Author: mrkobot

102 Review, ISSUE 45: The Power of Running (and Pausing to Reflect)

Posted on by mrkobot in Principal's Blog

When an instructional coach debriefs with a teacher, or when a teacher conference with a student, when is it constructive feedback that builds and when is it criticism that hurts? One is absolutely necessary for growth, and the latter does little more than belittle.

And what separates the disgruntled teachers who can never seem to stop complaining and the teacher leaders who is always active in helping the school recognize things in need of attention and/or ways it can keep improving? One is a toxic liability, and the other an incredible asset. Responding appropriately to each is perhaps one of a principal’s most impactful, and thus most important, job duty.

And how will parents take your comments at Thursday’s Parent Teacher Conference? Will they think of you as someone who is looking to shift blame, or will they think of you as someone who is making a genuine outreach to empower families in helping their children learn?

One can cause you a year full of complaints, and the latter unlock the path to incredible student learning as well as the unrivaled  joys of fulfillment successful teachers feel in June.

I believe the answer is identical in each of the three scenarios.

We’ll take some time to discuss this on Election Day, and until then consider this homework: a Thinking Generator from me to you and I look froward to hearing from everyone next week.

HIGHLIGHTS

The 4th grade STEM team, all new to 102 this year, took little time in taking the lead in making incredible impact for 102. Bringing the Mighty Milers program to 102 for the first time, Ms. Merino took her students to a track event at The Armory alongside Ms. Green and the Young Runners today and the students had a blast. An incredible distance runner herself, she was a huge reason why 102 was chosen as the NYC public school to be featured in the New York Road Runners community outreach program. Film crews will be here on Tuesday, and we are so excited to be able to spotlight our incredible students and their efforts.

Ms. Anna Arsenault’s application to the STEMmattersNYC Budding Scientist Program was accepted and not only will the students have the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge STEM learning, they will also be presenting their findings next June to a panel at a conference. Can’t wait!

And we can’t leave out Ms. Mills who tops them all with sharing with me the Alexander Camelton news. Thank you for providing our AM announcements with a brief respite from all the Hillary-Trump news.

From Mr. Borelli: Mrs. Marshall’s students in Class 3-302 presented their personal narratives to a captivated audience of parents and teachers. Part of 102’s new TC literacy program, class 3-302 demonstrated the heart of a story with such expressive reading and some ad-libbed side stories.  When students are given the time to tap into their ideas, they become more empathetic, and we then all realize how much we actually have in common with one another.

From Ms. Mulé: This past Tuesday, students participated in the city wide initiative called Team Up Tuesday.  Thank you to Mr. McManus and Ms. Pearlman for organizing this partnership with our local police precinct.  Officers from the 110th precinct showed up for Mr. McManus’s mini “police academy” where students worked out with and competed with officers to complete the rigorous training regimen that future police officers go through.  The afternoon ended with a spirited basketball game where – not surprisingly – the Eagles came out victorious.  Mr. McManus, Ms. Pearlman and the officers from the precinct taught the students a valuable lesson about team work and competition, as well as instilling confident in individuals. Thank you for a great afternoon!

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Operation Warm: Please look out for any students who come to school with outfits that appear to be inadequate for the cool weather ahead. We have stocks of free coats to give out and give Teresa a call to get one.

The ENL morning program will begin this week. Thank you Ms. Bagni for coordinating as usual. Please note: This is a Title III ENL program and is different than 102+ that will be offered to all students. 102+ will be begin later this year to at risk students and and teachers who’ve applied to teach AM/PM program will be notified soon.

Middle School Student Email Accounts: Please submit to Ms. Mulé FULL SETS of your homeroom students’ signed forms sent home last week. Once you have done so email me and I will provide you with a list of their account names and login info. What transpired the past few days due to one  student’s ability to post anonymously on another’s homework caused significant turmoil for some of our families and staff–my hairline visibly receded in just one week–IT CAN’T HAPPEN AGAIN.

Changes to MONDAY PL: Announcements will be made tomorrow regarding the afternoon professional learning.  We’re making a slight adjustments and you may reach out to UFT reps Sharon and Maureen for clarifications.

102 Review, ISSUE 44: When Students Read and Write (and Teachers Have Fun)

Posted on by mrkobot in Principal's Blog

One of the biggest joys this school year that we should all pause and recognize is simply the amount of reading and writing our students are doing. Our students are learning about how to use literary devices such as “Small Moments” in the third grade, and the spirit of independent reading is spreading fast and furious throughout the school on every floor.  Thank you, teachers!

Look, we could take a hit on test scores this April when we choose not to subscribe to curricula created by test-makers, but I am confident that the efforts our students put in to read and write will pay dividends to those who deserve them most and when they deserve them most: students in their futures.

When students read and write, they THINK and they LEARN. Why else would Dr. Howser always look up and pause before the last line of every entry in his excellent journal? So yes, Doogie was a genius because he wrote plenty and he thought plenty. Maybe.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Leading our first ever National Coming Out Day, staying late for our High School Admissions Info Night, and designing the school response plan to address student crisis, the 102 Guidance Department was on fire this week. They are our in-house experts on all things socio-emotional; lean on them. Good job Ms. Arduini, Ms. Babakitis, and Ms. Pearlman!

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

OCTOBER 31st: Teachers in PK-2 are approved to celebrate Monday October 31st during 8th period. Should teachers in any other grades want to participate in the festivities please speak with your APs for clearance.

Explicit policies regarding students dressing up that day will be sent home this week.

TEACHER DRESS UP CONTEST: For pride, for unity, or for the gift cards that will be awarded to the participating members of the winning team, grade teams can compete in our Best Team Costume contest this year. The judge will be Ms. Cathy Kane, one of the best school aides to serve anywhere. Clusters and other teachers not with one particular grade: pick a team.

10/17 PM: Teacher teams will review student work as grade teams to adjust curriculum and instructional practices. ENL, RtI, and Humanities teachers in 3-5 and Grade 1-2 teachers will participate in Lexia training. Let’s put those shiny new iPads to good use.

10/18 ELL PARENT MEETING IN THE LIBRARY AT 1:30PM: I’ve invited multi-lingual parents to join me in a meeting to discuss how we can better engage non-english speaking families. Stronger partnerships, stronger students. Shoot me an email should you like to participate in our school committee to empower ELL families.

FRIDAY FUNDAY: A full 10 minutes after Ms. Theodorou won her class free snacks by naming Natalie Imbruglia’s “Torn”, my phone somehow called Ms. Mills’ classroom on its own because she tried so many times to get through. She broke the phone trying to win for her students. She said her students get so disappointed when they don’t win, and it hit me then that we’re kind of sending 1,300 out of our 1,330  students home (slightly) disappointed every Friday afternoon. Here’s the fix:

Any teacher willing to suggest and SING out the week’s question (or perhaps have their students do it…DJ Borelli will work out the kinks…) for future Friday Funday’s will automatically win their whole class free snack bar coupons. It’s a win win for all…and I heard our school might have it’s first staff Karaoke event coming up…come on…it’s just for 10 seconds!

102 Review, ISSUE 43: National Coming Out Day (And Living Our Values)

Posted on by mrkobot in Principal's Blog

Think for yourself; care for others. It’s easy to say, and infinitely harder to do. Good people live these values every day, but great teachers deliberately create opportunities each day to live their values as a way to teach. It’s what we try to do here at 102 and if you have an idea for an event, celebration, etc., let us know. You should know by now we’re up for anything that’s meaningful for kids.

Our amazing guidance department (Ms. Arduini, Ms. Babakitis, and Ms. Pearlman) is leading the charge to make sure everyone feels welcomed and loved when they step into 102 this Tuesday, October 11th. Please show your support by wearing the pin that will be in your mailbox ( I think that’s going to happen…) or just rock whatever you own that can show support for the cause.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Zecca is gunning for the “most shout-outs in 102 Review” record and deservedly so. Given lyrics at 2:10PM on Thursday to prepare students performing the next morning, she demonstrated that she can do what everyone except her know by now: which is anything. The snippet her students performed, “Madelene By Your Side”, was adapted from “Washington by Your Side” of the Hamilton Musical. Just wait until they’re done with the whole album.

From Ms. Mintiens: I had the pleasure of sitting in on some awesome learning this week. Mrs. Smith asked students what they might want ‘0’ of. Students answered ghosts, bears, and lizards. Students in Ms. Monteleone and Ms. Wyckoff’s class grooved to the theme from ‘ Reading Rainbow’ as they found their Readers Workshop rug spots. And Mrs. DelVecchio  and Mrs. Fales to had students outside to study clouds and weather.  My favorite student comment this week came from Ms. Averna’s class when talking about the impending presidential election. Andreas stated, ” The most important characteristic a president should have is to be just kind.” Well said Andreas!

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

102 Design Challenge: You should have received some info regarding our Design Challenge in your mailbox. The challenge is open to students from age 4 to 14, so we are leaving the details of the project up to individual teachers to plan. Idea Paint CLEARreally is an incredible product so I suggest you start “guiding” students to design what would work for you and your classroom.

Field Trips: Our school district is still negotiating with the Department of Health to see how we can best support students with special medical needs to attend field trips, and before a meaningful set of guidelines is provided to schools, make sure to discuss any students with special needs with your supervisors before submitting an application. Additionally, the students you wish to bring on field trips must be on pace regarding curriculum  in order for the trip request to be approved.

Announcements: If you would like our student council to make any announcements for you or your class, please complete this form and submit to your AP. It could be a winning student poem, details regarding after school programs, or a challenge to the principal to a proxy rap battle (you write the lyrics, students do the rapping).

New 102 Staff: If you haven’t noticed, Friday is our school gear day. You can purchase a hoodie or t-shirt from our UFT reps if interested.

102 Review, ISSUE 42: Round 2

Posted on by mrkobot in Principal's Blog

“If the weather never changed, would leaves still change color and fall off of trees?”

– Ms. Patoli, THINKING GENERATOR for Kindergarten STEAM

It’s been an impressive first month for teacher growth. Many of the Thinking Generators we saw during our 2nd TG walkthrough were so strong that it was nearly impossible to suggest revisions or to give critical feedback. Whether the teacher used it as a way to build new understanding by linking it with prior knowledge (“How is retelling before you read like a runner getting ready for a race?” -Ms. Budarf), teach strategy (“How can you use the grids of a graph paper to find factors of the number 40?” -Ms. Lellis), or clarify conceptual understanding (“Lauren wrote 80.356 x 10^3 to represent 80,356 in scientific notation. Her teacher told her it wasn’t scientific notation? Why?” -Zecca), strong TGs are easy to recognize because they are always authentic to individual lessons and students.

Learning objectives can always be copied from a textbook. Effective TGs, however, can only come from intentional teacher thinking and that’s why they’re effective in generating student thinking. Can’t wait to see what our teachers have our students thinking about in our next walkthrough.

HIGHLIGHTS:

From Mr. Borelli: Ms. Anna Arsenault’s 4th graders were transported to a parallel universe where they could only work within a Base-5 system to demonstrate number sense.  Students were working both independently or with partners, their choice, to figure out how 15 ones is really 30, 4 ones is 4, but 6 ones is 11 in this alternate world.  When I walked in, students were eager to share with me their thinking, but they wouldn’t tell me the answer or a simple formula. It wasn’t about learning a quick “trick” to bring about a correct answer.  They let me see their thinking as they grouped and regrouped their math cubes.  Students across the room were having “Aha” moments as they used simple numbers and regrouping in a new way.

From Ms. Mintiens: As our youngest students get more immersed in the 102 community, it is clear the thoughtful TLC that each teacher has given them. I see reluctant Kindergarten students running to their classes, reaching for a hug or a hand from their teacher.  Ms. Foley and Ms. Khatibi were teaching parallel math groups in order to ensure multiple entry points were offered. Ms. Cohen and Ms. Gelermino have a student dance into helping with word study. Finally Ms. Monteleone and Ms Wyckoff pull a nervous student aside and let him know everyone forgets their homework. All of these small gestures help our students gain confidence and in turn make them better students, ready to succeed. Keep up the good work!

From Ms. Mulé: Monday night’s Presidential Debate was the most widely watched debate in history.  On Tuesday (and Wednesday and Thursday) students in Mrs. Gaffan’s 8th grade Social Studies class had intense class discussions on the merits or lack of merits of both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.  One student pointed out Trump’s lack of knowledge on America’s policy and noted that he “just got angry and started making noises” when he didn’t know the answer to a question.  Another student noted Trump’s “hostile” nature to Clinton’s very “passive aggressive” personality.  The climate of the political world will have long lasting effects on the students and to see them so engaged in the discussion was a great way to see them measure the impact of this election on their future.

Things You Need to Know

Google Drive content in our school folders SHOULD NOT be shared with non-102 users without explicit permission from your supervisor. We are reviewing unauthorized edits to our materials by individuals not on our school staff and it’s disappointing that we have to edit ownership and file sharing rights of all our files.

Hallways must be monitored when your students transition to and from class/auditorium/cafeteria. Horseplay and excessive noise increase risks for student injuries, and members of our School Climate Team will meet with individual classes to adjust behavior.

Observations begin when we return. Informal observations are 15 minutes, and formal observations are 45 minutes with both pre and post conferences.

No school Monday and Tuesday. Enjoy!

102 Review, Issue 41: A Word on PDs

Posted on by mrkobot in Principal's Blog

Like that one time in Utah when a kind gallery attendant pointed at me and asked my wife whether I needed an interpreter, teacher PDs, no matter how well-intentioned, can often come across as just a little bit condescending. You are all incredible educators because you have the rare combination of kindness, patience, intelligence, industry, and humility; and probably not because you sat through PDs teaching you how to put things students already know under the “K” column in a KWL chart.

During Thinking Generator feedback meetings, a few of you asked when the next training on TGs would be. The answer? Whenever you want. Reach out to your colleagues, APs, coaches, or myself, as you are planning and we’ll do our best to support. Our work isn’t about learning how to flip the same burger on the same stove at the same temperature on the same grill; few workplace require dynamic skill sets like a classroom does, and effective instruction isn’t learned via PDs but refined through shared experiences and guidance. We want you to be supported as you do your job, not when you’ve already finished your job of battling 30 children on a Monday afternoon.

Email me your lesson objective and I will respond with ideas on TGs within hours. If I’m of no help I can always send you to Ms. Green in room 409: her masterful TGs (“When you’re doing a close reading of a text, how do you know when you’re “close” enough?”) are literally thinking offers you can’t refuse.

HIGHLIGHTS

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

9/26 Monday afternoon: K-5 teachers will meet briefly with Personalized Learning Leader Ms. Mintiens to learn about how teachers can flag struggling students for academic intervention services. It is important that our school provide and monitor timely interventions before students are referred or recommended for special services.

Parent Coordinator: We will begin searching for a parent coordinator next week. Ms. Roridguez did a fantastic job this last year and we wish her the best. In the meantime, please seek out members of our climate and guidance team to support you with connecting with families.

Plan Ahead for Good Times: We had a long week, and we will be rewarded with an extra-long weekend next week for Rosh Hashanah. No school 10/3-4.

EXTRA READING:

Read the above mentioned article for More Insight on Teacher Professional Learning: 

“No professionals say, ‘I became great at my work by attending workshops.’ Why do we treat teaching differently?” by Kenneth Baum and David Krulwich