PPBF: Who Will I Be?

Wait, what? Picture Perfect Book Friday on a Thursday? Yep, because I'm leaving town and this is a title you will not want to miss. It's the perfect PPBF pick to kick off November, a month to celebrate gratitude and service.

Title: Who Will I Be?

Author: Abby Huntsman

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That Character Quilt

Today I'm excited because I received a message that our character quilt is finished and ready to be picked up. Moments later, I was at Lori's front door, 

eager to see how it turned out and take it home.

The idea for that character quilt came last summer when my friend Ann brought some of her old Westwood t-shirts by to see if I'd have any use for them. I figured that some of hers coupled with a few more of mine would make the twenty we'd need for a really nice t-shirt throw. 

There are so many memorable moments 

represented in the seventeen years that these Ts span. 

Lots of ups and downs, 

lots of highs and lows, 

lots of smiles and some tears, too.

Okay, lots of tears.

A gentle mix of happiness and heartache,

a poignant parallel to life itself.

Because things change.

Programs and people come and go.

Students grow up and move on.

And colleagues change jobs and retire.

If those t-shirts could talk ... what a story they'd tell.

So today I'm feeling grateful to Ann for her shirts and to my 
quilt-making friend Lori for sharing her time and talents so that this character quilt could find its way onto the bed in our Texas Room. My greatest hope is that every visitor who wraps up in it will feel the caring and love that envelopes me every single moment of every single day as a part of the Westwood Elementary and Bales Intermediate school families deep in the heart of Texas.

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Taking Back To School By Storm

Today I'm excited because we had seven amazing back-to-school days before Hurricane Harvey stalled school for a spell and gave us today off.

Our staff did some team-building before the students showed up; check out this coverage of our Spot It! circle game that our character cam caught. 
Super fun to watch them laugh, connect, and reflect.

On Monday, we viewed the eclipse in our NASA-approved solar shades.

We spent the week reconnecting and getting to know one another better. 

I put one of these treats in each staff member's box ... 

 and got this bulletin board up inside of our learning space.

I received a beautiful note pad from my friend Tanya in Montana,

 so I used it to write these lunch invitations to our new students.

It's optional so I told their teachers to let them choose, because I get it if they'd rather stay in the cafeteria and eat lunch with their new class family friends. It was supposed to be today, so we'll be rescheduling for one day next week.

One of my superheroes brought me this bouquet of flowers, to cheer me up as I adjust to our empty nest. Won't they look pretty on our new-students lunch table?

And in the back-to-school mail this week, two special deliveries of thoughtfulness, one from a Twitter connection, a card thanking me for my inspiration, the other from my friend Maria, a note with prayers for comfort and strength as we make the transition to our new season at home by ourselves, with no kids living there. 

Small acts of kindness that made a big difference to my heart.

Yesterday afternoon, I tried using Zoom to go live with on We Are Teachers and give a tour of our learning space. A colleague of John's at NASA helped me so much the day prior by doing a practice chat with me and help allay a few of my fears as I stepped out of my comfort zone and used my iPad to connect and grow. 

It was a blast; thank you, We Are Teachers, for that fun opportunity.

On Twitter, one of our friends piggybacked our YET-goals idea; 

isn't it going to look amazingly colorful when it's up?

Speaking of colorful, check out this gem that a Bales alumni created at the end of May in her sixth-grade Language Arts class at Friendswood Junior High.

Using our Bales school True Colors theme, 

Caley wrote about a town that had lost its color, 

only to find it again when once they restored their core values.

Isn't it breath-taking? Thank you, Caley, for living your true colors!

Finally, we got three of these Gaga Ball Pits on our recess grounds.

I'm wondering as I type if they're mini-swimming pools right now.

So tonight, we stay inside while Harvey blows through.

Hopefully, we're back to class on Monday.

Then, on Tuesday night, join us to discuss these questions

on the #teacherfriends Twitter chat.

Happy 2017-2018; how will you take the new year by storm?

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Happy Learners, Happy Class

Hello summertime!

So before we launched for summer break, this happened.

Art Guild students stopped by to letter our True Colors table. 

I rescued this table from a neighbor's trash over spring break

and painted a rainbow on it.

Then our artists put the finishing touches on it;

talk about your garbage to gold project.

Isn't it brilliant?

So today I woke up today feeling extra joyful. 

Pure and simple.

Not sure why, but I'll take it.

Maybe because I slept in and feel really well rested.

Possibly because I'm joining a ukulele band today.

Probably because of this stunning Sketchnote creation.

Doesn't this beautiful image just make you feel happy?

I collaborated with Texas teacher Julie Woodard to create it as a banner for our Bales Intermediate table at something new that our district is trying to welcome our new-to-our-district families called the FISD Registration Rodeo. I wanted something to complement our vision and integrate our six core values; didn't Julie do an amazing job? If you want to commission a special visual, find Julie on Twitter {@woodard_julie}. Or just let me know and I'll connect you with her.

My daughter resized it so we could print the 4X2 banner and voila.

A campus goal is that our transfer students feel welcomed at their new school, that they'll feel like they belong, that they know that they matter to us, and that they will be happy being a Bronco. I know we can't guarantee happiness, but I believe that they deserve a climate of caring where everybody uses our core values to intentionally be the rainbow in someone's storm. The storm-to-rainbow ratio can be disproportionate for our young people; we don't want school to be another storm for them to endure, but instead a sanctuary from the hurricanes of life.

So as I plan for next year, I'm thinking about ways 

to make sure we always move over and let those newbies in,

to make our school climate joyfully safe and happy,

and to bring our True Colors to life as we serve and grow.

I find myself reading and reflecting. A lot. 

Here are the three treasures I've mined from so far.

These two authors Todd and Adam serve as lead learners in their schools and the content of their book will surely make your heart sing. So many practical ideas for transforming your school climate with vulnerable examples from their own failures and successes to help you find the right formula for your school family. My favorite idea is the Day Maker phone calls to the parents and families of faculty members. It seriously gives me chill bumps to think about a Principal calling my dad to tell him what a great job I've done on something and to affirm him for his part in my work ethic and joy. Do yourself and your stakeholders a favor and delve in to your copy today. Your Kids Deserve It.

I'm so glad that the author of this handbook, Dr. Jenna Sage, reached out to me to put a copy of it in my hands and on my heart. I love the empowerment that the front cover represents and it only gets better from there as you dive in and turn the pages for practical suggestions on how to manage unwanted behaviors as you shape them into desired behaviors. I especially connected with the section on the functions of behavior. Behavior helps students communicate to get their needs met. Alabama Principal Danny Steele says it like this:

We simply must understand that students do not really want to throw temper tantrums or act out like sometimes they do. Once we can see beneath those behaviors to get to their root cause, we can offer appropriate replacement behaviors to equip and empower students to soar more successfully. If you strive for that Happy Class, then this book is for you.

My third recommendation is a book that you will want to Start {reading}. Right. Now! Its basis is this John Maxwell's reflection on leadership ... 

  

... with a bonus. The dynamic trio of edu-hero authors adds this fourth domain to Maxwell's three-pronged ideal: And grows each day.

Amen! Whether you are a new teacher, veteran teacher, administrator or even student leader, grow with these experts through the pages of this gem and I predict it'll leave you wanting the 2017-2018 school year to 

Start {back up again}. Right. Now.

Want another strategy for inspiring happy learners and a happy class?

Join the #JoyfulLeaders movement now.

Choose joy.

Look for it.

With intention.

Every moment of every day.

And when you find it, give it away!

On purpose.

To someone who has lost theirs.

Or to someone who hasn't but could use a booster shot.

You'll be glad you did 

because it'll make you happy, too.

You'll see.

Joy is contagious like that ... 

you give it away but it's still yours.

And it will serve as that beacon of light that we all need

on the darkest of days.

Trust me. I know.

How will you find joy today

so that you can share it with your happy learners 

in your happy class?

And now it's back to work for me as I prepare

for my workshop with Texas Principals in Austin next week.

I'm so grateful to have been invited to present.

If you're at the TEPSA conference, I hope you'll come to my learning session Wednesday morning at 8:30 to learn more about Inspiring perseverance, grit, resilience and a growth mindset.

It would make me happy to see you there.

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Living Our True Colors

Happy Sunday.

Today I'm reflecting on the 2016-2017 school year

as we get ready to send not only our seniors off to college 

but also our fifth graders off to junior high.

Check out their parting gift to our school:

What a treat it was to watch them 

collaborate and cooperate

to bring this True Colors masterpiece to life.

We're so proud of the Class of 2024 and so thankful to artist Diane Fifer and art teacher Nancy Schilhab for helping us revive a tradition that left the building with the sixth graders, who were relocated to junior high seven years ago. It was such a delight to watch each of these rising sixth graders paint their square and leave their mark on our walls. {I even got to paint a piece of the green mane on the respect horse.}

This teamwork project was the perfect complement to our True Colors theme that our Character Committee has worked diligently to integrate and infuse into our everyday habits and routines this year. Our staff now has colorful pillar Ts that we wear each Wednesday to align with the district's core values spotlight.

Every month we recognize students who serve as Ambassador for the values because they put them into motion by walking the talk.

It's super fun to unite as a school family at our end-of-the-month Character Pep Rallies and celebrate character. To showcase responsibility, for example, our students worked together to create a rain storm that would parallel collective responsibility and the magic we can create when we all do our part. 

Hometown Heroes from our HS drum line along with Mighty, our mascot, helped lead our Respect Assembly. After they fired up the crowd, we discussed the Golden Rule pillar using these icons to represent the many facets of respect.

Can you guess how each of them fits?

We're coloring the world with character,

one day at a time,

one idea at a time,

one child at a time

until living our 

True Colors 

becomes who we are,

how we behave, and

how we treat others, 

everywhere,

all the time,

even when nobody's looking.

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Write On!

Today I was exhausted, perhaps because we had last week off, and we'd gotten used to sleeping in. Or maybe because we were so busy at Camp Write-Along.

Our fourth graders were treated to a writing experience this week,

tents, flashlights, sleeping bags, campfires, s'mores and all!

We welcomed guest Camp Counselors to the mess hall during lunch, and we sang and danced to camp songs, like I Will Revise by Danielle Lacy-Jackson.

I was honored to be invited as a guest Camp Director

and talk with our Campers about writing intriguing leads to hook the reader and strong conclusions to seal the deal.

One camper even went to the local library after my talk,

to check out my book and work on strengthening her hooks. 

Write on!

This week I was interviewed about my thoughts about character education; check out this post from ProSignDesign to weigh in on the debate over whether it works.

One way to make your core values visible is to wear them. We don our character Ts on Wednesday and we're super excited about our new true colors T-shirt designed by our friend Jamaica at Inked Designs. 

Character education is a hot topic this week in Texas courtesy of HB 729, which proposes mandating character education in the state. What do you think about that? It would mean taking the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and infusing your school's core values. It could then be tied to accountability.

 Consider this screen shot from the Kindergarten TEKS.

Besides explaining it, how would you teach the difference between wants and needs? What could you do to engage your learners in an experience to enrich their understanding and elevate their empathy?

How about starting with an engaging story about shoes?

For K students, I recommend Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts. 

Did Jeremy just want new shoes, or were they a need?

Are there places where children don't have the footwear they might need?

I had the pleasure of sitting in on an Eleven Principles training facilitated by retired Principal Pam Mitchell yesterday, and she told about how her K classes researched and found a place where the children only have one pair of shoes. So her students suggested collecting their gently-used shoes and donating them to them, turning that wants v. needs standard into a real-life service-learning project. To inject some writing, encourage the students to write a note to the child who will get their pair and tuck it inside the shoes. 

Want a few bonus shoe-themed titles?

Does character education work? 

Let's just say it's not likely that those little learners will forget 

that wants and needs lesson any time soon.

With that, I'll sign off to watch some March Madness.

 Will Wisconsin survive in the swamp against those Florida Gators?

So far we're ahead by a basket. 

Right on!

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Mining With Mason

Happy 2016.

Today I'm excited to introduce you to Mason

and his value-able masterpiece of self-discovery.

Title: Mason's Greatest Gems

Authors: Chelsea Lee Smith

Illustrator: Elaheh Bos

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Publication Date: November 4, 2015

Suggested for ages: 5-10

Themes: virtues, values

Brief synopsis: Mason loves digging in his backyard to find treasures; on this particular Saturday his finds include "a rusty screw, a bottle cap, an old plastic bead, and a mud-covered rock." It's in his follow-up conversation with his mom that Mason discovers that, just like his mud-covered piece of quartz, he's got beautiful virtues hidden deep inside.

Resources: 

*Free Printable Enrichment pages from the creators {here}. 

*Encourage students or staff to write down the virtues that already shine in them or the virtues they want to work to polish. 

Make a visual display like this BE board,

this Find Your Treasure set from Scholastic,

or the Carson Dellosa Treasure Chest Bulletin Board set.

Why I like this book: Parenting our future is an important job, one that simply cannot be left to chance. In this jewel, penned by author and parenting expert Chelsea Lee Smith (Moments A Day blog), Mason's mom intentionally seizes a teachable moment to nurture her son's development. Not only does she give Mason some valuable new vocabulary, but she also hands him some concrete insight to hold on to by drawing a priceless parallel between the quartz he discovers hiding in the yard and the gems he discovers hiding in his heart.

Using a mining metaphor, she encourages her little explorer to polish 

the virtues within as he works to become the best ME he can be.

Check out this book; I think you'll discover that it's essential 

for your character-development collection. 

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PPBF: Christmas Cookies

Yesterday I was the administrator on duty all morning long, so I grabbed the character cam and we spotted a decorated door, which begs the question: 

How are you a light?

We also spotted this bulletin board with responses to the writing prompt: 

What is the greatest gift you've ever received?

Across from it hangs this Grinch bulletin board to track kind acts,

and we found a first-grade anchor chart 

with sparkle words describing the Grinch

and noting his transformation. 

So, as we near Christmas break, today's PPBF pick 

also features a festive theme.

Christmas Cookies: Bite-Size Holiday Lessons

Author: Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Illustrator: Jane Dyer

Publisher: Harper-Collins Publishers

Date: September 30, 2008

Suitable for ages 4 and up

Non-fiction

Themes: Christmas, values, manners

Brief synopsis: Using common holiday words, the author defines vocabulary in connection with baking cookies. 

Opening Page: ANTICIPATION means, I've been thinking all day about making the cookies. I'm so excited. I can't wait.

Resources: 

Read a review of the book on the Imperfect Parent blog {here}.

See all of Amy's books and watch an author interview {here}.

Using Amy's books as a therapeutic parenting resource post {here}.

Watch the book's trailer on You Tube

Why I like this book: It's probably as much a book for adults as it is for kids, complete with illustrations that are precious and words that perfectly complement this time of year. Words like tradition, responsible, thoughtful, gracious, joy, gratitude, peace, and hope. And to keep it real, the author even included a few not-as-uplifting words like disappointed, selfish, and lonely. Brainstorm words that your learners would have included and talk about their cookie-connection definitions. Let them illustrate their word and, voila, you'll have a delicious visual display! 

But positive or negative, all of the vocabulary connects back to the time-honored tradition of enjoying kindness in the kitchen making Christmas cookies. Together. Talk about a tasty treat. I predict you'll love every little morsel of this holiday treasure, including the recipe in the back of the book. Here's a plate from our house to yours; click the picture for our Sour Cream Sugar Cookie recipe. 

After you make and decorate a batch, why not deliver them individually or on a plate to a neighbor, friend, or family in need.

Happy baking!

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