Friday Focus - March 30, 2012

• The 4th quarter begins Monday.
• SAC/PTA are both next Thursday evening. 
• No School next Friday!
• Only 9 instructional days to go before the FCAT.  I know that each of you will continue to provide high-quality education the next two weeks and the remainder of the school year.  Thank you for always providing our students with a high quality education. 

Quote of the Week - "Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles." - Alex Karras

Common Core Standards

We are going to be having a faculty meeting soon after FCAT regarding the new Common Core Standards.  Kindergarten has been immersed in training of the new Standards this year.  Next year 1st and 2nd grade will continue the process and the year after that 3rd, 4th and 5th grade will all be accountable.  This is a good time for all of our teachers to become familiar with the Standards and the implication to our teaching.  This is a paradigm shift in education and will transform how we teach.  Our PLCs next year will be created around the Common Core Standards so we can all become comfortable with understanding and implementing them.  

I believe that this video will help to make this easier to understand (note the collaboration between the educators in the video):Common Core Standards Video

The following is an excerpt from the Core Standards website (Core Standards) explaining the rationale for the standards.  You can also download the standards from this website:

The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). The standards were developed in collaboration with teachers, school administrators, and experts, to provide a clear and consistent framework to prepare our children for college and the workforce.

The NGA Center and CCSSO received initial feedback on the draft standards from national organizations representing, but not limited to, teachers, postsecondary educators (including community colleges), civil rights groups, English language learners, and students with disabilities. Following the initial round of feedback, the draft standards were opened for public comment, receiving nearly 10,000 responses.

The standards are informed by the highest, most effective models from states across the country and countries around the world, and provide teachers and parents with a common understanding of what students are expected to learn. Consistent standards will provide appropriate benchmarks for all students, regardless of where they live.

These standards define the knowledge and skills students should have within their K-12 education careers so that they will graduate high school able to succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing academic college courses and in workforce training programs. The standards:

•    Are aligned with college and work expectations;
•    Are clear, understandable and consistent;
•    Include rigorous content and application of knowledge through high-order skills;
•    Build upon strengths and lessons of current state standards;
•    Are informed by other top performing countries, so that all students are prepared to succeed in our  global economy and society;
•    Are evidence-based.

Friday Focus - March 9, 2012

• Our mission statement is "High Expectations, Achievement, Excellence".  If we are going to hold true to that, everyone here must believe that all of our children have the ability to succeed and to live up to high standards.  Please read this article - Teach Up for Excellence  The authors provide the rationale for teaching to high standards and give strategies for doing so.  The quote from the article that hit me the most is "The greatest barrier to learning is often not what the student knows, but what the teacher expects of the student".  The time has come for all of us at Floranada to amp up the rigor that we provide to our students.  We will definitely be addressing this when we come back after Spring Break. 
• There are only 4 weeks left until FCAT when we come back!  It's amazing how quickly time flies.
• Spring Picture Day is Wednesday, March 21.  Please refer to the email from Dr. Lewis regarding the picture schedule. 
• We have a school tour on Friday, March 23 at 8:30. 
• Bingo Night is on Friday, March 23 at 6:00.  Does your class have their basket ready?

Quote of the week - Spring Break is next week.  I am going to take my privilege as Principal and demand(!) that you enjoy your time off with your family and friends.  Hug all of those that you love and tell them that you love them.  You deserve a restful break.  

Friday Focus - March 2, 2012

• CPST is Monday. 
• Team Leader Day on Wednesday.  We will be using Team Leader substitutes to cover for grade levels so that we can meet with grade level teams that day.  A schedule will be forthcoming.
• We will have a faculty meeting next Thursday at 2:15.  There will be a speaker regarding our Spring Fundraiser.  
• SAC and PTA meetings are next Thursday evening.  

Quote of the week -