It’s not everyday you GET to be someone who can positively impact the lives of others. Us? Yes, we GET TO DO THIS EVERYDAY!
We Get to hug those sullen-faced children
We Get to VISIT classes everyday/every week
We Get to celebrate WINS, Good News Referrals, and Caught You Doing Something Right
We Get to help students solve problems
We Get to see teachers MOTIVATE kiddos AND motivate teachers ourselves!
We Get to watch children grow, literally in real-time
We Get to collaborate, problem solve and communicate
We Get to high five and knuckle pound all day
We Get to smile and laugh with kids that may not do that at home
We Get to leave school knowing that tomorrow will be another chance to improve the life of SOMEONE
Thank you for everything you DO for our students!! I hope that you have time to enjoy some time off with family and friends. I am going to say it again, I am so lucky to work with such a dedicated group of teachers that will take NO EXCUSES to ensure that our students are successful!! Happy Holidays and have a Happy New Year!!
There are so many things we SHOULD do. I know it, you know it...;) Sometimes, it's easier said than done! Take a look at anEASY 10 Things Teachers can Say More Oftenand how easy it can be done!
Did you know that engagement starts with respect? Either way you look at it, EVERYONE is more engaged when they respect the person giving them information. Take a look atTHIS ARTICLE on ways to earn teens respect and keep them engaged!
Want to know how to TALK LESS in your classroom with THESE easy strategies?? Who doesn't want that to happen? Check outTHIS ARTICLE for easy ways to get kids talking more and you talking less! For FSUTA negotiations update click HERE For CSEA negotiations update click HERE
As many of you know, I lost my mom when I was 11 years old to cancer. During my birthday I always tend to miss her the most! She was only 41 when she died and since my 41st birthday I feel so lucky to be alive and to be with my family. Instead of getting gifts from my family, this year I am going to the city with Chris and the kids and do 48 random acts of kindness. This will be the first year I am having the kids do it with me. My mom was an immigrant and taught all four of us the art of giving back to our community. She was a teacher and because we lived in a community of immigrants many of the women would come to her for guidance. Our house was always that house, there was always someone over. I learned so much from my mom in the few years I had with her. The above picture of my mom I keep on my desk by my laptop. It is something I look at multiple times a day! It drives me to be a better mom, sister, friend, wife, and educator. I am constantly thinking how can I grow. In the last 9 years our school has been working hard to build our Agri-Science school. Now our program has been recognized by receiving a Golden Bell, gold ribbon and being green in ELA on the dashboard last year!! We did this as a TEAM!! No great accomplishment can happen alone. It takes a team, it takes a family. There is a lot that can be said with the strength of numbers.
Focus on Good, no GREAT, First Instruction!
We continue to focus on GOOD, if not GREAT, first instruction. Asking a large number of questions and checking the responses of all students is something all teachers should be doing daily. When we stop talking "AT" students, we get them to reflect on their own learning and process the information at their level. From this, and having ALL students participate in academic conversations determines whether or not the class is ready to move on, needs to work in small group, or you must reteach the concept to the entire class.
How can this be done, you ask?
Structured academic conversation: Put sentence stems on board for each partner
Summarizing and sharing out: whole class, neighbors, or just to teacher
Use Google Survey as a quiz
Use those whiteboards!! Have them complete a quick write question, formative assessment, or an exit ticket! SO EASY!
Use Padlet.com or post it notes to review quickly. Again, SO EASY!
School Spirit dress up days next week:
MONDAY- HAT DAY
TUESDAY-TWIN DAY- wear your trainer of dragons t-shirt
WEDNESDAY-WACKY WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY- THROW BACK THURSDAY-CHOOSE A DECADE
FRIDAY-wear your ugly sweater and meet in the MPR at 8:10 for a staff picture
Yearbook Pre-sale!
Yearbooks for the 2019-2020 school year are on sale for $20 if purchased before 12/20. Flyers are on their way home, and yearbooks can be ordered online at ybpay.lifetouch.com with yearbook code 11320120.
Carmie's last day with us will be on Dec. 20. She is moving to Chico. We wish Carmie well on her next adventure.
Observable Fish Moments at SV:
Be There: Thank you Janice for hosting our social tonight. Thank you Sunshine committee for providing the food and setting up.
Play: Please make sure you fill out at least one good news referral a week.
Choose your attitude:Be kind. Be kind. Be kind. Be kind.
Make Their Day: A huge thank you to EVERYONE for helping out during after school rainy day pick up. Thank you Sarbjit, Alee, and Janice for attending our board meeting last night and supporting Jackson.
We, as educators, can be that one person in a child’s life that can make a difference. Watch the video below: Brings tears to my eyes every time!!
Why Teaching Kindness in Schools Is Essential to Reduce BullyingOCTOBER 17, 2014
Phrases like "random acts of kindness" and "pay it forward" have become popular terms in modern society. It seems that we just can't get enough of those addictive, feel-good emotions -- and with good reason. Scientific studies prove that kindness has many physical, emotional, and mental health benefits. And children need a healthy dose of the warm-and-fuzzies to thrive as healthy, happy, well-rounded individuals.
Patty O'Grady, PhD, an expert in neuroscience, emotional learning, and positive psychology, specializes in education. She reports: Kindness changes the brain by the experience of kindness. Children and adolescents do not learn kindness by only thinking about it and talking about it. Kindness is best learned by feeling it so that they can reproduce it. A great number of benefits have been reported to support teaching kindness in schools, best summed up by the following.
Happy, Caring Children
The good feelings that we experience when being kind are produced by endorphins. They activate areas of the brain that are associated with pleasure, social connection, and trust. These feelings of joyfulness are proven to be contagious and encourage more kind behavior (also known asaltruism) by the giver and recipient.
Increased Peer Acceptance
Research on the subject has determined that kindness increases our ability to form meaningful connections with others. Kind, happy children enjoy greater peer acceptance because they are well liked. Better-than-average mental health is reported in classrooms that practice more inclusive behavior due to an even distribution of popularity.
Greater Sense of Belonging and Improved Self-Esteem
Studies show that people experience a "helper's high" when they do a good deed. This rush of endorphins creates a lasting sense of pride, wellbeing, and an enriched sense of belonging. It's reported that even small acts of kindness heighten our sense of wellbeing, increase energy, and give a wonderful feeling of optimism and self worth.
Improved Health and Less Stress
Being kind can trigger a release of the hormone oxytocin, which has a number of physical and mental health benefits. Oxytocin can significantly increase a person's level of happiness and reduce stress levels. It also protects the heart by lowering blood pressure and reducing free radicals and inflammation, which incidentally speed up the aging process.
Increased Feelings of Gratitude
When children are part of projects that help others less fortunate than themselves, it provides them with a real sense of perspective. Helping someone else makes them appreciate the good things in their own lives.
Better Concentration and Improved Results
Kindness is a key ingredient that helps children feel good about themselves as it increases serotonin levels. This important chemical affects learning, memory, mood, sleep, health, and digestion. Having a positive outlook enables greater attention spans and more creative thinking to produce better results at school.
Reduced Depression Dr. Wayne Dyer, an internationally-renowned author and speaker, says that an act of kindness triggers an increase in serotonin, a natural chemical responsible for improving mood. This boost in happiness occurs not only in both the giver and receiver of kindness, but also in anyone who witnesses it.This makes kindness a powerful, natural antidepressant. (PDF, 14KB)
Less Bullying
Shanetia Clark and Barbara Marinak are Penn State Harrisburg faculty researchers. They say, "Unlike previous generations, today's adolescents are victimizing each other at alarming rates." They argue that adolescent bullying and violence can be confronted with in-school programs that integrate "kindness -- the antithesis of victimization."
Many traditional anti-bullying programs focus on the negative actions that cause anxiety in children. When kindness and compassion are taught instead, it fosters the positive behavior that's expected. Promoting its psychological opposite is key in reducing bullying to create warm and inclusive school environments.
Maurice Elias, Professor at Rutgers University Psychology Department, is also an advocate for kindness. He says:
As a citizen, grandparent, father, and professional, it is clear to me that the mission of schools must include teaching kindness. Without it, communities, families, schools, and classrooms become places of incivility where lasting learning is unlikely to take place . . . [W]e need to be prepared to teach kindness, because it can be delayed due to maltreatment early in life. It can be smothered under the weight of poverty, and it can be derailed by victimization later in life . . . Kindness can be taught, and it is a defining aspect of civilized human life. It belongs in every home, school, neighborhood, and society. It's become clear that education must encompass more than just academics, and that matters of the heart must be taken seriously and nurtured as a matter of priority. How do you teach kindness?
The HourofCode is "a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify "code" and show that anyone can learn the basics to be a maker, a creator, an innovator." Coding is the process of writing a program to make the computer do something. Everything that is done on a computer, like websites, games, applications, word processing, videos, and photos, has been coded to do its specific feature. The process of coding may seem daunting, but learning the basics can be quite easy.
Every year we participate in HourofCode during Computer Science Week - December 9-13. This short video explains a variety of ways to get your students involved in HourofCode.
Staff Social will be on Friday, Dec. 13th at Janice’s home at 4:30. We hope to see you there :)
Our student of the month will be presented at the board meeting on Dec. 12 at 6:00pm. Come show your support for Jackson Harrington :)
Congratulations to Jennifer McGuinness for receiving Suisun Valley's Teacher of the Year. She will be recognized at the January 9th board meeting at 6:00. Come show your support for Jennifer.
Observable Fish Moments at SV:
Be There: Thank you Patty, Christina, and Ariel for holding an informational literacy night with kinder and first grade parents so they know how to support their kids at home.
Play: HAVE fun and try something new :)
Choose your attitude:Be kind.
Make Their Day: Thank you for working as a team to make after school duty (rainy day) easier for everyone!!
We just took family pictures at Glashoff farms
and the kids are growing up so fast! Maya definitely looks like she is ready
for high school next year. She just looks more mature. Dylan still looks the
same. I look forward to seeing Dylan’s picture where you just notice a
difference. Sigh . . . not babies anymore.
I am thankful for a wonderful school community, loving family, friends, and that we are all healthy. This holiday season we are thinking of others and sending as much financial support that we can to help families. During my birthday I know many of you know I like to do acts of kindness. This year there will be 48.
(I got this from Kristen Cherry's newsletter- thank you Kristen) Stressed and burnout seem to be a common word we hear, especially in November! Are you feeling irritable? Not wanting to attend social gatherings, even the easy ones that involve food? Increase in complaints? Fatigue or insomnia? You aren't alone. I think we are all feeling these warning signs in one way or another.
So, how do we reverse this and charge ahead, focusing on the positive/great/wonderful things that are happening in our lives- both at home and at SV? It's time to TAKE ACTION!! Take these easy ideas, (even something as easy as loading the "momentum" app to your computer) including remembering to smile, shift your focus to your home, laugh uncontrollably, try teaching something new, take up yoga, go for a walk during your prep, and share with your colleagues. I know, I know, easier said than done sometimes, but very much needed so you have work/life balance.
Please welcome Jen Green to our RSP team. If you see her please introduce yourself.
I’m sure you’ve seen me around campus mom-ing, parent club-ing, and subbing - I’m SUPER excited to take on the role of teaching at Suisun Valley! After graduating UC Davis I received my teaching credential while long-term subbing in the district. I taught 1st grade at Crescent Elementary, then spent 4 years at Tolenas where I taught 3rd grade and looped students through 4th/5th grade combo classes. I also taught 6th grade summer school in Walnut Creek. While I’ve been out of the classroom I’ve dearly missed the students and working with educators daily. I’m passionate about our dragon community and am honored to join the team :).
Observable Fish Moments at SV:
Be There: Thank you Jamie and Heather H. for planning a successful and fun AR party!! Thank you for creating weekly AR PPT's to share with us on a weekly basis. You ROCK!!!
Play: Thank you Daniel for being at Green Valley for our final cross country meet.
Choose your attitude: Your attitude can decide how you will feel for the rest of the day- EVERY DAY!!
Make Their Day: Make at least one positive phone home this week.
As an educator and a parent myself, conferences can lead to a perspective where I can understand both positions. Parents want their children to feel safe, be happy and learn at school. I know EVERY parent wants this. That is why it is SO important that we make them feel welcome and part of the team when making decisions. Parent/teacher/student conferences is a great time to build relationships with parents. A great question to ask yourself is what do I want from my child's teacher? How would I want to be included? If my child was being disruptive or struggling in class how would I like to be approached?
Have you planned to have your students lead part of the parent/teacher conference? This can easily be done by using the RIT goals students have set for themselves. Great Article Click Here
district Writing prompt should be finished, graded and inputted in illuminate
For FSUTA negotiations update click HERE For CSEA negotiations update click HERE
Observable Fish Moments at SV:
Be There: Thank you to those teachers who made our home volleyball and football games. It really does make a difference when they see you on the sidelines cheering for them.
Play: Thank you Sunshine for planning our pot luck today. It was nice to have lunch with everyone.
Choose your attitude: Your attitude can decide how you will feel for the rest of the day- EVERY DAY!!
Make Their Day: Make at least one positive phone home this week.
After having no power for three days it is nice to just breathe. This week was stressful but we got through it together! Why is it important to remember to take a deep breath? Take a look at THIS ARTICLE as, though it seems like a no brainer, it reminds us that taking a moment can help us remain calm, de-escalating a stressful situation, and focusing on what's important.
I know that phone calls can home be a LONG process AND think about an email....or a post card....or a note to send regarding something GOOD one of the students in your care has done. Can you remember getting one of these when you were a student? This could be the one thing that makes a difference in one of 6th-7th-8th grade students' lives. It could be one of the ONLY nice things that they hear all day. It could be the one thing that gets a student to produce work for you. Take a look at THIS ARTICLEand read all about the benefits of showcasing the GOOD in our students in a few simple minutes.... October 2019
Number 64- update
In an effort to prevent suspended students in grades 1-12 from falling behind in class assignments or homework, Governor Newsom has signed Assembly Bill (AB) 982, requiring all public and charter school teachers to provide homework assignments to suspended students, upon request. Teachers have historically had the option whether or not to require suspended students to complete any assignments and tests missed during the term of their suspension.
AB 982
Beginning January 1, 2020, AB 982 requires a teacher to provide, upon request, homework to any student who has been suspended from school for two or more schooldays. This request must be made by either the suspended student, their parent, legal guardian, or other person holding the right to make educational decisions for the suspended student. If the request for homework is made, the assignments then must be turned in to the teacher by the student either upon the student's return to school from suspension or within the timeframe originally prescribed by the teacher, whichever is later.
The Legislature explicitly stated that the purpose of AB 982 is to provide the suspended student with the homework that the student would otherwise have been assigned so that the student does not unnecessarily fall behind academically. The Legislature also explicitly stated it did not intend to require a teacher to correct classroom assignments or homework missed while the student is suspended, or to add an additional burden on a teacher's workload. With this in mind, AB 982 also provides that if a teacher is unable to grade the homework assignment before the end of the academic term, then the assignment shall not be included in the calculation of the student's overall grade in the class. This added safeguard minimizes the impact on teachers who otherwise would have to grade these potentially delayed assignments, while also reducing the punitive academic impact on the suspended student.
Takeaways
Though this bill does not explicitly require it, school districts and charter schools should consider informing a suspended student and their parent or legal guardian of their right to request the student's homework if the suspension will last two or more days. Similarly, school districts and charter schools should consider informing all teachers of the new requirements under AB 982, and develop consistent and equitable procedures around grading assignments for suspended students.
Observable Fish Moments at SV:
Be There: Thank you to EVERYONE for working together and being there for our students when we didn't have power. Kristin thank you for taking home the walkies and charging them. Thank you Tina for bringing hand warmers.
Play:Thank you for dressing up during our spirit days. Thank you Daniel for coaching our football team and for being our site AD.
Choose your attitude: Your attitude can decide how you will feel for the rest of the day- EVERY DAY!!
Make Their Day: Make at least one positive phone home this week.
