Elementary students share about the 7 Habits. This is the first year that we have used the 7 Habits as part of our positive behavior and character development system.
Thank you to Mrs. Strickler for creating this video.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Learner Resources from Tweeting Educators
Educators often "tweet" links to interactive web sites that they like. Here are a few recent links I visited. Enjoy!
- CBeebies - PK-Kdg http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/
- Jen's Jems - Primary Apps - http://many2one.com.au/ipads/JensGems/
- Early Learning Center - http://greenlocalschools.org/Page/5170
- Database of Award Winning Children's Literature - http://www.dawcl.com/search.asp?mid=531
- Grammar Revolution - Upper Elementary - http://www.english-grammar-revolution.com/list-of-verbs.html
- Storyjumper Tutorial - Story Creation Tool for Elementary Students - http://h30411.www3.hp.com/posts/1072386-VIDEO_Story_creation_tool_for_elementary_students
- Crocdoc - Collaborative Editing - http://www.markbrumley.com/2011/11/15/crocdoc-collaborative-document-editing/
- Phonics and Math Apps - http://www.skinnyscoop.com/list/eden/phonics-and-math-best-apps-for-early-elementary-school#sfa
- Creating Digital Music - http://www.techlearning.com/default.aspx?tabid=67&entryid=587
- Cybrary Man - Music resources - http://cybraryman.com/music.html#online
- Food History Time Line with Recipes - http://zui.com/go/1899?q=Christopher%20Columbus
- Free Tech for Teachers - Thanksgiving Resources - http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2011/11/resources-for-teaching-and-learning.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+freetech4teachers/cGEY+(Free+Technology+for+Teachers)
- Edutopia Classroom Guides - http://www.edutopia.org/classroom-guides-downloads
- Financial Literacy for Elementary Students - http://www.edutopia.org/blog/financial-literacy-elementary-students-brian-page
- Interactive Graphic Organizers - http://my.hrw.com/nsmedia/intgos/html/igo.htm
Monday, November 14, 2011
Kindergarten Students Share 7 Habits
Kindergarten students at Libertyville Elementary are using the 7 Habits every day!
Here is some of their recent work.
Kindergarten students sang, "Be Proactive" at the October Recognition Assembly. They recently learned Habit 4: Think Win-Win and related that to the Golden Rule. Congratulations kindergarten students!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
7 Habits of Happy Kids
Several teachers are using Sean Covey's book, 7 Habits of Happy Kids to help elementary students understand the 7 Habits. Students can visit the Student School Yard to play games with Goob Bear, Sammy Squirrel, Jumper Rabbit and all of their friends at 7 Oaks. Parents and teachers can preview the book here.
Just the Way I Am
Just the Way I Am
Teaching the 7 Habits - from A.B. Combs
Monday, November 7, 2011
Mistakes and Failures
What do you think when you hear, "You made a mistake"?
What do you think when you hear, "You failed"?
Do students have the choice, or the right, to fail?
The emphasis in my professional life on Response to Intervention, Standards-Based Reporting and The Leader in Me continually take me back to these important questions. What messages do we send to students, both intentionally and unintentionally in the words that we use and the expectations that we have? I remember attending a conference by Monte Selby several years ago. He had us think back to our elementary school days. He asked us to write down the name of the dumbest kid in our class. Then, he asked us to write down the name of the worst behaved kid in our class. No one seemed to have difficulty with this task. Next, he asked us to think about whether or not we would want to be remembered as the dumbest kid, or the naughtiest kid. He had the educators stand up if they would prefer to be remembered as the naughty student... then the dumb student. How do you think that the results turned out? Only about 5 out of 500 people wanted to be remembered as "the dumb kid."
What does this mean for teaching and learning? If it's better to be naughty than to be dumb, guess what the struggling learners are likely to do... get into trouble. Ruby Payne discusses the importance of "saving face" and Carolyn Tomlinson, William Powell and others help teachers develop safe learning environments that support children in building peer status. We want children to take risks and make mistakes which help them build knowledge, understanding, and empathy. It is unlikely that they will take risks if they see mistakes as failure.
What is failure? The word failure is often applied in a negative way, and has a feeling of permanence. A failure usually implies that there is little chance to change.
What about mistakes? Mistakes and errors fall into the same category. Often, mistakes are seen as actions that are correctable, and can be learned from. Tracy Thompson who wrote the article below titled Learning From Mistakes writes, "mistakes teach us more than our triumphs."
I have been spending a lot of time thinking about Rick Wormeli's Redos and Retakes and Fair Isn't Always Equal, and Alan Blankenship's (foreword by Micahel Fullan) Failure is Not an Option. Let's embrace mistakes, so that we can avoid failure.
Learning From Mistakes - article
The Meaning in Mistakes
5 Tips for Overcoming Challenges
What do you think when you hear, "You failed"?
Do students have the choice, or the right, to fail?
The emphasis in my professional life on Response to Intervention, Standards-Based Reporting and The Leader in Me continually take me back to these important questions. What messages do we send to students, both intentionally and unintentionally in the words that we use and the expectations that we have? I remember attending a conference by Monte Selby several years ago. He had us think back to our elementary school days. He asked us to write down the name of the dumbest kid in our class. Then, he asked us to write down the name of the worst behaved kid in our class. No one seemed to have difficulty with this task. Next, he asked us to think about whether or not we would want to be remembered as the dumbest kid, or the naughtiest kid. He had the educators stand up if they would prefer to be remembered as the naughty student... then the dumb student. How do you think that the results turned out? Only about 5 out of 500 people wanted to be remembered as "the dumb kid."
What does this mean for teaching and learning? If it's better to be naughty than to be dumb, guess what the struggling learners are likely to do... get into trouble. Ruby Payne discusses the importance of "saving face" and Carolyn Tomlinson, William Powell and others help teachers develop safe learning environments that support children in building peer status. We want children to take risks and make mistakes which help them build knowledge, understanding, and empathy. It is unlikely that they will take risks if they see mistakes as failure.
What is failure? The word failure is often applied in a negative way, and has a feeling of permanence. A failure usually implies that there is little chance to change.
- The American Heritage Dictionary:
- Failure: n. 1. An act or instance of failing or proving unsuccessful; lack of success. 2. nonperformance of something due, required, or expected. 3. a subnormal quantity or quality; an insufficiency.
- Fail: v. to fall short of success or achievement in something expected, attempted, desired, or approved. 2. to receive less than the passing grade or mark in an examination, class, or course of study. 3. to be or become deficient or lacking; be insufficient or absent; fall short:
What about mistakes? Mistakes and errors fall into the same category. Often, mistakes are seen as actions that are correctable, and can be learned from. Tracy Thompson who wrote the article below titled Learning From Mistakes writes, "mistakes teach us more than our triumphs."
- The American Heritage Dictionary:
- Mistake: n. 1. An error or fault resulting from defective judgment, deficient knowledge, or carelessness. 2. A misconception or misunderstanding. v. 1. To understand wrongly; misinterpret. 2. To identify incorrectly.
I have been spending a lot of time thinking about Rick Wormeli's Redos and Retakes and Fair Isn't Always Equal, and Alan Blankenship's (foreword by Micahel Fullan) Failure is Not an Option. Let's embrace mistakes, so that we can avoid failure.
If you don't make mistakes, you're not working on hard enough problems.
And that's a big mistake.
-- F. Wikzek
-- F. Wikzek
Punishing honest mistakes stifles creativity.
I want people moving and shaking the earth and they're going to make mistakes.
-- Ross Perot
-- Ross Perot
The difference between greatness and mediocrity is
often how an individual views a mistake.
-- Nelson Boswell
-- Nelson Boswell
Learning From Mistakes - article
The Meaning in Mistakes
5 Tips for Overcoming Challenges
Friday, October 21, 2011
Digital Natives - A New Kind of Learner
A digital native is a person who was born during or after the general introduction of digital technology, and through interacting with digital technology from an early age, has a greater understanding of its concepts.
Nicole Welding, creator of this video asks, "Does this look familiar?"
I hope not...
Digital Media - New Learners of the 21st Century
If we teach today’s students as we taught yesterday’s, we rob them of tomorrow. ~John Dewey
Sunday, October 16, 2011
After the Honeymoon
A few weeks ago, I read an article by ASCD called, "Maintaining a Positive Attitude as the Back-to-School Honeymoon Fades." It reminded me of the volunteer work that I used to do with families of National Guard members. During long deployments, it's easy to slowly whittle away at our energy reserves. Covey refers to it as the emotional bank account, but I often think of it as compassion fatigue or caregiver burnout.
The emotional and physical "dip" that teachers experience at this time of year is directly addressed with new educators in their mentoring program. But, what about everyone else? Are you taking time for yourself? You all work so hard, caring for each child as well as each other. I am fortunate to be a part of such a devoted team of professionals, who are the hardest working people that I know.
THANKS FOR...
Author Unknown
making the difference
long, long hours
creating a sense of family
being the keeper of dreams
pleasing a lot
using good judgment
teaching for learning
making reading fun
forgiving
being the wind beneath my wings
that sensitive touch
teaching class
never giving up on anybody
believing in miracles
respecting each other
taking responsibility for all students
keeping a tight rein on discipline
striving for excellence, not perfection
being brave
smiling a lot
never depriving our children of hope
being tough minded but tender hearted
showing enthusiasm even when you don't feel like it
keeping your promises
giving your best
your wisdom and courage
being punctual and insisting on it in others
providing creative solutions
avoiding the negative and seeking out the good
being there when students need you
listening
doing more than is expected
never giving up on what you really want
remaining open, flexible, and curious
being a friend
sharing
keeping several irons in the fire
being a child's hero
going the distance
having a good sense of humor
being a dream maker
giving your heart
The emotional and physical "dip" that teachers experience at this time of year is directly addressed with new educators in their mentoring program. But, what about everyone else? Are you taking time for yourself? You all work so hard, caring for each child as well as each other. I am fortunate to be a part of such a devoted team of professionals, who are the hardest working people that I know.
THANKS FOR...
Author Unknown
making the difference
long, long hours
creating a sense of family
being the keeper of dreams
pleasing a lot
using good judgment
teaching for learning
making reading fun
forgiving
being the wind beneath my wings
that sensitive touch
teaching class
never giving up on anybody
believing in miracles
respecting each other
taking responsibility for all students
keeping a tight rein on discipline
striving for excellence, not perfection
being brave
smiling a lot
never depriving our children of hope
being tough minded but tender hearted
showing enthusiasm even when you don't feel like it
keeping your promises
giving your best
your wisdom and courage
being punctual and insisting on it in others
providing creative solutions
avoiding the negative and seeking out the good
being there when students need you
listening
doing more than is expected
never giving up on what you really want
remaining open, flexible, and curious
being a friend
sharing
keeping several irons in the fire
being a child's hero
going the distance
having a good sense of humor
being a dream maker
giving your heart
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