There are some interesting but obscure holidays next week that you ought to mark on your calendar:
27th - Family Day - A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children (always a good idea!)
28th - National Good Neighbor Day (another good idea)
Oct. 1st - UN International Day of Older Persons and
World Smile Day (you can celebrate twice by smiling at an older person)
But the day that everyone at Taylor needs to take a moment to celebrate is on Saturday which is National Custodial Workers' Day.
We are very fortunate to have five dedicated, highly competent custodians who keep our grounds, classrooms, offices, and common areas spic and span. Led by head custodian Peter Tapia, our custodial team includes Patty Delgado, Albert Jaramillo, Anna Sedillo, and Yolanda Lajeunesse. Our custodians do everything from raking leaves to maintaining our marquee to cleaning rest rooms. And they do it with nary a complaint. Underpaid and over worked, they always go out of their way to serve our school and our students. So please join me in thanking our custodians for all they do for Taylor: Happy National Custodian Day – October 1st!
Friday, September 24, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Tattlling or telling? Do your kids know the difference?
We work hard to make sure Taylor is a safe school. From time to time students act in ways which are unsafe or illegal or both. At times like these, we typically visit with students to gather more information about the incident be it a fight or threat of bullying. We are often thwarted because children have told it is not okay to “snitch” or be “a rat”. I try to explain to the student there is a difference between tattling and telling. A Time Magazine article explains:
“Tattling is telling on someone in order to get him in trouble. Telling is reporting about someone to get him help…Parents should bring up topics frequently but naturally, so kids learn that difficult subjects can be freely and easily discussed at home. With middle or high schoolers, parents need to avoid two danger zones: the "freak out" and the "big talk." Sixty-one percent of teens in the Kaiser study said they don't confide in their parents because they don't want to worry them. Parents need to demonstrate that they can listen to their kids without judging them and answer questions calmly and without lecturing. The car is a good place to talk with teens because it isn't too face to face. Parents shouldn't wait for their children to take the lead. Adults can use recent events as a jumping-off point but should talk about telling even when it isn't in the news. Once you urge your child to "tell," the burden is on you to believe him, and if he comes home with news of kids' talking about harming themselves or others, take it seriously, even if it is buried in an account of "I have a friend who knows a guy who overheard a kid in the locker room saying some stupid things." Kids also appreciate it when parents confide their own stories. If you dealt with issues such as violence and bullying as a teen, tell your kids about it. If it starts a conversation, your family could have had the "big talk" without anyone's even realizing it.”
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,999485,00.html#ixzz0zo0fggUc
Parenting is a tough job but teaching our children the difference between tattling and telling is as important as teaching the difference between right and wrong. There are a number of online resources to guide parents in your discussion with your kids about this topic. If you would like more help, contact our guidance staff.
“Tattling is telling on someone in order to get him in trouble. Telling is reporting about someone to get him help…Parents should bring up topics frequently but naturally, so kids learn that difficult subjects can be freely and easily discussed at home. With middle or high schoolers, parents need to avoid two danger zones: the "freak out" and the "big talk." Sixty-one percent of teens in the Kaiser study said they don't confide in their parents because they don't want to worry them. Parents need to demonstrate that they can listen to their kids without judging them and answer questions calmly and without lecturing. The car is a good place to talk with teens because it isn't too face to face. Parents shouldn't wait for their children to take the lead. Adults can use recent events as a jumping-off point but should talk about telling even when it isn't in the news. Once you urge your child to "tell," the burden is on you to believe him, and if he comes home with news of kids' talking about harming themselves or others, take it seriously, even if it is buried in an account of "I have a friend who knows a guy who overheard a kid in the locker room saying some stupid things." Kids also appreciate it when parents confide their own stories. If you dealt with issues such as violence and bullying as a teen, tell your kids about it. If it starts a conversation, your family could have had the "big talk" without anyone's even realizing it.”
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,999485,00.html#ixzz0zo0fggUc
Parenting is a tough job but teaching our children the difference between tattling and telling is as important as teaching the difference between right and wrong. There are a number of online resources to guide parents in your discussion with your kids about this topic. If you would like more help, contact our guidance staff.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Energized at Taylor
I am energized about some new innovations coming to Taylor in the next few months.
Homework Club starts next Tuesday and will give your kids a quiet place supported by a highly qualified teacher in which to get help with homework.
New computers are coming. Thanks to the recently passed bond levy, Taylor received $70,500 for new computers. We have ordered 65 Dell desktops and 32 Dell laptops to upgrade our computer labs and replace worn teacher computers.
Student Council is off to a strong start. Ms. Kasparek has created an elective class 4th period for student leaders and they have used this time to create a model student election program in conjunction with Constitution Day.
Project-based learning is alive and well in Taylor science classrooms. In the past weeks, students have engaged in several hands-on science lessons designed to teach our rigorous science standards while making learning fun.
The Raymond G. Sanchez Community Center at 9800 4th St NW is an active partner with Taylor in programs to support kids. I met yesterday with Director Bunny Martinez and Center staff. I came away impressed with the both the quality and quantity of activities available for Taylor kids. This week at the Center, they are offering middle school boxing, hip hop dancing, cheerleading, ceramics, and an after school program. Then on Friday night is the middle school dance from 6:30 – 8:30. The center has busing available from Taylor every day. Financial aid is available to families if needed. The number at the center is 468-7800. Check it out!
I am energized about some new innovations coming to Taylor in the next few months.
Homework Club starts next Tuesday and will give your kids a quiet place supported by a highly qualified teacher in which to get help with homework.
New computers are coming. Thanks to the recently passed bond levy, Taylor received $70,500 for new computers. We have ordered 65 Dell desktops and 32 Dell laptops to upgrade our computer labs and replace worn teacher computers.
Student Council is off to a strong start. Ms. Kasparek has created an elective class 4th period for student leaders and they have used this time to create a model student election program in conjunction with Constitution Day.
Project-based learning is alive and well in Taylor science classrooms. In the past weeks, students have engaged in several hands-on science lessons designed to teach our rigorous science standards while making learning fun.
The Raymond G. Sanchez Community Center at 9800 4th St NW is an active partner with Taylor in programs to support kids. I met yesterday with Director Bunny Martinez and Center staff. I came away impressed with the both the quality and quantity of activities available for Taylor kids. This week at the Center, they are offering middle school boxing, hip hop dancing, cheerleading, ceramics, and an after school program. Then on Friday night is the middle school dance from 6:30 – 8:30. The center has busing available from Taylor every day. Financial aid is available to families if needed. The number at the center is 468-7800. Check it out!
Homework Club starts next Tuesday and will give your kids a quiet place supported by a highly qualified teacher in which to get help with homework.
New computers are coming. Thanks to the recently passed bond levy, Taylor received $70,500 for new computers. We have ordered 65 Dell desktops and 32 Dell laptops to upgrade our computer labs and replace worn teacher computers.
Student Council is off to a strong start. Ms. Kasparek has created an elective class 4th period for student leaders and they have used this time to create a model student election program in conjunction with Constitution Day.
Project-based learning is alive and well in Taylor science classrooms. In the past weeks, students have engaged in several hands-on science lessons designed to teach our rigorous science standards while making learning fun.
The Raymond G. Sanchez Community Center at 9800 4th St NW is an active partner with Taylor in programs to support kids. I met yesterday with Director Bunny Martinez and Center staff. I came away impressed with the both the quality and quantity of activities available for Taylor kids. This week at the Center, they are offering middle school boxing, hip hop dancing, cheerleading, ceramics, and an after school program. Then on Friday night is the middle school dance from 6:30 – 8:30. The center has busing available from Taylor every day. Financial aid is available to families if needed. The number at the center is 468-7800. Check it out!
I am energized about some new innovations coming to Taylor in the next few months.
Homework Club starts next Tuesday and will give your kids a quiet place supported by a highly qualified teacher in which to get help with homework.
New computers are coming. Thanks to the recently passed bond levy, Taylor received $70,500 for new computers. We have ordered 65 Dell desktops and 32 Dell laptops to upgrade our computer labs and replace worn teacher computers.
Student Council is off to a strong start. Ms. Kasparek has created an elective class 4th period for student leaders and they have used this time to create a model student election program in conjunction with Constitution Day.
Project-based learning is alive and well in Taylor science classrooms. In the past weeks, students have engaged in several hands-on science lessons designed to teach our rigorous science standards while making learning fun.
The Raymond G. Sanchez Community Center at 9800 4th St NW is an active partner with Taylor in programs to support kids. I met yesterday with Director Bunny Martinez and Center staff. I came away impressed with the both the quality and quantity of activities available for Taylor kids. This week at the Center, they are offering middle school boxing, hip hop dancing, cheerleading, ceramics, and an after school program. Then on Friday night is the middle school dance from 6:30 – 8:30. The center has busing available from Taylor every day. Financial aid is available to families if needed. The number at the center is 468-7800. Check it out!
Friday, September 3, 2010
What did you learn at school today?
When the kids were younger and still at home, Lynn and I would make a practice of asking them at dinner, “What did you learn in school today?” The usual reply was, “Nothing.” After a few probing questions, we were able to find out that they had in fact learned a plenty. Every night the question was the same “What did you learn?” We never asked “What did your teacher do in class today?” although we did hear a few stories that made us wonder what was going on at that school. But that is a story for another day.
The point is we asked about learning, not teaching. And that is the job of our teachers at Taylor middle school as members of a professional learning community – to ask “what are our students learning today?” The corollary questions to this are:
• “How do I know they have learned what I taught?”
• “What do I do when my students don’t learn what I taught?”
• “What do I do with those students who already mastered what I taught?”
As I shared with the staff on opening day, the focus of our team meetings will be on:
• Developing a guaranteed viable curriculum which clearly states what kids are expected to know and be able to do
• Create short cycle assessments to measure if students learned what we taught
• Reteach those students who did not learn it the first time
• Enrich for those students who did learn it
We began be developing team norms at our first meeting. We will be moving shortly into setting SMART goals and developing short-cycle assessments.
Our entire focus of this endeavor will be to improve student learning.
The point is we asked about learning, not teaching. And that is the job of our teachers at Taylor middle school as members of a professional learning community – to ask “what are our students learning today?” The corollary questions to this are:
• “How do I know they have learned what I taught?”
• “What do I do when my students don’t learn what I taught?”
• “What do I do with those students who already mastered what I taught?”
As I shared with the staff on opening day, the focus of our team meetings will be on:
• Developing a guaranteed viable curriculum which clearly states what kids are expected to know and be able to do
• Create short cycle assessments to measure if students learned what we taught
• Reteach those students who did not learn it the first time
• Enrich for those students who did learn it
We began be developing team norms at our first meeting. We will be moving shortly into setting SMART goals and developing short-cycle assessments.
Our entire focus of this endeavor will be to improve student learning.
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