January 21, 2021 RCSD Educator Blog
#Workinprogress
I always love inauguration day. As the daughter of a history teacher, much of my childhood was spent listening to stories of the past in connection with the present. We, as a family, would surround the television for every inauguration, as well as the nightly news. No reruns or technology to assist if it was not live. During the inauguration, I have always enjoyed the pomp and circumstance, the traditions with new innovations, watching historical figures come out two by two, and the celebration of our nation highlighted with its red, white, and blue.
I genuinely believe that the foundation of a democracy is built on education. Education is the foundation for rich conversation, collaboration, critical thinking, and the threads of interdependence in our global society. Both my parents were educators. Educators that believed that their work mattered to the future of our country. And educators that served children (72 years total), mostly children with IEP’s, as advocates and believers in the power of public education.
I loved Amanda Gorman’s poem yesterday, and one word that resonated with me was unfinished. The idea that we do not have to be perfect; we do not have to be identified broken, but instead unfinished. And while she referred to our nation, it struck me that education, learning, growing, and advocating are the superpowers that allow us to cherish being unfinished, knowing that we are working on getting better. What Jesse Sims, fitness instructor and former educator, refers to as a #workinprogress.
A Work in Progress. I just love this! Isn’t this essentially a banner that could hang in every classroom. Hey, welcome to this classroom. I am here to support you, teach you, give you feedback and help you grow. By the time you leave my classroom, you will be older, smarter, and wiser. While you will leave for your next grade, you not at your full potential, this is exciting because you are a #workinprogress.
Isn’t the foundation of our democracy to grow and get better, engage and reflect, and embrace and love? Again, education is foundational for the skills needed by the adults of our future to continue the #workinprogress and to believe that the work of our nation, and society, is simply unfinished.
Ms. Gorman went on so eloquently and shared,
“And yes we are far from polished
far from pristine
but that doesn't mean we are
striving to form a union that is perfect
We are striving to forge a union with purpose”
Again, I always love inauguration day, listening to historical connections to the present, seeing old and new faces on the stage, listening to speeches of hope and unity. It provides me comfort and strength for a new day. A new day, when we all go out into the world as individuals and #worksinprogress, to find purpose and strive to commit to doing better as our work is still unfinished.
Ms. Gorman continued:
“To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and
conditions of man
And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us
but what stands before us”
And in the words that we have heard many times over the years,
“Let’s be better tomorrow than we are today.” Derk Garcia, Superintendent
Mass Grading (Grades or Status such as Missing) in Otus
Do you want to know how to mass grade in Otus? Below is a short video showing how to mass grade either academic scores or status such as Missing, Late, or more in Otus.
Elementary-Science
Discovery Education DEN STAR program application is live! The DEN STAR program is a support system for educators who love using digital media to engage their students and sharing their ideas and strategies with others. Being a DEN STAR will allow you to stay connected to the latest resources from DE, access exclusive professional learning sessions, and request event kits (and SWAG!) to share DE with others.
You can find official information about the program here. If you’re interested in taking me up on the early invitation to participate, fill out the application here. Application close January 31st.
Middle School-Math
On Monday, January 25th the Middle School Common Assessment Team application will be open. If you are passionate about improving equity and opportunity for student learning this is the team for you. We will use the collaborative common assessment process to become more reflective about how to improve our core instruction and our assessment practices. Looking forward to working with this team!
Middle School - ELA
Additional SpringBoard resources have been shared with you in Otus. Please check your “Shared With Me” folders in “Assessments” and “Bookshelf” to view the Unit 2 common assessments and keys. Please email Jennie Ruvalcaba with any questions. Thanks!
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