October 13, 2015

Just couldn't get it all done last week.

Heads Up

There is an opportunity on Saturday, October 17 to attend the best day of professional development you're likely to see all year - EdcampNWA 2015! There's no Razorback game to distract you from gathering with peers to share innovative practices in classrooms. The best day of professional development around.

It's school lunch week. A great time to add in some discussion about food and nutrition to those lesson plans.

Wednesday is NATIONAL FOSSIL DAY. What's better than fossils? Not much if you're a rock hound like me. Take a break and dig into these resources from the National Park Service. https://nature.nps.gov/geology/nationalfossilday/

Ok, somebody planned this. Friday is Alternative Fuels Day. Fossils on Wednesday, alternative fuels on Friday - great week to make connections if you ask me. Friday is also Dictionary Day.

Next week, October 19 - 23, is chock full 'o observances! It's Earth Science Week (shouldn't every week be), School Bus Safety Week, and Character Counts Week. So, demonstrate good character to the bus driver when you bring your rock collection to school.

Join the Solution wants the opinion of educators throughout NWA to help find solutions to mental, physical, and basic needs of students. Take a few minutes to complete their survey at www.jointhesolution.org.

@bpscommunity

Missi Pitman's 2nd graders joined a group of students from all over NWA as the first group to participate in "unfield" trips at the Amazeum.

The Amazeum: One place where even grown-ups say: "Have you seen this?"

Wonder what it's like in Andy Mayes' Internet Technology Solutions class at TATA Consultancy Services? Here's a sneak peek. It's a very professional atmosphere.

Apple Glen was rockin' last Friday morning. You ever see the leadership video on how a movement begins. Here's the Apple Glen version.

 Followed the sound of engagement to Ms. Dewey's and Ms. Sanders' classrooms and found these students making and tinkering on their Rube Goldberg machines that illustrate the story line from a book they read. Talk about a fusion of literacy skills and creative problem-solving.

Russ Daniel from McLarty/Daniel stopped by Apple Glen to present a check to be donated to a NWA food bank thanks to a project by these students.

Grants and PD

Thank you for using the grant request form before applying for funding from outside sources.
Here's a cool contest for those aspiring film makers in your classroom. Scotties Facial Tissues is accepting entries in their 5th Annual TREES ROCK! video contest. Students in grades 3 - 6 are eligible. Details? http://scottiestreesrock.com/?

It's on! KNWA's brightest classroom is back and brighter than ever.
http://www.nwahomepage.com/community/brightest-classrooms

This is less contest and more project. Stumbled on this website over the weekend and found the basis of a great project. The Superschool Project asks: What if we team up to create the new American High School? Could be a cool project (hint, hint). http://xqsuperschool.org/

Attend Edcampnwa at BHS Saturday from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Video of the week

It's going to be a great week.