Mel's tips for the summer

Dear Trinity Families, ...and I capitalize​ Families​ because tops, yep, tops is what you all are:

Obviously, a bit unofficial and casual as I touch base, Let’s all be unofficially relaxed these weeks. You all (Mid-Atlantic version of y’all) did a great job this year, and I look forward to next.

BUT not too fast/quick/speedy here:
Students; Read AT LEAST two books. As the wonderful writer James Michener stated:
If you don’t wear glasses by age 30, consider your life wasted. So read. Do yourself the honor. Reading on the beach or in the mountains or at the pool is wonderful. If you doubt my words, try it. If you don’t find it wonderful, I’ll give you a lollipop when you return.

How about a bit of service work? Just do 5 hours. Call an organization (Humane Society, Children’s Hospital Ward, Assisted Living, Food Bank), and document how you feel afterward. Show me the documentation, and you know the outcome; lollipop!

Now, in honor of your folks, cook (or prepare) a meal every week. It MUST include cleaning up afterward and must include a dessert and salad.

Have a great one. Laugh, pray, hug, laugh some more. Be kind. Enjoy. Don’t burn, stay healthy, be impeccable with your words, don’t take things so personally, assume nothing, and always give it all you’ve got. (Plagiarism at its finest) And ​DO NOT,​ go a single day without telling your people how much you love them. If you do this every day, I’ll give you a lollipop.

It’s a bit late but grow something outside. A plant, flower, green pepper plant, etc. It’s good for the soul if you have one, and great if you need one.

See if you can go ONE FULL DAY without your electronic device. Few of you have the power or strength or self discipline or integrity or heart to do it. In fact if you can do it I’ll give you a ...
Just text or email me at the end of that day and...

It’s inappropriate to say I love you to you individually, but frankly I’m too old to worry about that nonsense, so I will openly state that... ya’ll are okay.

Be well. Be very well. Xx-
MP

Organized Chaos: Mind Mapping

If your child is a creative learner, then you know organization is a struggle for them. As a student I always got the same feedback on my paper; my ideas were good, but my writing was all over the place and lacked structure. Even while writing this blog, I struggle to make sure my writing isn't going off in five different directions.

During my senior year I learned something that helped me be able to fake organization for papers, mind mapping. Don't get me wrong, I had used mind mapping before, but it was in very structured worksheets in the fifth grade. The focus of mind mapping is to help get ideas out of a students' head and onto the page, so it doesn't need to be extremely organized, just easy for the reader to understand.

The Main Idea: The topic, main idea, or subject should be in the middle of the page and bold enough to draw your eye.

Branches: The branches are used to start your ideas about the topic, don't worry if they seem like they don't make sense. The sole purpose of branches is to get ideas out of your head and onto the paper.

Twigs: The twigs are under each branch where you list the details or information that support your branches.

Doodle: Feel free to doodle related to the topic to help the message sink in.

Group: Once you finish writing branches and twigs full of ideas, start grouping branches together. As you begin grouping branches, think of how you need to structure your paper.  

The Cornell Note Taking System

A common struggle students have is taking good notes in class. This method was created by Cordell Hoek while teaching at Cornell University in the 1940’s, but it still a popular way to help students organize information. This system works by dividing the page into three sections notes, cues, and summary.

 1.  Record

In the notes column, write down the important information like dates, keywords, facts, and ideas from your reading or lecture.

2.     Questions

Use this section to write down your questions, questions you think will be on test and quizzes, record relationships, and establish continuity. This section is focused on critical thinking and making connections to the greater meaning behind facts.

3.     Recite

Cover the note section of the page and see if you can answer a few of the questions from the cue section. This will help you to know what concepts you need to review before quizzes and tests.

4.     Reflect

Ask yourself things like; ‘what is the importance of this?’ or ‘how can I apply this?’ and ‘what effect can this have?’.

5.     Review

After class or reading, use the summary section to summarize the notes section and think how what you have learned connects to information from previous lessons or what you have learned in the past. 

Art for Others

As teachers and administrators, all we want is for our students to feel safe, happy and protected. After the tragic events at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14th, one of their art teachers is on a mission to rebuild her student's faith. She's asking teachers and students from all over the country to send art so she can fill the school with joy and creativity. We are incredibly proud of our student Shayna Feinberg for taking the initiative to ask if our students can send some of their work to help the Parkland community. Thank you to all the students who are sending work, and to everyone who is making it possible for us to help our peers in a time of need.

Creative Learners VS. Organization

How to know if you have a creative learner

    Creative learners have many great traits, but some of those characteristics make it difficult for them to focus and stay organized. Some creative characteristics are that they are sensitive, intuitive, artistic, athletic, musical, and think about the big picture. Some of the drawbacks of being a creative learner are that they are often procrastinators, daydreamers, disorganized, poor test takers, and struggle to put ideas into words. Unfortunately, traditional education styles often label creative learners negatively as “problem students” when they just aren’t being catered to adequately.

How to help them at home

    Make sure students have a singular place to put all school work divided by subject, either a three-ring binder or an accordion folder. Having one place to put work and notes helps to keep items from getting lost, and not to miss important information when its time to study for a test. Creative learners often don’t turn in homework, and it's not because they don’t do their homework, but because they can’t find it to turn it into their teachers.

Using red and green folders can help students organizes homework during the day and at home. The red folder is for homework and assignments that haven’t been completed, and the green folder is completed work that needs to be turned in.

   

Use a planner to keep track of homework, projects, and test dates. Students should cross off items as they are completed, and make sure to keep their planner with their folder to keep everything relevant together. If you encourage your student to mark social events and holiday on their calendar, it will eventually become second nature to write everything down.

   

Creating a positive environment is essential for studying and homework, which is an easy way to help your student without being overbearing. Having a fan or music without lyrics can help students focus because many creative learners prefer to have background noise while working. Make sure to keep students from studying in bed, being in bed tells a person's brain it is time to sleep, making it harder to concentrate and retain information.

Above all, the most important thing your creative learner needs is understanding. However frustrated you may become watching your child struggle, I guarantee they are twice as upset and frustrated. Taking the time to talk to your child about their frustrations and possible solutions show how much you care about their feelings, and that will go a long way with a creative learner.