May 5, 2023

 Hear Ye, Hear Ye

• 5th graders writing similes and metaphors that were quite creative! 

• Art Show pieces were so awesome!  Courtney's hard work was evident as was all of the creative pieces by our students!  Thank you to the committee as well for helping to get this set up for our families!

• I heard that the Talent Show was incredible!  This is becoming a much anticipated annual event!  Thank you to everyone that made this happen for our students and community!

• There were a number of students that have started taking their iReady tests and were excited to share with me their growth!  It's awesome to hear the pride in their voice!

• The school year is winding down, but as Mrs. Bingen told her 5th graders, "There is a lot of learning we get to do yet!" This calmed me too as I realized when I worry about what I have to get done, I miss out on enjoying the present!  Thanks Rachael for the reminder!

What's Happening at Dodgeland?

• Monday, May 8
• Bus Duty: Donovan, Lucht, Palen
• Jenny in meeting from 8:30-10am
• Concert Rehearsal:
• 3rd gr: 1:00-1:30
• 2nd gr: 1:30-2:00
• 1st gr: 2:00-2:30
• EP meeting in IMC 3:15-4:15pm
• Spring Concert Grades 1-2-3 at 6:30pm
• Teacher Appreciation Week starts!

• Tuesday, May 9
• Social Media Posts due to Jessica: Mook, Lisiecki
• Jenny out of the building from 7:40-8:30am
• 5K field trip to Glacier Rock Farm
• Concert Rehearsal: 4th gr at 12:00-12:30pm
• Spring Concert Grades 4-5 at 6:30pm

• Wednesday, May 10
• Workout Wednesday
• Staff Meeting in IMC 3:10-3:55pm
• April Citizenship grades due in PowerSchool

• Thursday, May 11
• 4th gr field trip to Horicon Marsh
• Jenny in meeting from 8:30-9:30am

• Friday, May 12
• Budget forms due to my mailbox
• Are your April Citizenship grades done?
• Application for Forward Exam test item review due to DPI if interested

Nitty-Gritty

• EXCITING NEWS!!!
• I was notified this week that Dodgeland Elementary has been named one of this year's PLTW Distinguished Schools.  This will be shared with our community, parents and students very soon, but wanted to share with all of you first!  We are one of 17 elementary schools in Wisconsin that were given this recognition for the 2022-23 school year.  Shout out to Sue for completing the application and to all of the homeroom teachers who have dedicated their time to learning, planning and teaching the modules to your classes.  I love how PLTW provides hands-on, engaging units to help students develop a variety of skills including problem-solving and collaboration skills.  
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• Staff Meeting
• On Wednesday, Christina and Brad will be presenting some important information about end of the year iPad procedures.  They do need to attend the MS meeting that same afternoon, so they will be starting right at 3:10 so that they can get to both that night.  I share so that you are aware of the firm start time.  Please bring a device with you on Wednesday as well.

• SAEBRS/mySAEBRS/ASQ-SE
• Along with academic testing, please do not forget to complete the SAEBRS assessment on FastBridge for your homeroom.  This is for all teachers in grades 5K-5th grade.  Teachers of 4K and 3K, please complete the ASQ-SE, your grade level's SEL assessment.  If you teach 2nd-5th graders, students should also complete the mySAEBRS as well.  They will get to this through Clever.  Please complete this assessment by Tuesday, May 16.

• Class Creator Surveys
• To prepare for creating class lists for next school year, the surveys in Class Creator will be ready next week.  Please watch your email for a link to the surveys.  This is also where you can indicate any pairings or separations of students that will help when creating lists.  Use them selectively.  Also, historical data from previous years will be saved as well for your information.  Please complete these by Wednesday, May 24th.  We will meet to create lists during the PD days at the end of the school year.

• Forward Exam Test Item Review
• Earlier this week, Mrs. Johnson shared an email from DPI looking for educators to participate in a summer "New Item Review" for the Forward Exam.  Click HERE for more information from DPI about the logistics, and application information.  The application is due by Friday, May 12 if you are interested.

• April Citizenship Grades
• If you have not added your April citizenship grades into PowerSchool yet, please do so this week.   It will make it easier later this month to do the standard sheet for report cards when it comes time to finalize grades.

• 2023 Cops 'n' Bobbers program
• This week I received information about the Cops-n-Bobbers program that will take place on Wednesday, June 7 at 4pm.  Students aged 10-14 can apply to this free program for students to go fishing in a boat with law enforcement personnel at Clausen Park in Fox Lake.  If you have a student or students that you think may be interested, please click HERE to print or email the parent letter and HERE for the application for families to submit.  Applications are due by Friday, May 19th.

PD Spotlight

It is somewhat shocking that even in my 23rd year in the education field, I still somehow forget the increased stress that occurs when we get to this time of year.  Students behaviors are usually amped for a number of reasons whether it is excitement for the coming field trips or summer vacation, or anxiety about these same exact things.  I know I have shared a number of articles and tips in the past few years relating to handling stress and emotions.  I find that I need to continue to reread them each year. Most of you have known me for a long time and you may also remember that this time of year adds other stresses and some painful memories as well.  I do my very best to use my SEL skills to prepare myself and emotions for these situations.  However, I am also human (so very, very human!) and as happened this past week, I was caught off guard with a reminder from social media of a memory from a painful part of my personal life.  I was caught between my obligations, my genuine care for our students and their accomplishments, and supporting all of you and your hard work versus addressing my own raw emotions.  This is when I need to reflect back on these articles and tips again.  This is when this type of PD information becomes even more important.  So while I read them when I am feeling well, knowing where to find them when I need it is even more important.  If any of you are getting to a place like this, HERE are some helpful strategies that I use.  Perhaps it will come in handy for you as well.  Take care and know that if you need a friendly ear, I am always here.

TechKnow Tip

A note from Christina: 

I don’t know if you are the same as me, but I always find myself with a clearer head in the summer. Perhaps it is the fewer decisions that need to be made or the more fresh air I’m able to get, but I tend to do my best “school year thinking” over summer. In the spirit of summer “school year thinking”, I would like to offer up a group summer professional development opportunity: a book club around the book by Liz Kolb titled Learning First, Technology Second: The Educator’s Guide to Designing Authentic Lessons. In the book, Dr. Liz Kolb (a professor from Marsal Family School of Education in Michigan), introduces the Triple E Framework. The framework is based on three components: engagement in learning goals, enhancement of learning goals, and extension of learning goals. As Kolb states in her book, “By using the Triple E Framework alone or in addition to current models, teachers can first, focus on the learning, and second, locate the tools that will help meet the desired learning goals.” The book includes why the framework was created, research that guides the framework, how to use the framework including practical lesson examples, and a template to assist in developing lessons of your own based on the framework. 

If learning together with the guide of good literature, listening to diverse thinking, and pushing your teaching practices is just what you are looking for this summer, please sign up for this Learning First, Technology Second summer book club. (The link will be shared through email soon!)

You can check out the Triple E Framework website for more initial information.

Friday Funny

This was certainly true this week!