Back to School Yelling Session

Welcome back! Larry said I had thirty minutes to yell at staff. Because most of what you'll hear
will be soon be forgotten, here's a rundown topics I'm covering...

The Team
Stormi Pryor - Lover of powdered doughnuts
Stephanie Criblez - Nicest Media Center staff member
Lori Huhman - Just working for beer money 
Carl Robinson - Building technician

Communication
I try to write a blog post each Friday. My goal is to keep your inbox clean by summarizing information and sending it out at the end of the week. I'll only send out blasts if the info is critical. If you don't read my posts, you won't know what's going on and your kids will miss out on opportunities...

Checkout Schedule
Library checkouts will be available Tuesday through Friday. This year will feature a friendly competition to determine checkout times. Visit the media center Wednesday morning from 9-11 to partake in a fun game set up by Jake. Best score will get first pick of times. Worst score will pick last. Fun! Checkouts will start on day 1 unless you want to wait. But why would you? Come pick up a library return cart from the media center. Have your students decorate it and you could win $50 to the next book fair! 

Library checkout is not release time. It's important to have all hands on deck to support their browsing and for active supervision. I'm still working on details for how the process will work this year in regards to Covid protocols. I'll send out directions later this week. 

Collaboration
My job is to support your instruction. I will attempt to get back to meeting with grade level teams each week. No, I will not be talking at you. I'll be there to listen to what's going on, offer integration ideas when applicable, teach you new skills you are curious about, share updates if needed. If I know what you are teaching, then I can better support your students. Team leaders, please let me know what day/time you'd like for me to join you. 

Schoolwide Literacy Focus
For those of you who weren't scared off by Larry, you'll recall we instituted several vertical activities such as Friday announcement read alouds, "The Masked Reader", and "March Reading Madness". We loved how many students in different grades talked books with each other. Here are some things we have in motion...

• Monthly genre/author/topic focus
• "Book a Day" board will be making a comeback. Prizes for those classes/students who participate.
• "Mark Twain Nominee" book groups with 4th/5th graders.
• Student book recommendations in Destiny
• Other ideas from you!

What have I put into it for this year?

• I purchased $950 worth of Flipster magazines (The Week Junior, Zoobooks, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Ranger Rick Junior, Girls' World, Baking Heaven, How it Works, Cobblestone, Brainspace, All About Space, Eco Kids Planet)
• I purchased $1300 worth of new books for the library
• I submitted a $2000 grant proposal for additional eBooks and audiobooks for Sora (fingers crossed!!)

I'm asking for your help in supporting the resources that I've put into our program. Epic is fine and all, but there so much good content in Sora and Flipster. You'll be hearing us promote it frequently, you'll start to see posters in the hallways, but we need you to be a promoter as well. 

Makerspace - The "Fishbowl"
Our new and improved (and hopefully permanent for as long as I'm here) Makerspace is ready for action. I'm envisioning starting with three ways to use it:

1. Monthly maker challenges
2. Daily "open lab" times for grade levels
3. Special integration projects for grades/classes

Visit with your grade level team sometime Thursday or Friday for a super-duper fun activity! You'll be tasked with making an item to display in the Fishbowl. Plan on 30 minutes or so. 

We will continue with STEAM checkout kits. Look for information in a few weeks. 

The Flock
A classroom rotation will be set up to care for the chickens this year. Look for an email signup from me later this week. Once signed up, I'll work with your class to make the process as smooth and clean as possible. I'll also reach out to classes to help with more involved coop maintenance once the year gets going. Nikki, you'll be in charge of performing chicken physicals. 

Bookroom

Reminders about how to use the bookroom:

1. Walk to the bookroom located in the art hallway (I can give tours to our new folks)
2. Select the books you want. Grab the chapter books or the entire bag of books.
3. Walk to the library to check them out. This step is important. I will be looking at weeding materials every year so if they aren't getting checked out, I won't know you're using them. If nobody is there, either leave a post it on the materials (Rachel is a pro at this) or you can write your name and the barcodes on a post it. 
4. Use them in the classroom
5. Put all the books back in the bag and put the papers so everyone can easily see the front. 
6. Return to the blue crate located just outside my office door.

Important: if you are skipping step 3, do not bother to return them to the blue crate. Put them back on your own. I don't want to spend time shelving materials you didn't bother to check out :)

Technology
Ready, set, go...

• I will meet with your teams later this week about iPad distribution
• iPads labels for all with passwords for K-2
• Charging solutions
• Plan for taking home or not
• Students in grades 3-5 will be required to change passwords. I'll work with Stormi to handle that process in Media. You'll get their password information once it's changed. We'll set a convention for each grade to help them remember. 
• There is no computer lab. We have two laptop carts
• One will be housed with Stormi for Media class needs
• The other will be available for classes to checkout for use
• We won't be able to support handing out loaners to students who don't have iPads, so we'll figure that into your iPad take home plan
• Seesaw - I haven't received any updates on how classes will turn over for next year. I'm working on getting information.
• I need to check out all teacher devices. At some point Thursday or Friday, bring your iPad and laptop to me to check out.
• If you need your laptop imaged, bring it to the Media Center with your name and room number on a post it. Carl will get to them as soon as he can. 

Tech Integration Training
I know that teachers new to CPS don't get any real training anymore. I'm thinking we'll tackle your learning a few different ways.

• Grade level meetings
• 1 on 1 walkthroughs
• After school technology specific training, probably on a set day of the week
• Upcoming sessions in the media center:
• Thursday 1:00 - Getting families connected to Seesaw
• Friday 1:00 - Apple Classroom

Outdoor Learning Spaces
A reminder about all the outdoor learning spaces that are available to you:

• Outdoor deck classroom near the fourth grade wing - look for a schedule for sign up
• Folding chairs
• Buckets, lots of buckets

Composting
Yes, we will continue our composting project. Emily is in charge of putting the compost bins back together. If students eat in the cafeteria, it will all be done there. Look for information for students to join the "CRE Green Team" to help support our sustainability efforts in upcoming blogs. Might I suggest telling room parents that we don't support single use plastic bottles??

I'm done

Big week ahead!

First, it was such a fun time today seeing and hearing all the happy kids enjoying field day! Congrats to Karla and crew for making that happen. I can't wait to see what Mr. Floyd puts together for next year (it's in writing now so it has to happen!). Just a couple of updates heading into the last weekend of the school year. 

iPad Collection
Tuesday morning marks the beginning of iPad collection. See the link below for the detailed directions. Email me to let me know if you'd like for me to come to you or if you'd like to bring your class to the library to turn in everything. I'm putting a sheet of blank labels in your mailbox so every device can have a fresh name label. Please use a class list to mark off returned chargers and cables. If you need clarification on anything, please ask! We have a lot to get done in a short window.

iPad Collection Directions - Read Me!

The New Makerspace
Exciting news! Our fearless leaders have given me the green light to move our makerspace into the computer lab. I'm really excited about the possibilities of having the space adjacent to the media center and open for all to see. I've already begun some setup. If you have ideas about equipment or stations (for example, we'll have sewing machines set up for Julia), please let me know. iPads are the focus of Media class and that will continue for next year. We'll have a laptop lab available for when it's needed for Media. We'll also have another laptop cart open for teachers to use. Which leads me to...

Technology Updates
Please read these carefully:

• 
  I need you to return your old laptops. Those will be used for the laptop labs for next year. Looks like the one over there >>
• Many of you have iPad Minis on your Destiny accounts. Ignore those. Those are all gone so I need to go in and manually check them in. 
• Carl is ready to image the new laptops you received over the summer at the Aslin drive thrus. It'll have to be done at some point before next school year. If you want to get it done next week, simply put a post it on your laptop with your name and room number and put it on the purple table in the library. He'll image it and get it back to you as fast as possible.

Book returns
Please follow up with families with materials out. You know the best way to contact them, so I'd appreciate any help you can give. I will continue to make the rounds in the morning to get books and bring by raffle tickets for those students who clear their accounts. I will draw winners and come around with the prize cart on Thursday morning. 

Have a great three day weekend!

STEAM, Flipster, End of year checkout, and more!

It's that time of year when we all start looking towards the next year! I'm working on
some new ideas for next year as well as ways to enhance current programs. I'm always open to feedback as long as it's creative, forward-thinking, out of the box, and not from Emily. Totally kidding! Anyone who thinks to get a custom cup holder for an 84 oz drink is definitely special. Come share your ideas with me. And bonus points if you start the conversation with "I have a totally crazy idea". 

**Please return any laptops you have borrowed for students to the cart in the lab. It's looking pretty thin and I need to start inventory for next year's laptop carts.

Book returns
Next week I'll make the rounds each day to pick up book returns. Starting with Monday's classes, I'll come around with raffle tickets for students with all materials returned. I will draw winners after school on the 2nd and then drive the prize wagon around the school the morning of the 3rd. You'll also notice I've posted a display in the library of how many library materials are checked out. I'm not sure what I'll do with it though. Just for fun unless you're the competitive type. 

End of year checkout
There will be a few media center items on your checkout sheet. Here's a preview:

• Teachers staying at Cedar will hold on to your iPad and new laptop
• Teachers leaving CRE need to turn in your iPad, all laptops, and all chargers
• All books/book room materials need to be returned (you can see what you have checked out in Destiny just like the students: Classlink>Electronic Library>Destiny CRE). There's either a "My Info" tab at the top of the screen or press the hamburger in the upper left and choose "Checkouts". If you can't find it, let me know. But I'll judge. 
• If you have an older laptop that I gave you a few years ago, I'll need that back as well. It's the grayish one with the touch screen. 

You know where to find me if you have questions!

Flipster purchases
I just submitted my order for next year's Flipster titles. Digital magazines will be a focus on the media center next year. Expect to see interactive bulletin boards and hear about new editions regularly. I purchased a much larger collection for next year to try to appeal to broader interests. Here's the lineup:

• The Week Junior
• Zoobooks
• Sports Illustrated for Kids
• Ranger Rick Junior
• Girls' World
• Baking Heaven
• How it Works
• Cobblestone
• Brainspace
• All About Space
• Eco Kids Planet

STEAM Kits
I think we had a decent first attempt at STEAM kit checkouts. We had close to a 100 individual checkouts and nearly 75 Seesaw submissions. We will keep this program going next year. Nothing was lost or stolen (my plan really freaked out quite a few media specialists: "they'll steal everything!!"). We'll promote early in the year and continue having students place holds through Destiny to check out kits. I'll once again offer prizes for those who complete the submission. Congrats to Asher, Amelia, and Alex for winning this year's STEAM drawing. Yes, it was limited to kids with "A" names.

Mark Twain Champion Readers
Congrats to Mikayla, Asher, Aniayah, Rylan, Reneelynn, and Bailey from Mrs. Upton's class for reading all twelve Mark Twain Award nominees this year. Be sure to give them a pandemic elbow (not a Cardinal Punch) if you see them in the halls. They'll be in the media center Wednesday afternoon for a pizza, ice cream, and Mario Cart celebration. My daughter also read all twelve but she won't be joining us. Don't worry, I'll get her a ring pop or something. I'm looking forward to establishing more book groups next year with our 4th and 5th graders with the goal of having 20 or more students read all the books. 

Have a great weekend!

Monday bonus

Last week was a blur. I've already sent too many announcement emails to you this morning, so here's a Monday update instead.

Outdoor classroom ready
The deck and log seating is ready for classroom use. We don't have a signup for it, but maybe we should? At this point, just let me know when you want to use it and I'll let you know if it's available. Sure, sounds good.

More bucket seats
Renae Goodman donated 30 buckets this morning to support our "get the kids outdoors" initiative. I placed them by the bus doors in the extra wing. I know the chickens like company, so take your class by, pick up a bucket, and head outdoors!

Don't forget...
We also have buckets by the first grade doors and we have folding chairs as well. It's going to be a beautiful week

Compost updates
Congrats to 3rd Grade for winning last week's challenge. Pretty much destroyed 4th and 5th. It's a good thing we don't have competitive teachers here. I want to try something a little different to hopefully speed things up. We're going to "tare" the trash can weight and just weigh the whole darn thing! It'll be heavier, but might speed up the waste process and keep things neater. Or it could be a disaster. Who knows?

I will be working with K-2 classes individually this week. I think it's best for everyone if we go with a more adult-centered approach for the younger ones. 

iPad Collection
Here's the rough schedule for iPad collection. I think most of you are planning on allowing iPads to continue to go home until the 24th. If you are collecting keyboards now, give me a little more time to figure out how/where/why I'm going to store them. We will be collecting chargers as well. Serenity now...

June 1 - 4th and 5th
June 2 - K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd

Virtual collection schedule will be finalized today. I'll email those teachers separately. 

Hope everyone had a restful weekend!

Almost done!

What a crazy week! Feels like spring break was a month ago. Hats off to our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers for surviving the week! And to everyone else for getting your students to show them some love. 

Composting 
Special shoutout to Leanna and Susan for starting off our lunch compost and food waste experience. Students in both classes did a great job learning about composting, separating their food waste, and then making better food choices going forward. Our big purpose for this exercise is to show students how they can make better choices in what they eat and how much less food waste they can produce. It's a logistical challenge with them eating in classrooms and we're learning a lot and making changes on the fly. Next week, we'll be adding in fourth and fifth grades. 

Coop
Great job Nikki for getting through your week of chicken care! Or should I say great job to Nikki's students? Jake, you're up next. I didn't get to the "chicken care guide" like I promised, but for some reason I feel that next week will be more productive. Nikki's students will continue to collect compost from the kitchen because I'm getting bogged down with kid trainings. 

Classroom Stuff
Next week we'll be completing (hopefully) breakouts in all three kindergarten classrooms. I created a spring-themed breakout for students to work through. We also made spring buttons this week in kindergarten. Let me know if you'd like assistance with upcoming activities or units. 

Building Updates
Josh, Maggie, and I got the posts in the ground for the outdoor classroom. Next we'll be able to involve the students more with the actual deck build. With a little bit of luck, we'll have it done next week. The kindergarten picnic benches are up next. I hope to get those taken care of next weekend. 

Have a great weekend!

It's Testing Season!!

Only six more weeks of school...

MAP
3-5 teachers: I have placed the requested loaner keyboards and headphones in your testing rooms. I also moved the laptop cart to the hallway for easy access. On Monday, I'll be in that area while you get set up and to help things get underway as smoothly as possible. If a student forgets an iPad, they are to use a laptop. If you need additional loaner keyboards, I'll be pulling the grossest ones I can find from kindergarten and first grade students. Please leave the loaner keyboards in your testing classroom. I would also have the students who need to borrow headphones leave them in the room as well. I'll have my phone on me as well as a walkie so I can't hide from you for long. 

iPads and Keyboards
I wanted you to know there isn't an expectation that devices get sent home. If students are having issues bringing their iPad to school, you are welcome to keep it here. However, if you are doing anything on a large scale, talk to me first about the logistics and communication to parents. 

I would suggest at this point to request that keyboards come to school and stay here. Currently, there is a $50 fine for a lost keyboard. I know that many have switched hands during the year. I'd be happy to visit your room to scan and label them. I still have heard nothing about the collection of devices. I expect an answer on or around May 27th. Seriously though, the more stuff we have here, the easier it will be to collect (assuming we are allowed to collect them). 

Composting Initiative

Next week we start our Cedar Ridge composting campaign to teach students how to reduce and reuse food waste. Look for updates from Mrs. Guillory's classroom as we dial in the most efficient process for separating and collection food waste. I'm sure it will be a lot of trial and error and probably a big mess. I'll look for a cute apron to wear while I'm helping, and I haven't bought new shoes recently and I always look forward to that...

Chicken Care
Thank you Mrs. Kunkel for volunteering to care for the flock next week! The birds appreciate it. Next week, we'll start adding food waste from lunch prep to the chickens' diet. Our wonderful chefs (my son called them chefs for many years in elementary school) are filling a bucket each day with scrap veggies from their prep. We'll have a student from the helper class collect the bucket to feed the chickens. On Monday, in between MAP dumpster fires, I'll be creating highly detailed and entertaining directions for you to use when it's your week to care for the chickens. It'll be great!

Have a great weekend!

It's the weekend!!!

We did it! Who knew that five days could feel like twenty?? I hope everyone finds a way to decompress this weekend. My plan involves 19 hours of Masters coverage. 

iPad maintenance
Here are a couple of items I'd love for each teacher to address at some point next week. I would be happy to come help out if needed.

1. Update devices: iPads should be running iOS 14.4.2. To update devices, go to Settings, General, Software Update. MAP testing will not work if your iPads are out of date.
2. Storage: I've seen lots of devices with near maxed out storage. Usually it's because the student has hours of videos recorded of things that nobody wants to see. Stormi had them clean out their Photos when we returned, but it'd be good to take another look now.

We have not received word from the district about what we are supposed to do with the iPads over the summer. As soon as we get a directive, I will let you know how it will work.

Collaboration
As I am now fully vaccinated and because the district's COVID protocols have loosened, I would love to get back in classrooms like I did in the olden days. If you have projects coming up that could use a twist, let's talk! If you are new to Cedar and haven't had the awesome experience of working with me, all you have to do is email me with the line that Nikki often uses, "I have this crazy idea...". If you are out of crazy ideas, just shoot me the big picture of what you are doing and I'm sure I can come up with something. 

STEAM kits
I am still checking out STEAM kits. I'll remind them about the kits during checkout next week. I'm in the process of passing out buttons to kids who have checked out kits and completed the Seesaw activity. In May, I'll hold the drawing to give three Sphero robots to students. 

Chickens
The flock is happily housed in their coop in the kindergarten courtyard. It's been fun seeing classes out there observing before all the rain came. Abbey's class took care of them this week and Josh's will handle next week. Email me if you would like your class to care for the flock at some point the rest of the year. I also need to assign names to the rest of them. We have Fluffy, Teriyaki, Nugget, and Tweety named.  

Outdoor projects

Construction is about to ramp up. I have purchased a miter saw to have at school so we can start cutting wood (adults only, don't start calling KOMU). Next week I'll add some drills to our toolbox for students to use for assembly. I hope that in the next two weeks we'll have the kindergarten benches and Lady Gaga pit ready for the playground. We'll start construction on the outdoor classroom next week as well. A little cooperation from Mother Nature would be appreciated! 

Bookroom updates
I wanted to remind everyone about bookroom procedures. When you pull from the bookroom, please bring me the materials to checkout to you. If I'm not here, just leave them on the counter with your name on it and I'll get them to you ASAP. Checking them out gives me a record of what's being used and helps me keep track of our resources. When finished, please return to the blue crate by the window. I would appreciate it if you could arrange the books and materials so the next person can easily see the title and level of the book. 

Have a great weekend!