It was a musical themed long weekend in the Garden house. We traveled to listen to my husband and his band sing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in three different locations. I always love how music can put me in a good mood. I thought it might be good to share some musical motivation for these last few weeks. I just heard this new song and I immediately told my husband I want him to learn it so he can sing it. The song is called "Find Your People" by Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors. As soon as I heard it while I was driving, I immediately thought of my year (almost a year) at Clough. I definitely feel like I have found my people here at Clough! This is one of those songs that you can't help but smile and tap a toe along with. This year, we have come together and collaborated. Love this song that reminds us we are always better together. Here is "Walk With Me" by Joss Stone. These last few weeks of school we need to dig deep and find that last burst of energy to finish out the year. I feel like this song always helps keep me energized. Listen to Meghan Trainor sing "Better When I'm Dancing" and try not to get up and dance...I dare you! It wouldn't be right to have a musically motivated post without at least one Taylor Swift song. Here's "Shake It Off." Use this song when you need to shake off the end of year stress! And here's one that is definitely the perfect song to carry us into summer. I am excited to go see this singer in concert at the end of June. I saw Michael Franti last summer, and I know this summer's concert will be the same positive energy experience. Here is his song "The Sound of Sunshine." I could add so many more songs to the list of motivational music! But I will stop with these five for now. What songs would be on your end of year motivational music playlist?!
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The beautiful sunny Sunday this weekend drove home the message that summer really is just around the corner. It's hard to believe that the school year is almost done. Even though we only have a few weeks left, for me, the approach of summer means the wheels in my brain are already spinning for next school year. When I was a classroom teacher, even though this was the time that I was frantically trying to get everything in before the last day, it was also the time that I would think back over the year and jot down ideas and goals for next year. While I was still in the midst of everything, I felt like I was more likely to plan and visualize what I would do differently. How would I improve? What changes would I make? So this is the time for us all to think about this question: What do I need to work on to be better next year? When we talk about reflecting and continually improving, it's important to remember the difference between a fixed and growth mindset. If I was an educator with a fixed mindset, then as the year winds down, I would be thinking that I am a great teacher, I don't need to listen to feedback, and I don't need to worry about improving. I am talented and I will just keep doing the same thing next year. BUT, if I was an educator with a growth mindset, then I would embrace the challenge of a new year, I would accept feedback, and desire to keep improving because I know that ability is continually developed. Several years ago, I came across a post where a teacher had developed a list of 50 end-of-year self-probing questions for educators. I read through his list and pulled a few out for us to think about. These questions will help you dig deeper as you think about the big question: What do I need to work on to be better next year?
I met with a literacy consultant last week who I have only known through social media. She was working with a nearby school and came to talk about the possibility of working with our district. She does a lot of work related to writing and published a PD book called "We Do" Writing. I was of course excited when she gave me a copy of her book! Started skimming it this weekend. I was lucky enough to be sent an advanced electronic copy of Elly Swartz's book that is coming out on Halloween. It's called Hidden Truths. Looking forward to reading this one. I have also been doing reading and writing for my MFA coursework. Enjoying reading David Mura's book A Stranger's Journey: Race, Identity and Narrative Craft in Writing.
I know Teacher Appreciation was last week, but who says all of the appreciation has to happen in just that one week? Several students helped me prepare a special surprise read aloud for all of you. Hope you enjoy this reading of the book Dear Teacher: A Celebration of People Who Inspire Us... I wish I could have interviewed every kid in the school because it's important for you all to hear from them how much you are appreciated! I also had several Clough families help me with another surprise! Throughout the day today make sure you stop by the office. We are so lucky to have all of you working at Clough. Julia has a collection of lucky ducks for you to select one special one from and attached to that lucky duck is a surprise gift. It's just a little something from your students' families to say thank you for teaching their children this year. I am listening to an interesting book written by Oprah and Dr. Perry called What Happened To You? It is taking a look at the effects of trauma and instead of asking what's wrong with you, they are reminding us that we should be asking what happened to you. I also got some new picture books, including storytelling math book called Bracelets for Bina's Brothers and Where Three Oceans Meet. Both books are written by the author Rajani Larocca, a Massachusetts author!
I loved all of the reflective discussions we had this week during our grade level data inquiry meetings and during Friday afternoon's special education placement session. You all were able to think back over this past year and identify small adjustments in your instructional practice that you have seen have a big impact on student learning. You were also identifying small tweaks that you are planning to do over the last six weeks to continue to push all of your students forward to where you want them to be at the end of this year. Recently, I heard the quote above and I tucked it away, knowing that I would want to share it with all of you. The concept is pretty amazing. Whether it's the doors for our own homes or the massive doors that are part of different historical architectural structures, such as the doors of Westminster Abbey where the Coronation just took place...all these doors have something in common. They function thanks to small hinges. To tie it back to what I have seen you do this year in your classrooms and what we discussed in meetings last week, small changes have been made and those small changes have been powerful; they have actually done a lot. It's important to think about what small changes you have made and celebrate the amazing growth that has happened with your students. At the reading conference the other week, one of the keynote speakers shared this domino chain reaction video when talking about how subtle changes to our instructional practices can have big impacts.. Similar thought process like small hinges swinging open big doors, check out the power behind the tiniest domino... I was also excited to hear so many of you talking about what you are planning to do over the next six weeks. While growth has happened, there is still time for so much more. Do you know what can happen in six weeks? I did some research to find out what changes can happen over a 6 week time period. When a kid breaks a bone, it takes about 6 weeks for the bone to heal itself and fix the break. I had several broken bones when I was little...may have been just a tad bit of a clutz...and I swear it felt like I had to have a cast on for way longer than 6 weeks. In 6 weeks time, a tomato seed can grow and change from a tiny seed into a plantable seedling. Check out this cool time lapse video of tomato plants growing. Fascinating how a little seed can change so much over a short period time with regular TLC in the form of water and sunlight. Did you know that by the time a woman is 6 weeks pregnant, the baby growing inside her already has a developed heart that has begun beating at about 110 beats per minute. That amazing heart is part of a little being that is barely a quarter of an inch long. And once the baby is born, after 6 short weeks, the baby usually starts smiling and begins to reach out to try to grab things with his or her tiny hands. What else can happen in 6 weeks time? Well, you can fill out an application and then in 6 weeks time you can travel the world because you now have a passport. Probably might need to spend more than 6 weeks saving money for your travels! We have 6 weeks to still do so much work with the students in front of us. If a tiny seed can change into a flourishing plant in 6 weeks, then we can absolutely transform each and every one of our students in the last 6 weeks of the school year. With a little TLC from us, our version of watering and providing sunlight to our kids, we can help them grow even more. Several years ago, I attended a conference and I remember Eric Janson, the keynote speaker, telling us that structural changes in the brain can happen in just 5 days! Forget 6 weeks. By the end of this week, if you are thoughtful about your teaching and the interventions that you are putting in place, you can successfully rewire a few brains. Next Friday, I expect to hear about your brain changing success stories! I read a post recently where someone said we need to "get neurons firing together to help get them wiring together." Check out the brain images below. I am thinking we can bring back an old slogan and redesign it...this is your brain on teaching and intervention: A lot can happen in 6 weeks. Don't let countdowns or time ticking down until the last day make you think that you can't accomplish much now. You can make some major changes in 6 weeks. We don't want kids checking out early, so that means we can't check out either. Don't get stuck in the mindset of "I will just wait until next year to try that." Today is the day. Carpe every diem. Take advantage of every teachable moment. Fire up those neurons! What small hinges can you use to swing open those big doors over the last six weeks? I finished The Dictionary of Lost Words...definitely enjoyed it...and then I started a new audible book: Think Again by Adam Grant. I also started to read aloud The Wild Robot to Emerson and Cayce. I have read it before, but I wanted to reread it before I help lead a book club discussion with some of our 4th graders. It's such an interesting concept for a story...a robot that crashes on an island and becomes connected to the wildlife on the island. I purchased several new picture books including It's Not Little Red Riding Hood, a funny book by a local author, Josh Funk.
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