Nuts & Bolts - Week of 6/13/16

6/13 - Student Recognition Assembly / 8th Grade Yearbook Distribution

• Please confiscate Sharpies if/when you see them. 

6/14 - Positive Behavior Reward Day Schedule / Science Reward Day / YardHouse Happy Hour 4pm
6/15 - Minimum Day Schedule / 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony Practice

• Coverage - The practice will run from 9am-11am. Here's the coverage schedule for the practice and ceremony. Remember that Jazz Band and Encore kids will be performing. 

6/16 - Minimum Day Schedule - Release @ 1:20pm. Add 10min to 7th period ; Staff Sign-Outs

• Clap Out: At 9:15am, any/all teachers willing are requested to line up with 6th & 7th grade students on either side of the 8th grade procession route (blacktop) to "Clap Out" our 8th graders. Hopefully, we'll get a good number of kids cheering on our class of 2016 as they make their way to the field. 

6/17 - Luncheon 11am-12pm (Catered by Wise Guys) ; Staff Sign-Outs

• Cindy will be sending a Google Sheet for you to sign up for a time on Wednesday or Thursday. She already sent out a checklist of things you need to do prior to getting signed out by your evaluating administrator. During your sign-out Goals & Objectives forms will be reviewed (if it hasn't been done already). 

ALL Staff Shout Out!

This year has been full of ups and downs. Through all of it, I am proud to say that you have all demonstrated a willingness to work together and problem solve. Around every corner, you exercised patience and understanding of each other, me, students, and parents. This speaks to your integrity as professionals, and is truly something that I am grateful for. We're in this together, and the more we continue to communicate and focus on the positive (read this week's article below), the better Travis Ranch will continue to become. Thank you for your hard work, dedication, and commitment to this school! Have a fantastic summer! You have earned it! 

3 Smart New Ways to Kick Pessimism to the Curb!

Consistently focusing our minds on the all the positives around us is a difficult mindset to maintain. This is especially true in a society that focuses on negative stories, images, etc.  In fact, this tendency is a left-over caveman instinct for survival according to this week's ARTICLE. "While this stress reaction may have been helpful in the Serengeti, it's harmful now." 

Talking about, listening to, and focusing on negatives breeds a toxic environment at home, school, and in our lives. On the other hand, focusing on positives can reduce stress, create positive cultures, and make life more enjoyable. The goal is to "train our brains to become more alert to good information. When you notice a positive detail in yourself or someone else, or in your environment, try savoring it for at least ten seconds." This and a number of other strategies are outlined in this article. 

Next year, let's all consider how to promote all the positive things happening on our campus day in and day out. Let's celebrate our successes as a matter of habit, and proactively promote the positive! Let's kick pessimism and negativity to the curb! 

Nuts & Bolts - Week of 6/6

6/7 - Last Team Leader Meeting -- Please provide input about:

• 4th Qtr. Positive Behavior Reward Day - 6/13 OR 6/14?
• TRTV Schedule 1day/week 2016/2017 - Monday or Friday?

6/8 - 6th Period: 8th Grade Assembly "Holocaust Survivor" in Gym
6/8 - Last PLC - Staff Conversation: 1/2 Will be dedicated to preview of PBIS Kick-Off 2016/2017

Shout Out! - Knott's Teamwork

A BIG Shout Out to the whole team who supported getting our 8th graders to Knott's and back safely. Cynde Riley, Jennie Bremer, Mary Chapluk, Chris Collins, Lynn Magnin, Vanessa Amorin, Sandi Schneider, Bob Lexin, and Maddie Fox. Let's not forget the team of teachers and office staff that ensured that those who stayed behind were adequately supervised. And thanks to Jalinda for organizing the bus lists, printing signage, and making the logistics work! Thanks to all!!

Tech Tip: Blabberize

I stumbled across a list of 10 collaborative tech tools. This is my favorite:

Blabberize is a free tool that makes photos come to life! Students upload a photo, create a mouth and record whatever they would like their image to say!
Cooperative learning idea: Students can take turns talking. This tool can be used to give a history or science report. Students could describe an animal's adaptations by making the animal they researched talk!

How I Finally Figured Out Collaborative Writing

This middleweb contributor took an insight from 8 year world playing Mario Brothers as inspiration for attempting a collaborative writing task with her students. A couple of my favorite excerpts:
Today’s students need to know how to find and obtain answers that keep them moving forward because they live in a world where information is not the currency, but the ability to use information is...(there are) few situations where we absolutely must struggle alone and hope that we’ll suddenly understand. Great concept and definitely worth a try! ARTICLE