The Five

This year, our staff started things off with a book study of "Teach Like a Pirate!". One of the challenges that the author, Dave Burgess gives to staff members is to use five words they would like students to use when describing their classrooms.  After a great discussion on how we can bring our passions and interests into the classroom lessons, we each submitted our five words.  I won't embarrass myself by saying how many times it took me to create the "word cloud", but after several attempts it was done.  The neat thing about creating a word cloud is that the more times a word is used, the larger it becomes.  It was obvious as I started reading the descriptors that the word FUN was going to be the biggest word.  This made me so happy, because my philosophy has always been that learning should be fun (for both the students and the teacher).

The other words that jump out like safe, caring, supportive and welcoming all show that our teachers really strive to create an environment that is conducive to learning.  This fits right in with our district goal that "All students will experience a positive, safe, and welcoming environment, where both students and adults respect and value one another".  We know as educators that students learn best when they feel safe physically and emotionally.  At Rosedale, we spend the time at the beginning of the year to develop those relationships in order to provide more effective instruction later.  The other theme that stood out in our cloud was excellence.  We aren't just encouraging students to "do their work" we are encouraging them to "do their BEST"!  Students will rise or fall to the expectations we set for them and we are setting the bar high for all learners.

The great thing about the word cloud is that it puts our five words into a visible reminder of what we want to see every day in our classrooms.  It's not enough to say the words or to wish we could achieve them...we have to live them each day, each hour, each lesson.  And when we lead by example, our students will follow!  I'm proud of the words that our staff have selected to embody our school environment this year.  What are your five words for your classroom or school?


PEARLS OF WISDOM

"People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." - Theodore Roosevelt

"Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude." - Ralph Marston

"You are never to old to set another goal or dream a new dream." - C.S. Lewis

video credit: Justin Tarte

UPCOMING EVENTS

Thursday, September 10: 8:00 am Staff Meeting
                                         6:30 pm PTA Meeting
Friday, September 11: 10:30 am Fire Drill

Tuesday, September 15: 2:00 pm Fire Drill
                                        6:00-7:00 pm Open House
                                        7:00-8:00 pm Curriculum Night (Jon in gym with students and Magician)
Wednesday, September 16: 8:15 am Achievement Team Meeting (Review watch lists)
Thursday, September 17: 8:00 am Staff Meeting
                                          Constitution Day (don't forget your lessons)