Google Docs Rock the Imagination!

At exactly 7:12 a.m. last Thursday I decided to undertake the journey into the unknown but intriguing world of sharing documents online...with the entire planet! I finally had a reason and a chunk of time for a trial-and-error learning session. The reason? The Mayport Faculty had experienced a power packed Web 2.0 Presentation by our Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Terri Stahlman, the week before. She appropriately closed with the promise, "...and I'm sure that you'll be able to access a copy of this power point on Yvonne's blog so that you can explore these resources and connect them to your classroom and instructional work..." Okay then. It was time to publish my first document. I knew enough about this from my colleague, Melanie Holtsman, that it could not be done with the simple "attach document" function that is used with email. "Google docs," "upload," and "html code" were a few key phrases that kept appearing in my conscious thoughts from her patient tutoring. I leafed through my notebook to find the synopsis of my Blogging 101 session.

Then, at 7:12 a.m. I launched my online exploration and application and by 7:26 a.m. the Power Point Presentation was published as a Google doc on the web! Fourteen minutes is exceedingly speedy for a novice learner, a digital immigrant. It demonstrates the power, ease, and accessibility of Web 2.0 tools. It increases my determination as an instructional leader to ensure that every student has access to and knows how to use these tools in meaningful ways. My imagination cannot even begin to encompass all of the ways in which this Web 2.0 tool can impact instruction!

Web 2.0 Faculty Presentation by Dr. Terri Stahlman

True Joy - True Purpose

This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by “yourself as a mighty one”; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy; I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no “brief candle” for me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.
-Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman, 1903, p. ii

This quote resonated with me when I read it in Michael Fullan's new book What's Worth Fighting For in the Principalship and then shared it with the Mayport faculty and staff in our September 12th Memo. It is always a joy to think about why I chose to be an educator, directly working with future generations. How lucky I am to experience purpose, mindfulness, and joy in every single day!

Countdown to Florida Writes!

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As Mayport students begin to learn how to craft their writing in Kindergarten through fifth grade following the elements of our writing standards in Writers Workshop, they are preparing for success on this vital assessment.

Talk to your fourth grader about what they are writing as they learn how to incorporate the following 4th grade narrative writing standard elements in their work. Narrative Writing is the first unit of K-5 writing instruction this year:

• Engages the reader by establishing a context, creating a point of view, or otherwise developing reader interest;
• Establishes a point of view, plot, setting, and conflict (and for autobiography the  significance of events);
• Creates an organizing structure;
• Includes sensory details and concrete language to develop plot and character;
• Excludes extraneous details and inconsistencies;
• Develops complex characters;
• Uses a range of appropriate strategies such as dialogue and tension or suspense;
• Provides a sense of closure to the writing.

Open House Exceeds Imagination!

A successful face-to-face team is more than just collectively intelligent. It makes everyone work harder, think smarter and reach better conclusions than they would have on their own.

-James Surowiecki, as quoted in Results Now by Michael J. Schmoker, p. 105

Our September 4th Spaghetti Dinner, PTA Meeting, Scholastic Family Night and Open House was a perfect example of professional collaboration leading to exemplary results! As I circulated during the Open House presentations, each classroom was a model of professionalism, hospitality, teaching and learning. It was a joy to see carefully prepared power point presentations, parent "handbooks," student work, pretzels and cookies, question and answer opportunities, conference sign-up sheets, art projects, book displays, music...and of course, A LOT of spaghetti. Together, every team and the school as a team collaborated to produce an Open House experience for students and families that was truly memorable and exceeded all imagination!