May 13, 2015

Welcome to the Speas Global Elementary Blog!

All staff members, let's make sure we are teaching, reteaching, and teaching again the procedures in the common areas (Hallway, Cafeteria, Bathrooms, Playground, Bus).  We should be giving out lots of Bee's for students demonstrating the basic expectations.  It is a good idea to review the procedures before you leave one area to travel to another area.  

Our Mission: It is the mission of Speas Elementary School to provide its students with the tools necessary to successfully meet the challenges they will face in a diverse world.

Goals:

To increase English Language Arts achievement by 10%
To increase Mathematics achievement by 10%
To increase Science Achievement by 10%

Check out this graphic about global education.  The things above water are just the tip of the iceberg.   Try to go deeper in your instruction and touch some of the issues below the surface.

ISS
Specialists will begin holding ISS in their respective areas on their assigned days.  The schedule is below.  Teachers, specialists may be contacting you for work for students assigned to ISS.  Please get them work as soon as possible.   

Day	Teacher	Location
A	Arora	Room 213
B	Bowen	Music
C	King	Art
D	Childers/McMasters	Media/CL
E	Lindquist	Gym

Teachers: Having Trouble with Defiant Students?  Have you tried these strategies?

http://www.interventioncentral.org/behavioral-interventions/challenging-students/school-wide-strategies-managing-defiance-non-complianc

Our jobs may get hectic as we try to close out the year strong.   Here are some things to remember about what we may call disrespect or defiant behavior:

cont.

Recognize the signs. 

Avoid criticizing student impulsivity and “me first” behaviors.  Whenever you and your colleagues witness a behavior you consider inappropriate, ask yourselves whether the discipline process is positive and therefore increases the chances for better future behavior, or whether it’s punitive and therefore reduces the chances for better future behavior.

Alter the environment.  Change the school environment to mitigate stress and resolve potential compliance issues with students who do not want to change.

ÒReduce the parallels with prison

ÒReduce homework stress by incorporating time for homework in class or right after class.

ÒUse cooperative structures; avoid a top-down authoritarian approach

ÒHelp students blow off steam by incorporating celebrations, role-plays, and physical activities into your classes.

ÒIncorporate kinesthetic arts, creative projects and hands-on activities into your classes.

Empower students.

Help students increase their perceptions of control over their environment by showing them how to better manage their own stress levels.  Instead of telling students to act differently, take the time to teach them how to act differently by

Announcements:

WSFCS HR Dept. visiting Speas Global today.

Why SMOD?

***For all technology issues, please follow these steps in order to submit a SchoolDude ticket. Mr. McMasters will receive this ticket and be able to work on resolving the issue as quickly as possible. Tickets take priority so please enter a ticket for the technology issue that you have. If you have any questions on how to do this, please see Mr. McMasters. Thank you!

To submit a ticket…on either the WSFCS homepage or the Speas homepage, click on “User Options” in the top right of the screen --> “SCHOOL DUDE requests --> Click “IT request” tab --> fill out request and click submit. ***

We have a Speas Symbaloo page.

http://www.symbaloo.com/home/mix/13eOcMEZPT#

email: djjohnson@wsfcs.k12.nc.us
pass: speasbees2014

Please email us with your favorite educator sites so we can create a huge selection of online resources.  

All staff members, let's make sure we are teaching, reteaching, and teaching again the procedures in the common areas (Hallway, Cafeteria, Bathrooms, Playground, Bus).  We should be giving out lots of Bee's for students demonstrating the basic expectations.  It is a good idea to review the procedures before you leave one area to travel to another area.  

SMOD Tickets (dress code violations) are located in the workroom.  Please keep the bottom portion for your own records as a way to keep track of the number of violations.  The continuum is as follows:

1st offense: verbal warning, and letter will be sent home to be signed.  Parent or guardian notified of violation
2nd offense: Teacher notifies parent or guardian and student is removed from class until proper SMOD is delivered.

(Teachers, we all should be enforcing this, it will only work if we all enforce it).

Calendar

5.13	6	C	Y
5.14	1	D	Y		Ash out AM; Papa Murphy’s Spirit Night
5.15	2	E	Y		Dollar Dress Down
5.18	3	A	Y		EOG TEST TRAINING--11:55 (3rd grade) --1:45 (5th grade)
5.19	4	B	Y		TEST TRAINING--12:45 (4th grade)
5.20	5	C	Y		Johnson out AM
5.21	6	D	X
5.22	1	E	X		1st Grade NC  Zoo 8:00-2:00 PM; Ready EOG window opens; TRC window closes; all classroom displays to be taken down for EOG
5.25	2	A	X
5.26	3	B	X
5.27					EOG ELA
5.28					EOG Math; 3,4,5 teachers stay afterschool for bubble party
5.29					EOG Makeups
6.1					EOG Sci 5
6.2					EOG Sci 5
6.3					EOG Makeups
6.4					RTA/EOG Makeups; 3rd grade teachers afterschool for bubble party
6.5
6.8
6.9
6.10					3rd grade teachers stay after to edit answer sheets
6.11
6.12

Holidays Around the World

Wednesday

May 13

Royal Ploughing Ceremony Day

Thailand

Today in World History

May 13

1607		English colonists land near the James River in Virginia.
1648		Margaret Jones of Plymouth is found guilty of witchcraft and is sentenced to be hanged.
1779		The War of Bavarian Succession ends.
1846		The United States declares war on Mexico after fighting has already begun.
1861		Britain declares its neutrality in the American Civil War.
1864		The Battle of Resaca commences as Union General Sherman fights towards Atlanta.
1888		Slavery is abolished in Brazil.
1912		The Royal Flying Corps is established in England.
1913		Igor Sikorsky flies the first four-engine aircraft.
1944		Allied forces in Italy break through the German Gustav Line into the Liri Valley.
1958		French troops take control of Algiers.
1968		Peace talks between the United States and North Vietnam begin in Paris.
1981		Pope John Paul II survives an assassination attempt.
Born on May 13
1729		Henry William Stiegel, early American glassmaker.
1842		Sir Arthur Sullivan, composer, collaborator with W.S. Gilbert.
1857		Ronald Ross, bacteriologist.
1907		Daphne du Maurier, author (Rebecca).
1912		Gil Evans, jazz pianist and composer.
1914		Joe Louis, world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949.
1940		Bruce Chatwin, travel writer (Patagonia).