An Inspirational Video

As we are about to leave for Pesach vacation I wanted  to share this inspirational video with you.

May we always continue to inspire our students.

Wishing you all a Chag Kasher V'Sameach

Akevy

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Interesting ideas to think about 

Want Students to Succeed? Let Them Fail

 21st Century Skills: A Resource to Understanding the Framework

5 Ways To Be A Calmer, More Effective Teacher

Weekly memo 3/5

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you for the work you have been doing in preparation for Purim. Certain classes have Skyped, others have crested illustrated Miggilot and some have done skits. 
A special Thank you to Morah Daphna and Morah Yehudit along with Moreh Shimshon for working on the Third grade Purim Play. 
All of these examples  are about incorporating active learning and making the learning come to life for our students. 
Kol Hakavod!


UPCOMING EVENTS

Wednesday    March 7                     Fast of Esther, regular dismissal

Thursday        March 8                     Purim, no school

Friday             March 9                     Shushan Purim programming

Sunday           March 11                    Annual Alumni game

Tuesday          March 13                    MHA musical performance, 12:30

Friday             March 16                    resume 3:00 Friday dismissal

Tuesday          March 20                   full faculty meeting, 2:30-5:30

Tuesday          March 20                   grade 2 meeting

Wednesday    March 21                    grade 2 meeting, continued

Wednesday    March 21                    end of grading period 3

Thursday        March 22                   4^th grade State Fair, details TBA

Monday           March 26                   Report cards due

Tuesday         March 27                   Grade 3 meeting

Week of March 26                           pre-pesach programming

Wednesday    April 4                        begin Passover break

Weekly memo 2-27

Upcoming Events:

Monday               February 27                        Hearing screenings, in the library for grades 1-8

Tuesday               Feburary 28                        grade 1 meeting

Wednesday        February 29                        grade 1 meeting continued

Wednesday        February 29                        Science fair (set up after davening)

Thursday             March 1                                Science fair, assembly in the afternoon (?)

Tuesday               March 6                                ece pre-Purim party in the lunchroom, lunch in the gym

Wednesday        March 7                                Fast of Esther

Thursday             March 8                                Purim, no school

Friday                    March 9                                Shushan Purim carnival(?)

Sunday              March 11                                Annual Alumni game

Tuesday               March 13                             MHA musical performance

Friday                    March 16                             resume 3:00 Friday dismissal

Tuesday               March 20                             full faculty meeting, 2:30-5:30

Tuesday               March 20                             grade 2 meeting

Wednesday        March 21                             grade 2 meeting, continued

Wednesday        March 21                             end of grading period 3

Thursday             March 22                             4^th grade State Fair, details TBA

Monday               March 26                             Report cards due

Tuesday               March 27                             Grade 3 meeting

Week of March 26                                           pre-pesach programming

Wednesday        April 4                                   begin Passover break

New News:

1. Next newsletter for elementary general studies: (please remember that all newsletter articles need to be turned in by Wednesday at noon to Phylis Levine at phylis.levine@mhafyos.org)

Soleman                              Yehudit                                March 7

***Please be careful to have your article ready for the newsletter and submitted on time. I do not need to approve the newsletter in advance, please just submit it directly to Phylis. We have had a school wide issue with articles being submitted on time, so please pay careful attention to your article due date.

2. Please do not send students to the copy room to make copies, use the die cut, or computer unattended. If you’ve printed something that you need picked up during your teaching time, you can page the office and ask Francie to get it and bring it down.

3. Lunchroom decorum: please give me feedback on the new system so we know if we need to make adjustments.

4. On Wednesday morning Wendy will need to take the 4^th, 5^th and 6^th graders to set up their projects prior to 10:00. Please cooperate and help her escort the students down to the computer lab for the setup. It should not take too long.

5. Teachers should be walking around proactively during recess to monitor conversations between students to try to head off any issues that may arise. This continues to be a major issue during recess – when teachers are talking to each other, they are often not monitoring the students properly. Please be vigilant and monitor conversations/games as much as possible while on recess duty. This applies to all recesses, not just lunch. Also, teachers should not be talking on their phones while on recess duty.

6. I will be scheduling times to meet with you about the summative evaluation process. Please let me know some times that work

7.  Today for Spirit Week is Animal Day Tomorrow is Around the World Day (dress up like someone from another country) and Wednesday is Crazy at Day. We didn’t formalize anything for random acts of kindness, but perhaps we will do something for next week. If we do, I’ll keep you posted.

Mishnechnas Adar marbim b’simcha

Have a Happy week !

FOOD FOR THOUGHT 2-24

I was happy to hear that a number of you have been reading some these articles. Please feel free to comment on the blog itself. 
Shabbat Shalom!

12 Things Kids Want from Their Teachers

We no longer value failure in learning

Cool Tools for 21st Century Learners

Weekly Memo 2-13

I want to thank everyone for all your help with last week's Tu B'Shvat program and a special thank you to Daphna Maimon and to Moreh Shimshon. 

Upcoming Events:

Tuesday          February 14               grade 5 and 6 field trip

Tuesday          February 14               grade 5 meeting

Wednesday    February 15               grade 5 meeting, continued

Monday           February 20               President’s Day, no school

Tuesday          February 21               President’s Day programming, time tba

Tuesday          February 21               grade 6 meeting

Thursday        February 23               Rosh Chodesh Adar breakfast and dancing

Monday           February 27               Hearing screenings, in the library for grades 1-8

Tuesday          Feburary 28               grade 1 meeting

Wednesday    February 29               grade 1 meeting continued

Wednesday    February 29               Science fair (set up after davening)

Thursday        March 1                      Science fair, assembly in the afternoon (?)

New News:

1. Next newsletter for elementary Judaic  studies: (please remember that all newsletter articles need to be turned in by Wednesday at noon to Phylis Levine at phylis.levine@mhafyos.org) 

Chavi Katz Feb 22 

2. I would like to schedule a Faculty meeting for Wed Feb 22 from 4:15-5. We need to  have regular faculty meetings again. I think they are important. 

3. Lunchroom decorum: We can start a positive reinforcement system with tickets and containers for each class that we could keep in the closet where Sruli’s table is kept. During the entire lunch time and benching, teachers can give kids tickets for proper behavior. At the end of lunch, the students put the tickets into the appropriate container on the way out to recess. When a container is full, the students will get a treat (ice cream party? Popcorn party? Extra recess?). It might take longer for the 4th, 5^th and 6^th graders to fill their containers because they are smaller (although perhaps b/c for the most part they’re better behaved, they might finish sooner). I would like to hear back from you in the next day or two so we can start on Wednesday. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT FEB 10th

What should we be teaching?

Empower Students to Take Ownership of Learning  

Abolishing Homework: Practical Thoughts

 

 

 

Food For Thought

The purpose of these articles is to get a conversation going about learning
Please comment and share your thoughts

 Differentiating With Technology

 19th, 20th & 21st, Century Education

It Is Not Something New

Weekly Memo Jan 30

THANK YOU 

• I just wanted to Thank Morah Katz, Morah Chavi,and Morah Chany for all of their hard work on the Siddur Play
• I would like to thank Shimshon for helping out and teaching the classes the songs for the Community Wide Tu B'Shvat Program 

Upcoming Events:

Tuesday January 31 grade 4 meeting

Wednesday February 1 grade 4 meeting, continued

Thursday February 2 5/6 Boys basketball game in MHA gym, 4:00

Wednesday February 8 Tu B’svat programming, times to be announced

Tuesday February 14 grade 5 meeting

Wednesday February 15 grade 5 meeting, continued

Monday February 20 President’s Day, no school

Tuesday February 21 President’s Day programming

Tuesday February 21 grade 6 meeting

Thursday February 23 Rosh Chodesh Adar breakfast

Tuesday February 28 grade 1 meeting

Wednesday February 29 grade 1 meeting continued

Wednesday February 29 Science fair

Thursday March 1 Science fair, assembly in the afternoon (?)

Administrivia

• Next newsletter for elementary  Judaic studies: (please remember that all newsletter articles need to be turned in by Wednesday at noon to Phylis Levine at phylis.levine@mhafyos.org)

                 Leeba Kugielsky Feb 8

• Mrs. Rivki  Wiener suggested we work on some positive reinforcement system for the lunchroom that we can consistently use to promote better lunchroom decorum, especially during benching. I’m open to ideas.

• The 5/6 Boys basketball team will play a home game on Thursday afternoon. Since they have PE last period, they should bring their backpacks and uniforms, etc. down to the gym at 3:10. They will stay in the gym for dismissal. There will also be extra cars in the lot, so be prepared for a possibly extra long/hectic carpool on Thursday afternoon.

Weekly memo week of 1/23

SHARING SUCCESS

1. Please look at the Sixth Grade Ivrit projects that are in the Hallway. Kol Hakavod Kitah Vav and Morah Hemda
2. A special mention to Leeba Kugielsky for her Erev Shabbat Program in fourth grade. I think it is a great idea and nice way of getting more parent involvement. Kol Hakavod!
3. We want to wish a Masel Tov to Kitah alef on their upcoming Siddur performance this Sunday at 10 am. Yasher Koach to Morah Katz and Morah Chavi 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday          January 24                third grade meeting

Thursday        January 26                girls play dress rehearsal for grades 5 and 6, 9:00 AM

Tuesday          January 31                 grade 4 meeting

Wednesday    February 1                 grade 4 meeting, continued

Monday           February 6                 Community wide Tu B'Shvat Program JCC

Wednesday    February 8                 Tu B’svat programming, times to be announced

Tuesday          February 14               grade 5 meeting

Wednesday    February 15               grade 5 meeting, continued

Monday           February 20               President’s Day, no school

Tuesday          February 21               President’s Day programming

Tuesday          February 21               grade 6 meeting

Thursday        February 23               Rosh Chodesh Adar breakfast

Tuesday          February 28              grade 1 meeting

Wednesday    February 29               grade 1 meeting continued

Wednesday    February 29               Science fair

Thursday        March 1                   Science fair, assembly in the afternoon 

ADMINSTRIVIA

1. I want to thank you all for a very productive and meaningful PD last week. I mentioned a tentative next step at our meeting. However as I reflect I would like to take a step back. Therefore I would like to meet with each of and discuss some ideas and possible next steps that work for you and for your class. 
2. I mentioned last week about Chumash assessments. Here to I would like your input and I will come up with a rubric and share it with you first before we move forward. 
3. I would encourage you to look at the "Food for Thought" post on Friday. 

Have a good week!

Akevy 

Food For Focus Jan 20

Here are some great articles to read. Again I encourage you to read and to comment and to even push back and challenge some of the ideas

Lets get the conversation started

The title says it all 21st Century Learning with No Technology -
  http://adunsiger.com/2012/01/19/a-21st-century-fluencies-activity-that-does-not-involve-technology/-

"The Tempered Radical" is a great blog and always has a lot to share -    

http://teacherleaders.typepad.com/the_tempered_radical/2012/01/enough-is-enough.html 


Here are the digital materials from the recent NAJDS Conference

http://www.jewishdayschoolconference.org/digital-materials



Just for good meassure threw one in about one of my favorite topics Grades
http://networkedblogs.com/sQUPZ

Enjoy
Shabbat Shalom 

Food For Thought Jan 13,2012

Here are some interesting  posts/articles.
Lets get the conversation going and Keep it going!
Have a Great Weekend - Shabbat Shalom

Learning From Mistakes-  http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/coach_gs_teaching_tips/2012/01/dont_prevent_students_mistakes_prepare_for_them.html?intc=mvs

"Classroom Questions and Answers"- http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/classroom_qa_with_larry_ferlazzo/

"Teachers do more than Teach"- http://mrspripp.blogspot.com/2012/01/teachers-do-more-than-teach-why.html

Weekly Memo Jan 9 2012

Welcome Back to Morah Daphna and to the entire family and Mazel Tov on the recent Simcha in Israel!


UPCOMING EVENTS

Wednesday    January 11                 school wide Geography Bee, 1:15 in the gym

Thursday        January 12                 PTA Pastries with Parents

Friday             January 13                 MLK day programming

Friday             January 13                 end of second grading period

Monday           January 16                 MLK day, elementary in-service, no school for students

Tuesday          January 17                 grade 3 meeting date change to be announced

Wednesday    January 18                 grade 3, continued

Wednesday    January 18                 report cards due

ADMINSTRIVIA ISSUES:

1. Please set up a time to meet with me as soon as possible. 
2. I will be continuing my Walkthroughs  and Pop ins as well. I will also be speaking with each of you on an individual basis about the formal and summative evaluations which will begin this month. 
3. As always student safety is and must always be our primary concern, therefore when at recess please make sure that we are supervising the students appropriately and that when on line students aren't running ahead of us.  
4. Mrs. Gersten sent out a revised Lunch Duty Schedule so please check that and refer to that updated schedule.

As always please free to speak with me about any issues. 

Have a great week !

Akevy 

Food For Thought 1-6-2012

Here are some interesting blog posts/articles
LETS GET THE CONVERSATION STARTED!  

http://photomatt7.wordpress.com/2012/01/06/whats-cooking-differentiation-thats-what/

How could we apply this next concept to education?  http://www.inc.com/paul-schoemaker/make-more-mistakes.htmlutm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+inc%2Fheadlines+%28Inc.com+Headlines%29



http://johnsonmemo.blogspot.com/2012/01/friday-focus-january-6.html

I hope you enjoying reading them

Have a great weekend!
Akevy

Welcome Back ( Weekly Memo 1-2-2012

WELCOME BACK !

I hope you all had an enjoyable and relaxing break. 

As a welcome back message I wanted to share with all of you  this video I found. I think it expresses my personal appreciation ( which I don't do often enough) and that of our parents as well. 

Enjoy and Welcome back 

ADMINSTRIVIA ISSUES:

1. Please set up a time to meet with me as soon as possible. 
2. I will be continuing my Walkthroughs  and Pop ins as well. I will also be speaking with each of you on an individual basis about the formal and summative evaluations which will begin this month. 
3. As always student safety is and must always be our primary concern, therefore when at recess please make sure that we are supervising the students appropriately and that when on line students aren't running ahead of us.  
4. Mrs. Gersten sent out a revised Lunch Duty Schedule so please check that and refer to that updated schedule.

As always please free to speak with me about any issues. 

Have a great week !

Akevy