April 11, 2014

Nelsons Notes
Reminders for Finishing Strong
Like long-distance swimming, being an educator is a marathon, not a sprint. With the start of a new grading cycle quickly approaching, now is a great time to remind ourselves of what our goals are for the remainder of the school year. So here are a few reminders that apply to all of us in education: 1. Remember to use both sides of your brain: instruction and management. Teaching is both an art and a science. And good teaching requires both understanding of a subject as well as understanding of your students. Remember to be passionate about your lessons and equally passionate about understanding your students. Good classroom management, for instance, happens when you understand your content as well as create procedures, routines, and practices that keep students engaged, focused, learning, exploring, and succeeding. 2. Be prepared ahead of time with data-driven lesson plans, schedules, activities etc. If you do not map out your teaching, you will not reach your goals. Know ahead of time what specific content areas need to be covered by the end of the year, and plan accordingly. 4. Always be professionals in conversations, emails, social media, and personal appearance. No matter what kind of day you are having, make it a good one for your students. Practice the common courtesies you appreciate in them. Greet others with positive feedback, think before speaking, and disagree with respect and dignity. Come to school with your A-game and permeate the school with the high expectations we want to see in our students. 5. Remain teachable, life-long learners, collaborators and team-players. It is okay not to know it all and to explore for new solutions, methods, or knowledge. Keeping an open mind does not mean being gullible or manipulated. Instead it means staying humble and working with (not against) others to reach common goals. If you ever think there is no more to learn, it is time to find a new profession. 6. Be a goal-setter personally, professionally and collaboratively. We ask our students to set goals, so what goals have we set this year? Think about your school-wide goals, grade level goals, subject level goals, and personal goals. 7. Remember to celebrate. Finally, at the end of the day, we cannot forget to celebrate. I like Jon Gordons advice: Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today, I accomplished____________. Do the same with students and fellow team members. Great work deserves great praise!

4/14-4/18 National Library Week 4/14 th Excel Awards-5 Gr CCC @ 7 pm 4/16 CIT Meeting - 3:30 p.m. New Image Awards 5th Gr CCC @ 7 pm 4/17 Staff Meeting - 3:30 p.m. th 5 Grading Cycle Ends Report Cards Lock @ Noon 4/18 Student/Staff Holiday 4/21 Sixth Grading Cycle Begins AIP Lesson Plans Due (Gr. 4-5) 4/22 STAAR Math Gr. 3-4 4/23 STAAR Reading Gr. 3-4 STAAR Science Gr. 5 4/24 Staff Training - 3:30 p.m. Enriched Music Program & PTA Program, 6:30 p.m. 4/25 Morning Computer Ends 4/28 Report Cards Go Home 4/30 Behavior Committee Mtg. 3:30 p.m. 5/2 TELL Texas Survey Due 5/5-5/9 Staff Appreciation Week 5/6 Choir & StringsSandy Lake

Nelsons Notes Reminders & Updates:

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At one of our staff meetings, we talked about disposing of old and out-dated materials. If you havent started, now is the time to start! Begin thinking about the changes you will make next year to ensure that your classroom/teaching area is clean, orderly, and inviting for students. Thank you for picking up pencils, crayons, markers, paper, etc. off of the floors at the end of the school day. Ive noticed a HUGE improvement in some of our classrooms. Keep up the good work! Continue to write notes to your colleagues and place in their Celebration Sacks! Remember, our end of the year goal is to write a note to every staff member on campus. Elementary schools will start receiving new iPads beginning the week of April 28. More information will be communicated soon. Dr. Morrison will be here to update and address occurrences in the district on May 20. 6-Hour Update Training will be Friday, August 15.

Assumptions are the termites of relationships.

-Henry Winkler

General Educator of the Year 2013-2014

This award recognizes outstanding general educators in our district who are strong supporters of special education students. This is the perfect opportunity for outstanding teachers to receive recognition for their above-and-beyond attitude for efforts on behalf of our students with special needs. Our recipient was selected by our schools nominating committee which is composed of all special education professional staff members.

Congratulations toMrs. Leila Toribio, this years General Educator of the Year!

Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, youll start having positive results.
-Unknown

Most Valuable Knight

Be sure to give a great big shout out to Ericka Aguilar, Power Hour Team Member, and this weeks MVK! Lets read what you all had to say about Ms. Ericka

Ms. Aguilar always has a great attitude and is always willing to help whenever she is needed. She is open to suggestions and is always looking for opportunities to grow and learn new things. The kids love her and I enjoy working with her! Ericka has been very helpful with translations and is very flexible with her time when she is needed to help in classrooms, watch students, bus duty...whatever we need. Her positive attitude is contagious and the kids love to be around her. She has a great work ethic and her uplifting spirit brings me joy!