Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, everyone!  Thanks for everything you do each and every day.  You truly shine!

BAK Little Hawk News...: Message from the city...

BAK Little Hawk News...: Message from the city...: The snow emergency has been extended until noon on Friday.  If this changes, we will post information as we receive it.

Quote of the day...

"The manner of giving is worth more than the gift."

--Pierre Corneille

Quote of the day...

"Every gift from a friend is a wish for your happiness."

--Richard Bach

Quote of the day

"There are three stages of a man's life: (1)he believes in Santa Claus; (2)he doesn't believe in Santa Claus; and (3)he is Santa Claus."

--Author unknown

Great Read From Edutopia

Turning Conflicts Into Partnerships

Morgan Freeman on the Connecticut Shooting

I know this is all over, but I think it is worth reading.  Enjoy.

Morgan Freeman on Shooting

An Enlightening Conversation at The University of Chicago

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2012

An Enlightening Conversation at The University of Chicago

Last week I had the opportunity to visit some schools in the Chicago area while accompanying a group of students to aModel U.N. conference there. Since I had never been to The University of Chicago, I decided to drop by the Office of Admissions and ask a few questions. Anyone in the field of education knows the reputation of The University of Chicago and the level of excellence of its educational program. In order to better prepare my students not only for acceptance to but also for success in such a university, I wanted to find out exactly what the Office of Admissions looks for when culling through the mountains of applications each year.

In my meeting with the two admissions counselors, who gladly shared their time with me, I asked them directly, "What makes those students you accept different from those you do not? What, exactly, do you look for that differentiates top candidates from everyone else? What things in an applicant's background and application prove to be the biggest predictors of success in the University of Chicago program?" Interestingly, the admissions counselors gave the same answer for all three questions.

Here's what they said: "Clearly, academic success in terms of exceptional grades and test scores separate legitimate candidates from all others. From that pool, which always is much too large for our freshman class, we look for students who are exceptional independent learners with an intrinsic drive to learn. What we want to see is that a student has pursued learning independently in some way. It could be that a student has a passion for science and has persuaded his school to rearrange his schedule each year so he can take all science courses offered at his school. Additionally, this same student has found some interesting and unique way outside of school to pursue and explore that passion - perhaps through internships, summer experiential learning opportunities, family vacations centered on this passion, or maybe even through research of his own on his own time. It could be that a student has shown an interest in entrepreneurship and has started his own company. The bottom line is that we want to see that a student has developed a passion for something and has pursued that passion independently in a unique, interesting and innovative way. It goes without saying that all the student's transcripts, essays, recommendation letters and other application information should document not only the student's passion but also how he pursued it independently. These characteristics also are the common denominator for most of the students who are successful at The University of Chicago."

As the educational leader of a college prep school, I've been asking myself constantly since that meeting, "Is my school doing everything possible to promote and foster that kind of independent learning and curiosity?" I'm still working on the answer.

Blog Link: http://nextgeneduleaders.blogspot.com/2012/12/an-enlightening-conversation-at.html

Be Great...

Quote of the day...

"I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to."

--Author Unknown

Agenda 2017... Always a good reminder!

Quote of the day...

"He who sings frightens away his ills."

--Miguel de Cervantes

Quote of the day...

"Everything that happens helps you to grow, even if it's hard to see right now.  Circumstances will direct you, correct you, and perfect you over time.  So whatever you do, hold on to hope.  The tiniest thread will twist into an unbreakable cord."

--Author unknown

Quote of the day...

"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.  If you want to be happy, practice compassion."

--Dalai Lama

Quote of the day...

"The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event.  You go to bed in one kind of world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment, then where is it to be found?"

--J. B. Priestley

Interesting Watch...

Quote of the day...

"Today may there be peace within.  May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be.  May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others.  May you use the gifts that you have received and pass on the love that has been given to you.  May you be content with yourself just the way you are.  Let this knowledge settle into your bones and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise, and love.  It is there for each and every one of us."

--Author Unknown

it has to be better...

"Definitions of innovation vary by guru, but they revolve around two words: change and new. Innovation implies change and doing things differently, but it has to achieve some new level of performance, or create some kind of new value. It is not enough just to be different; it has to be better. 

It is about creation, not copying."

Notter and Grant

Five Myths About the Common Core ELA Standards

Five Myths About the Common Core ELA Standards

(Originally titled “The Common Core Ate My Baby and Other Urban Legends”)

 

            In this important Educational Leadership article, literacy expert Timothy Shanahan (University of Illinois/Chicago) debunks five myths about the common core literacy standards:

            • Myth #1: The new standards prohibit teachers from setting purposes for reading or discussing prior knowledge. True, the original publishers’ criteria written by lead authors David Coleman and Susan Pimentel in 2011 suggested deemphasizing the common practice of spending time building up students’ background knowledge, establishing the purpose for reading a passage, and asking for students’ predictions. Facing a storm of protest, Coleman and Pimentel retreated and issued an April 2012 revision that eliminated admonitions against pre-teaching.

            “So to clarify, there simply is no ban on pre-reading in the Common Core State Standards,” says Shanahan. But there are significant changes – close reading and re-reading – which suggest that it’s a good idea to get students to plunge into texts without a lot of prior teaching. “The benefit of the pre-reading controversy,” says Shanahan, “is that it’s getting educators to take a hard look at how best to send students into a book – and this rethinking can help us clear up our pre-reading act… Preparing students to read a text… should be brief and should focus on providing students with the tools they need to make sense of the text on their own.”

            • Myth #2: Teachers are no longer required to teach phonological awareness, phonics, or fluency. Not true, says Shanahan. The common-core standards are strong on phonological awareness K-1, phonics K-3, and fluency K-5. So how did this myth get started? Perhaps because the new literacy standards began with comprehension, which is the reverse of the sequence in many previous standards documents.

            • Myth #3: English teachers can no longer teach literature in literature classes. Nonsense, says Shanahan. What the new standards do is give informational texts equal billing with novels, stories, poems, and plays in the elementary grades and 30 percent of classroom time in the upper grades – but that includes science and social studies. English teachers can continue to teach literature, as they have always done.

            • Myth #4: Teachers must teach students at frustration levels. It’s true that the common-core standards call for students to work with more-challenging material at each grade level than has been typical in basal readers in recent years. This is based on research showing that students make less progress when they read easier texts – and the urgent need to prepare students for the literacy demands of college and the workplace. But the higher reading levels in the new standards should not lead primary-grade teachers to push students beyond what is required by the common-core (which is similar to previous expectations) in order to prepare them for more-demanding grade 2 standards. And all teachers should give their students a mix of reading material – more-demanding material for close reading and direct instruction, easier material for fun reading.

            • Myth #5: Most schools are already teaching to the new standards. Baloney, says Shanahan: “We are going to have to make some real changes in our practices.” These include (a) less emphasis on pre-reading and more on close reading, re-reading, and follow-up;

(b) building students’ skills and motivation to tackle difficult texts without telling them what the texts say; (c) an increase in critical analysis and synthesis of information from multiple texts; (d) a greater emphasis on informational texts in upper-grade social studies and science classes; and (e) more student writing about the ideas from texts than personal thoughts.

“Each one of these changes is considerable and will require better and more appropriate professional development, instructional materials, and supervision,” says Shanahan. “Educators who shrug off these changes will face a harsh reality.” The fact is that 40 percent of students who currently meet state standards need remediation when they get to college and many fail to graduate. The new standards are in line with what students need to know and be able to do to succeed in college and careers. Shanahan believes they will give teachers, students, and parents a much more accurate picture of where students stand, and what they need to succeed.

 

“The Common Core Ate My Baby and Other Urban Legends” by Timothy Shanahan in Educational Leadership, December 2012 (Vol. 70, #4, p. 10-16), www.ascd.org; Shanahan can be reached at shanahan@uic.edu.

Drew Johnson Blog: CCSS are quasi national standards

Drew Johnson Blog: CCSS are quasi national standards: The picture below is lifted from an Education Week newsletter.  It graphically shows, that although the Common Core Standards are not offici...

Drew Johnson Blog: Open Enrollment for FLEX

Drew Johnson Blog: Open Enrollment for FLEX: The FLEX program is only a voluntary option for PdC Public School Employees. If employees do not desire to enroll, they do not have to do an...

Quote of the day...

"If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses."

--Henry Ford

Let's start class...

Source: shareasimage.com via Larry on Pinterest

Quick Read...

A woman having lunch at a small café was seated next to a family celebrating their son’s basketball game. Their conversation was so lively that the woman joined in. “You must have been on the winning team,” she said.

The kid grinned from ear to ear, “No, we lost by 20 points. The other team had a killer defense. We were only able to make one basket.”

“Did you make the basket?” she asked.

With his mouth filled with cake and ice cream, the boy shook his head, “No.”

His father reached across the table to give him a high five. His mother hugged him and said, “You were awesome.”

The woman at the next table rubbed her chin.

The boy looked at the confused woman and said, “At last week’s game, I took nine shots but they all fell short of the basket. This week I took eight shots and three of them hit the rim! Dad says I’m making progress.”

Quote of the day...

"I was angry that I had no shoes, but then I met a man who had no feet."

--Author Unknown

Quote of the day...

"Great acts are made up of small deeds."

--Lao Tzu

Quote of the day...

"You've got to get up every day with determination if you're going to go to bed with satisfaction."

--George Lorimer, journalist

We will miss you, Mrs. Seeley!!

Mrs. Seeley has been Mrs. Baumgartner's long term sub for the last several weeks, and was also our 4K teacher when Mrs. Steffen had to leave last year mid-year.  Today is her last day at B.A. Kennedy.  While we are super excited to have Mrs. Baumgartner back, we are also going to miss Mrs. Seeley, and greatly appreciate everything she has done for all of us at B.A. Kennedy!

Quote of the day...

"Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape."

--Barbara Johnson

Quote of the day...

"There is not enough darkness in all the world to put out the light of one small candle... any reminder of something deeply felt or dearly loved."

--Arthur Gordon

The Power of Positive Phone Calls...

The Power of the Positive Phone Call Home

The BEST teachers...

Quote of the day...

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindles by a spark from another person.  Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us."

--Albert Schweitzer

Struggle for Smarts...

Very interesting article.  I hope you will take a few minutes to read.

STRUGGLE FOR SMARTS

Quote of the day...

"Joy, sorrow, tears, lamentation, laughter -- to all these music gives voice."

--Albert Schweitzer

Happy Thursday!

Quote of the day...

"Sometimes the only answer people are looking for when they ask for help is that they won't have to face the problem alone."

--Mark Amend

Quote of the day...

"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count.  It's the life in your years."

--Abraham Lincoln

Message from Tony Evers

American Education Week

We hope to see you all on Friday...

Simple Bloom's Taxonomy Poster...

Thank you for BELIEVING in all of your students!!

This is one of my favorite messages.  
Thank you for believing in your students and in each other!!  That belief is what has lead to the great successes that we have seen.

Quote of the day...

"Finish each day and be done with it.  You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept; forget them as soon as you can.  Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

Quote of the day...

"If you're only going to focus on things you have going against you, you might as well be at the top of the list."

--Unknown

Thank you!!

Thank you for everything you do for our students as we start American Education Week and always!

Promise Yourself...

Promise Yourself

To be so strong that nothing
can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity
to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel
that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything
and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best,
and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others
as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past
and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times
and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself
that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,
and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world,
not in loud words but great deeds.
To live in faith that the whole world is on your side
so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

―Christian D. Larson, Your Forces and How to Use Them

Quote of the day...

"Courage doesn't always roar.  Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.'"

--Mary Ann Radmacher

Thank you...

A special thanks goes out to all of you who took the time to meet and have some great discussion this morning.  I appreciate your feedback, and also appreciate the fact that we have grown to be able to share things that we may or may not feel the same about, and yet continue to respect each others' opinions and learn from each other.  I learned a lot from each of you this morning.  Crucial conversations are not always easy, but if they are happening with the people involved and the people who can make a difference, they are productive in that change can happen.

We have an honorable profession.  We come to work every day because we want to make a difference for the students that we come into contact with.  Along with that comes judgment calls.  Judgment calls about curriculum, judgment calls about discipline, judgment calls about words, and the list could go on.  I am so thankful to work in a building where we support one another and our judgment calls.  They may not always be perceived as the right thing or the right choice by others, but if we continue to support and advocate for one another... we set the example that should be set for our students.  As we all know, they learn more from our example than anything else.

Ironically, the picture below was sent to me today.  This is a motivational poster that can be purchased from Really Good Stuff.  The message is a great one.

Thanks for your time this morning and always.  I appreciate being able to work in the "same box" as you all --- the difference that you make for students on a daily basis is amazing.

Quote of the day...

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts."

--Winston Churchill

Quote of the day...

"Change brings opportunity."

--Nido Qubein

Neat Blog Post on P/T Conferences...

It's Show Time

Quote of the day...

"The only title in our democracy superior to that of President is the title of citizen."

--Justice Louis D. Brandeis

The Growth Mindset...

Good Read on School Attendance...

Research & Attendance

Quote of the day...

"When we get into the habit of truly paying attention to life, we often find that miracles are all around us.  They are simply everyday occurrences seen more clearly."

--Chelle Thompson

Quote of the day...

"Family is the link to our past, bridge to our future."

--Alex Haley

Great watch...

Quote of the day...

"Accept -- then act. Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it...... This will miraculously transform your whole life."

--Eckhart Tolle

Quote of the day...

"A single event can awaken within us a stranger totally unknown to us.  To live is to be slowly born."

--Antoine de St. Exupery

The Rules for Being Amazing...

Quote of the day...

"A sunny disposition prevents a hardening of the attitudes."

--Reed B. Markham, American educator

What is being creative?

A great message...

Quote of the day...

"The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home."

--Confucius

Quote of the day...

"If I were asked to give what I consider the single most useful bit of advice for all humanity, it would be this: Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life, and when it comes, hold your head high, look it squarely in the eye, and say, 'I will be bigger than you.  You cannot defeat me.'"

--Ann Landers

Blogs in Plain English

Quote of the day...

"October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came --
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the bank."

--George Cooper: "October's Party"

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY!  I HOPE YOU GET THE CHANCE TO GET OUTSIDE AND ENJOY IT.

Quote of the day...

"To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly."

--Henri Bergsson, French philosopher

Drew Johnson Blog: Congratulations to all Bluff View Students, Parent...

Drew Johnson Blog: Congratulations to all Bluff View Students, Parent...:  

Drew Johnson Blog: Thank you to Design Homes for the donation of a Ga...

Drew Johnson Blog: Thank you to Design Homes for the donation of a Ga...: The picture below is of the Design Homes team installing the Gazebo at the High School. This was a very generous donation to the school!

Drew Johnson Blog: All Day 4K in the News. Congratulations to the who...

Drew Johnson Blog: All Day 4K in the News. Congratulations to the who...: The following is an online article and feature by Patrick Anderson that was in the Sunday LaCrosse Tribune PRAIRIE DU CHIEN — Mikey Pettit...

Quote of the day...

"Growth demands a temporary surrender of security."

--Gail Sheehy

BAK Little Hawk News...: La Crosse Tribune Article on Full Day 4K...

BAK Little Hawk News...: La Crosse Tribune Article on Full Day 4K...: Article on Prairie du Chien Full Day 4K

Technology will not fix education...

Re-Post from a blog that I follow...

We need to take bigger mental leaps as educators and policymakers

Quote of the day...

"There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing."

--Alfred Wainwright

Quote of the day...

"Bad weather always looks worse through a window."

--Author unknown

Neat Concept...

My friend from grad school is the principal at this school in La Crosse.  I'm really anxious to see how this goes for their district!  I'm sure it will prove to be very beneficial with the "summer slide" that we tend to see with students!

Hamilton Elementary School --- La Crosse

Announcement from Help Desk...

We are currently using about half of our bandwith.  It is fine for staff to use whatever you wish, including streaming.  If we hit the 100mb threshold we can reevaluate.

There were also a few changes made to the staff internet filter, so you should see less blocking of sites.

Thank you!

Google Reader in Plain English...

Drew Johnson Blog: Community meeting on School Report Cards

Drew Johnson Blog: Community meeting on School Report Cards: PRAIRIE DU CHIEN AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT WHEN: Wednesday, November 7, 2012 TIME: ...

11 Simple Ways...

11 Simple Ways to Create Genuine Connections with the People Who Make Failure Impossible

from zenhabits by guest

‘You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.’ ~Jim Rohn

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Scott Dinsmore of Live Your Legend.

There’s probably one thing we can agree on: The people around you dictate your success.
They can also forecast our failure.
There is no faster, more effective way to fill the gap between where you are and where you aspire to be than having the right passionate and supportive people in your corner. There is no bigger life hack.
Environment is everything. And it’s 100 percent in our control.
But it can be intimidating to change our surroundings, and most of us aren’t doing a thing about it.
Over the past couple years in creating How to Connect with Anyone, I’ve surveyed, interacted with and interviewed over 10,800 people on this very topic.
The responses were terrifying…

• 85% didn’t think they were living up to their potential
• 93% believed the people you surround yourself with are critical to success
• 99% said they could be doing a better job of surrounding themselves with passionate, supportive and successful people

We know how important it is to connect with the right people.
We know how many things could be possible if we changed our surroundings. We’ve heard stories of the changes people have made, the businesses they’ve built, the weight they’ve lost, the lovers they’ve met, and the things they’ve experienced – just as a result of connecting with the right people.
Yet so few of us know how to tackle it. We have all kinds of reasons why we don’t reach out and make the connections we could – we don’t live in a big city, we’re an introvert, we’re not worthy, we have nothing to offer, we don’t know where to start…
So we do nothing. And the gap between dreams and reality widens.
So over the past decade, and more specifically the past year, I’ve gone on a quest to figure out how we can create that supportive environment that changes our career, business and life.
Years of studying social dynamics, human interaction and personal rapport (and being obsessed with making new friends), lead me to make some discoveries that have allowed me to connect and befriend people in all walks of life, from rock stars like Warren Buffett and Tony Robbins, all the way down to the interesting girl at the bar or the stranger on the street.
Most importantly, it showed me how to create that support team of everyday people who will not only inspire us, but more importantly, will refuse to let us fail.
It was that group that caused my business, Live Your Legend, to go from growing by exactly 0% for the first four years, to growing by 10x within six months of surrounding myself with a new group of people (including our good friend Leo!). Twelve months later it grew by another 160x and turned into the movement it is today.
The reason this happened was simple …
Changing my surroundings took my thinking from “How could I possibly do this?” to “How could I possibly not?”
When that shift happens, it ripples across your whole world.
So today I want to share 11 simple things you can do starting today to begin creating that environment of support that makes failure impossible.

11 Simple Ways to Connect with the People Who Make Failure Impossible

1. Know the impact you want to have. Connection starts long before the first interaction. Be the guy glowing with passion. Let the people around you feel your fire for the impact you want to have on the world. Prompt others to share what makes them come alive. Share in their excitement. There is no more empowering, genuine way to connect. If you don’t know the impact you dream of making, how will you know who you want in your corner to make it happen?
2. Fire toxic friends. This one’s painful, but an absolute requirement. Identify the people in your day-t0-day life who you notice constantly put your ideas down. The ones who don’t support you and leave you drained after an interaction. Make a list. You must start spending less time around them.
Leo is the poster-child of this and is actually one of the experts in our Connect with Anyone course just for that reason. He realized he had a job he hated, 70 pounds he wanted to lose, a sm0king habit he wanted to kick and a lifestyle that was killing him. He ended up moving his whole family halfway across the world to San Francisco – all in search of a more empowering environment. I’m not saying you need to be that extreme, but you must recognize how badly the wrong people can infect your potential.
3. Find new surroundings. Leo constantly stresses that you need to replace old habits with new, more empowering ones. Same with people. If you leave your toxic friends but have no one else to hang out with, you’ll likely go right back to them. This can start as simple as seeing one inspiring friend for an hour every week or so.
Take your passions and start to overlay them with the people in business and in life who see the world the same way. Take inspiration from everywhere: TED talks, movies, articles, local events, Google searches – anything goes.
4. Create a relationship road map. Write out the people you want in your corner. Be as specific as possible – ideally with actual names, but at least with industries and areas you want to spend more time with. Create a “Dream Connections” list of the industry leaders and game changers you’d love to meet and collaborate with. If you don’t know who you want to meet, it’s going to be pretty tough to meet them.
5. Discover who you already know. The odds are that you or the people close to you already know a handful of people who could change your world. Go through your existing networks including friends, colleagues, past employers, alumni groups, sports teams, friends of friends.
Who’s already connected to you in some way that you’d like to get closer to? Make a list of at least five, but keep going as long as you can list names. Then start setting up lunches and meetings to reconnect.
6. Enlist the help of others. This action alone will cause your community to explode with new interesting people. Ask your existing network who they know who fits the criteria of whom you’re hoping to meet. Ask every person you meet for a referral. Never leave a meeting without asking for one person they think would be good for you to meet and who would also benefit from meeting you. Always start with the other person’s interests in mind.
Only ask for one, though. Be specific, so it’s easy to think of someone. Sample Script: “Thanks Natalie, this has been a total blast. Also I’m curious, I’d love to chat with a few other people about long-distance trail running. Can you think of one person who comes to mind who would have some fun chatting through this stuff over a tea or a meal?”
7. Create unique value and learn to help anyone. All of us have things we can offer to others. Nothing feels better and nothing creates faster, more memorable genuine connections. What are your unique strengths, talents and passions? If you design logos, offer someone some free help with the branding for their new venture.
I once gave a copy of The 4-Hour Body to a new business friend who wanted to lose some weight. The next time I saw him, he’d lost 30 pounds. Is there any better gift to give? Before going to a meetup with a bestselling author and entrepreneur I admired, my wife and I created a list of our favorite vegan restaurants in San Francisco – because we knew he only ate plants and had just moved to town. We would have appreciated the same in his shoes. Your ability to help is only limited by your creativity.
8. Great genuine online connections. I see connecting online as maybe step one of twenty, but it is still an incredibly powerful, high-leverage step. Today there’s a community for every passion imaginable. You just have to do some looking. Join a private club or a forum. Even if it costs $20 or $100 a month, it’s worth checking out. You can always cancel later. I met my first group of online entrepreneur friends through Leo’s A-List Blogging Club, and his Sea Change Program has turned into an incredibly community for habit change. We’ve created our own members-only Connection Forum as part of the Connect with Anyone Course for this same reason.
9. Build your in-person community. As soon as you can, take the virtual connections into the real world. No matter how big or small your town is, you have to find people in the flesh and blood with whom you can spend consistent time. Check out meetup.com, Craigslist, Facebook & LinkedIn groups or the classifieds of your hometown paper. Or better yet, walk into the hot local restaurant or cafe and ask the owner what’s happening in your realm of passions. Start attending events and saying hello. Watch what happens.
10. Make people a part of your world. The more personal the better. Get out on double dates, have beers, go on workouts, travel together. Do anything you can to make these people a part of your life. But only if you genuinely care about having them in your life. People will see straight through anything less than honest intentions.
11. Show Up. Nothing happens if you don’t show up. If you never press send on that email, dial that number, or walk through the door of your local event, you will never find the surroundings you need. And often times that leads to 99% of the results … showing up. At the end of the day, that’s the only thing that has lead to the connections that have changed my world. And it’s the only thing that ever will.
If you aren’t willing to show up, nothing else matters.

So, who’s in your corner?

The most recent studies show that over 80% of people are not happy with their work. This is a tragedy. It also means that most the people around us encourage complacency. They endorse these lives of quiet desperation that so much of the world is living. They put down our ideas on how to be different, and think we’re crazy (or even stupid) for thinking we can take the road less traveled.
They tell us it’s impossible to actually build a life and career around work we’re truly passionate about.
The more time we hang around them, the more we start to believe it and the less we actually try to make a meaningful impact in the world.
But we have a choice.
We can choose to continue to hang around the people who tell us we’re stupid for thinking things could be different. Or we could surround ourselves with the people who inspire possibility.
The choice is 100% on us.
Either way, one thing is for sure. The people around us will change our world.
The question is, will they kill our dreams or make them come true?
That’s on you to decide.
You have more control than you likely realize.
Do something with it.
After all, what could be possible with the right people in your corner?
Scott Dinsmore is the founder of Live Your Legend and the creator of How to Connect with Anyone – an interactive online course to surround yourself with the world-changing people necessary to build your ideal business or career. The course is open for enrollment to the first 100 students until this Friday at 11:59pm PST. ZenHabits readers even get a special deal. Learn more about the course here.

Growth Mindset...

I am currently reading Carol Dweck's book on the fixed vs. growth mindset.  It is a fascinating concept, and something that is very prevalent in the way students and adults make decisions and attempt tasks.  I hope you enjoy this article taken from Larry Ferlazzo's blog.

~Laura

Response: Classroom Strategies to Foster a Growth Mindset

By Larry Ferlazzo on October 15, 2012 1:03 PM

The question asked last week was:

What are actions teachers can take to help their students develop a growth mindset?

As Professor Carol Dweck -- one of authors of today's guest response and the developer of the term and concept -- has written elsewhere:

Individuals with a fixed mindset believe that their intelligence is simply an inborn trait--they have a certain amount, and that's that. In contrast, individuals with a growth mindset believe that they can develop their intelligence over time.

Thanks to Professor Dweck's work, I have been explicitly applying this concept in the classroom for the past few years, but won't take up space here to share my experiences. Instead, I've developed a list of resources you can access here.

We're lucky today to have Professor Dweck and Dr. Lisa Blackwell, the co-founder of the organization designed to help schools be more effective in helping students develop growth mindsets, as the co-authors of today's guest response.

In addition, several readers offer their comments.

Response From Carol Dweck & Lisa Blackwell

Dr. Carol Dweck is the Lewis and Virginia Eaton Professor of Psychology at Stanford University, author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, and internationally renowned expert on mindsets and motivation. Her colleague and Mindset Works co-founder, Dr. Lisa Blackwell, is a former school leadership coach and the principal designer of Brainology. She is currently VP of Design, Implementation, & Evaluation at Mindset Works, which offers curricula, professional development, and tools that foster a growth mindset in students and educators. Learn more about deepening student motivation at Mindset Works:

Students typically begin each new school year with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety. Will their teachers be supportive or severe? Will they succeed or not? Adding to the anxiety is the fear of public embarrassment if they do have difficulty. Here is a 5^th grader talking about how he feels about challenges and about making mistakes in class:

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Our research¹ on the growth mindset² shows that students who believe they can grow their basic abilities have greater motivation and higher achievement than do students who believe their abilities are fixed, and that teachers can influence students' mindsets. The beginning of the new school year is a great time to establish your classroom as a growth mindset environment. Here are some things you can do right away to lay a foundation for growth all year:

1) Establish high expectations (not just high standards). Research by Geoffrey Cohen and colleagues³ shows that this increases motivation in vulnerable students. So let students know that you are challenging them because you know that all of them have the ability to meet those expectations. For example:

• Use lesson-framing language that outlines high expectations, as in this Growth Mindset Framing Tool.⁴ For example, when introducing a new topic, you can tell your students, "This will be a challenging concept to learn, but all of us can reach the goal. I want you to stretch."


• Write comments to your students that contain specific feedback on ways to improve, along with an explanation that you are providing it because you believe they have the capacity to develop a high level of skill in that area.

2) Create a risk-tolerant learning zone. Let your students know that you value challenge-seeking, learning, and effort above perfect performance, and that the amount of progress they make individually is more important than how they compare to others. Make it clear that mistakes are to be expected and that we can all learn from them. For example:

• At the beginning of the year, write a letter to your students saying how much you look forward to supporting their individual growth, and explaining that mistakes are welcome in your classroom. (See this Welcome Back Letter⁵ contributed by a middle school teacher.)


• When you introduce a new topic or assignment, tell students they should expect to find some things confusing and to make initial errors. Ask kids to share their "best" mistake of the week with you, and what they learned from it (and do the same yourself).

3) Give feedback that focuses on process--the things students can control, like their effort, challenge-seeking, persistence, and good strategies--not on their personal traits or abilities. Avoid praising children for their "smartness," and instead help them understand the importance of their own actions in achieving success. Claudia Mueller and Carol Dweck⁶showed that praising students for effort triggers growth mindset thinking. But many students think that effort is simply doing something for a long time, or doing the same thing over and over. Instead, help your students understand the many ways to employ effort effectively, such as seeking out challenges, setting goals and making plans, using creative strategies, and sticking with it when they are having difficulty. For example:

• Recognize your students' effort with tools such as this Effective Effort Rubric⁷ and teach them to use it to self-assess and build on their effort strategies.


• Give feedback that is appropriate to the situation--for example, don't praise effort if the student did not work hard. See the Growth Mindset Framing Tool⁸ for sample language in situations where students worked hard and succeeded, made an effort but have not yet met the goal, or did not exert effort.

4) Introduce students to the concept of the malleable mind. Recent research in neuroscience shows that our brains develop through effort and learning, and that they are more malleable than previously thought. Teaching this can be a powerful way to help students develop a growth mindset about their own ability. For example:

• Have your students read and discuss an article about the malleable brain, such as You Can Grow Your Intelligence.⁹ Let students know that when they are practicing hard things their brains are forming new connections and making them smarter. Instead of feeling dumb when they struggle, they will learn to "feel" those connections growing.


• Teach students about how the brain changes with learning and how they can build their brains with effective learning strategies through programs like the Brainology¹⁰ blended learning curriculum.

By introducing the growth mindset into your classroom early in the year, you can begin to build a culture of growth that will support your students as learners all year long.

Quote of the day...

"Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory."

--George S. Patton

Quote of the day...

"I never had a policy; I have just tried to do my very best each and every day."

--Abraham Lincoln

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"Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family."

--Anthony Brandt

BAK Little Hawk News...: Updated Announcement - Jump Rope for Heart...

BAK Little Hawk News...: Updated Announcement - Jump Rope for Heart...: Please see this updated information regarding Jump Rope for Heart at B.A. Kennedy: B.A. Kennedy --- Jump Rope for Heart

YOU Matter...

As a follow up to a great taco lunch on Friday, just one final THANK YOU.  In my busy days, I do not take enough time to tell you of all the WONDERFUL things I see in our building day in and day out, or to recognize the many talents that I see in each of you.  These talents combined - of ALL staff - are what make B.A. Kennedy what it is, and that is a great place for students and staff.  In closing, please take a few seconds to read Angela Maiers' "The YOU MATTER Manifesteo."  Thanks for everything you do.  It does not go unnoticed.

Are the kids in your classroom students or learners?

Interesting thoughts here: 

Students or Learners?

Quote of the day...

Every minute you spend with someone gives them a part of your life and takes part of theirs. 

-Ally Condie

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Flipping the Classroom...

Although flipping the classroom is something that (from what I have learned) is more geared toward middle and high school, this is still an interesting watch... and there are ways we can incorporate this with our own teaching --- especially when it comes to reinforcing concepts at home.

Enjoy!

Quote of the day...

"In wildness is the preservation of the world."

--Henry David Thoreau

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What if money was no object?

Quote of the day...

We should come home from adventures, and perils, and discoveries every day with new experiences and character.

--Henry David Thoreau

Thanks for sharing, Ms. Bartels!

Quote of the day...

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.  Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.  The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves."

--John Muir, renowned Wisconsin naturalist

Quote of the day...

"The easiest thing to be in the world is you.  The most difficult thing to be is what other people want you to be.  Don't let them put you in that position."

--Leo Buscaglia

BAK's Special Visitors...

E-I-E-I-E-I-O... Come on Blackhawks, Let's Go!

We're from Prairie... Couldn't be prouder!

Watch out for that alligator...

A special thanks to the cheerleaders and Coach Saxe for a great visit!  We can't wait for the pep rally (or "pepper" rally as our little ones say :) ) tomorrow!!

Having Fun During Specials

Students in Mr. Henning's class sing a song while using instruments!

Students in Mrs. Lewis' phy ed class are playing a fun tag game.

Students in Ms. Voelzke's science class had a special visit from Mrs. Lenzendorf, with a lesson on nutrition.

Students in Mrs. Harris' social studies class were reading a story about a president.

Quote of the day...

"The difference between try and triumph is a little umph."

--Author Unknown

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Parade Tonight

Just a few reminders about the parade tonight...

We will be meeting in the High School parking lot (south lot) around 5pm.  Those of you teaching Superstars... We will wait for you!  We will then travel to the island and put the finishing touches on the float.  

I hope to see many of you there tonight!  Thanks to all for everything you've done to make this such a fun experience for the kids!  I can't wait to see their faces as they see you in the parade tonight.

Quote of the day...

"Be grateful for all the obstacles in your life.  They have strengthened you as you continue with your journey."

--Author unknown

Quote of the day...

"Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart, and try to love the questions themselves... Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now... The point is, to live everything.  Live the questions now."

---Rainer Maria Rilke

Quote of the day...

"Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting, and autumn a mosaic of them all."

-Stanley Horowitz

Food for Thought...

The Only Way to Respond to Life...

The Only Way to Respond to Life

Post written by Leo Babauta.

I went for a run along the beach at sunset yesterday, foam kissing my bare feet, smooth sand caressing my soles, and the sky exploding with color.

I paused for breath, mostly because the sky, and the Pacific, had borrowed my breath from me.

I stopped and applauded.

This is the only response that life deserves: overjoyed applause.

This morning, wherever you are, whatever life has given you, take a moment to really appreciate this gift, and applaud. I mean, actually applaud.

Then give back to life, something, anything, to show your gratitude for this miracle you’ve been given. Do anything: be kind to someone, create something, be gentle with your children, do something where your body feels full of life.

We often not only take life for granted, but complain about it. Life isn’t perfect, work is boring, people are too rude, drivers are idiots, no one gets me, I have too many things to do. But goodness, look around you! What a wonder life is! If only we would take the time to see it, to really appreciate it, and to applaud.

This moment is a ridiculously generous miracle. Give it up, folks, for life.

POSTED: 09.22.2012

A few clips from Daniel Pink...

Daniel Pink is a well renowned motivational offer. Attached are some clips that he did for the Patterson Foundation. These give some neat ideas and food for thought.

Quote of the day...

"Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is."

--Vince Lombardi

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"The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back in your pocket."

--Will Rogers

BAK Little Hawk News...: Jump Rope for Heart!

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Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Baumgartner...

Mrs. Baumgartner and her husband, Josh, welcomed a beautiful baby girl yesterday (Tuesday, September 18) at 5:30pm.  Her name is Lylla Kay Baumgartner.  Mrs. Baumgartner reports that both mom and baby are doing well!  Congrats!

Quote of the day...

"The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts while the stupid ones are full of confidence."

--Charles Bukowski

Interesting Quick Read...

East vs. West: Educational Philosophies Collide

VERY IMPORTANT READ FOR ALL STAFF WITH INSURANCE

Drew Johnson Blog: Health Assessment Followup and HRA: We are getting a number of questions on the health assessment followup. I will try to be as clear as possible and give out the information t...

Quote of the day...

"Patience is to wait with certainty, the art of allowing life to carry you."

--Chinese proverb

4K Group Meeting - 9/17/2012

Specials Teacher Meeting Information - 9/17/2012

Quote of the day...

"The secret to a rich life if to have more beginnings than endings."

--Dave Weinbaum

Homecoming T-Shirts

Homecoming t-shirts are available for $10.  If interested, email Laura.

Happy Belated Birthday...

Happy Belated Birthday to some of our other B.A. Kennedy staff members...

Mrs. Sturmer celebrated her birthday on September 4th,

Ms. Tank also celebrated her birthday on September 4th,

Mrs. Kilbey celebrated her birthday on September 9th.

We hope you all had great birthdays!!