My Favorites from the first full week of 2015-16 at CHS

I decided to name my blog "Meget's Manic Minutes" because I wanted to be able to give brief reflections of my week.  I don't want a long blog, but I want to be able to rehash what I saw, and I have seen a lot this week.  I can't cover it all.  I also want to keep this blog about the good things going on at CHS.  Every once in a while I might throw in a struggle or two, but I want to share greatness from CHS.  Here goes nothing.

On Monday...

Mrs. Garrison makes her kids feel at ease.  She is great at checking individual understanding with students during the assignment/project time in class.  I appreciate her demeanor and patience with her students.  

On Tuesday...

Mrs. Wheeler had her students bring an item to class that sparked conversation about themselves. Students shared passions and details about their life.  What a great way to make kids feel like a part of the class.  

Coach King brought his coaching expertise into the classroom.  One thing I've have always thought holds true, your best coaches are great in the classroom.  They are good at breaking fundamentals down and getting students/athletes to understand.  Coach Kings breakdown of keyboarding fundamentals was actually fun to see.

Mrs. Berry has a problem on her hands, but it's a great problem to have.  Her Art program is busting at the seams.  CHS has a ton of great, budding Artists.  We have to find a way to give them space to work.  Of course she makes her space work, but one of these days we are gonna have to find a way to give our kids some elbow room to work on their master pieces. 

On Wednesday...

Coach Beck was highlighting an interview from N. Scott Momaday. It was an actual radio interview with the Pulitzer Prize winning author from Oklahoma.  I especially liked the part about having the students write a reflection on the interview.  

Mrs. Johnson's class was learning to make peach jam, peach cobbler, and pickles.  I see some added weight to my frame in the future if her kids can cook.  

Mrs. Rodriguez Biology students were using the Scientific Method to find a mystery powder.  I used the Periscope app to show the lab.  Her students explained the procedure and answered my questions in an impressive manner.  

On Thursday...

Mr. Miller had his welders putting together iron gates for CMS.  It's awesome that our students take part in making our campuses better by fine tuning their skills.  

Mrs. Hough had the chance to meet with her Teacher Cadet students.  These kids will be all throughout CPS schools helping in Classrooms.  Like I've said before, having a servant's heart is a great way to lead.  These kids are doing just that. 

Coach Pinnell has her volleyball kids rolling!  The Lady Reds are 12-2 and have won 9 straight. 

On Friday...

Well its 7AM so today I haven't had the chance to see our school in action, but I bet I get the chance to see something or someone that I can learn from today.  Have a great weekend! 

  

A few thoughts on a few great things at CHS

If you've not watched The Clinton HS Volleyball girls play, find a home game and make it a priority.  They represent what's great about CHS!  They are resilient, ferocious, athletic, poised, confident, and execute at a high level.

Speaking of executing at a high level...CHS Teachers have it going on!  If you are a new Teacher, or are a veteran just looking to add some new things to your repertoire, take your plan period to go observe the ones who you know get it done in the classroom.  We have innovative teachers that are at our finger tips that we can all learn something from.  If you don't know who to go watch and you are interested in seeing some great classroom skills, hit me up and I'll send you in the right direction.

Take time to emphasize to our students with "Servants Hearts" that they are greatly appreciated.  Most of them probably don't even realize the gift they have of leading with a servant attitude.  Many of our students give of their time to make CHS great.  One group that I admire are the trainers that help our Athletic teams.  They get very little in return for the many selfless hours they put into helping our sports programs roll smoothly.  Give them a pat on the back, a thank you, or a high five and let them know they are important.

My last thought is a piggy back to what Mr. Stringer sent out in an email at the first of the week..."Make sure when you visit with anyone you treat them like they are the most important person in the world."

Just a big Thank You!

Most of us know this feeling.  I've started my 15th school year in education, and I have felt this way for 15 straight first days of school.  I don't feel this way today because I feel like I'm in over my head (that's exactly what I felt like the first year).  I feel this way today because it was done in warp speed.  I am going to petition that the first day of school should be a 16 hour day (I know what you're thinking...I'll kill him if he really does this).  That still may not be enough time to get everything done the way it was planned in my head all Summer long.  I'm thankful for the staff at CHS.  The custodian, teachers, aides, secretaries, counselors, central office staff, and the administrators all worked together today to get the year started out right.  Some things went smoothly, and other things did not.  Our CHS wolf pack adjusted on the fly and did it with smiles on our faces.   We worked together and modeled for our students how to work as a unit and communicate and find solutions to problems.  Thanks for your patience, perserverance, and awesome enthusiasm today CHS!  Our students will learn many great lessons if we keep modeling excellence for them.  What a great day to be a Red Tornado!

It's heeeeeeeeere!

We're back!

 
I don't know about you, but this has been an awesome Summer!  It has flown by, but I wouldn't change it for the world.  People always act surprised when I tell them that I am ready to go back to work.  I enjoy my job.  I guess I might be in the minority.  In the words of our fearless leader "It's a great day to be a Red Tornado!"

George Couros did an excellent job on Wednesday.  Follow him on Twitter @gcouros.  He spoke about it and many of you already are aware, Twitter is a great place for personal professional development.  There are many great educational minds that are at our finger tips.  Connect with them to improve your professional growth. I also was introduced to the Periscope app on Wednesday during our EdCamp.  What a great tool to use to show off a class project!  @DonWettrick has a genius hour with his students that is fun to interact with on Pericope.

Mr. Stringer challenged us to take on the mentality of a wolf on Thursday.  Be controversial, serve and shepherd, improve the diversity of the forest (change a river), and most of all connect our students to the bigger picture.  Most of us are probably going to fall on our face sometime this year trying something innovative.  When that happens we will have a chance for modeling a powerful lesson for our students.  It's ok to fail.  It's how we learn to do it better after we fail that is key.

Fridays biggest take away for me was to do this weekly.  REFLECT.  Write or talk about what worked, what didn't, what was exciting, and what needs change.  I expect to see the same from our teaching staff this year.  Talk about great things in class, and also talk about falling on your face.  More importantly talk about what you are learning to model what we want for our students.