Staff Updates – A Principal's Decree

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

Book Review: Tech Savvy Administrator

July 28, 2015 Mrs. Ellis

As an individual that accesses technology frequently in both personal and professional manners, I was eager to read The Tech Savvy Administrator. I am always searching for new and innovative ways to harness the power of technology at school and home. Steven Anderson’s book was straight-forward and a great introduction to technology for administrators with many connections that are applicable to classroom teachers.

Steven focused on the four primary purposes of technology:

Communication
Collaboration
Productivity
Community

A key take-away for me was that it is essential that as educators, we don’t lose sight of our goals of using technology. The concept of core tools and new tools were discussed. I see connections to this with our continuous improvement efforts with common core. We have been presented with new standards and new strategies to deploy, but at the same time, we have a set of core tools that have evidence and research base to support their effectiveness. It is our job to manage the pendulum and take new knowledge and merge it with best practices that are rooted in research. This isn’t done all at once. If you are new to technology, it is important to start small. Take meaningful steps that are focused on your intended goals. So often we think of technology as an instructional tool, but it also serves purposes in the areas of communication, collaborate, productivity, and community building.

The role of technology in communication is to tell our school’s story and leave a digital footprint. When a family Google searches Dunlap Grade, it is my responsibility to ensure that we are represented positively. In my Google search of DGS today, I saw images of our progress toward school goals, staff, and facilities. Many images of our efforts with continuous improvement were in the first several entries. I was also pleased to see examples of our students engaging in learning and staff delivering high quality instruction. The first several web links that were generated through the search included our homepage, facebook page, and parent’s club page. What does this all mean? It means that we provide parents, community members and other educators access to the essential information that makes DGS, DGS!

If you haven’t yet or in awhile, checkout our digital footprint:

In the field of education, there has been some resistance to social media. Steven Anderson’s book reinforces the importance of using social media as an opportunity to increase dialogue and two-way communication with our families. Our current facebook page has 381 likes. This platform allows us to tell DGS’ story and share the remarkable things that go on inside our walls on a daily basis. Technology does not replace the relationships that are essential for us to forge with our families, but enhances them.

We use email to communicate with each other, but one goal I have after reading Anderson’s book is to increase my use of google forms and provide more ‘paperless’ opportunities for meetings and information. Anderson also focused on the use of technology to build a community of learners. My time on twitter isn’t idly spent reading the newest gossip in the entertainment realm, but rather connecting with other educators, principals and organizations to hone my leadership skills and develop insights into new and innovative practices. The individuals I am connected to our twitter share out with 140 characters or less, resources and information that is empowering. Twitter is my source for articles, websites, and images that enhance my learning and leadership.

Technology has provided many benefits to me as an educator and leader that were reinforced by the author of this book:

Technology has the power to connect us with other educators, stay current on best practices, and engage us in opportunities to be innovative within our school.
Technology allows us to engage parents and families in two-way dialogue.

My action plan moving forward as a result of reading this book:

Review our website and determine areas for improvement.
Use paperless forms more often to decrease use of paper and increase communication with staff
Continue to collaborate with other educators on twitter and participate in virtual learning on http://www.edweb.net/leadership

If you use blogs, twitter, or other means to communicate, learn, and collaborate, I’d love to hear your thoughts. What benefit have you seen? What challenges do you experience? What is a goal you could set for yourself to harness that use of technology in your position?

If you are still looking for resources to jump start your use of technology as a communication tool, you can check out:

A few posts to inspire your use of technology as a communication and collaboration tool:

Seven reasons teachers should blog: http://steve-wheeler.blogspot.com/2011/07/seven-reasons-teachers-should-blog.html

Using blogs as part of your Professional Learning Network (PLN):

http://teacherchallenge.edublogs.org/pln-challenge-5-using-blogs-as-part-of-your-pln/

https://dunlapgradeschool.edublogs.org/2015/01/06/book-review-tech-savvy-administrator/

Staff Updates

Book Review: What Connected Educators Do Differently

July 13, 2015 Mrs. Ellis

What Connected Educators Do Differently

Getting Connected: What it Means and Why it Matters

On a given weekday evening, after my girls are tucked into bed, lunches are packed for the next day, and dishes from that night’s dinner are washed, it is time for me to ‘unwind’ from the day. This can mean watching a little television with my husband in the basement, reading a book in bed, or opening up my laptop at the kitchen island and logging on to twitter and connecting and learning from other educational leaders throughout the world! Frequently, I choose twitter because it serves as a wealth of knowledge, insight, and inspiration that motivate me to be a better “lead learner” in my role as an elementary school principal.

I recently tweeted out one of my favorite quotes from the book as I saw a direct connection to our mission at Dunlap Grade School and our role as modeling lifelong learners for our students. This quote reminded me that it is not simply enough to put the mission on our data centers or repeat it at morning meeting, but to live it. For me, that means reading and developing as a professional using twitter and other outlets to grow my PLN.

I hear frequently that individuals aren’t interested in social media or don’t want to share their personal lives on a public platform. I have a Facebook account and I see that platform fulfilling the role of posting personal pictures of family vacations, gymnastics meets, and evenings at the park. Twitter does not serve that same role for me. Twitter connects me to my personal (and professional) learning network (PLN) of individuals I have connected with that post relevant and current information, articles and resources regarding topics that are interesting and pertinent to my field. Where Facebook connects me to friends and family, Twitter connects me to leading professionals in ways that give me the tools and network to be a better leader.

“What Connected Educators Do Differently” was written by three educators that embrace the use of social media, specifically Twitter, to connect and engage with other professionals. Todd Whittaker, Jeff Zoul and Jimmy Casas wrote the book to give insight into the importance of connectedness and how Twitter is used as a means to connect. Their book provides rationale for the use of Twitter in addition to walking novice users through the tricky terminology and logistics that turn some people away after initial encounters. Hashtags, Twitter Handles, and EdCamps are all explained and resources are provided to expand the readers’ understanding of the concepts (I’ve listed some of their suggested educators to follow at the end of this review). If you are new to Twitter, it is a fabulous resource to help you navigate the unfamiliar waters. If you are “fluent” with Twitter, the book still offers ideas, recommendations, and resources to help make your experience even more powerful!

So, Why Twitter to develop and grow professionally? The authors of the book would indicate:

Improved Effectiveness
Connectivity on a global platform
Expansive collaboration
Encouragement and tools for continuous improvement
Individualized and current professional learning
Means of support by reducing teacher/administrator isolation
Models the use of social media in meaningful and effective ways

“Connected educators see lifelong learning as their mission: to not only serve as lifelong learners, but also to model lifelong learning for their students”

The authors do acknowledge that Twitter is not the only social media platform that can connect educators and that face-to-face collaboration still plays a vital role in our work as educators. They stress that regardless of what platform collaboration occurs that it is done with passion and pride.

Other modes for connectedness could include:

Blogs
Facebook
Instagram
Pinterest
Voxer
GoodReads
Google

Some tips from the authors for moving forward with twitter:

Grow a PLN by following professionals and organizations in the field of education. This may mean ‘lurking’ on pages and reading information without formulating your own tweets initially and that is ok. Some professionals to follow initially include:

@joesanfelippofc
@cristinazimmer4
@plugusin
@techintatodd
@Teachbaltshaw
@toddwhittiker
@casas_jimmy
@jeff_Zoul
@Thomascmurray
@mariagalanis
@LTaylorELA
@joe_Mazza
@DaisyDyerDuerr

Use twitter to engage in the Three C’s: Communication, Collaboration, and Community. At Dunlap Grade, that may mean participating in weekly #royalreflection discussions, posting your PLC thoughts and insights at #dgslearns, or sharing your own reading reflections at #dgsreads.
Participate in a Twitter Chat! These are typically held in the evenings and revolve around a particular topic or concept. I’ve been able to meet people from across the country and garnish their ideas to inspire me and use at DGS.

I’d love to support you in your journey in developing your own personal/professional learning community. If I can help you in any way, please let me know. If you have other ideas for how we can better function as connected educators at DGS, I’d love to hear those as well!

Staff Updates

Whole Brain Teaching

July 11, 2015 Mrs. Ellis

I promised a book review a month, but this book was too good not to gobble up and I’m ahead of my resolutions. Just remember this when I may slack in future months on getting my thoughts down.

I just finished reading Whole Brain Teaching for Challenging Kids by Chris Biffle. I was initially introduced to the concept by first grade team, Jen Donavan and Courtney Erikson, last year when they provided PD on some of the basic components of whole brain teaching. I have seen how the “Class-Yes” strategy has infiltrated our building from morning announcements (oh DGS) to the teacher’s lounge microwave cleaning reminders. You’d be pleasantly surprised to hear playground supervisors and parent volunteers picking up on that and using it as well.

Many of the staff members at DGS use the scoreboard techniques and several have attempted to implement the “mirror” strategy. These are all building blocks of good classroom management and student engagement that are embedded in strong brain and learning research. Just wait until you see what other strategies are found in this book. The website www.wholebrainteaching.com has some amazing free resources and there are several examples on youtube once you know what you are looking for.

I shared with you earlier, the article of “That Kid” http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/11/14/teacher-to-parents-about-that-kid-the-one-who-hits-disrupts-and-influences-your-kid/. This book illustrates strategies to help with “that kid,” but also whole class strategies to foster a community of learning and self-motivated learners. A favorite of mine was the “Super Improvers” board. This strategy is essentially a data center focused on individual student improvements in areas of need. One child could work on behavior while one works on enrichment activities. This book reinforces the concept of “Universal Design” in education: What strategies that are intended to be good for a small population, reach and are beneficial for ALL students.

As I read the book, I used Twitter to tweet my thoughts, post additional resources, and share my learning. Thus, my reflection will come in the form of a storify this time. I used storify to organize my tweets and add other resources that may be beneficial to you. You can read it at https://storify.com/mandyeellis/whole-brain-teaching-for-challenging-students

I have a copy of the book in my office, if you’d like to borrow it. It is significantly marked up with my own notes and post-its, but worth the read.

Staff Updates

Ditch that Textbook

July 10, 2015 Mrs. Ellis

Let me preface this entire book review with the author’s own thought, “The mindset that fuels digital learning is: ”Good Teaching Trumps Good Tools.” We are embarking on a time at DGS where we will have tools to use with students on a daily basis: 75 Chromebooks, 50 iPads, and a newly outfitted computer lab.

As an administrator, I harness the power of technology to improve my efficiency, communicate, and collaborate. That being said, the tools we have at DGS now will be antiquated in a few short years and technology will evolve as our current students grow into college bound high school seniors. Good teaching will always be the catalyst that promotes student learning and engagement, but “Ditch That Textbook” is a superb resource to read, learn, and develop a deeper understanding of how we can harness current technology to motivate, engage, and empower our students.

Why do we need to consider technology as a tool in education?

Free Access to powerful resources
A Boost to our Professional Efficiency
The ability to Empower Students to Find Their Passions

A contributor to the book was quoted, “A technology tool is not a $1,000 pencil.” The SAMR model represents the various levels of implementation of technology that would be considered during use and just as Bloom’s Taxonomy promotes higher levels of intellectual engagement, the SAMR model promotes the use of technology at higher levels of implementation. SAMR stands for:

Substitution
Augmentation
Modification
Redefinition

Whereas a good portion of the book focuses on the use of technology in education, there are also several key ideas related to activities that aren’t reliant on technology that can drive motivation and engagement in the classroom very similar to “Teach Like a Pirate.”

What “Ditch That Textbook” argues, is that we can achieve student engagement, ownership, and overall satisfaction with their classroom learning by keeping some key considerations in mind:

Some Considerations:

Don’t forget the little details. As educators, it is important to not burden our heavy workload with all the details, but details and ‘the little things’ add to the impact of a child’s educational experience.
Customer Service is a Priority. Whereas we are responsible for developing students that are respectful and contributing citizens, we are also responsible for developing a culture and environment where they enjoy coming every day.
Build Rapport and Relationships
1. Make students fell important
2. Talk about your own mistakes
Dramatize your ideas
Set clear learning goals and targets first
Identify the activities that have gone well and what you (and your students) liked about each of them
Be Flexible
Be a Connected Educator
1. For Inspiration
2. For Motivation
3. For Challenge
4. For Camaraderie

Whatever actions you choose, consider the words of the author, ‘inaction is crippling. Action is empowering. Jump in and start!’ Summer is approaching, and whereas you need to recharge your personal batteries, it is also a good time to consider how you will recharge your teaching and come into 2015-2016 with ideas, strategies, and goals that will motivate your students.

“Ditch That Textbook” is a great follow up to “Teach Like a Pirate” and “Learn Like a Pirate.” It’s an easy read that will provide you tools to focus your instruction on key goals that align to your personal and professional mission and values.

As Stefanie Pitzer wrote in her review, “WOW! This is a fabulous book that will redefine the way you teach and help you to shape your philosophy into a digital one. Chalk full of ideas and advice, my favorite being don’t try everything at once/take your time. This book raised some great questions and really delved in to embracing technology but remembering not to use technology for technology’s sake. Matt Miller reminds us that “technology is a tool, not the goal. The learning experiences are and should be the focus!” A must read for all current and soon to be educators!”

Resources to Check Out:

www.twitter.com: it was quoted in the book as being “the busiest education community out there right now.” If you are still dabbling in it, trust me, it’s a wealth of knowledge, resources, and connectivity to grow and learn as a professional!
Sanderling.io
Chatterpix
Voki
www.nearpod.com

Change Starts with You!

Staff Updates

Fish in a Tree

July 9, 2015 Mrs. Ellis

How often have we asked our students to just try a little harder? Focus? Give a little more effort? This seemingly positive encouragement may resonate a little differently to a child that has a specific learning disability in reading.

Lynda Mullay Hunt’s book, Fish in a Tree, is about a young girl that has an initially undiagnosed reading disability that has bounced from various schools over the course of her education. Her frustration with her lack of ability manifests itself into behaviors that get her kicked out of classroom after classroom in an effort to avoid work and difficult tasks.

She continues struggling year after year until a teacher recognizes her difficulty and works to meet her needs in innovative and creative ways. He builds trust and rapport with the child and fosters confidence in her strengths outside of literacy and words.

The book is considered a Young Adult book, but worth a read from every educator. It is a strong reminder of two very important things:

1. Students that demonstrate difficult behaviors may have a deeper rationale for their behavior. There is logic behind the behaviors of our students and our challenge is to understand its context.

2. Teachers do make a difference. Despite years of failure, the student in this story made a
connection with a teacher that impacted her and gave her the confidence and tools to be successful. Never give up on a child!

I have the book in my office and would be happy to share it with you if you are interested in a light and easy read with a deep and meaningful message.

Staff Updates

Welcome Technology Teacher, Mrs. Andrews!

July 22, 2014 Mrs. Ellis

District Strategic Goal #3: Create a Satisfying and Productive Classroom Teaching Environment

DGS is pleased to welcome Mrs Andrews to our team as our technology teacher. She will be teaching technology K-5 at both DGS and Wilder Waite. Nina Andrews has been teaching in Dunlap for 5 years at Dunlap High School. While at the high school, Mrs. Andrews served on Curriculum Council and coordinated Prom and Job Shadowing. In addition to her high school responsibilities, Mrs. Andrews is an assistant speech coach at DVMS. She is looking forward to meeting all the families at DGS and learning more about the community that surrounds it. Mrs. Andrews is nearing completion of her Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction and just earned her ESL endorsement. Welcome Mrs. Andrews!

Staff Updates

Welcome First Grade Teacher, Mrs. Norman!

July 21, 2014 Mrs. Ellis

District Strategic Goal #3: Create a Satisfying and Productive Classroom Teaching Environment

We would like to welcome Mrs. Norman to DGS. This will be Brooke Norman’s second year teaching in Dunlap. Last year, she taught first grade at Hickory Grove Elementary, and this year she will be joining DGS as our new first grade teacher. As a teacher at DGS, she will serve on the Building Leadership Team that sets and communicates school goals and professional development priorities. She is ecstatic to be a part of the DGS team, and looking forward to getting to know new families, fabulous first grade students, and all of the DGS staff. She is ready for a great new year to begin! She’s already been in her classroom creating a welcoming learning environment for all the first grade students. Welcome Mrs. Norman!

New Hires Approved

July 18, 2013 Mrs. Ellis Leave a comment

The Board of Education approved the hires of the newest DGS staff members at last night’s board of education meeting. Miss Amy Douglas was named DGS’ new Kindergarten Teacher and joins the team with other kindergarten teacher, Miss Britney Barackman.We are excited to welcome her back to Dunlap Grade School.

Miss Douglas states, “I am so grateful for the opportunity to be joining the DGS family once again. I grew up in the Dunlap School District and have so many great memories from my time as a student at DGS. I graduated from Western Illinois University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. I taught social studies for one year to grades K-4 in the Peoria Public School District and for the past four years, I have taught 2nd grade at New Central Elementary School in Havana, Illinois. In December 2011, I received my Masters of Science in Education from Western Illinois University. I am looking forward to meeting my students and working collaboratively with the staff at Dunlap Grade. I will work hard to create a positive learning environment in which my students can acquire the 21st century skills necessary to be successful in the present and in the future. We will be learning so many new things and having a lot of fun along the way!”

In addition to Miss Douglas, the following aides were hired:

Mrs. Kristen Bishop
Mrs. Jennie Hatch
Mrs. Michelle Graber
Mr. John Weaver

Congratulations to all our new hires!

Staff Updates

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