What a Wonderful First Two Weeks!

This has been one of the easiest starts to school in which I have ever been involved. We have already started learning quite a bit together! This week we will focus on punctuation and reading objectives. We will be reading a lot of books together and we will be responding a lot to what we read!

I have enjoyed this wonderful 3 day weekend! The cool weather has been so refreshing and today, Labor Day, our whole family was together for David's birthday. We celebrated early because he will be at Law School on his birthday.

I can't wait for the awesome week ahead!

It's Friday!

What a week! We have had so much fun getting to know each other. We have done many, many team building activities that I believe will accomplish my goal. My goal is for my classroom and my students to be a family. It sounds trite...I know...but if we indeed become as close as a family, we will have each others best interests at heart. Then EVERYTHING we do will be easier. We will all be in this together. Every year I start this way, and every year we end up very close. There are a lot of tears on that last day and that's a good thing!
Every day this week has flown by and even the kids were saying it's awful! We have so much to do and so little time to get it done!
Thank you for having your child here and on time! It helps us so much!

Soon there will be pictures of a beautiful baby. Her name is Selah Rae Buttram and she is due any day.

I can't wait to share her with you!

I am already looking forward to next week!
Have a great weekend!

We made it!

We made it through the first day! It was a wonderful day! Of course, my day began with prayer. My family and I prayed before I left for school. That was the key to starting the day out on the right foot.

Your children are already a great blessing to me! We have learned so much about each other and we are creating a family in this classroom. Stay tuned!

Back to School! Again!

Well here we go! Another year! I am very excited to begin my 14th year as a teacher. I especially feel blessed to be at Caldwell Elementary Arts Academy. We have a great staff and administration in place and I know that we will be seeing great success and celebrations throughout this year!
Meet the teacher will be held Thursday, August 18, 2011. Starting times are 4:30 to 5:15; and 6:15 to 7:00. We are conducting two sessions so that, hopefully, more parents will be able to attend. In between the sessions the PTA is having a hot dog supper. You will be able to purchase your supper for a nominal charge.
The first day of school is Monday, August 22, 2011. I can't wait to see your precious child! We will have a great year! If you ever have any concerns or questions please call me during my conference 12:00 to 12:45. Your concern is my concern!
Here's to a fabulous year!

Mrs. Holly Chilek

The Quest for Knowledge

This blog, in it's former state, has served it's purpose! As of August 13, 2011, I am a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Lamar University with a Masters in Education Administration.

So this blog has been re-purposed. Every week, I will chronicle the adventures of my 4th grade students on their quest to grow and learn.
I will include work samples, pictures, ideas and thoughts. I hope that this blog benefits you as much as it will benefit me.

Please follow us, and comment, on our journey!

What have I learned?

I learned that I am on the right path. I tell my students, all of the time, that in life there are really two paths…the narrow one and the wide one. The wide path is where everyone is…it’s the acceptance path and the least resistance path. There aren’t many Albert Einstein’s on this path. This is the let’s get by path and not make any waves. I have never been on this path. This path has it’s advantages. At least when you are on this path, you have a lot of company and you feel accepted.
The second path is the narrow path. It’s the path of do the right thing no matter what the consequences. It’s the path of thinking outside the box. It’s the path of, I don’t care what you did in the past, we have to change the way we think in order for our students to succeed. This is a very lonely path. Just as compulsory public education, at one time, was thought to be revolutionary; learning for all, NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES, is also, now revolutionary. That thought is not accepted. Leaders that choose this path, will one day, be seen as heroes…but it takes courage to stand up and do the right thing…this course has empowered me to, if I get the chance, be this type of leader.

I am very RARELY at a loss for words - March 20, 2011 Web Conference

I am very rarely at a loss for words. My family, friends, co-workers, and students would verify this fact.

However, after last night's web conference...all I can say is, I don't know what to say.

However, this blog is going to focus on the benefits of Web Conferencing for Leaders.
First, of all, despite the glitches, it was fun! Web conferencing, to me, is more engaging than the standard Faculty Meeting. I have been to very few Faculty Meetings that I can honestly say I enjoyed. They have not, for the most part, been engaging, and active. They have been a very passive situation. However, with Web Conferencing, the participants, by the nature of the conference are actively involved and engaged.

Another benefit is one of time. One can web conference anywhere, at any time. In our web conference, I noticed one individual sitting in their recliner. Another was sitting their daughter on their bed...but they were all participating and were engaged. So web conferencing saves time, resources, and opportunity.

I believe a web conference format would be a great way to have a faculty meeting. You wouldn't necessarily want to do it for every meeting, but occasionally it would be a fun and informative way to meet with the staff.

All in all, I am looking forward to more web conferencing!