Events – Page 2 – A Principal's Decree

Friday Focus: Great Things I’ve Seen This Week at DGS

September 17, 2015 Mrs. Ellis

4^th grade uses read alouds as an opportunity to model proficient oral reading for their students. I have a great book, “In Defense of the Read Aloud” if you are interested in reading the importance of consistently modeling reading across all grade levels.
Mrs. Zarko created a video to communicate how her feedback form works for parents. This tool builds parents’ capacity for understanding 2^nd grade expectations and their student learning. You can view it at http://secondstreet.edublogs.org/2015/09/10/theme-test-feedback-know-what-they-know/
Positive Office Referrals are being shared when they come in. I love to read these to our students and showcase the positive behaviors. It provides a great model for other students and builds positive rapport and relationships with the students and their parents that receive them.
Kindergarten completed a team work activity in PE that required them to exercise their communication and problem-solving skills.
Some third grade students were observed correcting their own understanding in math, but moving from the concrete to pictoral to abstract levels in a flexible and supported environment.
Our strong and cohesive team came together to support each other and a student in need on Thursday.
The Hallway number line was observed being used as students recognized number patterns and continued to develop number sense.
Having Mrs. Cranford in our building has been a great asset. She’s been able to support our students so much already with various nursing needs.

Friday Focus: Great Things I’ve Seen This Week at DGS!

September 3, 2015 Mrs. Ellis

There’s been a lot of buzz around the building as our staff and students get into the groove and steady pace of the new school year. Classrooms are settling into routine and we’re one week away from progress reports already! This is not a comprehensive list of all the great teaching and learning that occurs on a daily basis, but check out a sliver of what great things happened this week:

Mr. Wright introduced sketch books to some of his students that will be used to document their growth and learning in art class
Caterpillars are growing, evolving and soon will be chrysalises. This hands on science project is always engaging and fun for the students.
Students revising their personal narratives in 5^th grade provided fantastic, authentic, and constructive feedback to each other. You should have heard their suggestions for improvement and focus on growth in their writing.
Students in PE working in collaborative groups while developing stamina, balance, and communication skills in crab soccer
A life size number line with chalk in the back parking lot to develop number sense for multiplication and repeated addition in 3^rd Mrs. Lanser used her megaphone to cheer on her students as they made giant leaps down the number line!
4th grade really does a great job with their read alouds. There is a lot of research that supports the power of an effective read aloud and how the modeling by teachers supports student learning and development of fluency and prosody.
First Grade started number bonds with a simple but impacting craft that will allow students to visual the concept
Web-Based classroom review of a read-aloud models connected learning, social reading, and aligns with our Regie Reading beliefs

Friday Focus: Great Things I’ve Seen This Week at DGS!

August 27, 2015 Mrs. Ellis

The best part of my job (even though there are many things I love) is getting into the classrooms and observing the students and teachers doing what they do best: Learn and Teach! Each week I share in my staff memo (coined the Friday Focus) a list of great things I have observed throughout the week while in classrooms. Whereas this list is not comprehensive, I wanted to share just a peek of the learning and teaching that is going on this week at DGS!

The use of the 5 rules from whole brain teaching has been a joy to watch. The rules are consistent across grade levels, easy to remember, and engaging for our kids.
The Chromebooks are out in classrooms and already getting used! I’ve seen them used to write google docs, access moby max, perform research, and develop GoodReads Accounts to maintain student book logs digitally!
I’ve seen some great TLAP activities going on; “Talking Sticks,” Spaghetti and Marshmallows, PlayDoh, IPICK books, technology, purple royal pens, book tastings, ect! Everyone has really done a fabulous job creating engaging and meaningful activities to welcome our students back this week. The environment and lessons we create have a direct impact on the engagement and motivation by our students.
Hands on science learning in 3^rd grade using colored markers, water, and coffee filters to teach the scientific method.
Classes seizing transition times to maximize learning with reading emergencies and math flashcards
Positive Office Referrals turned in to recognize ROYAL skills! I enjoy sharing these positive notes with parents and at morning announcements!
Engaging parent presentations and technology connections with families during Back to School Nights. The use of blogs, twitter and ongoing parent communication fosters ‘glass classrooms’ and effective and efficient parent relationships and rapport!
“Intro to Counselor” sessions that used props to engage kids in the role of the counselor!
Introduction of the Buddy Bench!
Deputy Butterfield playing with kids on the playground! A great example of “Swimming with the Fish”
Classes seizing the awesome weather to take classes outside for learning opportunities

Rolling out the Red Carpet

August 18, 2015 Mrs. Ellis

Last year, I read Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess. It was one of those books that I shared with my staff immediately due to how deep it resonated with my personal beliefs about creating environments that are welcoming, engaging, and memorable for students. The PIRATE acronym stands for Passion, Immersion, Rapport, Ask & Analyze, Transformation and Enthusiasm.

In one specific chapter, Burgess reminds the reader on the importance of “setting the stage” for our students. He suggests ‘hooking’ students by creating environments that are inviting and memorable to get them to become eager learners.

So with the quote in mind “Do Whatever You Do Intensely” I set out to ensure my students had the type of welcome to our school year that DGS Royals deserve. It’s a rather simple approach that took some coordination, but set the tone for a positive and fun year ahead!

1. I borrowed a red carpet from a local hotel banquet team. They willingly allowed us to borrow their red carpet and it really was the cornerstone of the entrance. I still smile when I think of parents dropping off their children on the first day and snapping photographs of their superstars as they strutted down the carpet.

2. The gold stanchions were rented for a nominal fee from a local decorating company. You can’t have a red carpet with out the red velvet ropes.

3. I contacted a DGS parent with a classic car collection and asked him to stage his vehicles outside of our school on the lawn. These were amazing and flanked the stage to top off the effect. Pulling into school, you couldn’t help by smile at this.

4. As students entered the building, popular music via KidzBop was playing as they made their ways to their homerooms for the first time.

5. We ended the day with a Rockstar Assembly that included a teacher introduction down the red carpet and ‘concert’ to a popular song with lyrics changed to reflect our school mascot and mission statement.

DGS Royal Rockstar First Day of School 2015 from Mandy Ellis on Vimeo.

So why go through the effort to set the stage in such grand fashion? Because, as Horace Mann stated, “A teacher who is attempting to teach without inspiring the pupil to learn is hammering a cold iron.” Our kids need to know that learning can be fun, that the educators that surround them each day are the types that will go the extra mile to make their educational experiences meaningful and memorable, and that school is a place that can ignite a passion in learning.

I emailed my superintendent not long after the close of the first day of school and thanked her for supporting my crazy ideas, outfits, and risk-taking. Noting that developing environments or stepping outside my comfort zone isn’t about leaving the learning out of the equation, but making sure that learning is always the focus. I also reinforced with my staff in their weekly memo that our ‘clients’ are 5-11 year olds and we need to remember that.

I am still riding the emotional high that went with such a positive first day of school. I learned that creating an environment to energize kids and staff, energized me just as much, if not more, as the lead learner of DGS.

Events

How does the concept of speed dating translate to professional learning?

August 14, 2015 Mrs. Ellis Leave a comment

As a principal, I am always seeking new ways to engage my staff in professional conversations and learning. After brainstorming, a light bulb went off after a conversation I had with a friend about her experiences with speed dating. During our most recent professional learning time together, I paired teachers in two parallel rows and posed questions related to our school goals and SIP plan (and that were worded according to our school rock star theme). After each question, teachers rotated and a new reflection question was posed. This activity that included 8 questions, was scheduled for 30 minutes and could be shortened or lengthened to accommodate the number of questions or time constraints.

This approach was successful for many reasons.

1. Cross-Curricular collaboration occurred across content areas and grade levels offering staff members exposure to varied perspectives and points of view.

2. Unique ideas were shared amongst staff members that may not get the opportunity to collaborate in common PLCs on a regular basis.

3. Support staff, student teachers, new teachers and veteran teachers were able to participate at equal levels.

4. Meaningful ideas and activities were shared to motivate and empower staff

5. Active learning that required participation from all staff members

Questions Posed included:

1. As an educator, what rock star are you most like and why?

2. What is your best rock star teacher quality?

3. How will you get your temp back and get into the school groove this year?

4. How will you get your students to have more ‘voice’ and take center stage in your classroom?

5. Parent Communication is key. In what ways will you provide a ‘back stage’ pass into your classroom and learning activities this year?

6. You’re all members of VIP PLCs. How will you ensure your time together is an effective jam session?

7. Every rock star needs an entourage. What strategies will you use to foster a classroom learning community?

8. Time for special effects. What is a technology application or idea you are excited to use this year?

Events

Bubble Wrap Appreciation

January 25, 2015 Mrs. Ellis

District Strategic Goal #3: Create Comfortable and Productive Teaching Environments

When I saw “Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day” on a Google list of interesting national holidays, I chuckled. Who creates a national holiday for the packing material? On a whim, I started collecting ‘copious’ amounts of bubble wrap in anticipation of this day. As I spent time in the teachers’ lunchroom ‘decorating’ for the celebration of this day, I’d be remiss as to not share the metaphor that came to me regarding this simply packing material. Bubble Wrap in and of itself protects shipped merchandise, gifts, and items from one location to another. We do that for our students as we wrap them in our ROYAL environment.
Bubble wrap can engage people in one of two ways:

1. When presented with bubble wrap, you can engage in a monotonous and repetitive popping action

2. You can have FUN! Run across the bubble wrap covered floor, take a moment to rejoice in the simple pleasures, and laugh.

I think this represents two different ways we can approach our work with our students. We can

1. Engage with our students in a purposeful, but regimented manner in which our instruction serves its primary purpose but lacks passion

2. We can have FUN! We can laugh, engage and be present in the activities and instruction in our classroom. We can create environments that promote active learning, energy and excitement. We can create learning environments that are memorable and foster creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking.

So the next time you see bubble wrap, think about what environments you want to create for your students. Do you want them participating in the monotonous actions that popping bubble wrap over and over would create or do you want them to have FUN and engage in learning at high levels? #gobearoyal

5th Grade Students wins DAR Essay Contest

December 22, 2014 Mrs. Ellis

Fifth Grade Student, Bella, won an American History essay contest from the Peoria Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution. She will be honored at a banquet in February.

The contest was open to students in grades five through eight. This essay contest was established to encourage young people to think creatively about our nation’s great history and learn about history in a new light. Children are the future of our country, and it is critically important to educate them about the hard-won price of freedom.

In honor of the 125^th anniversary (in 2015) of Ellis Island as an immigration station, the title for this year’s contest was: “A Child’s Journey Through Ellis Island.” On a typical day, immigrants arriving on the island could expect to spend up to seven hours in processing activities intended to determine whether or not they were legally and medically fit to enter the United States. Students are to imagine that they are a child traveling through Ellis Island in 1892 and in their essay they are asked to describe their experience as if they are telling it to a cousin who has never heard of Ellis Island?

Read her winning essay below:

My family and I got on the boat to go to Ellis Island to get to Chicago. Since we didn’t have very much money, we had to stay in the steerage of the boat. The steerage of the boat had so many bunk beds lined up on top of each other, and it was very hot and sticky. The first class section was a lot better than the steerage on the boat, and there were lots of places to sit and many windows.

Once we got to Ellis Island, which took some people weeks or even months, we got onto a ferry boat, which took us to the inspections to make sure that we were healthy. Everyone on first class got to go live their life in America without any inspections. Some people even got sick on the steerage of the boat, but no one usually got sick on the first class section of the boat.

Once we got to the inspection, everyone was asked a series of questions including how old you were, how much money you had, and if you were married. There was one very painful test where they lifted up your eyelid to see if you had one very common disease. I got the flu on the steerage section of the boat, so I had to be detained. My mother and my brother got to go to the next stop without me. This was very scary for me.

There were lots of people in the detaining room with other sicknesses too. I was the healthiest of everyone. I had to stay in the detaining room for two weeks. While I was in the detaining room there was a girl with a very bad disease. She was very contagious. Sadly, I had caught the disease from the girl and I was very sick. No one knew until after two weeks when it had gotten bad. They gave me medicine and I had to be sent back home with the rest of my family. I felt very bad to have to take my mother and baby brother back to Europe too. I was only eight, so I could not go back to Europe alone. That meant that I would not be able to see my father back in America. This upset my family very much.

We got back into the boat with a free ride home. After the long trip we were back in Europe. It was very upsetting to all of my family. We met up with my grandma back home, and I got better medicine back in Europe. I’m all better now. Maybe we’ll try to go back to America another time.

First Grade Teacher, Mrs. Donavan, earns community award

October 15, 2014 Mrs. Ellis

Dunlap Grade School First Grade Teacher, Jennifer Donavan, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award Young Educator of the Year honor at a banquet at Weaver Ridge Country Club on October 14, 2014. She celebrated this accomplishment alongside several of her DGS colleagues and family members.

As a classroom teacher, Mrs. Donavan has demonstrated a student-first approach as well as a strong conviction that all students can learn. Continuous improvement of classroom instruction is at the center of Mrs. Donavan’s teaching practices. She has been named a Renaissance Learning Model and Master Classroom for her practices and success with Accelerated Reader. She embeds student ownership and accountability in her classroom through the development of a student created mission statement and ground rules. She maintains instructional focus by having students create and monitor their goals in individual student data binders and on a classroom data center. Her students participate in student-led conferences and problem-solve using quality tools

A co-worker of Jen writes:
“It has been my pleasure to have worked beside Jennifer Donavan for three school years while she was at Ridgeview Elementary School. Jennifer excels at being a first grade teacher. Jennifer collaborates positively and professionally with the teachers she works with to plan activities for diverse learners. Jennifer has demonstrated her ability to be flexible and creative when implementing lessons which focused on the new common core and curriculum requirements. Jennifer implements suggestions from prior experience, and she is resourceful in coming up with new additional strategies, projects and ideas, as well. The students always love working with her and she always provides her students with frequent positive statements. Jennifer Donavan demonstrates integrity as she interacts with students, parents and staff members. She builds an excellent rapport with her students. This rapport, in my opinion, is the key to empowering any classroom management plan. She creates a positive, energized atmosphere, and her students feel encouraged and secure. She is a leader in the classroom, school and community. She is always up for starting something new and taking charge and ownership of whatever it may be.“

Congratulations to Mrs. Donavan!

DGS Celebrates Homecoming Week

September 19, 2014 Mrs. Ellis

Dunlap Grade School has had a busy week celebrating Homecoming in its own way. The week started with daily dress up days that centered on the theme “Sir Read-a-Lot.” Students were seen dressing as dragons, princesses, princes, kings and queens. They wore their Royal Robes and Pajamas or silly hats. A highlight of the week included our fall book fair. Grandparents were invited to attend a special grand event. At the event, grandparents joined our students at lunch time and shopped at the book fair. During this special time, they were serenaded by the Dunlap High School Madrigal Singers! We had nearly 200 grandparents at DGS to celebrate! Later in the week, we held an evening book fair. Students perused books with family members and supported the purchase of birthday books! Students met their reading goals that will result in principal, Mandy Ellis, scaling the “castle walls” of DGS! Teachers were also selected to “joust” with pool noodles to earn books for their classrooms. Concluding the festivities was a visit from the DHS Marching Band! Their performance included selections from their homecoming routine! We look forward to participating in the parade this afternoon. The week was jam packed with fun and learning, but the result was more books in the hands of our students and classroom libraries!

Events

DGS Learns at Institute Day

August 13, 2014 Mrs. Ellis

District Strategic Goal #1: Continuously Improve Student Growth and Achievement

The K-5 Elementary teachers engaged in professional development today that was focused on learning about improving instruction of the common core state standards and continuing development of their understanding of the PARCC assessment. Leading the professional development was Cindy Dollman from the PROE Center. Cindy serves as the Assistant Regional Superintendent and led teachers through various activities to deepen their understanding of the shifts in the Common Core. Teachers worked in grade level teams to analyze lesson plans and activities using the Equip Rubric to determine quality of the lesson. This professional development afternoon was hosted at Hickory Grove Elementary School.

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