SUCCESS: Mission Possible

New School Year, New Students, Even a New Room Make-Over

Welcome students and parents to 2012-2013: a year of learning opportunities!

I am always looking for new ideas to engage students in a successful school experience, so when I was asked to read and review Mission Possible: Secrets of the Success, written by Founder and CEO of the Success Academy Charter Schools, Eva Moskowitz, and literacy expert, Arin Lavinia, I was eager.

This is my 20^th year teaching middle school students. I have seen incredible changes in education, technology, and society during this time. Stagnation has never been a problem with this age group or profession, so when asked to comment on the following comment, I was at a loss.

 “Stagnation, being unable to accomplish one’s job at a high level, is one of the greatest sources of low teacher morale.  Why do you think this country treats teaching so differently than it does other professions?” 

I believe that there are many reasons a teacher is at times “…unable to accomplish one’s job at a high level…” and the teaching profession is treated differently from other professions. As stated over and over again in Mission Possible, this can change when the education community works together with success as the overall goal.

After reading the book, I am as eager to share some key points in my back to school post. It is my hope that these ideas will ignite thinking and actions within our school community especially among our administrators, teachers, staff, parents, and students.

“Secrets of Success” shared:

• Keeping students challenged and engaged in learning.
• Keeping parents informed, involved and engaged in learning.
• Keeping teachers and administrators trained, prepared and engaged in learning.

I smile knowing, that our school district already knows this “Secret.”

We already focus on all of these points- daily. Can we do better?

Simple answer,  Yes- daily.

• Teachers must have time and resources to prepare rigorous and passionate lessons.
• Parents must support and invest in their child’s learning.
• Students must take advantage of every opportunity with a goal of life-long learning.

Mission Possible shows when everyone focuses on these goals, success happens. I plan to use the last chapter title “Call to Action” as a reminder that I need to continue to make a difference.  

2012-2013 school year has SUCCESS written all over it.

Give Away: An extra copy of Mission Possible was made available to gift to one of my readers. The book also includes a DVD sharing student and teacher interactions shared in the book. I will randomly choosing a winner on August  31^st. Simply leave a comment with your email contact information so I can contact the winner.

This sponsored post is part of a campaign presented by Read Mission Possible.com and the SITS Girls. You can learn more about Mission Possible by following them on Twitter and Facebook. I was compensated for this post.  All opinions expressed are my own.

2011 Changes in our SPOT

Wall of Wonderful Reading

Wednesday, August 17th was our 1st day of an amazing school year! The changes that have been made in the school and in our classroom are easy to SPOT.

--Mrs. Steggell is our new principal! She brought energy and excitement with her from the Little Husky Learning Center. Her purple and gold pride and love of learning is easy to see each day.

--Many changes in staff and teaching assignments keep our learning fresh and alive. Just to name two: Mrs.Kelly and Mr. Hunzelman have joined the 6th grade Language Arts Team.

Slinky: Super Ferret

--Mrs. Buffington is student teaching in our classroom the 1st eight weeks of school. She is going to school at UNI so purple and gold spirit is bouncing off her.

--Slinky is our 1st class pet. He is a rescued ferret and keeps us laughing at his silliness.

Time to Connect

--Our room has transformed into a writing/reading/connecting headquarters. Bookcases and books, computers and supplies have found places to be used to help connect our learning to the world.

--6th,7th and 8th graders are calling our SPOT home during reading and homeroom times. This will allow us to collaborate and share easily with other Husky students.

With just three days completed, I can tell our 

SPOT at OMS 

is going to be the place to be this year!

Back to School: 2010

A little girl had just finished her first week of school.

"I'm just wasting my time," she said to her mother. "I can't read, I can't write - and they won't let me talk!"

The school year 2010-2011 is about to begin and I can promise the students in my classes we will read, write, and talk! As I prepare for the first week, I am excited about all the new ideas and opportunities I want to share with with you. Summer time allows us time to relax, review and rejoice. Summer time gives me hope- hope for now and the future.

• I hope you were able to enjoy a good book.
  
• I hope you were able to spend time with friends and meet new ones.
• I hope you had some time to do what you wanted to do.
• I hope you were able to do something new, something challenging, and something memorable.
• I hope you were able to explore a place you would like to return to someday.
  
• I hope you feel every day counts-that you are not "just wasting your time."

So, there it is- my hopes for each of you while in my classroom and out... let the school days begin!

Welcome!

You are now officially a 6th grader at Oelwein Middle School! Our first few days together flew by without much time to really settle in and set a routine. Moving from classroom to classroom and meeting new teachers can be challenging. In the next few weeks, the pace and expectations will become familiar and it will seem as if you have always been a middle schooler.  Believe it or not, the end of the year will be here before you know it.


Spending time with old friends and meeting new friends makes this a great place to be. I was pleased to see many students volunteering to help others. I heard "Please" and "Thank You " in the hallways, cafeteria, and in my classroom over and over again. Smiles were everywhere!


I hope you were able to rest and relax this weekend. I spent most of my time reading. My favorites this weekend were: The Schwa was Here By: Neal Shusterman and The Sixth Grade Nickname Game By: Gordon Korman. Both books have a middle school setting that we all can relate to. Let me know what you are reading, I'm always looking for a good book.

Where is your spot at OMS?

I have been in our classroom this week sorting, cleaning, and planning this year's adventure. Although this is a new school building for all 6th graders, this has been my "spot" for the last 16 years. I have moved rooms, met new friends, said goodbye to old friends, and found that this building has become a special spot to me!

You will be starting the 2009-10 school year finding your spot. Your locker, your classrooms, your seat at lunch, your favorite shelf in the library, will all become part of your "spot" at Oelwein Middle School.

Spots can move, change, and surprise us. Spots can become a place where we laugh, learn, and grow. This year's adventure is about to begin- have fun discovering spots to call your own!

My official "spot" this year is room 12.
See you there :D