A QUICK WEEK IN REVIEW

Wow!  A 5 day work week...exhausting.  LOL  I was really impressed by how well the kids did during our first long week back from winter vacation.  Just goes to show you how much they need us!

We had an amazing week academically.  My kiddos showed improvements in 3 out of 4 data wall assessments.  Every week we assess sound fluency, sight word recognition, number recognition, and number writing.  We improved in all areas except for number recognition.  Not bad!  That tells me that my changes to our literacy block is helping with sight words and sound fluency.  Gotta keep that trend going.

Donorschoose.org
If you have not checked out this page...it is a teacher must.  I had my 8th project funded this week.  The last $87.00 was funded by two complete strangers, one from IN and one from WA.  It is a great opportunity to get much needed items for your classroom.  There are also lots of funding pages to help out.  The ones I use are:
www.donorschoose.org/specialactsofkindness
www.donorschoose.org/caringclassrooms
http://www.donorschoose.org/Send-A-Smile
http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/viewChallenge.html?id=356310&active=true (All About the Kids on Donorschoose)

They are always running contest to fund projects and have a chance for your project to be featured on their page.  Right now I am on Special Acts of Kindness giving page and All About the Kids on Donorschoose.  For only a $1.00 donation (it usually costs me more because I cannot just choose one project to help, gotta help them all) its a big opportunity to get your project in front of a lot of people!
Take a look at my current project:  Creative Expressions

On a personal note--I start class number 2 out of 12 for my Ed. Specialist in Administration tomorrow.  Hope this goes as smoothly as the last one.  Wish me luck!!

On to my personal book study--Todd Whitaker's What Great Teachers Do Differently.  

1. Why Look Great?
2. It's People, Not Programs
3. The Power of Expectations
4. Prevention Versus Revenge
5. High Expectations--for Whom?
6. Who Is the Variable?
7. Ten Days out of Ten
8. The Teacher Is the Filter
9. Don't Need to Repair--Always Do Repair
10. Ability to Ignore
11. Random or Plandom?
12. Base Every Decision of the Best People
13. In Every Situation, Ask Who Is Most Comfortable and Who Is Least Comfortable
14. What About Those Darn Standardized Tests?
15. Make It Cool to Care
16. Clarifying Your Core

Chapter 3:  The Power of Expectations
"Students are experts at cost-benefit analysis:  If I skip one hour of class, I'll have to go to two hours of detention.  Is it worth it? (How many of my buddies will be in detention?" (page 19)  The purpose of consequences is to encourage positive behaviors.  The consequence should be natural given the behavior and it should be slightly uncomfortable.  That does not mean it should be punishment.  Clear expectations should be set at the beginning of the year for both the students and the teacher. The expectations should never waiver.  The higher the expectations, the better behaved the students will be.

Have a great week!