Pirates of the CARRverbbean

"Well, this is a morning I'll ALWAYS remember." Those words were spoken by a first grader at Carver Elementary after he walked into our building this week to see it transformed into all things pirates. As the students entered the building they were greeted by the teachers and staff who were decked out in costumes. Everyone looked amazing. We even had our very own Jack Sparrow (Mr. Phillips), complete with eyeliner.  No one could miss the 25 foot ship that was strategically placed right inside the front doors. Before our kids could get over the shock of why a ship would even be in the cafeteria, though, they walked into the gym, where they saw yet another huge ship on the stage.  This one was slightly different, however.  It had the slide we use to "slide certify" our kids smack dab in the middle of it with a pirate standing inside the ship.  Yes, this day was going to be unlike any other day at Carver.

After everyone was gathered in the gym, I greeted them with their instructions for the day.They were told they had been captured by a crew of swashbuckling pirates that wanted to take their treasures hostage. and that they had 6 hours to escape. They would be solving clues all day and they would hopefully be finding lots of treasures. They were dismissed to their classrooms, but the usual walk down the hallways was anything but usual. The kindergarten kids were in an ocean of blue.  The hall was decorated from ceiling to floor with blue paper.  Fish, waves and treasure chests were what they kids walked past.  The first and second grade hall was full of seaweed, a blow up pirate ship and treasure maps. The third and fourth graders were greeted with sea turtles on the ceiling, and if anyone needed to go into the FEMA shelter, they would first have to be "plank certified" by walking over a plank into their wing. Genius fourth grade.

It was a memorable 8 hours for everyone.  Throughout the day, every single student searched for clues to find treasures such as skull rings, eyepatches, gold coin necklaces and pirate tattoos.  The final clue lead the entire student body into the gym where they were given their HOUSE shirts after shouting, "Bring us our Treasure" to the teachers.  It was priceless.  The teachers had been given their shirts a couple weeks ago and several students had commented that they wished they had them as well. It was their lucky day. One of the best parts, though, was when we "slide certified" 43 kids right before school was out.  We have been doing this for weeks, but the kids on this particular day slid down the slide, which was in the middle of our ship, as smoke swirled around them from a fog machine and a "pirate" watched from inside the ship.  I'm thinking that will be an experience they will never forget.

If you're thinking it was all fun and games, though, you can think again.  Here are just a few highlights of what went on in our classrooms that day. First grade teachers incorporated an app called Flipgrid with Chatterpix (app smashing) where Mr. Phillps and I recorded ourselves giving them clues to math problems that they had to solve throughout the day.  Mrs. Smith conducted BreakOut EDU with her students. They had to solve clues and work together in groups, using higher order thinking skills to find the answers which opened the locks. I can confirm that they did indeed Break Out. The -ar sound was taught in phonics as students worked on identifying words that should be spelled with -ar.  Mrs. Baldwin taught estimation by completing a STEM project with boats. Miss Gilion used Plickers to assess comprehension of an article about making maps.  Pirate stories were written by many.  In fact here is one of the success stories from the day. We have a third grader who came to us last year who had a lot of anger issues.  He had to be restrained several times and he didn't like writing, so he spent a lot of time in Mr. Phillips' office. This year, with third grade being writing intensive, he has struggled with the writing assignments he has been given. He couldn't write about vacations, because he hadn't ever been on one.  But after our Pirates of the CARRverbbean Day, he was able to write a personal narrative about the experienceas he had that day. So much learning, yet so much fun.

I share the same philosophy Wade King, curriculum director and teacher for the Ron Clark Academy, has.  He believes it's our job as educators to provide kids with positive experiences that they can connect content to. We know kids will retain more information when they have experiences instead of just being given information.  That's exactly what our Carver crew did at Pirates of the CARRverbbean. Hadley Williams told her mom, our middle school principal, that we just had fun that day.  So when her teacher asked her about it, she had a strange look on her face.  Her teacher said, "Hadley, did we write a story.  She said, 'Yes. " Mrs. Barratt said, "Do you remember the math problems we worked on that day." She said, "Yes." Her teacher then said, "Then why did you tell your mom all we did was fun stuff?" Hadley said, "It didn't seem like work." Mrs. Barratt and I looked at each other and smiled, happy smiles.  I said, "That's exactly what we wanted." Mission accomplished.

Classroom tranformations are beginning to happen in our building, and this one was our first building transformation. The kids were still talking about it at the end of the week.  Many of them wore their rings and necklaces past Monday. I can't believe I've been doing this education gig for 25 years and haven't been doing transformations before now. If you aren't doing them, ask yourself why not.  If you think it's costly, you are wrong.  Cardboard, paint, table cloths, and butcher paper were what most of our props were made with. Ask yourself if you are finding yourself doing the same activities and worksheets year after year? Why? We all can do better. Are you stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new strategies with kids? Just try it. You'll see how fun it is. We've done a lot of new ideas at Carver this year and we have plans for many, many more. We are still meeting the standards, it's just a lot more fun this year.  As we plan what we will do next, I know without a doubt, I will happily continue to hear statements such as, "Well, this is a morning I'll ALWAYS remember."

Ding, Ding, Ding...Round 5

Ding, Ding, Ding...Round 5. No, I'm not talking about boxing. After living with Robert Burr for the past 20 years, he would say the only sports I should be talking about would be football, girls basketball and golf. Actually, he would say I didn't need to be talking about any sports at all and he's right, so I'll stick to education.  When I say Round 5, I'm referring to the NEE evaluation cycle Mr. Phillps and I are completing this month.  We are in our fifth round. We have jumped into high gear. On an average, the system likes to see 6 or 7 cycles completed in a year, and that's typically what we try to do. This year is different, though. Together, we have completed 129 observations so far. We have been in every teacher's classroom almost weekly and, for us, it's been eye opening. We were having a conversation about our teachers just a few weeks ago. He said, "Everyone is just....". I finished his sentence for him by saying, "Better". We know the teaching is better, because we see it firsthand A LOT. Being in classrooms so often has allowed us to see more, hear more and know more. A presenter years ago, told us all in attendance to be visible, to be in the classrooms, to save your paperwork until after school.  That is often easier said than done, but this year we have made it a priority to be in classrooms observing weekly and we are succeeding.  As I left a classroom the other day, I reflected on how evaluations have changed since I became a principal.

Sixteen years ago, principals were expected to script all of their evaluations.  Alma Stipp showed me how she folded her paper in half and wrote word for word what every teacher had to say.  Her handwriting was so beautiful, too. Mine. Not so much. She was the best, so I did exactly as I was taught.  During those years you stayed for the entire lesson.  If it took an hour, you scripted for an hour.  You also only went 3 times into classrooms all year, unless teachers were tenured, and then you only went one time. It wasn't a true picture of what went on day to day. That seems absurd now. Those were the days we used the Madaline Hunter system. There were aspects of if I loved though, and still expect to see.  Guided practice and independent practice are a must, along with modeling.  Lots and lots of modeling. Madaline had great points, but like everything else, change was inevitable.  I remember our superintendent at the time, Dr. Mark Mitchell, had me speak to his night class students who were working on their administrative degrees. Three of his students were  Melissa Massy,  Lance Massey, and Jim Cummins. I remember Jim asking about evaluations. He asked if I  preferred to stay an hour and only go once or twice a year or if I would prefere to go several times for shorter amounts of time.  Without thinking about it, I immediately answered, "stay for an hour."  I remember him saying, "I would think you would learn more if you went in more often."  I thought he was crazy and look now.  He's a superintendent and hundreds of school districts in Missouri have adopted the NEE. He's a wise man, that Dr. Cummins.   

I honestly don't know how principals can speak about procedures, classroom management, the kids, the curriculum, etc., if they are not in the classrooms watching teaching unfold on a regular basis. I know so much more by being in there. I know Mrs. Miller is using youtube videos to help teach 3-digt subtraction. I know Mrs. Watkins is using the ReadWorks Article-A-Day to teach reading skills. I know Mrs. Allen is setting the stage to engage every week by dressing up on Mondays. I know Mrs. Branscum had her students complete a science experiment with goggles and lab shirts. I know what Moby Max  has to offer because I sit beside students as they work in stations. I know I have heard Turn and Talk and Slant (and know what it means) from every teacher teaching the First 20 days. The list goes on and on and on. I know Mrs. Cook is using sensory tubs in speech.  I know Mrs. Farkas is using Plickers to assess in math. I know Mrs. Buckner likes the audio portion of Storyworks and Mrs. Smith does not. See. I really could go on and on. I know the kids better as well.  I see who might excel and who might struggle.  I know who is quiet and who is outgoing.  The best part, though, is that they see us more in their classrooms.  I don't remember seeing Mr. Dye, my principal in elementary, except in the hallway.  That's just how it was as a principal in the 70's. I prefer being more visible in 2017 and I believe the kids do too. 

As I look back now  on those early years of my principalship,  I don't remember what I spent my time doing each and every day.  Observing is a must on our plate almost EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. It's simply one of our priorities. Everyone is used to it. Well almost everyone.  Mrs. Mittag still wants to run the other way when she sees us coming with our ipad. I always felt like I knew what was happening in the classrooms, but I know so much more now and that is a great feeling.  When I talk to colleagues or parents, I can speak with confidence when asked if I know what our teachers are doing. So ask yourself what are your priorities at work?  Is everyone aware of what those are? Do you make time for what is important? Are you as knowledgeable as you should be? My answers this school year are different than what they would have been in the past.  I love knowing more about the day to day teaching going on at Carver. So this week, we'll be back in the classrooms seeing more teaching and becoming more knowledgeable about every aspect of the teaching process and if you listen closely you might just hear a bell ringing. DING, DING, DING...Round 5.

Wake Up Wednesday

GOOOOOD MORNING, KIDS!!!! That's how 9 of Carver's finest greeted the kids on Buses 24 and 48 last Wednesday morning starting at 6:45 a.m. That's right. We all got up extra early to surprise the kids on those buses.  What were we thinking you might be asking.  Well...let me explain.

I heard a teacher at the Ron Clark Academy mention a book called KIDS DESERVE IT as I was in a session hosted by Kim Bearden (co-founder of RCA). The teacher was saying that the author encouraged principals to make positive phone calls home and Kim mentioned that she and the author, Todd Nesloney, were friends.  I made a mental note of the book but hadn't done anything about reading it, until a week ago. I was already making positive phone calls home, but I thought I might get another great idea, so I downloaded it on my Kindle app. I read the section on positive phone calls home, smiled to myself,  and kept reading. I came across a section that talked about riding the bus with kids.  I read it with pride knowing I had already done that last year when I participated in Shadow a Student. I had ended my day shadowing the third grader, Tanner, home on the school bus.  As I kept reading though, I realized Todd Nesloney and Adam Welcome weren't talking about riding the bus home. They were talking about riding the bus to school. He was encouraging his readers (me) to pick the kids up...in the morning...the very early morning.   I thought about it for a minute and decided I was going to do it.  I mean, seriously, I had ridden the bus myself as a child and had to be at the bus stop early, so why not.  I could do this. I immediately sent an email to the Carver team with the subject line Crazy Idea.  I thought maybe 1 or 2 of them would want to ride with me, but I was pleasantly surprised when 8 of my colleagues quickly replied to me and were willing to make the early morning trip as well. I called our transportation director who was totally on board and excited too.  We were all set.

As my alarm went off at 5:30 a.m. and I left the house in the dark, I told my husband I didn't know how people left this early to go to work every single day.  I admire them all. My mom did it for more than 40 years, but I was never a morning person.  That trait goes to my little brother.  He was so annoying as we would get ready for school all those years ago and I'm betting his wife would say he still is. We all arrived at 6:10 a.m., trying to act like we were wide awake.  I had asked them to bring pom poms, megaphones, etc., to greet the kids so we were fully prepared to brighten their morning.  We divided up, and after singing Happy Birthday to one of our second grade teachers, and going Facebook Live to let everyone know what we were doing, we loaded our buses.  We were so excited (or sleepy) we forgot to take a group picture of all of us "early birds".

It took Bus 48 approximately 15 minutes to get to our first stop. The kids didn't know what to think as they walked up the steps onto the bus and heard all of us shout GOOOOD MORNING!  There was shock on many faces or no expresson at all.  Once the kids realized what was happening, though, we got many smiles and hugs.  One little boy said, "This is fantastic". We even welcomed the middle school, junior high and high school kids.  They were definitely not as impressed as our elementary kids, or at least, they didn't want to act like they were. After several stops, the entire bus of kids (minus the junior high and high school) began shouting GOOOOD MORNING with us as student after student loaded.   The feeling on the bus was one of energy and fun.  The kids were loving it. We sung a verse of The Wheels On The Bus, and of course, we took this opportunity to recite all of the House Chants.  The kids wanted to know if we were going to do this every day and if we were going to be on the bus to take them home that afternoon.

At the end of the day, I thnk the kids would tell you we made their day, when in reality they made ours. The next day, as I was walking down the hall and passed a class of students,  I heard one of the kids telling her friend, "Hey, she rode my bus yesterday". I knew right then and there, it made a difference.  When I pass a Bus 48 kid in the hall now, we look at each other a little differently.  There is a new connection that wasn't there before. Just like the connection Tanner and I made after I shadowed him last year.  I also had other teachers and staff asking if we were going again, because they wanted to go.  I can honestly say, I didn't think I would be getting up again at 5:30 a.m. to meet the buses at the Neosho School District's bus barn, but I'm ready and willing to make another trip. A big shout out to the Carver team who led the way on our first WAKE UP WEDNESDAY.  Tiffany Rea, Kacie Barratt, Ashley Gilion, Michelle Allen, Renee Cummins, Shawndel Rainwater, Trina Leaf and Hannah Farkas did a great job and they truly Made A Difference on Buses 24 and 48. Ask yourselves what you are going to do this week to make a difference or will it just be status quo. Will you make the effort or will you even give it another thought? Will you make someone's day by a simple act of kindness?  I know this Wednesday there will definitely be another group of kids who will be surprised when those doors open and they climb up the stairs and are greeted with GOOOOOD MORNING, KIDS!

To Be (Positive) or Not to be (Positive)...That is the Question

"If you can come to work and be positive every single day, then I'm going to try and do better." Those words were spoken to me 20 years ago when I was teaching first grade at Granby Elementary by a lady I had only known for a couple of months.  We didn't teach the same grade level, or even teach in the same building, but we had enough interactions throughout the day that I had apparently left an impression of positivity on her. I've thought of her and that comment often throughout the past 20 years and it popped into my head again this month as we began a new endeavor at Carver Elementary School.

As I was scanning Twitter recently,  I saw that a principal I follow had posted a picture of herself and a student. Her tweet mentioned something about it being her 127th positive phone call for the year. My first thought was, "Wow. That's a lot of phone calls."  My second thought was, "I'm going to start that." I immediately sent our Carver team the specifics for the plan.  The teachers and staff simply had to type in a spreadsheet the name of a student and something positive they had done to call home about.  It took off slowly at first.  I was calling 2 or 3 a day.  I called the students into my office, called their mom or dad, told them I was making a positive phone call, read what the teachers had to say, and hung up. I got a little smarter each phone call I made though.  I started putting parents on speaker phone so the kids could hear how excited they were.  Well..the excitement part came after the parents got over the shock of hearing me say their child was in the principal's office.

It was all very simple, until a purchase I ordered a few months ago arrived...A SLIDE. That's right. A slide. It's nothing fancy. It's not enclosed. It doesn't twist or turn in the middle. It's just a blue, nine foot indoor/outdoor slide.  I knew I wanted one after our recent visit to Atlanta in May. You may have heard me talk about it a time or two. I just wasn't sure what I was going to do with it. I thought, thought, and then thought some more.  Then it hit me. We needed to recreate the same atmosphere for our kids that Kacie, Michelle and I experienced at RCA. So, the kids who receive positive phone calls home don't just go down the slide. No. They go down the slide, get an "I've Been Slide Certified" sticker, go sign a Slide Certified chalkboard, all the while listening to the cheers of other students while loud music is blaring. It's an electric atmosphere.

My friend's comment 20 years ago about being positive and the slide certified experience had me pondering the power of being positive. It seems so simple.  It should be so easy.  A smile. A kind word. An encouraging gesture. It's really not that hard is it?  We continue working on building a positive culture at Carver. It's pretty amazing, but it's not perfect...YET.  There are many team members at Carver Elementary who smile at everyone they meet throughout the day.  I'm not naming names (Shawndel Rainwater & Heather Overton), but rest assured there are several. Those individuals just make everyone's day brighter by their positive personalities. This year at Carver, the kids and adults are greeted with smiles and music (and a dancing Mrs. Leaf) every morning. Our team takes turns greeting everyone at the door every single day. When I hear that music, I can't help but start dancing myself. I believe it puts everybody in a better mood. Who doesn't love watching Mrs. Leaf dancing outside every morning? I know I do and the kids are slowly beginning to dance into the building as well. I've noticed there sure are a lot more smiles when they get out of their cars in the mornings than there used to be. I hope to eventually see everyone dancing into the building...teachers, staff, and the kids. I know I plan to continue, even if I don't have much rhythm.

Being positive doesn't take much effort.  I have worked with individuals in my 25 years who, because of various reasons such as jealousy or arrogance, bring negativity to work every day.  They can't see the positive in anything. Everything they say comes across as negative. They try to get others on their side, and unfortunately there are usually a few who follow, but it never works in the long run because I truly believe people want to work with colleagues who are positive. Genuinely positive. Not just those who give it lip service. It's easy for some to become negative when you feel colleagues have let you down, no one is listening to you, others get acknowledged when you feel it should be you, or no one values your opinion.  I know. We've all been there. But we have to keep focused on what we are doing and be a positive influence to those around us.  It really does make a difference and to those who truly matter, it's noticed.

Being positive matters. Obviously, that comment 20 years ago meant something to me.  I've never forgotten it and I hope our kids never forget being called into my office for a positive reason instead of a negative one.  I wish everyone could see their faces when I tell them they are in my office for a positive phone call home.  They light up! Even better, I wish everyone could hear the parents' reactions when I read them the comments the teachers have to say. One mom said, "You just made my week." I personally love hearing all the, "I'm proud of you bud," "Aw...Sis...great job," and "I love yous". I would love to hear the conversations when the kids get home and talk about getting Slide Certified. Being positive is powerful.

As I think back to high school English class and symbolism, I find myself thinking about the slide. It's more than a long piece of plastic. It's a symbol of being positive or being different. Ron Clark says, "Why take the stairs, when you can slide." We don't have stairs at Carver, but you get the point. I believe we are going to continue seeing changes in our culture at Carver.  One teacher overheard a conversation between 4 boys who were called to the office to help carry some bags. One of the students said, "Maybe we're being called to the office for a positive phone call." It's making a difference.  I'm up to 80 phone calls already and it's only September.  What a change this slide has made! Being excited about coming to the office, instead of being fearful. Maybe every boss needs to consider a positive phone call or perhaps even a slide. Think of the possibilities. While there are many questions I could ask about the power of being positive and the changes it can make in all settings, this time I'm only going to ask one. Are you positive? If the answer is no, then I guess reflection is necessary. If the answer is yes, perhaps you will have a conversation one day with a colleague who says, "If you can come to work and be positive every single day, then I'm going to try and do better."

ZEAL-Let me Explain

ZEAL-Great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a great cause. What does that have to do with Carver Elementary? Well, interestingly enough it is what our school is all about this year. If you've kept up with my recent blogs, you know we have now incorporated the House System into our building. I won't mention the guy who inspired us AGAIN, but his initials are R.C. Let's recap. Each student and staff member has now been divided into "houses" or teams. The kids spun the wheel the second day of school to get placed into their house and the teachers were put into theirs at our retreat a few weeks ago. They were also given the task that day of  deciding a name, creating a chant, designing a crest and choosing a color to represent their house. Some may have been a little worried the chants may have required dancing and what do you know... they sort of do.  There are motions with each chant as well. Who knew Mrs. Watkins had such rhythm. We're still working on Mr. Phillips though.

As the tasks began at our retreat that day, we had no idea what everyone's houses would end up looking like. They were merely instructed to make them unique and meaningful and the end results were extremely impressive. I could hear clapping and shouting through the walls and could not wait to see what everyone was putting together as a team.  My wishes had come true when I heard and saw the end product.  I've said it for years. Our Carver team is amazing and they proved it once again. I've heard other house chants and seen other house names from schools across the country who are also incorporating the house system and they have nothing on Carver Elementary in Neosho, Missouri. I wanted to share with everyone what our 4 houses are all about and the meaning behind them.
                                                           
                                                                          HOUSES
1)Zaplon-Zaplon means ignition in Polish. This house chose the color red to represent them because they want to ignite a passion for learning and teach kids to be all they can be. There hope is to be instrumental in helping kids find their inner passions that will ignite and propel them on to success in all areas of their lives. Their crest has a flame with a large Z over it. Tiny fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Buckner, begins their chant by shouting loudly (she took us all by surprise) -ZAPLON'S IN THE HOUSE

Burning Bright
Ready to Ignite
Zaplon's in the House
Ignition...our Mission
Filled with Ambition
Zaplon's in the House
Z -A- P -L -O- N
Zaplon's in the House
ZZZ Zaplon
ZZZ Zaplon
Zaplon's in the House
Uh!

2)Empyreal-Empyreal means limitless in Greek. They chose the color blue to represent their house. They want the kids to know they can do anything they want to do if they reach for the sky. They want to teach the kids that the sky is the limit. Their crest has several airplanes heading upward.

E-M-P-Y-R-E-A-L
Empyreal is Limitless, Reach for the Sky
Empyreal is Limitless, Reach for the Sky
Empyreal is Limitless, Reach for the Sky

3)Ajani- Ajani means warrior and it is Nigerian. The color green was their chosen color to represent them. This house wants the kids to be strong and brave in whatever they do. Their crest is the letter A with the line inside the A being an arrow.

A-J-A-N-I
Point Our Arrows to the Sky
Mighty Warriors Aiming High
A-J-A-N-I
Huh!

4)Lumiere-Lumiere means light in French. Yellow is their color of choice. This house feels that light means being full of ideas and being leaders and they want the students to light the way and forge a path for everyone else in our school. Their crest is a lighthouse with stars surrounding it.

L-U-M-I-E-R-E
Lumiere's the House to Be
We Light the Way
We're Here to Stay
L-U-M-I-E-R-E
Y-E-L-L Everybody yell-O
Y-E-L-L Everybody yell-O
Lumiere
(Arms make an L shape)

After everyone heard each other's chants, Caitlin Plumb, a second grade teacher, came to me and told me she realized it spelled out ZEAL.  She told me the definition meant great energy or enthusiasm.  I realized how perfect that was for what we were implementing with the house system.  Every house represents just that: energy and enthusiasm.  I just wish everyone could witness our kids in person as they say their chants together with the motions. Even the littles are picking up on it.  I just can't help but be energized hearing them all together as one cohesive unit. We have started HOUSE Day on Fridays. The students all sit in their houses in our gym and we all say our chants one house at a time. The teachers and staff are doing them right along with the kids.  It's a great way to start our day. There are many other ideas we plan to incorporate this year with our House System and a blog about those will come later.

I can report that after one week of school, TEAM EMPYREAL is in the lead with 109 points. All 4 houses will have their points on display each week in our trophy case, which is now decorated in each house's color and crest. A crown will sit on top of the winning house's board for all to see and admire and to strive for each week.Everyone in the building can earn points all week for a variety of reasons. Just last week Mrs. Cummins (House Lumiere member) earned a point for stepping outside her comfort zone and making her first Padlet for the staff. Lumiere is still behind, but we'll see what week two holds for us.

Everyone is loving it so far.  As I walk through the halls and pass our kids, I'm greeted with students showing me the Lumiere sign (which I quickly reciprocate because I too am a Lumiere). I hear kids asking each other whose house they are in and who is in their house with them.  I'm beginning to hear from parents how their kids are doing the chants at home. I knew we were onto something when I started hearing those stories. I especially loved the video Mr. Daugherty (director of Field Preschool) sent me of his daughter, Kenley Kay, a first grader, singing the Zaplon chant as his wife was trying to get her to pull her tooth. Funny thing is, Kenley is on Team Ajani. That's just what happens now. We are all finding ourselves singing the chants all day and sometimes their not our own. There is a renewed energy and enthusiasm at Carver Elementary and it is contagious. Is energy and enthusiasm contagious in your building? Are you happy with the feeling of your building? Are you looking to increase the level of energy?  Do you look for ways to increase it or is everything status quo? The level of enthusiasm in our hallways and classrooms is evident each and every day and it will only get stronger because at Carver we have ZEAL-great energy and enthusiasm in pursuit of a great cause.

Retreat: Carver style

I planned our Carver Retreat 2017 for 2 months. Many hours were spent researching ideas and working on details. One night, as I was writing the short poems I excitedly put on twitter every single day leading up to the big event, I began pondering the word "retreat". I looked up the definition and one in particular struck me funny. It said, "an act of moving back or withdrawing". Our retreat did everything BUT move us back. On the contrary, we moved forward that day and it was exciting to watch it all unfold. Our retreat did not disappoint. In fact, it had meaning, purpose and passion. I've been waiting to write this blog for 2 months to share how it all began and how it all turned out.

The idea
The actual idea of the retreat began months ago after visiting the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, (yes, I'm talking about THAT guy again) and hearing about the house system he uses throughout his school. I decided right then and there that we were going to do that as well at Carver Elementary.  In a nutshell, all kids at RCA spin a wheel that decides which "house" they will be a part of for the next four years. That doesn't mean you have classes with only your house members though.  It just means you are a part of a specific house or team and at RCA that is a BIG deal and it's going to be a BIG deal at Carver as well.  Kids earn points individually that contribute to their overall team points and the house winners are rewarded in exciting ways. The team feeling is palpable when you visit. There is a sense of belonging and camaraderie like I have never seen in a school. As Kacie Barratt, Michelle Van Wagner and I flew home on the plane, we put our own plan into motion...the Carver plan. We knew we were going to have a retreat to unveil our ideas but we had to decide on some specifics before we could move any further. When would it take place? August 7th was our only option and almost every single employee at Carver gave up a non contract day to attend. Where would it be? I needed a kitchen and several rooms and Pastor Todd Decker gave us the ok to have it at First Baptist Church. Who could help? Connie Bryant of course. Need I say more. Connie's a runner and I knew her help would be valuable. Things were coming together, and the planning process continued.

The Icebreaker
I had read Lead Like a Pirate by Beth Houf and Shelley Burgess in the spring and there was a particular activity Beth Houf had done with her team that I wanted to do with mine, but I hadn't found the right time. Guess what? The time was now. I had asked everyone to wear a t-shirt that was meaningful to them so I was anxious to get the morning started. After breakfast, everyone put their chairs in a circle and I told them they would have 30 seconds to tell why the shirt they wore was meaningful to them. They were also instructed to toss the beach ball I had brought to someone else after they had spoken so they could continue the fun. I went first and told them why I had worn the Ron Clark Academy t-shirt I had bought in Atlanta. I explained how it had totally changed my outlook on the vision I had for our students and staff and how excited I was to get the year started. I was pretty sure they got the idea after my many emails and daily twitter poems, but just in case they weren't sure I wore the shirt. I then tossed the beach ball across the circle.This process continued until everyone had spoken. Everyone stayed within the 30 second time requirement, except our nurse. Her shirt represented a kidnapping of her mom's friend's son so we were too engaged to interrupt her.  The icebreaker was a nice way to learn more about each other and what was important to them.  It was a great beginning to an amazing day.

Emaze Presentation
After the icebreaker, I showed an Emaze presentation I had put together of our trip to RCA which highlighted the two days we were there. Michelle, Kacie and I shared our experiences and takeaways and the team asked questions about our trip.  I hope we conveyed how exciting it was to go and experience all the academy offered and to reveal the WHY we are changing what we do at Carver. I know many of them would like to go see it for themselves. Throughout the morning, I had also been asking trivia questions about Ron Clark and the winners received copies of his book The Essential 55. After the presentation, it was time for a short break to get ready for lunch. I knew it would be one of the highlights of the day, but I had no idea it would turn out as great as it did.

Lunch
More than a year ago my dear friend Connie Bryant had told me about a mystery dinner she had done at church camp.  Actually, most of what she was saying went in one ear and out the other, (shocking, I know for those of you who know me) but I caught the mystery part, so when I was planning what to do for lunch at the retreat Connie popped into my head. I had her explain in detail again what to do and this time I actually listened.  I decided on a Ron Clark theme and called Amy Perkins.  She's one of our extremely creative teachers at Carver. Together we came up with the menu and the "mystery" part. Teachers ordered items such as The Ron Clark, Hope King smiles, the slide and a walker. What they received was actually pulled pork, cheese cubes, a bun and a spoon. They could have gotten all food items and no utensils or all utensils and no food or a combination of something in between. I enjoyed watching their reactions during each course. Mrs. Reece eating a cheese cube with a knife was priceless and watching Amy Perkins make a spoon out of her cup to eat her pulled pork with because she had no utensils made us all laugh. Of course, they were treated to the entire meal after the "mystery" part was complete. The real "work" began though after lunch. From my view though it was all fun...meaningful, inspiring, fun.

House Systems
Kacie, Michelle and I knew we wanted to divide, not only the kids, but the teachers and staff into houses and it had to be fun. But how would we do this? After discussing several options on the plane, we came up with our idea, complete with a poem (of course) and an envelope. As luck would have it, Amy Perkins  (the extremely creative one) asked me one day shortly after our return from Atlanta if there was anything she could do to help me at summer school because her students were going to be gone that day. I asked her how she felt about decorating 40 envelopes (which turned into 50) and she quickly agreed. I told her I needed the "house" poem (which we wrote on the plane ride home from Atlanta) in the middle of each envelope.  It said, "Open your envelope, Inside you will see, The number that'll lead you to the house you'll be".  That was basically all the directions she got from me. WOW! I can not tell you how amazing they were.  Each one was incredibly unique. When I saw the details she put into decorating each envelope such as tiny Neosho t-shirts on tiny clotheslines, or the tiny ball pit made out of pom poms, or the tiny origami animals, I was in awe. I knew I had picked the right person.  I would have stuck a bow on there and called it good, but Amy went above and beyond (like I knew she would) and it paid off.  The teachers loved it.  At the retreat, they were told to look through the 50 envelopes scattered on a table and to pick one.  I can assure you, it was difficult because they were all so amazing. We all took turns opening our envelopes and pulling out the number inside which would reveal the house we would now belong to.  As the first envelope was opened, and I heard a drum roll begin and the cheering that followed, I smiled. I remembered Kim Bearden saying to us in Atlanta that there is nothing like watching the kids cheering each other on as they spin the wheel (which we will also be doing at Carver) and finding out what house they will be a part of for their entire school career at RCA. I witnessed this with our own Carver crew. Their excitement was contagious when they saw more and more team members being placed in their houses. The excitement was growing and growing fast.

House Planning
Each group was given their tasks for the afternoon. 1) Come up with a team name 2) Decide the color to represent your house 3) Design a crest 4) Create a chant  5) Elect a house leader

Each house was assigned a different room at First Baptist Church to work in so they could focus on their jobs.  I checked on them periodically, but I too was in a house (our name is Lumiere...or as Renee Cummins is already saying Lumiere for Life). They were focused and already passionate about our new vision. Within an hour every task was completed by every house. We gathered together at the close of the retreat to hear all four house chants. They are all different and unique but equally impressive. I loved hearing the conversations everyone was having about house names and chants before they left for the day.

On the second day of school this year, our students will spin a wheel which will reveal their house placement and on day three, they will be taught their house chant. The entire student body will gather in the gym to hear them all and I can't wait to see the excitement on their faces.  I know everyone is looking forward to this new adventure.

At the end of the day, I knew the retreat had been a success and so worth all the time spent planning it. We learned more about each other than we had known before and we had fun along the way. Everyone was focused on the task at hand and  they are all sold on our plans for Carver. As you head into the new school year ask yourself what you are doing to make a difference with your kids and your team. Are you creating a team feeling in your building or doing just the opposite. Is there truly an excitement in the air or do you simply say there is. Is there meaning, purpose and passion amongst your team and the activities in your building? The possibilities this year are going to be endless at Carver and I know what we have planned will make a difference for kids. We will all remember Nurse Cindy's t-shirt story, but we will also remember that all of the amazingness this year started at our Retreat: Carver style.

Create, Inspire, Empower

Create, Inspire, Empower.  Those three words will be our 2017 theme at Carver Elementary.  While, we always have a theme and a cute t-shirt (some are cuter than others), we typically don't do anything else with it. In fact last year, we just had the cute t-shirt, although, I will admit it was my favorite one yet. Well, times they are a changin.  This year we are going to have a theme we put into practice every single day.  I've been planning a school retreat for a couple months now (inspired from my recent visit to the Ron Clark Academy) where the ideas that we will be incorporating into Carver this year will be unveiled.  Before the actual retreat though, I have begun prepping the team for what's to come by first asking them to plan on decorating their hallways the same way so to unify us all. But the theme is about so much more than just decorations.  Let me explain...

1. Create

After visiting the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, GA and listening to the teachers talk about the experiences they CREATE for their students each and every day, I became determined to instill this desire in the teachers at Carver. At RCA, lessons aren't presented in hopes that students will remember some information. No. Experiences are created that ensure student engagement and ultimately retention of all material taught.  Whether teachers use songs or go as far as turning classrooms into football fields, Italian restaurants, or emergency rooms, it was clear creating experiences is a must for those teachers and it should be a must for us all.  As I sat there and watched Ron Clark and Hope King teach, I thought back on some lessons I taught during my own amazing teaching years.  The ones that stood out to me were, in fact, the ones where I had created experiences for my kids.  I just wish I had done it more. The first year I taught, I remember having my third graders go outside the building and run into our classroom to"stake their claim" on land as one did during the California Gold Rush. That particular lesson was taught 25 years ago this year and I still remember it like it was yesterday.  Another experience  I created for my kids was when I put them into cooperative groups where they had to make as many perfect"widgets" as they could in a certain amount of time. I loved the conversations we had as a class over their decision making process. I would also bet my fifth graders will never forget dressing up as the characters from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and being interviewed by a "reporter".  Interestingly enough, that would have been the year I taught Lucas Grabeel from High School Musical fame and his extraordinary classmates. By the way, I predicted, even in fifth grade, that he would grow up and be famous. We entered that video footage into the Nixa, Mo Language Arts Fair (which I still have) and won. I think if we are all honest with ourselves as educators, those lessons where we created experiences were the most meaningful lessons for us and our students.  I know my 10-year-old self would tell you one experience I have never forgotten was when Sparta Elementary was transformed into Spartaville and my room became a floral shop.  In fact, it was so special to me that 35 years later, it became the inspiration for Carverville. So why aren't we doing more of that?  Why aren't we creating more experiences for our kids? Well, the Carver crew will be doing just that starting August 2017.

2. Inspire

Leaving Atlanta, if you had asked the three of us lucky enough to go, what one word we would use to describe our experience, I'm betting we would all have said the same...inspiring. The facility, the teachers, the kids, the lessons, every single aspect was inspiring to us. We left there knowing it was up to us to now inspire our colleagues, and in turn, our kids. We knew we had to transform how we do almost everything at Carver from the way we greet students each morning, to what is going to be put up in our hallways, to how material is presented to our kids. We even decided to change what we are putting on our monitor in the lunchroom. We owe it to the students to inspire them all day long. How boring for educators to come to school each day and merely present material to the students. How do you think the kids feel if they are expected to just listen to material lecture style. We must bring enthusiasm and passion to every lesson not just the ones we ourselves like. Hope King says, "You have to fake it till you make it." Even if you don't like the material, the kids don't need to realize that. I know I was guilty of teaching great reading, writing and social studies lessons.  Math and Science? Well, I basically followed the textbook and I'm sure I didn't present one lesson in those subjects that my students remember. I admit, I am in awe of some of the lessons I see at Carver, but the time has come for EVERYONE to be awe-inspiring.  I know my team is ready to Inspire.  

3. Empower

If we create experiences that inspire our kids, we will ultimately empower them. Twitter is full of discussions and books about empowering kids and as I scroll through it each and every day, I am beginning to notice that specific word a lot. We as educators, must empower kids to become anything they want to be; to dream big and to try things they didn't think they could do.  If they want to take a project and extend it or try a different approach, let them. Encourage it. I remember having my third graders create a journal and write daily entries from the perspective of  Sarah in the book The Courage of Sarah Noble. One particular student exceeded any expectation I had because she felt empowered to do more than what had been assigned. Her work also won an award at the Language Arts Fair. Maybe she felt empowered during that particular activity and maybe the next activity the girl beside her felt that way. I sure hope so. We all must do a better job of empowering those in our care.  

So this year, the Carver team will be documenting the experiences we create for our kids by displaying  pictures in the hallway for everyone to see, but what lies beneath those experiences are what's important. With the creation of the experiences, comes inspiration and ultimately, empowerment. We must bring our A game every single day, all day long.  Ron Clark talked about how the kids at RCA thought the teachers were crazy when they first started singing and dancing and turning classrooms into whatever they dreamed up that day. One particular student I ate lunch with said the exact same thing.  Now it's a way of life and expected and the results speak for themselves. So this year ask yourself if you are creating experiences for your kids. If not why?  Are your lessons going to inspire your kids?  Are you planning to do the exact same activities this year as you have always done? Will you empower your kids this year? Reflect on these questions and ask yourself if this is the year you will Create, Inspire, Empower.