on gratitude: 1. Gratitude Journals - A notebook or journal to simple write down what they are grateful for. Take a few minutes every day to give students to write what they are thankful for. Take it a step farther by asking them to write why they are grateful for that item. 2. Gratitude Visit - Taking a moment to write a letter to someone who helped them, but they didn't properly thank. Students then read the letter to that person, and come back and share about their visit. Professor Jeffrey Froh and Giacomo Bono study the impacts and effects of gratitude on students. They came up with 3 principles that educators can use to promote gratitude in their students.
More Resources for Teaching Graditude
After a long meeting with Rod Knock, I think we got some more questions answered and a lot of information on the new Infinite Campus. Remember in January, the "beta" as we know it will become "Infinite Campus". Here are some highlights. Feel free to find me for more information on how to do these things! Also, an updated Infinite Campus manual will be coming out soon as well, but changes are continually taking place to roll it out in January.
Have a great week and a great day off on Tuesday!! We should certainly embrace tools and technologies that will help educators become more impactful. The district has embraced a philosophy of providing our students with opportunities to be more successful in our very digital society. We have iPads, Chromebooks, DreamBox, Imagine Learning, digital eBooks, and so much more. But, simply put, we should do it because it works. Sometimes doing an activity on the Chromebook simply increases student engagement and motivation. Technology should enhance instruction. Finding a balance between what we know and finding new and innovative ways to use technology is the future. What can you do with it now that wouldn't be possible any other way? If you are looking for ways to incorporate technology, using your Chromebook, iPads, or other tools, don't hesitate to contact me. Need help setting up your own online classroom space? Portaportal, Google Sites, Wikispaces, and Blogs! Now that things have slowed down (only slightly, I know) let's talk and figure out what might be best for you and get it started! Here are some resources that might be helpful!
Weekly TidbitsThere were some changes to the the essentials guide for writing as you continue your instruction. There were a few changes made to writing. If you've already begun...don't worry too much. This is a year to explore Lucy Calkins and play with writing instruction. Here is the new order for 2nd quarter!
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AuthorInstructional Coach for the Sioux Falls School District serving Jane Addams and Hawthorne Elementary Schools. Please email me or find me for assistance!! Categories
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April 2015
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