Be the Sunshine!

 

It is time to bring back that joy and love of learning!  It is time to bring back the joy of teaching!  It is time to bring back the joy within us all!  

Our school theme this year is, "Be the Sunshine!"   The climate of our world today surges with a teaming of unhappy and critic-frenzied people.  Every post, article, and story on the news is lined up in the cross hairs of pessimistic, gloom and doom attacks- laser focused on judgement, negativity, and shaming. It is focused on tearing others down and not building them up to a better place. This world could use a little (or a lot) of sunshine, positivity, and possibilities.  I could definitely use a few sun spotters as you read this blog.  (I am sure you can find plenty wrong with my writing. Please focus on the intent and not grammatical and mechanical deficiencies.) 🌞🌞🌞

Many people think about changing the world and say this is impossible.  Supporting a cultural change in others and how they perceive themselves and the world is daunting at best.  It is not an easy task; specially with adults that have lived many years with experiences that have fed their minds unhealthy energy and shaped their thinking patterns.  Schools have the unique opportunity of being able to help young people to use positive thinking to view a new, brighter world.   The power that this could have on our school community could be huge!  Our students are remarkable, and we can help them to remove the shadow of negativity that has enveloped our families, schools, communities, and our nation in darkness.  Schools shape the future! Students spend up to eight or more hours a day at school.   Curtis Elementary staff has the opportunity to model and teach our students how to live in a world where we can find the silver linings, the beams of positivity, and find the sunshine. Positive thinking can be learned. The brain is a muscle and we must train it.     If we can help our students understand the importance of positive thinking and teach them how to frame and focus on the positive, we can change the heart of the world!  It will start with our Curtis Elementary staff.   

Henry Ford said, "Whether you think you can or you can't -- you are right."  This quote says so much about the power of thinking.  We can control the narrative in our own thoughts.  If we only focus on failures and what can go wrong, that only shines a light into a dark hole- which devours positivity, light, joy, and hope. Taking a path of positive thinking, to assume positive intent, and finding spotlighting the good in the world leads to finding positive solutions and outcomes.  I truly believe that individuals that live their lives through thinking positively can more easily reach their goals. Focusing on the negative can prevent someone from even working toward goals.

We are going to "Be the Sunshine" at Curtis Elementary.  When we can't find the sunshine, we will bring it.  We can radiate a bright light into the darkness.  No one has ever found anything easily in the dark, look into the shining light- for all can be revealed in the brightness.  For those that have entered our building, you can feel the warmth of the sun for sure.  Why do you think this blog is named, "Passion Lives Here?" The Curtis staff shines bright and you can see and feel it each day on our campus.  

It is going to be a Bright Year at Curtis Elementary!  Watch and see!  (You might need to bring your sunshades though.)

 

It's Back! Curtis Annual Chili Cook-Off 2021!

  

What a great night we had at Curtis Elementary!  for nearly 15 years, we held a Chili Cook-Off night.   This was one of the most successful parent engagement events in the history of the school. Six years ago, we decided to change it up a bit and stopped having the Annual Chili Cook-Off. Due to the pandemic, we have not had  visitors in our building for nearly two years.  A month ago, our doors finally opened to the public, and we decided to  bring back of our greatest events - Curtis Chili Cook-Off!

So many parents and students came to the Chili Cook-Off Night, and we had such a great time.  Hotdogs, nachos, and a Literacy Magician were the highlights, and of course THE CHILI!  It was wonderful to see our teachers get into character, decorate booths transforming our hallways into a magical world! The spooned out the chili for all to taste, and encouraged everyone to vote for their delicious creation.  Kids were able to see their teachers in a whole new light! 

These events are needed for our students, teachers, and parents.  It made me realize how much we have missed these kind of opporrtunities in the last couple of years.  It made me realize how important parent engagement is to a Title I campus. It made me realize what the best part of school is for kids. It made me realize how  we missed!

If any of you had similar school experiences as I did, the things that kept you connected and focused were the fun things!  What was the best part of school for you?  Was it going to English class or math class- or was it something else? Think back to your own school experience.  What one thing motivated you in school? What was your purpose? What developed your character and self-esteem?  Being a part of something gives a person purpose and provides a sense of belonging.  In many of our own homes, we have helped to create that sense of purpose and belonging with our own children through family activitites, dinners, and chores.

As educators, our job is to help make those connections and find ways to keep students engaged.   Making connections with our students  (Even those that make it hard to make a connection) is vital to teaching and learning.  Students learn better when they know the teacher cares about them, and when they feel connected to the classroom.   Building character and internal motivation to learn comes from showing interest and making learning fun.  Making memories for students in schools helps them to feel connected. This is why parent engagement activities like the Chili Cook-Off are so important!

Looking back at my time in school, I can honestly say that I did not get excited about going to just do the work.   It was the connnections I had with my friends and teachers that helped to motivate me.  It was the fun activities, experiences, social events that were fun that played a large part of learning about myself, others, and the world around me. We can have high expectations for learning and still have fun! 

To this day I still love the fun stuff!  Parent engagement events remind me that we (educators) are part of something bigger than ourselves.  One of the best parts of education is building relationships and providing our students and families with memorable experiences.     Teachers dress up in  silly costumes or take a little extra time cooking chili, circle students up to have some meaningful conversations in class meetings, prepare kids  for track meets, competitive fundraisers, parties, and laugh with their students to make learning fun, make connectoins, and show kids they care.   

As I said before, a few weeks ago special memories were made here at Curtis Elementary.  I saw several of my former Curtis Elementary students who are now parents of Curtis Roos!  We laughed and reminisced those special moments and victories of those legendary Curtis Chili Cook-Off nights.  Last night’s memories of Quarantine Chili, Hocus Pocus Chili, Hillbilly Chili, Chuckwagon Chili, The Best Show on Earth Chili.  That night was fun!  Many of our parents and kids will remember the relationship they had with their teacher and those times their teachers dressed up like witches, served chili in character, and the students were their zombies. They may struggle to remember the exact time and date of historical events in social studies though.

 

 

Ready, Set, Go!

We have had a great 1st Six Weeks at Curtis Elementary!  After ending our first grading period, we are ramped up and ready to keep moving.  Teachers have worked hard to assess students, and now they are ready to dig in and close gaps.

A large part of improvement is to know where students are so that teachers and students can set and readjust achievement goals.  Many hours were spent over the last few weeks to determine what students know and what they need to know.  Now teachers are ready to differentiate instruction so that every student can set a target for his or her learning.

Over the last few weeks, I have had many great conversations with teachers on how they will set up their student data binders.  Allowing students to track their own data and set their own goals is an effective way to help close achievement gaps.  Students see for themselves what they need to learn and how they need to learn.   Student data folders can empower students to own their learning.  It becomes less about, " The teacher gave me this grade." It becomes more about, " I still needing to learn how to multiply double digit numbers by single digit numbers."  Student data folders, if used effectively, can make a huge difference in changing the learning culture in the classroom.

By allowing students to track their learning data, teachers and students can have meaningful conversations about what the student is going to do about the learning.  It also allows teachers to reflect on what they will do about instruction.  It allows for teachers to individualize instruction.  The learning process is NOT about the teaching.  It is about the learning.  Student data folders help students to be part of the conversation.  It allows them some voice and choice in how they will learn, and it allows student to own their learning. 

Here are some resources for learning how to utilize data folders as a tool for students to own their learning.

Education Week Teacher

The Leader in Me Blog

Restorative Practices

It  has been a great three weeks of school as we start the 2017-2018 school year, and we have been busy.  Students and teachers in every classroom have worked to create a positive classroom environment.  One of the important characteristics to a healthy community is respect.  Students are learning about how to respect one another.  Students and teachers are also learning how to respect each other through Restorative Practices.

Restorative Practice includes strategies for helping students understand positive relationships. Having healthy relationships impacts our lives.  Knowing how to respect others will have a positive effect in every aspect of our lives.  Developing these skills through Restorative Circles is a large part of how we understand one another.  Teachers hold Restorative Circle meetings or Class Meetings with students.  During this time, the instruction centers around respect and understanding.

 Students and teachers talk about how they are feeling.  During these meetings, problems are solved.  Students are able to learn how to have a positive relationship with others.  They are able to connect with others and see how much they have in common with others.   Restorative Circles also help students learn ways to react to different situations which helps to improve their social awareness.

Educating students is not always about Reading, Writing, and Math.  We do so much more than that at Curtis Elementary.  We care about kids!  Staff members are charged with how to develop each student and help them be a positive citizen.  Curtis Elementary staff is challenged with helping students understand how to work through conflict and restore relationships.  That is how they will sustain healthy relationships throughout their lives.  Curtis Elementary is challenged with helping to improve our society by teaching our students about how to develop positive relationships and changing lives one child at a time. Why do we do this? ...Because Kids!

Learning Together is Fun!

Last week our Curtis staff got together for our annual Curtis Retreat.  We had a fun-filled afternoon learning together because our differences.  Developing a positive culture is important in creating a team!  This is something that our Curtis team does best!  We had a great time together.

This year's theme is, "Making the Difference."  We want to encourage our classrooms to include challenges that cultivate problem solving, collaboration, collaboration, and creativity.  Maker's Spaces provide this opportunity.  Teachers can create these spaces for students in the their classrooms as well as accessing our Innovation Lab for class challenges throughout the year.  Our challenge in meeting the  needs of students is to individualize learning and embrace their differences.  At the retreat, our teachers worked in teams to complete a challenge.  Little did they know, some were more equipped than others.  The members of each team all have different experiences, talents, and passions.  Working together collaboratively, they were all able to contribute in their own unique way to complete the challenge together.

Each team had many of the same items to complete the challenge, but some of their items were a little different.  Some teams' directions were in another language while others may not have been able to talk while planning to execute their challenge. 

Like teaching and learning, not every student starts on the same playing field.  Some may be more equipped with certain talents and skills than others, but ALL students have talents.  Allowing students to collaborate to solve problems is important to learning.  Student-centered learning helps to break barriers allowing students to think differently to achieve a common goal.

Learning needs to be fun!

Our learning space on Thursday night was not quiet.  It was teeming with familiar sites and sounds of learning.  Staff members were communicating ideas, laughing, and working with their hands to complete the challenge to make something float!    Learning is messy!  There were materials flying all over the place.  Student-centered learning helps to engage all learners and encourages collaboration, a skill most important to success in life.

Curtis Elementary teachers had fun last Thursday night!  A Team that plays together, stays together!  We are committed to embracing differences in students' learning styles and differentiating learning for every child. 

We will know our students, individualize learning for each of them, and ensure that every child makes progress.  We accept the challenge to make learning fun leading our students to success.

Because Kids!

It is that time of year again!  The start of a new year is always exciting! I try to wrap things up around the house before the start of school so that I can focus on teachers and students. In the last days of summer, I have been working to take care of some things around my house.  I love doing yard work, but sometimes things don't go as smoothly as planned.  Last weekend I was tasked with eradicating some tough black algae in my pool.  It just came out of nowhere!  Or did it?  A week before I awoke to scattered spots on the pool plaster, I had to take my water to get tested.  Distracted by other things, I did not treat my pool as expected and just did not get around to it.  At the end of the week, I was about to begin the treatment and to my surprise, I had a bigger issue - the black algae.  This issue cost me a couple of days of hard work scrubbing and vacuuming the pool. And the really fun part -  cleaning the filter.  All of this could have been avoided if only I had not allowed myself to be distracted.

In between the scrubbing, we decided to test all of our sprinklers to see if the system was working well.  This task took most of the day.  We found a few sprinkler heads that needed replacing and some were watering the sidewalks and not the grass.  The thing that took most of the day was finding a station not working.  There were some sprinklers that were not coming on at all!  My husband and I worked several hours trouble shooting a station which included a couple of trips to Home Depot for parts.  After several hours, we concluded that we were not even working on the right station!  Since we did not have a blueprint for our system, we were just shooting in the dark to determine which station watered different parts of the yard.  Finally, after all day in the hot sun (the hottest day of the summer) we found the right station to repair so that we could fix the valve.

I tell this story about my Saturday because it reminds me of the job we do in education.  My Saturday caused me to reflect on some key duties that I have as the principal of Curtis Elementary.  It is my key responsibility to make sure that everyone in the building is focused on the right things.  The work we do at Curtis Elementary is important.  We are all about meeting the needs of students no matter how diverse those needs may be at any given time.  Here are a couple of the key lessons that I learned from working in the yard.

 1.  Don't Get Distracted!

Sometimes in education the same thing can happen.  We will all have the best intentions to keep everything running smoothly and things distract us.  The next thing you know, there is an unforeseen problem.  It is like spinning plates.  While busy spinning one plate, another one falls.  IT is difficult to keep them all spinning at the same time.  Going back to the pool issue, I am reminded that we have to be focused on the right things all of the time!  As a principal, it is my responsibility to ensure that staff members and teachers are focused on the right things, and I do not take this responsibility lightly.  Not only do I need to focus on the culture of our school, but I also must keep quality instruction at the forefront of everything that we do.  It is all about the students!    As with the pool, if we are not focused on the right things at the right time, we will have to spend precious time treating a problem or it will come back twice as big.

Algae can run rampant just like perceptions can blow up!  We always want to have a positive perception with our parents and community.  We do not want our community to perceive that we do not care.  Developing positive relationships with our parents is crucial.  Having a positive relationship with parents and students goes a long way.  If we nurture our relationships with parents, it is easier to find solutions together to help their child when academic or behavioral issue arise.  The most important relationship we must cultivate is with the student.  Students know when a teacher believes in them and cares.  It is important that there is a relationship with the student in order for him/her is ready to learn.   We also must stay focused on the learning standards that need to be taught to students.  If we teach TEKS to the appropriate depth and rigor that our state standards outline, we do not need to teach to a test.  Our students will be ready! We will not have to sweat it when state testing season begins.   We are about quality learning - not testing.  Not getting distracted and staying focused on the "right" work is good for students.


2.  Focus on the Students' and Teachers' Needs!

We are all different!  Teachers are different from one another and have different talents, learning and teaching styles.  As the principal, I must take these unique differences into account during professional development.  One size does not fit all!  I must take on a coaching role to work with teachers to do all I can to help them to be their best.  It is the same with students.   Kids are different too!  As educators, we must tap into students' passions and talents in order to increase academic achievement.  We must DIFFERENTIATE!  This is such an easy term that rolls out of our mouths, but it is really difficult.  We must provide an individualized education for all students.  Not every student needs the same thing.  It is like those sprinklers that were spraying the sidewalk.

It does not matter how much water you are spraying, if it isn't hitting the grass nothing grows.  The same thing goes with learning.  If teachers are cranking out awesome lessons, but they are not pointing the right stuff to the right kids, it is wasted energy and effort.  We need to point our

sprinklers in the right directions - using the right instructional strategies for each student instead of just spraying it all over the room and hoping some of it lands on a student helping him/her to learn and grow.  We need to make sure we are working on the right station or valve when there is an issue instead of wasting time working on the wrong problem.

I am committed to ensuring that Curtis Elementary provides quality instruction for every student.

It is my job to learn, to lead, and to encourage.  The work we do at our campus begins with me.  I am excited about the year ahead of us and more determined than ever to make sure we are laser focused on building relationships and improving  instruction every single day Why?    ...Because Kids!

Full Steam Ahead!

November 17, 2016 was a magnificent night at Curtis Elementary.  This is our second year of having a STEAM Night, and it was a great success.  STEAM Night is a night full of fun, innovative activities for students to demonstrate to parents Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics that they are learning each day at school.   

We even had some students in our Robotics Club unveil their project that they had been working on for nearly a year!  This is their robot! 

They not only constructed this little guy, but they also programmed him too!  They are still working on getting him just right, and can program him to do more things.  That is the beauty of learning.... we are never finished!  

We also had several challenges during the night and one of those challenges was the Marshmallow Challenge.  Students and parents worked together to create a structure

as tall as they could using marshmallows, spaghetti noodles (uncooked of course), and tape!  Students from

various classrooms and the library were connected through Zoom (a website to allow for video conferencing) and could see and talk to one  another throughout the challenge,

Each grade level also had various challenges and activities. There were circuits for families to experiment with, cardboard games students built, and even a cardboard mini golf course! 

The big hit of the night was the hover craft that sixth grade students helped to construct.  With the support of the 
Weatherford ISD Maintenance Department, we had boards cut so that students could take the supplies and build it.  (Safety First!  We wanted to make sure kids were not handling power tools!)  The hover craft was powered by a leaf blower motor.  With some boards, a shower curtain, and a hose, we had lift off! 

Another popular area at Curtis that night was they gym.  This is where we had a Spyro maze.  Students and parents could navigate a maze using a robot ball and an iPad.  Students and parents alike loved the air cannons also.  With the help from a

fog machine, Curtis students assisted families with filling the cannon up with fog so that smoke rings bounded out of the cannon with full force!  They also knocked down cup pyramids with these cannons.  

This night was a fantastic way for parents and the community to see the wonderful things students are learning at school.  Teachers are looking for ways to "hook" students and make learning fun!  Many of the Curtis classrooms are equipped with Maker's Spaces so students can build and discover how the world works. We want to create a place where students do not just consume information.  We want them to make and create and find their passion.  This also helps them to see the purpose of learning, and having a purpose to learn is half the battle of students retaining what they learn.

I am so proud of this event and the work the teachers and students put into having a successful STEAM Night. This was not just about teachers showcasing learning in the classroom or planning activities for kids.  Our Students helped to get ready.  They not only shared what they have been doing in class, but they planned and demonstrated the activities and games throughout the school.  This was about the students!  Students led-teachers were facilitators so our students could lead the learning!