Site Visit... Site Visit...Site Visit...

Three weeks to the Site Visit.  Well stress is high and work not done but in progress.  This is my first Site Visit to prepare for.  So many things I have learned and so many things I would like to do differently or know more about.  Wish I had five years to prepare but you have to work with what you are given and do your best.  Perhaps the need for perfection should be a five year process and even then I think it is not possible.  A Site Visit is an opportunity for the school district to show off what they are doing and to learn what more they can do.  I understand that and promote that to staff.  It just seems like three days is not enough time to show and demonstrate to the state of Iowa what a fantastic school district I work with and what great teachers and students I am privileged to interact with everyday.  So back to preparation and trying to enjoy the process.

26 Random Acts of Kindness

I have started on my 26 Random Acts of Kindness in honor and remembrance of the 26 innocent lives lost in the Connecticut school shooting.  I was made aware of this idea from my daughter who also is working on her 26 acts of kindness.  I am on number 4.  I would challenge everyone who needs to make a New Years Resolution to complete 26 Random Acts of Kindness .  Just think if everyone did that.  What a wonderful year it will be and what a great way to honor those children and adults in Connecticut.

Education goes on...please let us keep on learning

Well I finally went and looked at a site that showed the victims of the Connecticut school shootings.  I did not go to the site right after it happened, did not want to add to the hysteria or the publicity, and wanted to let the mourning be for the people involved. 

I went today to acknowledge the tragedy and learn from it. 

That is why all things happen so we can learn, if we choose. 

Well this is what I have learned.

Children died but they did not die alone.  They died with the teachers that loved them and with Jesus at their sides.

Teachers died doing what they chose to do, love the children given to them to teach and care for. Thank you God  for teachers of that caliber.

The principal and staff died trying to save the children and keep the school safe.  Thank you God  for sending such outstanding leaders to that school.

A mentally sick young man killed his mother and with evil in his heart killed the most innocent things he could find.  God was with him also that day but he refused to see him. 

I pray that the families, communities, and the country let God into their hearts and let Him heal them as only He can, with LOVE.

I have also learned that there was NOTHING that the staff or school district could have done to prevent this tragedy.  They did everything possible and it still happened. 

Mental illness is so terrible and it is everywhere.  Why?  Perhaps the time, perhaps not, it just is. There isn't a person I know who does not know or have someone who is mentally unstable in their family or a friend with the illness.  Yes it is an illness but it can be controlled but the way it is being controlled it not working.  We need to look at mental illness closely and to invest the time into figuring out how to help these people. By helping mentally ill people we will help families, communities, and our country and world.  Easy to say now what can I do? It just takes one person at a time...wonder where we have heard that before.   

Random questions from Tuesday?

Will Smarter Balance testing take the place of the 'Iowa Assessements' in two years?
My guess no, then yes, then really no. 
Is open enrollment a good thing?
My thoughts, yes, sometimes definitely no, but yes in the end.
What are the benefits of being an assistant principal?
My answer today....up in the air.
Why does money seem to dictate educational decisions.
My remark... because people value it way too much.
When will there be time to get my work done?
My instinct says never.
Why am I an educator?
Because I can't not be... I will always love all children!

Books are Priceless and the price will continue to go UP

Went to an auction and there were boxes of old books.  Well the price ended up being $5 a box of books.  Really?! They were old books, some smelled old, some were abused and well read, and one was a bible.  I could not say no.  Bought the books and took them home and put them in my garage.  My eleven year old son came in with a few of the books and put them on the end table and told me that one was from 1879 and that we should read it.  I started yesterday and I am almost done. It is Kavanaugh by Longfellow.  Worth reading but not an easy read.
So is this a recommendation for a book?  NO!  I have aghast at the idea that books are worthless and people can't even give them away.  Was it so long ago that only the rich could have books, then libraries made it possible for all to have books, now no one wants them.  I think  and have heard that other countries do not take books for granted but with technology maybe paperless is what everyone wants.  I don't, I loved opening that old book and smelling the age, feeling the paper, enjoyed holding it in my hands, really enjoyed the handwritten message inside.  I foresee a future when books will slowly become so rare that  only the rich will be able to own them.  They will be on "Road Show Antiques" and discussed as being a rare find.  Until then I will continue to buy books , just need a library to store them.

Administrative Focus or lack of...

I really try to focus, work on a task or problem, give it my all, and then feel a huge amount of accomplishment.
I find it next to impossible as an assistant principal/curriculum director/teacher/family person/individual.
Just to illustrate the above this is a list of what I have worked on this weekend....
Two 5th grade basket ball games
Babysitting twins
Shopping for groceries
Menards for house repair supplies
Making dinner
Cleaning the house
Repair an Anderson Window that was broken and rehang
Caulk the front door and window
Replace siding that was rotten, repaint, and caulk
Laundry
Church and Sunday School/Christmas Program Practice
Watch a DVD with my family
More house cleaning
Read the paper
Read two chapters in my new book ('One Thousand White Women' really good!!!)
Work on Site Visit Documents
Update my calendar and respond to emails
Favorite 'Smarter Balance' test site and read more about the entire testing system
Update my blog, oh yeah this one and the PVELART site that I just started
Review Iowa Assessment information and updates
Help my son with homework
Clean up after the dogs
OKAY STOP!!!!
How is it possible to do all that in two days and stay focused???????
Well my answer at this point is stay up late.  I also am going to hire a personal assistant that will work for free and be rewarded with the joy of just being around me.
SO HOW DO YOU FOCUS?  ANY GREAT TIPS WOULD BE APPRECIATED JUST COMMENT AND I WILL READ IT AROUND 11:30PM OR LATER.

Elementary Students Elect the Next President of the United States of America!

What a great day of learning.  The 5th grade staff completed a unit about elections with a school wide election on the same day as the national elections for president.  Now I know that this has been done before,  but I will say the Prairie Valley Elementary 5th grade staff and students did it WELL!  After the background work in the classroom; investigating elections, past elections, student prior knowledge, and introducing new concepts , students created election posters (applicable to the Preschool- 6th grade students and staff), registered all voters, set up precincts, voting booths, public announcements, trained poll workers, and set up schedules for voting.  It went very well and the school was updated on results throughout the day precinct by precinct.  One of the requirements for registering to vote was that the student or staff donate a non-perishable food item.  If the students forgot to bring one extras were brought in by all. 
I got to assist with some of the younger student precincts and helped read the names under the candidate pictures.  It was a joy to see how many five and six year old students knew the names, identified the faces, and were anxious to vote. 
A five year old student that I assisted tried to come back to the voting booth. I told her the rule was that it was a private voting booth and she had already voted.  She then declared that she wanted her can back so she could vote for the other guy since that would only be fair. 
At the end of the day I reminded the students as they went to the bus to watch the election results to see who the nation picked for president. One student said, "We have voted and it would be nice if the nation would let us elect the president like we did today, just the kids in this school, or just the kids all over."
What an IDEA and after the day I experienced;caring, patience, excitement, interest, and fairness, I would trust the kids to elect the next president, and it would make sense. 
Someday they will....