Best Year Yet!!!

The first week of what might just be the best school year yet, has come to a close.

Why will this one be the best yet?

Tools
Our Teachers received a full Toolkit of assessment strategies,  questioning ideas,  change idealogy , and learning activities for the school year in our successful and meaningful 2 day  Professional Learning Conference.

Topics
In our Grade Level Currlculum Planning Day, all EISD Elementary Teachers met by grade level and were treated to a Shabby-Chic theme to integrate new Everyday Math digital tools with the existing ones, and to explore how the new math TEKS are replacing the old ones.  Check out the Shabby-Chic Thinglink created by our own Amy Tillman.

Inspiration
Our awesome WHS Chap Band makes our convocation a much anticipated yearly tradition. The Fine Arts Center  is packed with every employee in the district including the Superintendent, School Board members, teachers, custodians, bus drivers, nutrition workers, technology services, and more.
Excitement built as we waited for the WHS marching band to come marching down the aisles.  We looked for the familiar faces of our elementary students, now matured into high schoolers.
The familiar songs fill the auditorium to cheering and clapping.

This years exceptionally thought-provoking and inspirational speaker was Dr. John Draper, who challenged us to tell the stories of our students and what's going on in our schools to everyone.

Hugs/Anticipation
The highly anticipated Meet the Teacher Morning finally arrived and the principal, Jennifer Dusek, had a hug, greeting, handshake and personal welcome for every family as they walked into our school.

Excitement
The first day was full of excitement as students reunited with old friends, and started a brand new year. The Kindergartners and their parents bravely parted and the students embarked on their adventure of a highly acclaimed  EISD education.

Creativity
The Fifth Graders, who are comfortable and accomplished with their school routine and technology were tasked on the first day to create a visual that represents them and their goals for the year. They could use anything on their iPads that they choose. I will be  posting some of these soon.
The teachers used a bright and cheery slide show reminding them of the responsible iPad use guidelines they had practiced the year before.
On the second day of school they finished their creations and introduced themselves to the class with them.  Among the apps they used were Keynote, Screen Chomp, and Explain Everything.

Planning
On the third day of school, I met with grade levels and we talked about technology, planned iPad Orientations, looked at contracts, and scheduled my visits to classrooms.

Practicality
On the fourth day of school, two classes of  second graders explained to me how they SOARed with their iPads last year, and how they plan to continue SOARing this year.  SOAR is our Positive Behavior Acronym that we say and live every day: "I will be Safe, On Task, have an Awesome Attitude, and be Respectful to myself and others every day." They washed their hands, got their iPads and carried them in an iHug. Then we set our floating home button and personalized our iPads.

On the fifth day of school, two more classes of second graders talked about SOARing with their iPads, and were issued their iPads.  All 4 second grade classes were very glad to have iPads again and were delighted to discover some new apps, and revisit some familiar ones.


And now....
Everybody is enjoying a 3 day weekend.