Monday Memo Musings

It is one thing to say we have high expectations for kids...but another to say I will be here to help you...no matter your struggles! -Salome Thomas-EL Jimmy Casas presented at our school two years ago. He speaks of being merchants of hope. It's in the small moments with students and collegues that we really see each other and slow down enough to take it in. It is in the poauses that we become merchants of hope. When I think about you and your family or dog/s on a Saturday, that's when we connect. When you rememebr that your collegue loves homemade jam, when you moved a table before she even asked, when you stocked the fridge with diet pepsi, when you sent a message to a collegue when they were out sick, when you asked about family, you were a merchant of hope.  It's in the small moments , the pauses, that we become merchants of hope. You know to be a merchant of hope.  No population in a school needs to be fed hope more than our students. In each community these students c...

             A speech pathologist noted that it does no good to teach content to kids if they can't verbalize it. They need to be able to put what they are learning into words. Her frustration is, we teach huge concepts, yet are not requiring students to put their learning into words. Her example is:  parents of two year olds teaching the alphabet and numbers before the kid can say I am thirsty, I see a dog, my leg is hurting. How does this affect Learning Store students? We need them to talk more... I know it is hard to do with some students but speaking it, solidifies their learning. Often asking the question why, elicits lots of conversation.  Thank yous * Huge thanks to those who cover when we are out. We know being out can cause distruptions and we appreciate all you do for our students while we are out.  * Thanks to Chad for leading the marking conversations amongst staff at the La Crete Learning Store. You made it a positive expe...

We survived September 2020 and we did it with Grace! There were times we didn't know what we we're doing, being honest here. Yet we have our kids, they have their materials and are learning each day. Yeah! We survived September 2020.  We can predict several things happening in the months to come: Students will shift from on line back to schools and perhaps to us. We welcome them. Some students will not be able to do what we give them, we will need to be creative in programming for these kids. Many more kids have IPP's this year.  Students are going to complete assignments quickly and your marking is going to increase. There will be more involvement with families with our new population. Some parents will be more demanding. Find the people who work best with those parents and make them their contact.  Student communication log is vital with some many students we must keep track of each and everyone. We all can learn from the notes we put in our student communication log....