Vision - in a nutshell

This is my short, sweet vision

• Students that are engaged in meaningful learning that excites and motivates them – kids that are truly excited about what they're learning!
• Schedules that accommodate the effective integration of Science and Social Studies into our curriculum.
• Teachers that feel they have the freedom to teach creatively.
• Updated Social Studies curriculum that is meaningful to our students.
• New Science curriculum that is hands-on with many manipulatives, an indoor Science lab, and an outdoor Science lab.
• Project-Based Learning!
• Students involved in how and what they learn.

• Collaboration among teachers as well as the whole building.

• A school culture that is open to change, where ideas are discussed/considered without fear.

Book Study - Questions to Ponder

I'm currently reading Breaking Free by Allison Zmuda and love this book! There are some great reflection questions that I'd like to share with you. Please feel free to comment on these.

What do students think about during the school day because of how we design learning?

How do those thoughts help students grow? How do they limit students?

How much has the work in your school changed in the past two decades? Have those changes led to increased engagement?

What is the most innovative idea that has improved the thinking or staff? Of students?

The author wrote the following "I believe..." statements:

*Learning is a joyful experience when it commands our attention.

*Schools can transform into learning organizations the moment that you decide there must be a better way, and then pursue it.

*Exploring unfamiliar territories creates the uncertainty and discomfort needed to begin to think anew.

*The power of educators to affect the lives of children is breathtaking!!!

Governor's Reading Bill - KASB - KNEA

I attempted to muddle through the governor's reading bill and find it disturbing that politicians are making such critical decisions about literacy. These decisions could be detrimental to our students. I'm sorry but focusing on holding back 3rd graders instead of placing our focus and funds on early literacy is completely INSANE!!!!!! Who is making these uneducated decisions about our kids? Research shows that early literacy is the key to successful reading in the later grades, not the opposite! I'm  hoping that some of the amendments will prevent this stupidity. 

I have fears that if we tie state assessment results to our students either pass/fail with the possibility of being retained, that we will focus even more on teaching to the test. Not only that, but what kind of pressure are we placing on our kids with the fear of being retained held over their heads if they fail a test. What about our dyslexic students that don't have IEPs and struggle with reading? Statistics prove that holding back a dyslexic student does them more harm than good. Honestly, I'm terrified of the damage that this type of thinking can lead to.

I spent some time this evening on both the KASB and KNEA sites to get a feel for both. It is my observation that KASB is more neutral and factual. I found more detailed information on the various bills without any biased opinions. On KNEA's site, I observed articles that were more biased with limited details and facts on the bills. I also feel that KNEA's site is more negative, and the authors of the articles seem a little paranoid.

I'm curious to know more about the bill concerning carry conceal in public buildings. Does this mean that teachers will be able to carry to protect their students? I know Texas and Oklahoma have passed a similar bill, if this is what I'm thinking it is.

Innovative Schools - How Exciting!!!

The idea of our district having the freedom to teach innovatively without the rules and regulations that so often limit us as teachers, is so exciting! As a district, we've already taken the "road less traveled" with our Citizenship, College, and Career Readiness. It only makes sense that our district would choose to become a Charter District. I'm personally hoping that we get approval for this endeavor. The opportunities that we could provide our students and future generations is limitless! The C3 Initiative will only be that much more successful with Innovative Schools to correspond.

I feel that most teachers in our district would be excited for this change, and would strive in this type of environment. Not to be negative, but some will not desire this. Will they adjust or move on? Again, not to be negative, (I ask this as a concerned parent) but will our district have more authority/power to remove teachers not willing to comply? I read Brian's blog and he mentions the importance of all schools across the board participating and I agree. Every school will have to be fully committed for this to really work.

Here are some of my questions based on curiosity alone: 
Would funding change? If so, in what way?
How would this change affect our vision, mission, goals as a district, if any?
What kind of training would teachers be provided with to adjust to this change?
How would our curriculum change innovatively speaking. More science materials, resources, technology?
How will collaboration change - what will it look like compared to now? I wish we could have a 2-3 hour collaboration time each week, similar to the high school.
Will our school day/year become longer?
Will we be able to provide more innovative programs for our students?
More funding for technology?
School uniforms/dress code?
Opportunities for after school programs/tutoring?
Better school lunches? Just curious. :)
Opportunities for foreign language at the elementary level?
More science opportunities at the elementary level - Wouldn't it be SOOOO awesome if our district had an elementary science teacher that traveled to all schools just teaching science - as one of their specials (this idea came from Shane's friend at MC).
Increase parental involvement?

I am proud to teach for McPherson schools because of their commitment to our students. Our district is willing to do what it takes to help our students succeed, which is evident in the C3 Initiative. Gaining approval to become a Charter District could be the difference between being stuck in an old system that's going nowhere or breaking free to innovation, ingenuity, and a new way to prepare our students for the future.

Sir Ken Robinson Video

Amazing video! Not only is Sir Ken Robinson hilarious, but he made some comments that really made me think.  I don't want to believe that educators are responsible for squashing imagination in our youth, but it's obvious that it occurs. When students begin Kindergarten, they have vivid imaginations and broad divergent thinking. However, after they've been in the system for a short time, their divergent thinking and creativity are stifled. I believe this can be blamed on a number of things. When education funds deteriorate, programs that encourage creativity such as music and the arts are the first to go.  Also, teachers who feel pressured to teach to the "test" are robbing their students of a more extensive education where students are free to express their unique learning style. Time constraints that focus on just reading and math are preventing our kids from not only thinking creatively but also demonstrating their knowledge creatively such as Gardner's Multiple Intelligences. Some teachers are afraid of project based learning, cooperative learning, or any learning environment that lacks the "old school" structure.  

I appreciate his idea of the Organic Paradigm to describe a new change in education. He believes if we create the right incentives, right conditions, value each learner for themselves and properly that growth will happen. There has to be a shift from the Industrial Paradigm to an Organic Paradigm for real change to occur. This means: Vitality (Energy), Creativity (multiple options), Diversity, and Customization. I liked his quote that "The problems with humans is that we aim too low and succeed."  Two words, standardized testing.  

Robinson went on to say that we take education for granted. The industrial paradigm served its purpose, but it's time for educators to reform education to meet the demands of our current society. We have to rethink education.  This means we AIM HIGH! We need to be "those who move".  We've  "got to move and get a move on" before we lose our opportunity with this generation!

***MUST READ*** How have the new iPads affected your classroom?

I don't know how the rest of you feel, but now that my students have iPads in our classroom, we are finding more and more uses for them. Daily, I see a need and justification for 1-to-1. Having more technology in my classroom has transformed the way that I teach, the type of assignments I give, and the way my students respond to both. My students are contributing to the lessons that I teach, which blows me away. Today we read a Christmas story with Mary Engelbreit's illustrations and my "Super Student" looked her up and then emailed the link to me. I was able to pull up the link on the Promethean and we read about how Mary Engelbreit got started as an illustrator. When we are reading or studying a topic and come across an unfamiliar word, my students will "google" the word and then read the definition to the class without being told. This technology is motivating them to participate in their own learning and contribute more to our classroom learning. 

More of the assignments that I give require research (now that we have more technology to do so) and I've been amazed by my students' response. They LOVE choosing their own topic and then conducting independent or partner research. So far, they've been great about sharing the iPads or even pairing up on one to help each other search for information. I often hear them sharing their findings with a neighbor with great enthusiasm.  

I've also noticed that my students are figuring out how to create assignments and presentations on the iPads. Today, one of my students created a collage for a project on an iPad that was incredible! Now they all want to use this app to create a collage. Another is completing the same assignment with iMovie. I'm excited to see the progression as they figure out more ways to express their ideas and learning!

This additional technology has changed our learning environment, and I feel all for the better! My kids are creating, authoring, editing, researching, teaching, and they're engaged and excited to use this new technology! It's so exciting!

Here is an article about how having iPads in the classroom has changed education - very good read! Here is an article about a Texas school that went 1-to-1 with iPads and how it transformed learning in the classroom. It mentions the need for teacher training and the importance of using technology to prepare our students for college and career-ready.

I would love to hear about your student's experiences with iPads in your classroom!

Let's meet our students where they are

With the new Common Core standards emphasizing a greater need for public speaking, I felt this article related well. We have placed greater expectations on our students to present and speak in front of peers. This article really opened my eyes to the fact that not all students feel comfortable speaking in public. I haven't noticed any of my students this year exhibiting any signs of speaking phobia, but have in prior years. I really like the idea of meeting students where they are and gradually helping them to overcome their fears of speaking. This was a good reminder to meet them where they are, not where we are or where we think they should be. I hope to be more observant of my students in the future, and hope I can help them overcome their fears. Have you noticed your students exhibiting a fear of public speaking? What have you done to help them overcome their fear? Are these students getting more comfortable with speaking as their experience increases?