I am so proud to announce that Kelly Parrott is now a Nationally Board Certified Teacher! I don’t think I have ever been prouder of anyone in my life. What a journey it was! J I loved supporting her through the process and having one of the most independent people I know rely on me for encouragement and guidance. I loved seeing the realness of the process by watching Kelly evolve as a teacher. She was already so great and how neat it was to watch a master teacher grow even more. WOW! It was amazing.

The “National Board Process” is so different for each person. Regardless of who you are, it is stressful, demanding and time-consuming. If you truly invest in the process, you will grow beyond your wildest dreams. I will never go back to the PERSON I was before National Board. I say person because it didn’t just change my teaching, it changed me. I am now deeply reflective and constantly analyze my life to make improvements in all areas. It is true, I still fall short in so many areas but I am a constant work in progress. Kelly has grown so much in the areas of reflection and writing. It is awesome to look back at where she was a year ago and then look at her today. She has become refined in so many ways. There were many sacrifices along the way but I would make them all again to witness her success. Through her experience, I grew even more. I am so grateful for that opportunity. Our friendship has changed since National Board... and I can honestly say that I never saw that coming. Today, I can tell you that we are more like family than ever before because of the road we have traveled together. National Board Certification is not for the weak or easily overwhelmed. It is for the committed and the determined. It is for teachers who KNOW they have room to grow and change for the better... who want to further develop as educators and people.

Congratulations Kelly... Welcome to the NBCT family! You are an AMAZING teacher! I am so proud of you!! J

Top of the day to ya lads and ladies! J

Our students have been enjoying all of our adventures around the world and especially our stop in England this past week! We read all about Paddington Bear (and even sent him off for a trip of his own to England with a parent). We enjoyed Paddington’s favorite food... marmalade sandwiches for snack on Thursday.

Marmalade Sandwiches were a HUGE HIT! J

On Friday, we celebrated the English tradition of Afternoon Tea with Our SMART Community. It was amazing! We enjoyed tarts, tea, wassail, cucumber sandwiches, tea biscuits, mini cakes and scones with jam. The children absolutely loved it! Mrs. Parrott and I purchased china tea cups so we can make this an annual event! Our little lads and ladies were all dressed up for the occasion!

 

Kindergarten... where memories are made!

(Mrs. Parrott and I loved it as much as our students! It brought back such happy memories of our trip to England... and Afternoon Tea @ Harrod's!)

Welcome Gage... we have waited a long time to meet you! :)

Have you ever loved someone you had never met? Our SMART Community has loved a student that most of the students have never met... but we all finally met him last week. Some made cards, some drew pictures and all signed a banner for him. We had waited to add that new student to our community since school started and we have had his picture by the SMART board since August. We are so thrilled to have Gage with us!! Hooray! Welcome to SMART Community Gage... where you have been loved since the beginning! J

Cowboy Day!!

YEE HAW!!!

After learning about the farm, fall and visiting Livesay Farms in Porter, Oklahoma… we decided the students would love the opportunity to dress up in their knowledge! Farmers and cowboys came to school last week... we had SO much fun which included a cowboy picnic, cowboy games and some yummy s’mores for snack! It was a great day and I am certain our students will remember it FOREVER! J

Fall Math Journals!

I am so excited to share my Fall Math Journal with you! It is an approach to math that I strongly believe in because it is literacy-based and visual! Click on the pic below to check it out!

This is my example on the SMART board!

Here are some student examples! J

Down on the Farm

We have been learning all about farm and many new vocabulary words like irrigation and combine... we had some fun along the way making these barns! They were adapted from an original idea by TLC Art. When I asked the students what they have learned, I was thrilled with all they understand and remember!

SMART Parent Night was AWESOME!

Here is just a tidbit of what we shared with parents about our collaboration...

The benefits of a collaborative teaching team:

Collaboration in teaching is an up and coming practice that encourages teachers to work together to provide students extra support as they learn. It is the idea that “two is better than one”. Many educators “plan” together which typically means they teach the same themes or curriculum around the same time. Mrs. Weyher and Mrs. Parrott have done that for years but in all honesty, that is surface collaboration. How does that help a teacher to change and grow or evaluate his/her practice? True collaboration is working together for a common goal. Deep collaboration is a step beyond that, where teachers challenge each other to improve how they teach through a combined effort. J

How do students benefit?

~ They have two teachers who work together to support students in both classes.

~ They become flexible learners because they are taught by more than one person, sometimes using different methods or approaches.

~ They establish and build friendships that support them now and in the future.

~ They learn how to work in collaborative groups to complete projects throughout the year.

~ They have two teachers who love them and if one of us is absent, they know their “other” teacher is just down the hall.

~ They become comfortable speaking in front of a large group (40+) of students which boosts their self-confidence in all areas!

~ They will be placed in a small “flexible” groups according to their specific reading skill level where they will receive direct instruction. *Flexible meaning as the skill level changes, they will move to another group. J

When you collaborate with another teacher who you trust and respect beyond words, the result is student success beyond your wildest dreams... and teaching growth that surpasses all expectations! We are blessed to do life together as teachers and friends!