Falcon Families

 

FALCON FAMILIES

A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of having Tyler come to Freeman to experience what Falcon Families are.  This was something that we started last school year.  Our goal was and will continue to be that we want every person that walks through our doors to feel like they belong.  It's a really special time when kids in kindergarten through 6th grade can get together in one room and participate in activities, discussion, and fun.  The relationships and bonds that our students share by going through this is really inspiring to see.  Students that wouldn't otherwise have a reason to interact, now have 15 new friendly faces in the hallways.

I wanted to share our story.  Click on THIS LINK to read the story Tyler wrote.  Below are just a few photos from an earlier Falcon Family time.

What Has Being Back in School Been Like?

 There are so many things to celebrate on August 28th.  A little more than five months ago, we left our beautiful school thinking we would just have an extended spring break.  We didn't know that all summer long we would be wondering if we would even be able to open the doors of school and welcome back the students.

Since March, not a week went by where school staff wasn't planning for August 13th.  Even the week of school starting, there were many questions and wonders how this was all going to go.  I have never been part of such an emotional start to the school year.

Fast forward to today.  There is so much JOY about having put in twelve days of school.  Maybe that doesn't seem very impressive.  But when most people were telling us that we wouldn't even start the school year in person, that we would have to start remotely, twelve seems like a huge victory.

What has school been like?  It's been AMAZING!  Seeing the students bounce into school has been a blessing.  You can see the sparkle in their eyes and hear the excitement in their voices.  The kids are making the best of the situation.  The masks which have been a tough topic around, hasn't been a problem.  

Kids are LEARNING, from their teachers IN PERSON!  They need this SO much.  A lot is lost when students and teachers have to converse through a screen.  Students are sharing stories of adventures they have had or places they have visited.  They are engaged in lessons, remembering their math facts, and working really hard.  They understand that school is a great place and the best place for them to learn.  

There are some changes, but we have adjusted to them.  Our Falcon Families that we started last year has been put on hold for a while.  There aren't as many secondary students roaming around the elementary or helping students for now.  

Teachers are so glad to have students back in the building.  There was a hole in their hearts when the students left in March.  It's fun to see the students smile, wave, and cheerfully greet their their teachers from the year before.  

It feels like the school that was filled with shades of gray now have the colors of the rainbow pouring through it.  There is life again.

So when people ask, how has school been going?  I respond immediately with, "amazing!"  I don't know how to describe it any other way.  

Welcome to the 2020-2021 School Year!

Welcome to the 2020-2021 school year at Freeman Elementary where our focus will be:

Daring Greatly

“If he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly.”                     

                                                           -Theodore Roosevelt 

We are excited to add two new teachers to the elementary this year.  Mrs. Delaney Roberts will be teaching 1st grade.  Mrs. Roberts and her husband, Mitchell, live in Tecumseh.  They have two young children.  Mrs. Roberts has spent the last 4 years teaching Pre-School. 

Ms. Dana Fisher will be teaching special education.  She recently moved to Lincoln from Fremont where she taught special education at Fremont Middle School.  Ms. Fisher will be getting married in the near future!  

There are a lot of emotions revolving around this school year.  Due to the pandemic taking place, we were forced to leave the building in the middle of March.  Since it has been a longer time away from the building than usual, it may feel strange to return.  The staff at Freeman are very much looking forward to seeing the children bounce through the door, eager to begin a new school year with a fresh start!  We understand that you may have worries or concerns about how everything is going to work out.  We are asking for your partnership as we learn to navigate new territory with social distancing and other precautions put in place in order to keep our school community safe.  It will take all of us working together to have a successful school year.  

There haven’t been too many changes to the building this year.  However, the elementary was able to put up 2 adjustable basketball hoops thanks to the PTO.  We are very grateful for the generous gift for our playground.  It will be so nice to have a smaller hoop for the younger kids. 

Also new this year will be a parent communication that comes to you digitally in the form of a newsletter called SMORE, from the elementary.  It will also be posted on social media.  This will be sent out a few times a month.  It’s always important to make sure the office has your updated contact information so you don’t miss important messages or announcements.  

Elementary Open House will be limited to Kindergarten students and their parents as well as any new family to the Freeman School district. We are asking that you follow this time schedule that is based on the first letter of your last name:

Open House, August 11, 2020

• 5:30pm-6:00 Last name: A - I

• 6:00pm-6:30 Last name: J - Q

• 6:30pm-7:00 Last name: R - Z

During Open House, you will be able to enter the front doors of the elementary school on the east side and go to your homeroom classroom to meet your teacher.  Students may bring in their school supplies.  Please bring any forms or lunch money that needs to be turned into the office. There will be Freeman staff available to direct you to your classrooms or answer any questions about school that you might have.  

The first day of school will be Thursday, August 13th.  There is a 1:00PM early dismissal.  Friday, August 14th will be a regular school day.  Please note that school begins at 8:10am for all PK-12 students.  

Pre-School begins on August 17th.  Mrs. Alberts, will be doing a virtual open house for students and their families.  She will be contacting PK families with specific information. 

Students in 5th and 6th grade will remain in their proper grade levels to start the school year.  We are working hard not to mix classes as much and limit movement where we can.  There is hope that as the school year progresses, we may be able to go back to rotating the 5th and 6th grade students to 4 classrooms.  This will be re-evaluated throughout the year.  

Thank you for choosing Freeman Public Schools this year.  We are so looking forward to another outstanding year of learning and growing with your child as we continue to learn The Falcon Way in the safest school environment we can provide.  Please let us know if there is anything that we can do to serve you better!

Kindest Regards,

   Mrs. Erin Sieh

   Elementary Principal

Teachers Deserve It Too!

A few years ago, our staff read a book called Kids Deserve It by Adam Welcome and Todd Nesloney.  It talked a lot about why we do the things that we do, because kids deserve our very best day in and day out.  There were many good take away's from it and I think that the staff took something from it as well.

Over the Christmas break, I wanted to work on a little project for the teachers.  The entire time I have been here, the area designated as the "teachers lounge" was not very nice.  The walls were 2 different shades of cream/white, mismatched furniture dating back to the 1960's, a variety of random items that didn't appear to move from August to May.  It was a room I avoided most of the time.  There were a few brave souls that would eat lunch in the room and go grab an afternoon soda, but it just didn't have a good vibe.  So I asked our PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) and the superintendent if I could take this on as a surprise for the teachers when they came back from break.  With their blessing, I got to work devising a plan that was rather simple, but hopefully would make a dramatic difference.  Bless the heart of our maintenance man, Rodger because he worked like mad to help out.  He was even working away on the morning of Christmas Eve.  With his help, we were able to replace all the light bulbs and put in new tile flooring and carpet.  Between those changes and fresh paint on the wall, the room was already drastically different!

As break went on and more pieces fell into place, including the arrival of some new furniture, my stomach bounced with excitement.  I couldn't wait for the teachers to see the transformation.  I just hoped that it would be a place that all the Freeman staff would enjoy and feel like they wanted to spend some time in.  Teachers work hard and they too deserve a place to call their own and escape to from time to time.  Imagine the place where you work and if there wasn't a space you could just walk into for 5 minutes and breathe, or go grab a fresh cup of coffee? 

This room wouldn't have been possible without the help of the PTO, Rodger and Rex, the Havelka's, and my husband who helped me paint.  I think it turned out pretty great!

A freshly painted shelf with coffee and some paper products for food.  Around the room are some fun pieces of artwork as well!

New cozy space to relax, work on a puzzle, catch up with colleagues or breathe!  New carpet too!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of year.  It comes at a time when I am needing a little more downtime and a few extra days at home to recharge and get organized.  I also LOVE pie.  The turkey is good as leftover sandwiches, but the pie is really my favorite.  There are so many, but I could just spend the day being thankful and eating pie!

What I don't like about Thanksgiving, is that it seems to be the most overlooked holiday.  Each year Christmas arrives sooner and sooner giving the feeling that we go from Halloween to Christmas, jack-o-lanterns to trees!  All of the holidays seem to be so commercialized that it has seems to have lost it's value.

As we get ready to celebrate a season of Thanksgiving, let's remember that every day we should offer thanks.  On the hardest days, there are still reasons to be thankful.  I truly feel like education is the best place to be and I am so thankful that every day I get to be immersed in it.  I love to learn, I love to see children's eyes light up when they finally "get it," I love to provide opportunities for others to grow, and I love the environment that schools provide every day.

In a world that is so busy to get on to the next thing or the next holiday, let's take some time this week to pause and give thanks.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Activities for Our Kids

Kids are so busy these days.  School can sometimes feel like an extra-curricular activity instead of a priority.  By the end of the week, kids are really dragging at school and you can tell that they haven't gotten enough sleep.  They may also be spending so much time after school and in the evenings on activities that they aren't practicing math facts and reading.  In order to excel, students need to practice outside of the school day to. 

Don't get me wrong, having activities is great for kids.  Exposing them to a variety of activities or crafts is good for development.  However, there can be a point when kids have too much going on.  This report came across my desk recently and I think it is worth the time to read.  In a world where everything is instant and we are go, go, go, it's important that we also take time for ourselves and rest.  It's ok for kids to be bored, or have a weekend with "nothing" to do!

This report is produced from the National Association of Elementary School Principals and is intended to be shared with parents.

The Nebraska Reading Bill

Recently the state of Nebraska passed the Nebraska Reading Improvement Act (Section 79-2601-79-2607).  This bill along with the Nebraska READS initiative are designed to give students every opportunity to gain proficiency in early literacy skills that will enable later access to comprehension and analysis of complex text. You can check out this website for more information.  https://www.education.ne.gov/nebraskareads/

Nebraska is not alone in this endeavor.  Majority of the states have recognized the need to bring renewed focus to early intervention and struggling readers.  The Nebraska Reading Improvement Act and Nebraska READS initiative emphasize the need for pre-kindergarten through 3rd grade student to have access to high-quality instruction, and for struggling readers to receive targeted, individualized support.

What exactly does this reading bill mean?  

• Three times a year (fall, winter, spring) schools will give an approved assessment from the state of Nebraska to determine where students fall in the category of reading.  
• If students fall below the reading threshold for that term, they need to be placed on an Individual Reading Improvement Plan (IRIP) until that student's score is above the threshold at the next testing time.
• Schools must report these results to parents and include a written plan for what interventions will be used to help boost a student's reading.
• This reading bill is for students in grades kindergarten through third grade.   
• Communication with your child's teacher is key to success in their academics.  Make sure you are following up and understanding what your child's scores mean.  Ask questions!

What are reading interventions?

• Reading interventions means a variety of things.  Teachers provide additional opportunities to learn or acquire reading skills beyond the regular reading instruction that is given each day.  This might come from small groups in class, one on one time, or through Title I services.

What happens if a student is below the threshold numbers at the end of 3rd grade?

• All students at Freeman are monitored 3 times a year and their test scores are recorded.  That data is used to analyze how a student is doing and what additional interventions or things that need to be done to help that student continue to improve in reading.  Students in 3rd grade will not be retained if they perform below the reading threshold.  

What can parents do to help their child boost their reading skills?

• The best thing that parents can do to help their child become a better reader is to READ!  Set aside 15-20 minutes every night to read to or with your child(ren).  
• Immerse them in different forms of literature.  Make it a regular practice to go to the library or bookstore.  
• After you have read a story or chapter in a book, ask them questions about the reading.  Make predictions about what might happen next.  
• Make sure books are accessible.  Your child will be more likely to pick up a book and read if they are out in the open and easy to find.
• Choose books of interest to your child to read.  Have them help pick them out, even if they are above their reading level.
• Talk about letters and sounds.  Help your child learn the names of letters and sounds that they make.
• Sing rhyming songs, read rhyming books.  this helps them learn new sounds in words.
• Reading doesn't end when the school year ends or there is an extended vacation.  Continue to read when school is on break or over the summer.  

Freeman Strong

My top 5:  arranger, learner, input, individualization, relator

About a month ago, we had planned on having a Freeman Strengths Day for all students and staff in grades PK-12.  However, Mother Nature had different plans and brought one her many winter snow storms this winter.  There was so much time and planning that went into planning this day that it all seemed disappointing.  Luckily, we were able to move it to February 19th with the same speakers that we originally booked.  As Mother Nature reared her head again, it looked like this week's event might not happen either.  The weather held off for 1 day so we could squeak it in!

If you are not familiar with what strengths are, I am hoping this post will fill you in and encourage you to look at little deeper into how it can impact your life.  I will admit that it has taken me a little while to get on board and see how it can be a benefit in my life and my work life.  But now that I am into it and learning, it has made a difference in how I see others and understand how they work.

A huge shout out goes to Mr. Tony Jensen.  He is our Ag teacher and FFA sponsor.  He has really embraced the strengths and put a lot of effort into growing it at Freeman.  Perhaps you have heard of Gallup, which is based in Omaha, by the way: https://www.gallup.com

"We're a global analytics and advice firm that helps leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems."

One of the many services that they offer is giving the Clifton Strengths Finder.  If you go to their website, you can take the assessment right now and find out what your top 5 strengths are.  In fact, you can find out what your top 34 are.  The philosophy behind learning about your top 5 is to use your strengths to better understand how you naturally work and develop your greatest talents.  It also helps you recognize that in others and instead of focusing on what people are weak or not good at, you focus on what they are good at or their strengths.  Think of how much stronger the work force would be if that was the focus instead of the other way around?

Mr. Jensen has created a Strengths group that meets monthly to talk about using their strengths and spotting strengths around them in others.  This can help you better understand how to work with others.  This has been helpful in working with children in school.  The school has been working for 2 years to get everyone in the building to take the Strengths Finder assessment to identify their top 5.  All the teachers now have completed it in addition to all students grades 5-12.  For the younger students, we are talking about what strengths are and how you can use them productively.  As they get older, hopefully they will better understand them and then take the assessment themselves.

Out of this group, came the idea of creating a Strengths Day that included ALL the teachers and students doing similar activities embracing their strengths and working together on tasks.  There were some donations and grant money that helped provide t-shirts for everyone in the building with a logo that was designed by a student at school.

The team created a schedule of rotations broken up by grades K-4 and 5-12.  Students were placed in groups with students in multiple grade levels.  We began and ended the day with an assembly and had several speakers including DeMoine Adams, former Husker football player.  There were science STEM activities to launch marshmallows and hold metal washers, activities to design locker signs or capes with your top strengths, refreshments and games, and the reading of How Full Is Your Bucket? 

The day was powerful.  It was pretty amazing to see so many students and staff learning about their strengths and how they can be empowered by them.  I know that it made an impact because my two girls didn't stop talking about it at the dinner table last night.  They were all kinds of chatty about the strengths that they have and how they can use them and why they possess them.

In a world where we tend to focus on the negative and the "this isn't good enough" it was refreshing to feel uplifted and see 450+ people doing good in the world.  This was definitely a day to celebrate and be proud of.  I can't wait to see what we will do next!

If you are wanting to learn more about Strengths Day, go to Twitter and search #freemanfalcons or #freemanstrengths  

One School One Book

February is right around the corner which means it is one of my FAVORITE times of the year.  One School One Book is kicking off February 1.  Each family at Freeman will be receiving a FREE copy of the chosen book this year along with a reading guide, bookmark, and maybe even a fun surprise! 

Why do I love this project so much?  Reading is a passion of mine.  I am a bookaholic (if that is even a word) I am pretty sure.  I have been collecting boxes of books since I can remember.  Each time we move, I am reminded of the hundreds of titles and thousands of pounds that get shuffled in and out of boxes.  You would think in a digital age, most of these would be on an iPad or Kindle, but no.  There is something thrilling to me to hold a book in my hand and having a sense of accomplishment with every page that I turn.  I can quickly go back through to re-read if I missed a detail or make a note on the side if I want to remember something for later.

Every day, Monday through Friday, family's will be given a reading assignment from the book that we are all reading.  The next day in class, there will be a short discussion with the other students about what was read the day before.  There might even be little activities that go along with the story from time to time.  It's fun to have conversations with the kids at school about the characters from the book or what they think will happen next.  The weekends are meant for catch up time because we understand that life is busy!

The part that I love the MOST about this project is that it provides an opportunity for family's to come together at night, before school, in the car, wherever and read together.  It provides a chance for discussion about life, or what happened at school that day.  So many times we are rushed from one activity to the next that we don't take time to sit down and have intentional, uninterrupted time together.  This is such an important part of a students day!  Plus it promotes reading as a family. 

Parents often ask teachers, "How can I help my child be a better reader?"  The answer is simple.  READ.  If you are wondering why reading for 20 minutes each night makes a difference, look at this chart below.





When I see statistics like the chart above, I get pretty passionate about reading each night at home.  If you are struggling with what to read, just pick something.  Don't worry so much about the content or if it is too easy, or too difficult for them to understand.  When my daughters were one years old, my husband and I would put them in their cribs, sit down on the floor of their bedroom and read Harry Potter with a book light.  We knew they didn't understand the story line, but they got used to hearing how we read.  They heard the pauses and inflections, the excitement or worry.  They might even have picked up on our facial expressions.  The girls are 7 now and even on the nights that we get home late, past their bedtime, we cannot go to sleep without a story, even if it is a short one. 

Make reading a habit.  Just like your bedtime routine, add reading together the last thing you do before lights are off and you tuck them in.

We will be giving out clues as to what the title of our book will be this week so be sure to follow us on Twitter #freemanfalcons or @erinsieh and our Facebook Page, Freeman Elementary School.

Happy New Year

2019    Turning the calendar over to a new year, for a lot of people, means starting over, setting goals, creating resolutions. Many are really motivated for the first few weeks. It is a fact that gym memberships sky rocket in January and then by the end of the month, most people go back to their old habits and feel defeated that they fell off the wagon.  They are a loser and will never make their goals.  Eleven months go by and they find themselves gearing up for a motivating new year again.

I don't really believe in New Year's resolutions. I am more of a goal setter. It's true, that if you write down your goals, you are more likely to achieve them. Even if you have set them aside for a while. Don't get me wrong, I love starting a new year and the energy it can bring with the newness. Just the same that I like starting each school year over in August.  It's refreshing and inviting.

Of course there is nothing special about starting in January.  You can start new goals any time of the year.  In fact, I like to re-evaluate in the summer and if need be, self correct a little bit or set some new goals.

I encourage you to set some goals for yourself. It can be for 2019, or for the month of January. Keep setting goals, make them realistic and attainable, but also think outside the box a little. Here are a few of mine for the year:

Complete a Marathon

Connect with a friend on a weekly basis

Read 2-3 books a month

Create more experiences/memories with my family instead of collecting more "things"

Cutting my social media browsing down by 1/3

The scariest goal on my list is a marathon.  This has been an ambition of mine for about 20 years.  For the half marathons that I have completed, after crossing the finish line, I can't imagine running that race all over again.  There is no way my body can will itself through another grueling 13 miles.  However, there is something exciting about putting a really lofty goal on your calendar.  Don't get me wrong, I am terrified to run 26.2 miles.  But I am also excited for a challenge that is probably as hard as anything I have ever done.  Thank goodness I have a great support system and some friends to encourage me along the way.

Today was an easy day.  I am at the start of my training for a half marathon in May.  The full will be in the fall.  It's the days 2 months from now, where I haven't gotten good sleep, my legs ache, the wind is blowing 25 mph and I am just not "feeling" like lacing up my shoes.  Those are going to be the hard days.

What about starting the new year at school.  One of the biggest mistakes that we make coming back is asking kids "how was your break?"  It's just a natural question.  However, there are some kiddos that had a rotten break and would much rather have been here, at school, than not.  Maybe there weren't any presents under the tree, or maybe not even a tree or decorations.  Perhaps the heat had been turned off or there were no family gatherings to go to.  I was once told that instead of saying "how was your break?"  You should just look at each child, smile, and tell them that you are glad they are here.

As you think about starting the second semester, or maybe just as you think about kids and life in general, I hope you take the time to watch this Ted Talk from Rita Pierson.  It is about 7 minutes, but it is worth your while.  Indeed every kid needs a champion, and I hope that you will be a champion for someone.

Every Kid Needs a Champion by Rita Pierson

WELCOME BACK!

It's August and here is what we know:

• it's hot
• summer is winding down
• school supplies and ads are everywhere
• high school students can be seen practicing everywhere
• and....school is starting

Summer is a great time relax and recharge.  Students and teachers both get to have a different routine for a while and it's wonderful.  

But now it's August and the first day of school is 2 days away.  It's time to get the kids back in the building.  After a few months, it's too quiet around here.

Our elementary Open House was tonight and it filled my heart to see so many smiles and get lots of hugs.  School is a happy place.  It's a place where kids come to feel loved, to learn, to create, to explore, to fail, to succeed, to make friends, to skin their knees and reach new heights.

A new year is beginning, and it is going to be awesome!  

The Latest Books in My Bag

Culturize by Jimmy Casas is the latest book that I am diving into. Word is getting out that I love to read based on 3 gift cards to Barnes and Noble over the holidays. Reading provides so much power. You have heard the phrase, "Knowledge is power." Fostering a love for literature in your home or your classroom turns out students who love reading. Reading and having a love for literature comes in so many different forms these days. It used to just be books you got from the library. In our modern world, literature is reading from our phones or tablets, magazines, websites, twitter feeds, FB stories, comic books or graphic novels, the newspaper, signs around the room or out in public...the list is endless.

There are several classrooms who have taken advantage of DEAR time this year and it is paying off big dividends. These classrooms are dedicated to setting aside a consistent time out of each day for silent reading. The teachers are participating too! There is always a new book on their desks with sticky notes in a different location so I know that they are reading. Students are just devouring books at a record pace and sharing with their friends. It truly is exciting to see. If you haven't taken advantage of DEAR time and been consistent with it, now is the time to start with the beginning of a new semester.

It doesn't matter if the students don't know how to read every word in a book, they are looking, exploring, guessing, or creating their own story in their head. They are learning to love books and getting excited about the day that they can read all of the words on the page.

The book Culturize is about what it takes to create a community of learners who embody the innately human traits our world desperately needs: kindness, honesty, and compassion. It talks about how to be an Awesomizer instead of an Awfulizer and how what we model is what we get.

My colleagues have said that it is quite possibly the best professional book they have read! I can't wait to see what is discovered between the pages!

Kindness Day #7

November 7-

When you don't feel good, all you want is your mom.  I am 37 years old, and I still miss my mom when I don't feel good.  Admittedly a few years ago, she came to take care of me when I was really feeling crumby...made me some hot tea and soup.  So yesterday I go to play mom/nurse for my little one.  Miss Em wasn't feeling good and started running a low grade temp.  By evening she was a hot mess.  She wanted tomato soup so we made a pot which she slurped right down.  Before it was even 7pm, we were in jammies curled up reading stories.  Her eyes were heavy but was sound alseep by 7:30.  It's no fun to have little ones who feel bad, but it feels good to try and make them feel better.

Kindness Day #6-

November 6-

Sharing is good, sharing makes my soul feel good.  This is a popular time of year when movies come out.  Last year I watched Bad Moms.  It was one of those movies that you wanted to see, but didn't want anyone to see you AT the theater watching it.  The movie is funny, SO funny.  Mostly because it is true and very relateable as a female. 

Of course I want to go to Bad Moms 2...the Christmas version that just came out.  Going to this movie will be way more enjoyable with girlfriends than your spouse.  So for day #6, I shared the first movie with a friend so that we could see the second one later this month.  Good belly laughing is good for the soul, right?!

Kindness Day #4- November 4

Rocky Before

  Living on a farm, you never know what adventures you might run across.  I grew up on a farm, but still consider it my home.  On Saturday, I was visiting my mom when she told me that the farm dog had gotten ahold of a baby kitty.  Usually this is code for 'snapped neck' or 'killed.'  His coat was drenched in dog slobber, not moving very much with his eyes half open.  The poor thing was simply adorable but pretty pathetic.  Being the animal lover that I am, I picked up the box and took him home.  The girls would be thrilled, but my husband, not so much!  My mom and I agreed that he would be lucky to make it through the night.

When I got home, I made a soft bed for him and let him rest.  Being a mom, I didn't sleep well wondering if he would be alive in the morning or not.  About 1:30 I got up to check on him.  He popped his little head up and was crying.  Now this little guy is little so hasn't been weaned off his mother.  I had some soft kitten food and put some water with it and it ate and ate as best he could.  I tucked him into bed again thinking the morning looked promising.  By morning our little fighter kitten was up and meowing and starving!  So more soft food and water.  By mid morning he was following us around the house and purring!  I have never seen a wild barn kitten so tame and loving when it hasn't been around people.

He is a lovey kitten and we hope to find a nice home for him.  Although we joke that we may need to help him "recover" for life.  Picking out a name was tricky, but I think we settled on Rocky.  He is a fighter after all.

Rocky After

Kindess Day #3- November 3

The service industry cannot be easy.  You are constantly serving others: making food, cleaning, taking care of children, greeting guests, answering questions and trying to do so with a positive attitude and smile.  I can imagine it is probably a thankless job most of the time. 

On Thursday and Friday I attended a conference.  Any time I stay in a hotel, I think about the maids and how they do the same job every day.  It can't be an easy job, but I sure appreciate a clean room, clean towels, and clean sheets.

My random act of kindness was to leave a $5 bill and a note of thanks.  I hope she (or he) enjoyed a soda after a long day of work!

Kindness Day #2- November 2

Fall is a great time of year.  I love fall!  I love sweatshirts, soup, fresh baked bread, football, and the crisp air.  Food videos are a guilty pleasure.  I really enjoy watching food videos!  What can I say?  Now my twin 6 year olds love to watch them too.  I ran across a video about mini apple pies.  So I baked up 24 last night.  I am a baker and I almost feel guilty about making them because it takes sugar cookie dough, apple pie filling.  I did make from scratch the whipped cream.  Yum-O!

This morning, we delivered a plate to the elementary office for a sweet treat!  Never mind that the plate (covered in plastic) fell onto the floor before it got to the office. Oh well...it all tastes the same even if it is slightly mangled. 

Day #2:  Mini Apple Pie

Kindness Day #1-November 1

What is something that makes people happy?  Food!  Food is fuel, but can also be comfort.  At the end of the day, sometimes it is great to just have a treat to celebrate the end of the day.  At our staff meeting, I shared 2 buckets of Halloween candy.  One bucket of chocolate, one of non-chocolate.

Day #1 Shared Halloween candy

November Kindness Project

Quite a while ago, I read the book, WONDER by RJ Palacio.  This was one of the best books that I had read in a very long time.  One of those "so good that you cry" books.  It's a favorite for adults and students alike.  I could hardly contain my excitement when I learned that there was a movie that was coming out.  As a bonus, the main actor is Owen Wilson and actress, Julia Roberts!!  If you don't know the story WONDER, you need to.  I will write more about that later.

You may have seen some pictures or clipart of something like this:

Being kind is a major theme that runs through the book.  Ironically, November is also Kindness month.  Let's face it, we all need a little more kindness in the world, right?!  We had a staff meeting yesterday where I presented to the staff a challenge.  I copied a blank calendar of the month of November and challenged each staff to perform one random act of kindness for each day of the month and jot it down...accountability to themselves. 

At home, I created a video with my own girls about a kindness challenge to the students.  Students are also to perform acts of kindness each week and post it up on our bulletin board by the elementary office.  My hope is that the board will be bursting with all kinds of kindness but also create some change so that practicing kindness becomes a habit without thinking.

Check back here to see all the good that is happening.  Of course, tweet it out if you can #BeKind.

What's the Deal With These Fidget Spinners?

You may have noticed a new trend.  Fidget Spinners. They are very popular with students across America right now, but some adults are starting to buy into the fascination with them as well.  You may be aware that "fidgets" are tools designed to help some students focus or concentrate better while sitting in class, listening to a presentation, or just chilling out.  For some it creates a sense of relaxation or calmness.

Fidget Spinner's are all the craze right now.
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There is some science behind fidgeting or tapping your foot, messing with jewelry or your hair while you listen or concentrate on a task.  It's called self-regulation.  Most of us have a little quirk that helps us focus, some are just more noticeable than others.  

I admit, I have caved to the fidget spinner craze by purchasing 2 for my daughters this past summer.  They were wildly popular for a period of time but now I just see them sitting by their beds.  Once in a while, they will pick them up and spin them around and around but the hype has disappeared.  Perhaps part of it is that I would not allow them to take them to school, church, or while visiting friends.  They were to be used at home or in the car only.  

A friend of mine explains fidget spinners best, they are fun if you are using them, but to watch others using them, they are super annoying.  She is right.  I cringe when I see kids playing around with them, but spinning it around for a few minutes myself is kind of fun.  

I don't see fidget spinner around school very much right now.  It seems that last spring and over the summer they were all over the place.  They have very much just been a phase which makes me wonder what the next "gadget" will be...