Classroom for the WIN!

I LOVE rivalry college football week.  This is a week that records do not matter and everyone is out to win for pure bragging rights among their family and friends.  Facebook is full of some of the best memes, no matter what side of the field you are sitting on! 

The high level of engagement for football fans this week reminds me of the importance of engagement and a strong offense (teaching strategies) in the classroom.  Mike Schmoker, in his book Focus 2nd Edition, reminds us of strong teaching techniques:
* Clear Learning Objectives/Learning Targets
* Guided Practice
* Checks for Understanding/formative assessment - which includes teacher circulating to observe student work, cold calling, hand signals, etc.
* Independent Practice

Classrooms that run this offense often will have much success! 
As we come down to the final seconds of our first semester, let's not forget the basics of our classroom offense with the outcome of strong student learning!  We will be in for the win every time!

I hope your color won this weekend!   (Purdue says "Happy Thanksgiving" to all of you Hoosier Fans!) 


Important Information: 

After School Training - Tuesday, December 3rd we will have a corporation training on autism.  The training will be from 3:15 - 4:15 in the elementary cafeteria.  Thank you for being there!

Project Based Learning Brainstorm - Anyone that would like to brainstorm some ideas for PBLs (or Work Based Challenges) for the classroom is invited to attend a meeting December 4th at 7:30 a.m. in the high school library.  Remember, teachers that come up with a lesson and implement it can earn an extra $500 per lesson!  We are willing to help in anyway we can. 

Faculty Meeting - We will have a faculty meeting on Tuesday, December 10th at 7:20 a.m. in the high school library.  Please be there on time!  Breakfast will be served!

Eva Kor - On December 11th and 12th, we will be hosting Eva Kor Virtual Reality Tour in 7th and 8th grade English/Social Studies classes.  It is a powerful experience for students as they get to engage in Ms. Kor's experiences as a 10 year old girl in an Auschwitz Concentration Camp.  Thank you to our teachers and Tara for setting this up for our students. 

Creative House Competition - Our Junior High Creative House Competition will be Wednesday, December 18th during 2nd WIN and 5th period.  May the most creative win! 

10 Days of Christmas/ Christmas Week - The last two weeks before Christmas break will be filled with a few Surprise and Delight activities for students and faculty!  We will communicate a few items soon.  Be on the look out for an Ugly Sweater for the upcoming contest! 


Great Pep Block - Wednesday night at our varsity opener at Tell City, we had an AWESOME pep block!  Over 100 students showed up in their Hometown Hoops t-shirts.  The JV won a barn raiser in overtime, but the varsity fell a little short this time (we will have a lot more opportunity to play them.) 
Great job to our students and the class they showed as they cheered on their classmates!

  "It is a great day to be GREAT!" - Abe Schwartz