Wishing you and your family a blessed day!

At a Loss for Words.....

Each school year I seem to have an interest (obsession??) take hold of my brain.  I don't plan to be preoccupied with one subject for the school year ......but when problems/situations/challenges organically arise my brain goes into research mode.  And therefore my monomania for the year begins.....

In September, while attending the Kansas MTSS & Alignment Symposium, several speakers encouraged audience members to listen to the podcast, "At A Loss for Words" by Emily Hanford from APM Reports.  Well, I did, and it was AMAZING!  If you haven't listened to it....I highly encourage it.  

"At a Loss for Words" highlights how many schools across the country are providing students with poor instruction on learning how to read. (Alarming, right?!?)  The piece further emphasizes the struggles students with dyslexia experience as poor instruction is provided.  I have to admit--as I was listening-- I was blown away (and appalled)!  I just couldn't fathom, how in 2019, there were schools failing kids.

Especially students with dyslexia. 

My heart sank.

Yet, I was determined to soak up as much knowledge on Dyslexia as I could.  I wanted to make sure I was equipping the students I instruct, with the tools they need to be successful.  As a reading specialist, I have always had a passion for reading research and effective literacy instruction and I am blessed that my district supports teachers in their pursuit for knowledge.  This year I have read several books, scoured the internet and attended multiple conferences!  I FOR SURE don't know everything there is to know on the topic,  but I vow to be continually reading, researching and attending conference.

For now here are some great resource to that I have found, and that I hope you find useful too:

International Dyslexia Association  (tons of great resources and fact sheets for parents and teachers).
Mindshift Guide to Understanding Dyslexia (quick read and super informative!)
Understood.org (great tools and articles for parents)
The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity
Equipped for Reading Success by David Kilpatrick
Made by Dyslexia blog by Kate Griggs 

Info-graphic on structured literacy (the RIGHT way to teach student show to read)!

No tricks; just treats. :)

We are just a few days away from every teacher's favorite day of the year....Halloween!  (insert collective snicker and eye roll). 

                                             

Really though.....I have a pretty good time celebrating with the kiddos on Halloween.  We get to dress up.  We get to eat candy.  What is not to love? 


Okay....maybe the day after Halloween is not to love.....

                                  

This year my school district made the day after Halloween a PD/PLC day. Smart.  Soooo......the kids can stay out as late as they want tricking and treating and won't be sluggish the next day at school!  I call that a win!

Anyway....if you are looking for some fun, festive and cheap treats to handout to your students, or to make for your kiddos at home...check out these ideas I whipped up over the weekend! :)

Cheese Ghosts-- get a pack of cheese sticks and sharpie on eyes and mouth!  Cheap, healthy and oh so spooooooky! :)

Mandarin Orange Jack O' Lanterns-- A cup of mandarin oranges (or peaches) with a Jack O' Lantern face drawn on in sharpie. Again--healthy and cheap! :)

Witch's Broom-- Reese's peanut butter cups, with a pretzel rod pushed into the center.  Be careful when you push in the pretzel rod---those peanut butter cups can break easily! 

Spider cookies-- Simply bake any type of cookie according to package directions and place a Reese's peanut butter cup on top shortly after the cookies come out of the oven.  I let my cookies cool for about 5 minutes before placing the peanut butter cup on top.  Use chocolate frosting to pipe on the spider legs. I didn't have a lot of time, so I used pre-made peanut butter cookie dough and pre-made bagged frosting. :) Still tasted good! :)  The last step is to attach the eyes--I did this while the Reese's were a little bit melty, but you could easily use some frosting as "glue" and place on the backs of the eyes after the cookies have completely cooled.   

Hope you enjoy these fa-BOO-lous Halloween ideas!  Drop me a message and let me know what treats you make for your students or kids at home. 

Happy Halloween!

Kids Notice...

If you ever get a chance to attend a Todd Whitaker presentation.....YOU BETTER DO IT!  

Last week educators in our district had the pleasure to see Todd Whitaker speak.  To us!  In our suburbia district in Kansas!  WHAT!?!  We were so jazzed...I mean he is one of the leading authorities on staff motivation, teacher leadership and principal effectiveness.   And....let me tell you...it was  dynamic!

There were so many amazing statements he made, but the one that stuck with me the most is: "The only person in the classroom that should know you are in a bad mood is....You."  This stuck with me.   Not that I am in a bad mood frequently...but lets face it....we all know we have bad days, and we also know those teachers that CONSISTENTLY have bad days.  BUT, why should the kids know we are having a bad day??

When teachers love their jobs, students notice. When teachers are having fun, students notice.  When teachers are excited and enthusiastic about the content they teach, students notice. When teachers are counting down the days until summer, students notice.  When teachers are are grumpy because of X,Y,Z, students notice.  It turns out student's notice A LOT!  

This school year students will be noticing my positivity and enthusiasm.  What will the students notice about you?

I should also point out that Todd has written over 50 books!! FIFTY!!  I honestly don't know if this man sleeps...

I have had the please of reading two of them.....What Great Teachers Do Differently and School Culture Rewired.  I highly recommend School Culture Rewired for any first year principal--it was a quick and easy read that included strategies on how to define and improve a building's culture.   At this point I don't have any aspirations on becoming a building principal, but if I did...I'd be STUDYING this book! :)

Goals.....get em' crushed!

Soooooooo.......some of us have already transitioned back to school (GASP!!!), and others have a few weeks of that summery greatness left (jealous...but I still love ya!).



I'm apart of the first group...the group that has begun to set their alarm clocks, do their hair, wear makeup and loose sleep at night because their brain WON'T TURN OFF!  Yep......that is me.

BUT....in all seriousness I love the back to school season!  Yes, I do love my summers,  but it makes me so happy seeing the excitement and big smiles students wear on their first day back to school. :) Oh...and the hugs kiddos give because they haven't seen you in two months---those are the best! :)

This year I took a few moments to jot down some professional and personal goals I have for the upcoming school year.   Seriously...now is a perfect time to consider what you want to achieve and then commit to crushing them! :)

So here they are.....in all their glory!

Professionally I want to become a better educator of adults.  In my current position (learning support interventionist) I get the best of both worlds. I work with kids AND adults. :)  I plan to read professional books, work with my principal and colleagues to sharpen my skills of presenting and coaching. :)

Personally I want to lose a few pounds, be a better listener to my husband and spend time in the moment with my family!

My word for the year is growth....this year is all about growth for me (except weight...that needs to go down. ha!)

I'd love it if you linked up and shared your goals with me!  Afterall...there is strength (and motivation) in numbers! Just download the template below or by clicking here , fill out your goals and link back up!  It would be wonderful if you visited the person who has linked before you.  

No go set those goals and CRUSH EM'!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter