Friday, August 29, 2014

Welcome Back Focus


Our rose ceremony reminded us to keep our focus on students and the 3 R's.
  • I will do whatever it takes to help each student succeed.
  • I will work with my teams to support student learning and each other.
  • I will commit to making learning rigorous and relevant.
  • I will show students I care and build trusting relationships.









Heidi Hayes- Jacob's Chair reminded us to make every decision with our students in mind. Speak about our students with respect and kindness as if they are always in the room.


Check out this video for students and staff to have a great start to school.
Inspirational Video

I hope you have a great school year!  
Please comment and send well wishes to your colleagues.  

Thursday, August 28, 2014

What do we want for our students at HP?

Thank you for putting students first!  I will print you a copy of this.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Hudson Prairie Welcome Back 2014-15


Our district theme for 2014-15  is 
HSD: Connection Passion and Purpose for Learning.    
Our keynote speaker is Scott McLeod and he will inspire us on our journey of making HSD 2025 come alive with rigorous and  relevant teaching and learning.   Please view this Ted Talk to front load our keynote on August 26th.  His website also has more information on him.  I have purchased his book for the professional library if you are interested.  It describes different types of technology tools and specific applications that may be helpful in your classroom.  Here is the link to the resources mentioned and used at his presentation.


Here is a link to our building meeting on Wed. Aug. 27 at 9:00am.  Our essential question is:
How do we prepare our students to be informed, caring contributors to the world?
Please respond how we use RIGOR, RELEVANCE, and RELATIONSHIPS at HP?
https://todaysmeet.com/HudsonPrairie2014


Welcome Back Presentation

We are going to look at this through the lens of Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships.
To read more about the 3 R's, check out this article by Ray McNulty.
Think about how your learning as an adult has been rigorous, relevant, and based on relationships.  

On Thurs. Aug. 28 we will meet in the HP gym for common messages and have personalized breakouts based on your grade level needs.    Laptops would be helpful as well as the Fountas and Pinell Continuum for grades 3-5.  This is located in the F & P assessment kits.


Our Weekly Connection is a new tab on our blog.  Check it out.  


Sunday, June 8, 2014

GLO #7: Life SKills

GLO #7:  Life Skills
Students will demonstrate an understanding of a healthy lifestyle and making a positive difference in the lives of others.  Students will be respectful of self and others and take responsibility for their own behavior.
  • Citizenship
  • Leadership
  • Ethical decision making
  • Personal finance
  • Service learning
  • Health and fitness

How does this GLO come alive at HP? (list more ideas in the comments)
  • Hudson Heroes
  • Collaborative work
  • Power Up
  • Integrated Unit Actions
  • Fun Run
  • Marathon running at recess

GLO #6 Thinking

GLO #6 Thinking

Students will critically and creatively apply thinking skills and demonstrate the ability to reason through complex problems.

  • Problem solving and reasoning
  • Persuasive and informative communication
  • Creativity
  • Transfer of learning to new situations

How does this GLO look in your classroom? (Please add comments in the blog.)

  • Constructed Responses in Math.
  • Integrated Units- informational and persuasive writing.
  • Creative ways to share learning.

Sunday, June 1, 2014

GLO #5 Environmental Sustainability

GLO #5 Environmental Sustainability
Students will apply knowledge of environmental sustainability in their personal, professional, and civic life.
  • Understanding of ecosystems and environmental issues
  • Conservation and preservation of natural resources
  • Seeking solutions and taking action to address environmental problems
  • Identify energy sources and conservation methods
  • Examine economic and environmental impact of traditional and alternative energy sources


Thank you to Susan Johnson for sharing about the outdoor learning space available.
Our plan is to call the Middle School Office to reserve the space and borrow the key.
Our responsibility will be to make sure we put everything in it's appropriate space and keep it clean. if we run out of anything, please let Susie know.
Next year we will be also creating a committee with MS and elementary teachers discussing:
  • Scheduling
  • Maintaining and updating the space and materials
  • Keys at both schools
Please let me know if you are interested in being a HP representative.
We are also in need of a rep on the District R3 Committee that meets once a month.

We have begun a number of things aligned to this GLO. Please comment on other things we are doing as a school.

  • Composting
  • Garden
  • Camp St. Croix
  • Use of outdoor learning space 
  • Integrated Units of Inquiry- See enduring understandings and essential questions below!
2nd Grade
Choices affect the environment.
How do peoples past, present, and future choices affect the local and global environment?
What can I do to make a difference to the environment?
How can I get others to change their habits to impact the environment?

 Living things grow and change.
How do living things grow and change?
How do I help living things grow and change?
How do human, animal, and plant life cycles compare?

3rd Grade
Water is a natural resource required for the survival of all living things.
 What is the water cycle and how is it impacted by outside forces?
 How does water consumption affect life?
 How can we influence world- wide water stewardship?

4th Grade
Geography influences people’s lives past- present- future.
 What is my place in this world?
 What caused landforms to be formed and changed?
 Do people change landforms or do landforms cause people to change?
 How does geography and its changes impact settlement and life?

Things we do can affect the environment and we can make choices to reduce our impacts.
How do the choices we make in our everyday lives impact our local and global surroundings?
 What is our responsibility as citizens in conserving natural resources and exploring alternative energy forms?
 How does availability of natural resources impact/affect life? (global, power)

5th Grade
Interactions within environmental systems affect the survival and quality of life for all living things.
How are environmental systems impacted by humans and natural events?
What are the interactions within an ecosystem?
How do choices affect the environment?

Coming Soon...
Kindergarten
  Animals interact with their families and the environment. 

Trees provide a natural resource that improves life.

1st Grade
 Weather all over the world influences living things

Pebbles, Sand, and Silt





Monday, May 26, 2014

GLO #4 Entrepreneurial Learning

GLO #4 Entrepreneurial Learning  
Students will demonstrate their ability to work in teams and collaborate in the spirit of innovation.  Students will demonstrate an understanding of what it means to adjust, be flexible, and change a course of action.
  • Innovative, creative, resourceful
  • Perseverance and determination
  • Positive risk taking - learn from mistakes and adjust actions
  • Mentor others
  • Embrace change as opportunity


How have we demonstrated Entrepreneurial Learning at HP?  
Please comment and add more ideas.
Student leadership opportunities
Assignments that require collaboration
Turn and talk
Google Docs to promote collaboration

5th Grade Technology Inquiry



3rd Grade Inventions Unit of Inquiry


Hudson Heroes