Parma Plan It: December 2013

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Merry Christmas: Video Blog

Apple Holiday Commercial: Misunderstood! So sweet.....

The Christmas Scale:

Christmas Version of Hallelujah: It will give you chills.

The Spirit of Giving!

Drummer Boy! Beautiful!

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Some weeks thinking of a topic for a blog can be difficult. Other weeks, so many things happen that it is hard to chose a single topic. Then there are weeks like this one where several things happen around the same topic that it seems obvious what I need to share. I was able to share the book, The Invisible Boy in the grades 3 - 5 assembly this week. The students were hooked from the first page with the words, "Can you see Brian, the invisible boy?" After reading the book with no interruptions in a silent gym with over 200 students, we had a great discussion about the message in the book. About how it feels to feel "invisible". Students shared that they had felt invisible or that they were aware of others who experienced the pain that Brian feels in the book. When we read the pages about recess and the lunchroom, and the fact that the "cool kids" or the "best players" always got picked first, I could tell this sounded familiar to our kids.

During the assembly, I shared with the students a news story I had read this week about a student in a school came up with the idea to have a "Buddy Bench" on the playground. You can read the article by clicking here. This is a bench where students could go and sit if they didn't have someone to play with and then the other students could invite them to play with them. Throughout the day, I heard ideas from our kids about having a "buddy bench." One student even suggested which bench it should be on our playground.

I then had the chance to read the same book to some of our kindergarteners and first graders. I wasn't sure how the discussion would go with our younger students. Oh my....what insight they have. There comments about Brian and his loneliness and what it means to feel invisible were incredible. The discussion tells me this is an experience far too many kids have. They were amazing at coming up with solutions and ways they could help if they see someone who may be feeling "invisible". They even brought up how the boys were synergizing at the end. : ) I was excited that they were able to have such a great conversation about this book, but I was aware that it was because they were familiar with the topic. They had either experienced it themselves or they had been aware of others feeling invisible. This made me sad.

Then, on Tuesday this week, I read a blog post title "The Forgotten Ones"(this is the first link below) about a middle school class given the challenge to write a speech about what they wanted their legacy to be. One student, a very quiet young girl, wanted her legacy to be that people would know her name. I read this, and my heart sank. How can we help this never be the case at our school?

I listened to a couple songs this week that had been shared with me by one of our teachers who said that these songs remind her of our kids. The videos for the songs are the last two videos below. The message seemed to be the same as it had been in each of these other experiences this week. A line in one of the songs is, "Every child has a dream to belong and be loved." I want our kids to know that they are Kings and Queens and that they are Gold and have such potential for Greatness!

Finally, "The Little Drummer Boy"....Amazing video below.....one of my favorite lines is after he says he has no gift to bring and then plays his drum, the song says, "Then He smiled at me...." Such sweet acknowledgement, so simple, a smile that made the drummer boy know he was not invisible and his drum had been heard.

My challenge to you as we enter our last week of school before break is to remember that not all of our students look forward to this time away from school. It is here that they feel the most safe and visible. Be aware of those students who may feel invisible at times. Together, we can make sure every child knows he/she is noticed, is heard, is cared about and is known by name!

Please take time to read the links below and watch the videos about this topic!

LINKS OR ARTICLES WORTH READING: - yes, there are only two.

The Forgotten Ones - +Josh Stumpenhorst @stumpteacher

Crazy Enough - +Brad Wilson @dreambition
- This is a great message.

VIDEOS WORTH WATCHING:

Pentatonix, The Little Drummer Boy - ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS! See the joy on their faces. So beautiful!

The joy of giving! "Miracles do happen when we all work together!"

Kings And Queens by Audio Adrenaline - "Love the Least of These"

Gold by Britt Nicole - Not only are they not invisible....they are worth more than gold!

Sunday, December 8, 2013

The Attitude Gap

We spend so much time considering the Achievement Gap. We spend a great deal of time developing interventions for students who are academically behind. One of our keynote speakers this week at the MEMSPA conference was Baruti Kafele @principalkafele. His message was titled and focused on "The Attitude Gap." He defined this gap as "the gap between those students who have the will to strive for academic excellence and those who do not."

His message really made me think about our kids. One of his statements continues to echo in my mind. He said, "We have to make the assumption that those students are brilliant." So, what is it that makes them not want it, and how can we make them WANT it? We have to close that gap!

Kafele said that there are four essential questions we have to ask as a school toward closing the Attitude Gap.

What do our students see when they come in our school, our hallways, our classrooms?

What do they hear when they come in our school, our hallways, our classrooms?

What do they feel when they come in our school, our hallways, our classrooms?

What do they experience when they come in our school, our hallways, our classrooms?

Is every child being encouraged to show his/her greatness? Are we seeing every child as brilliant and addressing the gap in attitude? Does our school talk to everyone who enters our doors as a school where all students are performing at high levels, as a vibrant school, as a school that has it going on? This needs to be happening in every hallway, bulletin board, classroom, at every corner. Our message should be evident every where our students or our guests look. Excellence is expected, we Learn, Love and Lead well. Having an attitude that is anything less than that cannot be accepted at Parma Elementary. Our school is about children, about students performing at high levels.

Yes, we focus on academics. However, addressing the attitude gap is necessary. Principal Kafele stressed the importance of building relationships and connecting with our students. It is this relationship that may help us close the attitude gap and motivate students to want to learn. We know that positive interaction, a hug, a high five or a handshake may be the only true connection our students have on some days. Kafele stated that there is nothing more important at the beginning of the school day than for teachers and staff to be in the hallway greeting students, making sure they feel welcome and cared about, making a connection with a hug, handshake or high five. There is nothing any of us have to do that is of greater importance.

Unfortunately, not all of our students come to school with the will to strive for excellence. However, I love that the staff at our school is able to have an impact on that attitude. Principal Kafele reminded me that we are able to close the attitude gap by building a relationship with our students. I know that each of you do that every day. Continue striving for excellence and helping our students want to learn and excel.