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Kindness and Confetti- Celebrating in the Classroom!

Our building is focusing on Robert Marzano's High Reliability Schools framework. For our level one safe, supportive, and collaborative culture goal, part of what we'll be doing is focusing on how to SUPPORT and CELEBRATE the good stuff! I ABSOLUTELY couldn't resist using bits and pieces of things I could find to create this hallway bulletin board to build a safe, caring culture of support in our kids. I used bulletin board letters I had for the words "sprinkle" and "like." Then, I printed off this AMAZING freebie from Especially Education. Grab it here ! Since running it through the Facebook group Fearless First Grade Teachers: Education to the Core, many great suggestions have come about! Writing students' names on the confetti dots as they complete acts of kindness, adding some authentic writing pieces about kindness, photos of the kids the size of the confetti dots, etc. I can't wait to meet them and be inspired. Because the BEST...

Summer Planning!

Ahhh, summer!  This year we received a really kindhearted email from our superintendent inviting us to... ENJOY OUR SUMMER!  That's right!  Our superintendent didn't use ANY of those catchphrases that have become cliched despite their good intentions.  You know the ones I mean... "recharge and reflect" or "allow yourself some time to reflect on____" or "you'll probably be taking the summer to engage in professional development opportunities..."  NONE of that.  It was "enjoy your summer break!"

As much as I despise cliches, I LOVE to reflect, analyze, pinterest, rethink things, restructure routines, pinterest, set new goals, create new projects, find new ideas... well, you get the idea.  The thing is, reflection- true reflection- can only happen when we have time to process and that's what those words, those beautiful words, "enjoy your summer break" have sparked.  So the practical implications of true reflection have thus far led to the following actions this summer:

1.  Grade level switch!  I am excited to be starting first grade next year!!  ☝

2.  Instagram revamp!  


In addition to changing the handle, now my Instagram photos will be solely focused on teaching- inspired by a retiring colleague who did a FABULOUS job of documenting the joy of learning in her "littles" classroom last year.

3.  Planner refresh!  As the above post/pics indicate, I refreshed my Happy Planner by refilling it in preparation for next year.  AND, I found the pencil case add on so I'll be prepared to write/highlight at those PD meetings!

4.  Pinterest renovation!  Pinterest is a VITALLY IMPORTANT LIFELINE for all of us in education.  This is why it is so critical to reorganize it periodically.  Switching grade levels is a great time to do just that.  I just LOVE the "tried it" feature on Pinterest now--it's a great way to track what you've tried, haven't tried, and decide what to keep/ditch.  

5.  This blog!  

Well, that's it so far!  In what ways does reflection come to you and how do you act on it?  Please comment below!  





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