Personal Reflections

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Transitions and Opportunities

It’s started…spring fever…elementary transition into middle school…”big kid” IMG_0012opportunities.  Our fifth graders left before spring break as elementary students (after watching “the film” though, they felt like “bigger kids”) and returned today with growth spurts and lots of excitement as they prepare to transition into middle school in the next few weeks.  IMG_0011

One of the highlights of the day was the opportunity to blow on horns (and other amazing instruments) with Mr. Maxwell and Ms. Melton of the MISD Band Department.  Those interested in joining the band next year in middle school were given the chance to play on various brass and wind instruments while asking lots of important questions.

Likewise, fifth graders spent time with the middle school counselors this afternoon talking about schedules, expectations, and life as a middle school student next year.  IMG_0016Students will take home information today (ask for your child’s yellow packet) about their required course selections, elective choices, extracurricular opportunities, and more for parents to read and discuss before final decisions are completed.  Parents will also be able to attend an information session at Frank Seale Middle School on Tuesday, April 9 @ 6:30 p.m.  All Availability Forms (yellow sheet) are due April 12th to your child’s homeroom teacher or Mrs. Stanley, our LME Counselor.  Please call your homeroom teacher or the school office if you have questions about completing this required 5th grade form.

It’s a natural cycle of everyday school life to plan ahead for next year, however, I encouraged our 5th graders to remain in the present.  Everyday is game day at LME, and as one learner reminded me, “We may be making plans to transition, but there are still lots of Miller opportunities to enjoy first!”  Well said, my friend!  🙂

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Thanks for the Pi!

pie3.14 or Pi in the mathematical world!  This transcendental number represents the ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a circle.  It appears a constant in a wide range of mathematical problems (and as we know, few things remain constant).  Pi is also the 16th letter of the Greek alphabet.  I gathered this important information from a former Miller friend who shares his fascination with numbers, specifically with pi.  Since it’s 3/14 today, he called to remind me of this significance “in case I forgot or Mr. Van didn’t think to remind you…it IS spring break after all…”  🙂  Here’s hoping you appreciate the significance of pi in your world today.  As for me, I have some baking to do!

Note:  We look forward to seeing everyone again on Monday morning!  EnJOY your last few days of spring break!  🙂

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Roundin’ up (and down) the week to rope some Spring Break!

IMG_0944Young cowboys and cowgirls rounded up some meaningful activities today during their annual Kinder Rodeo.  They rotated classrooms where activity stations in core subject areas provided engaging and interesting tasks to complete in cooperative groups.  They sang songs around the chuckwagon, shared some grub, and told tall Texas tales.  As one little friend noted, “We did everything but rope cattle, Mrs. Van!”  Maybe next year…    🙂

The remainder of the building buzzed in math excitement during our 3M math2Event throughout the day.  Miller Math Mania was on fire as learners in each grade level rotated math stations and activities in teams to complete math-related tasks, share outcomes, and problem solve together.  Everything from a 50s Diner to a Pet Shop provided math opportunities for learners in the real-world of problem solving.  Technology to old-fashioned ciphering stimulated conversation, solutions, and meaningful math fun for all!  Special thanks to our Miller Math Committee, the real math brain-powers behind this innovative day!  Thanks to our classroom leaders who went above and beyond to provide engaging math learning experiences for all!  As another young math scholar commented, “We rounded up and down and now it’s time to rope in some Spring Break!”   🙂

Here’s hoping you have a restful, rejuvenating, relaxing break.  We’ll see you again on Monday, March 18th!

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Leprechaun luck…or not?!

I had the privilege once again to be a special guest reader to a group of learning friends who invited me today.  They requested someone short with red hair who liked to share holiday stories, especially Irish ones.  🙂

While I enJOY sharing a wee bit of wisdom with all, this was a particularlyLeprechaun2 fun challenge today.  The book we chose was The Leprechaun in the Basement by Kathy Tucker and John Sandford.  A young boy, Michael McKeever, and his family are down on their luck in Chicago.  Michael’s dad lost his computer job and now his best baseball shoes are falling apart and it’s baseball season.  They “make do” with a roof over their head and food to eat when Michael accidentally discovers a leprechaun by the name of O’Leary in an old basement trunk (who’s been living there for years) with a pot of gold.  Of course, Michael thinks his luck will change, but he doesn’t expect to meet such a cantankerous leprechaun.  While all turns out well, the end is not exactly expected, but luck finds Michael on the ball field anyway (because it turns out O’Leary was the best cobbler in all of Ireland, thus the baseball shoes get “magically” transformed for action).

Wonderful conversation ensued among the group following the story since many of these learners also feel the pinch of hard times and anxiety in their daily lives.  Compassion and understanding for family hardships teach the lesson of how values transcend monetary gain…leprechaun luck…or not!  Here’s hoping you experience a little leprechaun luck in your life soon…  🙂

Note:  Please join us for 3M (Marvelous Miller Math) Day events tomorrow!

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Organized vs. Disorganized, Part Three

“So how do I discover my child’s real organizational style when the bedroom organizinglooks like cyclone central?  Why can’t my child just use my organizational style?”  Most likely we’ve all thought these comments (if not said them out loud) multiple times…it’s okay…take a deep breath!  🙂  As parents, we do our personal best to teach our child how to organize, usually in the way we organize.  The real problem is our way may not be his or her way and it simply doesn’t work.  Each brain organizes and recalls information in different ways.

In the book, Kutscher and Moran note that we organize with three basic styles:

  1. Visual Organizers:  need to have everything visible; have to see things in order to find them; respond to color, pictures, and other visual cues; remember where things are based on where they last saw the item.
  2. Spatial/Cozy Organizers:  need to have everything within reach when doing schoolwork; need a work space area to “feel good” before they can start work; like to move through dance, drama, music; when the work area is a mess, they are a mess; remember where things are based on where they last used the item.
  3. Chronological/Sequential Organizers:  access information in a set order; think with numbers; remember dates, times, order of things; keep stacks at their work space; look at details; feel messy when the work area is not in order; remember where things are based on the time they last used the item.

Some of us will recognize one strong style in ourselves and in our child; others will panic and see two styles…there is nothing wrong with having a combination!  A common combination we see in school is a visual-spatial style where children like puzzles, have a great imagination, are sensitive to their feelings, and have a poor sense of time.

So, how do we fine-tune organizational techniques?  In the next section, the authors share ways to choose and set up supplies to meet the child’s organizational style.  Here’s hoping once you recognize the organizational style, you can begin to embrace a new way of working successfully within your child’s world.  Just remember:  In raising a child, the days are long, but the years are short!  🙂

Note:  We will celebrate our annual 3M Day on Friday…Marvelous Miller Math!  We hope you join us for the mathematical festivities that morning!

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Let’s go fly a kite!

An enthusiastic group of learners were discussing and writing from FDR’s famous quote:  “When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on…”

  • Child #1:  It’s not officially spring, but I think he was talking Kiteabout kites.
  • Child #2:  Kites?  I thought he meant ropes on a ship.
  • Child #3:  What about tying ropes on kites then?
  • Child #4:  That’s it! Tie knots in the rope on the kite and hang on ’cause you’re gonna fly!
  • Child #1:  I hope we get to fly kites again today at recess!
  • Child #3:  Do you think the president is talking about kites though?  He was president during the Great Depression when things were really tough.
  • Child #2:  They also had lots of shipping accidents with ropes too.
  • Child #4:  I still like the thought of tying lots of knots onto kite ropes and flying.

It’s fascinating to listen to learner conversations, how they process thoughts, and where their imaginations take them.  These learners obviously had much to share concerning the background knowledge of President Roosevelt’s upbeat saying.  Their conversation eventually steered them into a direction their classroom leader most likely expected…and just so you know, they did come to consensus about how to “keep on keeping on” when the going gets tough.  They also decided flying kites on this windy March day during recess would be a great way to relieve some stress, so here’s hoping you find time to go fly a kite with someone you treasure soon!  🙂

Note:  Try to hang on three more days…spring break IS coming!

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Rowdy Runners or Runny Rowders?

IMG_2563A crisp and cold March morn met us early for the first MISD Rowdy Run 5K. Six elementary princiPALs (who officially form the team known as No Child Left Behind during the race) took their place at the back of over 750 participants. Thankfully, we can report all made it safely back to the finish line in spite of enduring one of the windiest, coldest, hilliest courses to date! Proud of us, team! Yes, we are rowdy and we are runners (well, some of us at least)!

 

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Miller Style!

Yes, we have a definite Miller Style at LME and today was certainly no exception…what an exciting week (with a full moon and everything!).  🙂

Our Bluebonnet Book Bowl Team came in second in the district IMG_0007competition this morning and we enJOYed lunch out as a special treat.  BBB requires learners to read all the books on the Texas Bluebonnet Book List for 2013 (they also participate in voting to choose the TX Winner too).  MISD then holds a competition where each campus sends a BBB Team to compete and share their vast knowledge (like a Jeopardy Game in format).  Big BRAVOS go out to these outstanding reader leaders from LME:  Natalia, Bailey, Ella, Skyler (team captain), Hannah, Bryce, and staff sponDSC_1352sor, Mrs. Bolgiano (Library Media Specialist extraordinaire!).

Our second graders presented their fabulous program Miller Style to a packed house last night and again during Miller Rally this morning.  Our students especially enJOYed the song/dance number, “Miller Style,” with marvelous Miller moves, words, and actions.  The entire show, written by the exceptional Fine Arts Team @ IMG_0916LME, was truly a hit!

We also had several Kinder friends celebrating the work of Dr. Suess throughout the day–what a delightful way to learn about the wonderful Suessical genius of Theodore Geisel!

IMG_0906No, there is never a dull moment and this wonderful week is certainly no exception at LME!  EnJOY your weekend…only five days to go until everyone receives a much-needed spring break!  🙂

Note:  We hope to see you out at the Rowdy Runner 5K tomorrow morning!  Go, Rowdy Runners!

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Good luck or fortune?

CloverBeing of some Irish decent, the pipes are usually calling from glen to glen this time of year.  Walking the building, you see the signs of beginning spring, especially those 3-and-4-leaf clovers.

This little batch of shamrocks (three leaves on each stem and the national emblem of Ireland) was found right off our playground.  It reminded me of a poem my Granny B would share:  “May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow; and may trouble avoid you wherever you go!”  The batch of shamrocks also brought about an interesting discussion today between some wee friends:

  • Child #1:  It’s our lucky day!
  • Child #2:  How do you know?
  • Child #1:  Because it’s ‘fortune’ we found these shamrocks.
  • Child #2:  You mean lucky, huh?
  • Child #1:  No, it’s ‘fortune’ because they’re worth so much!
  • Child #2:  How will these build fortune?
  • Child #1:  Because now we find the leprechaun and the pot of gold!   (…and then they started the search…)  🙂

Whether good luck or great fortune, may the wonder of finding a small patch of dewey shamrocks always bring great promise…and as my Granny B would sing:

“May there always be work for your hands to do; may your purse always hold a coin or two.  May the sun always shine on your windowpane; may a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.  May the hand of a friend always be near you; may your heart fill with great JOY to always cheer you!”  Yes, perhaps we all become a little Irish when we find good luck and great fortune in our path!  🙂

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Organized vs Disorganized, Part Two

This is the next blog in a series from the book Organizing the Disorganized Child organizingby Martin L. Kutscher and Marcella Moran.

So, we established earlier how the brain is at fault when it comes to the child being organized—this should free us from feeling like victims of a “lazy child” or “uncaring teacher.”  We can focus now on working together as learning partners to teach and finesse the child’s brain into organization (and remember, the brain is still developing well into young adulthood).  With society expecting so much more planning from our children today (with outside events like clubs, sports, social media, etc.) and so much sooner (we have 2-year-olds on iPads!), it’s a challenge to fit in academics at all really!

It’s time now to bring up this topic of organization with your child.  I know…easier said than done.  Most likely your child suspects your concern and a calm conversation may do wonders for all involved.  There are some steps to note:

  1. Stay calm.  Pick an appropriate time when everyone is calm (not yelling about grades, searching for the homework paper, or other issues) and can have meaningful conversation.  Remind them about the benefits of being organized such as getting homework done faster, less frustration in the house, more free time for other things, etc.
  2. Listen to your child–actively listen and ask clarifying questions.  If the child says, “that may work for you,  but it doesn’t work for me,” this is a sign.  Ask the child to explain a strategy to you in her own words and really listen (don’t judge).
  3. Stay positive.  The authors note:  “If you really want to bring out your child’s self-motivation–and preserve your relationship with him–you’ll need to keep it positive.  Punishments don’t teach skills.”  Find something to praise; use humor to redirect.  If there’s a punishment to hand out, consider doing it with only a positive attitude in place–make it short and to the point.  Stay focused on the fact this is YOUR child.
  4. Supervise the skills.  Many children know what to do but they just can’t do it–this is where supervision takes place.  Remember, the frontal lobes on the brain of your child have trouble carrying out the plan.  Your child needs you to lend your expertise (and frontal lobes) to assist.  Be a safety net and monitor progress while standing in the background.
  5. Give it time.  There is no timetable for success.  If you’re frustrated, imagine how your child feels.

It’s a good idea to also know your child’s organizational style…but that’s a topic for our next in the series!  🙂