August 29, 2014

Campfire, Watering Hole, Cave

Creating Beautiful Spaces for Learning
Core Practice 29

How are we doing?

In Expeditionary Learning schools, the physical space of the school reflects and supports the learning environment. When people enter the school, they are immediately aware that they are in a place that celebrates learning.


We all value our learning environment. Over the years we have worked collaboratively to ensure that our shared spaces speak to our values and we were very intentional in creating and decorating those spaces.

As we look at the physical spaces of our individual classrooms are we sending a unified message of who we are and what we value? Do we recognize our classroom in the indicators listed below? Are there some of them that could use some attention? Are there barriers for achieving these physical spaces? If so, are there opportunities to work collaboratively and creatively together to overcome the barriers?

I spent a good deal of time doing some research to see what was available in the global community that might support us in achieving our vision. I found some things below that might spark some ideas and provide some inspiration for creative thinking and action. I didn't find as much as I had hoped, which confirmed that once again, we are on the cutting edge of creating a 21st Century education - including the creative spaces for that learning to be generated.

This is not a call to look over your learning space with a critical eye - rather, to analyze and evaluate your learning space and whether it is in alignment with your vision of the learning you want to see happen in your classroom. It's important that this space also be a place where you want to spend your time every day! There is importance in having a space that is aesthetically pleasing as well as a space that tells a story of the people who dwell there every day. I hope this sparks some thinking...

Physical environment:
* Whenever possible, students are leaders in maintaing the spaces with pride.
* Primary entryways are welcoming and beautiful. Signage makes the values and mission of the school clear to all.
* High-quality student work, rather than commercial posters are displayed. Student work is supported with text that makes clear what students learned.
* Classrooms are rich with resources for learning (e.g., books, technology, manipulatives, art supplies, science equipment, models, natural specimens).
* Classrooms are set up to facilitate student thinking, independence, and care for materials.
* Students take primary responsibility for the care of the classroom resources - especially live plants and animals, is treated with great respect and concern.
* Items from the natural world (e.g., plants, rocks, bones, aquariums) are displayed and cared for as they would be in a museum.
* Achievement in academics, characters, arts, service and sports are showcased.
* Outdoor spaces are cared for and invite teachers and students to connect to the natural world to their classroom learning.

Documenting Student Learning
* Traditional bulletin boards are replaced with artful display board created by teachers and students that feature explanatory text. Almost always, the work of all students is featured, not just that of a select few, compelling all students to create work of quality.
* In addition to display boards, the school features museum-style documentation panels. Documentation panels explain student learning through an artistic arrangement of student work, explanatory texts, tasks, scoring guides, photographs, quotes from students and teachers, rough and final draft student work, and student and teacher reflection.
* Teachers and students use anchor charts and concept maps to document learning during lessons. These charts and maps are posted in the classroom to reinforce understanding and provoke thinking.

These indicators come straight from the Core Practices book. Clearly, they equal student ownership and collaboration between teachers and students.

21st Century Learning Environments

A bit more traditional, but still creative spaces...

Nature inspired...

For further investigation:
An article from Edutopia on classroom spaces: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/the-physical-environment-of-classrooms-mark-phillips

Website:
http://elearningdesignineducation.wikispaces.com/21st+Century+Learning+Environments

Calendar

August 31 - September 6th:

Monday: 

Relaxing and playing at home :)

Tuesday:

7:30 RTI meeting

Neil's Crew leaves for Voyage

Officer Lewis visits 4-6th grade classrooms for cyber awareness sessions (consult schedule)

Leadership Team meeting 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday:

'The Beat'

PD: 'Walking Wednesday' at 1:30 - meet out front of the school

Personal Plan 1:50 - 4:00

(District Strategic Plan presentation rescheduled for Wednesday, September 17th)

Thursday:

Deborah out to PK12 Admin meeting

6th grade Crew fieldwork to Ice Core Lab

September 8 - 12th:

Monday:

Lonnie's Crew leaves on Voyage

Michelle's Crew leaves on Voyage

*Deborah/Debbie/Julie supporting Michelle's Voyage (unclear at this point which two will be going)

Tuesday:

7:30 RTI meeting

Wednesday:

2nd Grade leaves on Voyage

'The Beat'

PD: 'Walking Wednesday' 1:30

1:50 - 4:00 Personal Plan

Thursday:

Deborah out for Elementary Principal Meeting

Friday:

6th grade field work to Saint Mary's Glacier

Debbie out with 6th grade

Share Time

It was a dark and stormy night....

While it rained (and rained, and rained...)

Small Moments

What I think Crew Is

(from the mouths of kindergartner's from Jody's Crew)

When you are working together with some peoples I know

There is crews on the cruise ship and they battle bad guys

A lot of people when you are in line

You stick together

People working together

Made for a team

Helping

A big group together

A big pack of people that come together

A group of butterflies

Being a friendship

Josie shared a story..

 She took a student from first grade to work with him one on one. He turned to her and said, "Who signed me up for this?"

Thanks Tyler for sharing the video below -

Now we all have no excuses for not using sunscreen!

Expeditionary Learning 2014 National Conference: 

Boston, MA

Saturday, December 6th - Tuesday, December 9th

If you are interested in attending please visit with me in the next two weeks.

 I am not certain that we have the funds to attend,  not certain whether we will be able to get a slot during registration, but willing to try! Special consideration will be given to those interested who:

* Have never experienced a Slice of a Learning Expedition

* Go as a team

* Demonstrate a readiness/commitment to apply new understandings/strategies

Have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!

Deborah

RAKtivists in Action

Creating a Kindness Revolution!

“Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”

—Scott Adams (1957)

I opened my personal email quickly before I left for work Thursday morning. An email was awaiting me from my dad with the subject line 'Thankful'. 

My dad is in a nursing home and rather than resist this stage in his life, he has embraced it as an opportunity to make a difference, in whatever small way he can, to improve and nurture the lives of others - namely the staff that works there. He fondly refers to the staff as "his lovelies'. My father doesn't know what a RAKtivist is, nor the kindness revolution, but he is acutely aware of the ripple affect of kindness.

After a bit of family specific conversation, his email went on to say this:

"Several little incidents like this occurred with me this week, leaving me very thankful that I can still be a positive influence in the lives of others.

Love you much,

Dad

And here's the email I(my dad) had written (and was sharing with me) about Heidi (who works in food service at the nursing home):

I overslept supper this Saturday and went rushing out my room and down the hall toward the elevator, hoping maybe the food server hadn't left the downstairs dining room. On my way I went by the doorway of 2nd floor dining, and saw Heidi cleaning tables. Is it too late downstairs? I asked, Could you call and see if they're still there? "I'll make you a sandwich here," Heidi said.
"But I'm out of bacon and need to go down and get some more." No need, I said, but she insisted on going. I went back to my room and waited. A full half hour. I suspect that Heidi went all the way to the cafeteria (excuse me, I mean Canyon View) for all the ingredients.

Anyway, she presented the best-looking, most appealing sandwich I've ever been served in LTCC. The ingredients were neither good nor bad in my opinion, but it was the best because Heidi wanted it to be the best and her attitude showed in every particular of the sandwich. Cut into four pieces, for one thing. Served with love. The love of doing her very best, her way of saying,"This is me and I love what I do." Powerful stuff!

Heidi is the best food server you have. Not just because of this one episode. Because she loves to do her best every time she's on the job and with every individual she serves. My goodness, if everyone did their job like she does, this ole world would be transformed!

If you have special awards or recognitions, please give one to Heidi. And at the very least, give her a hug and a thank-you for brightening the day of all those she serves.

Thank you,

Bob

I share this with you because those random acts of kindness, our acts of service towards one another (the essence of Crew Not Passengers), matter - a lot! It doesn't matter where we are, what we are doing, or how small it might seem. We ARE changing the world. Let's include the kids!

RAKtivism at Manna (everyone's new favorite restaurant!)

One Voice - RAKtivism

RAKtivism at King Soopers

Doughnuts for Nurses

and...the DMV!

RAKtivist Singing Video Part 1

Calendar

August 11 - 15th:

Monday 11th:

* Drumming in classrooms

* Leadership Team meeting 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday 12th:

Lindsey's Crew leaves on Voyage

* RTI meeting 7:30 a.m.

Wednesday, 13th

PD: Personal professional development plan implementation begins
(Make sure you completed the form prior to Wednesday)

Thursday, 14th
*Debbie out in the afternoon

Friday:

* Deborah out in the morning

August 18 - 22nd:

Monday 18th:

Josh's Crew leaves on Voyage

Kenny's Crew leaves on Voyage (Debbie supporting this trip and out as well)

*Drumming in classrooms

Tuesday 19th:

Lauren & Tyler's Crew out on Voyage

*RTI mtg. 7:30 a.m.

Wednesday 20th:

* First 'The Beat' whole school community circle (more info to follow with details)

* PD: Personal Plan in progress

Thursday 21st:

* Deborah out all day to admin. mtg.

ASM renamed...

Welcome...
'THE BEAT'

Coming up soon...

I'll be scheduling goal setting conferences with each of you. I will do this during one of your plan times. If you would prefer a before or after school conference, please let me know.

Standard Response Protocol:
(Emergency procedures)

Please make sure you are clear on the protocols. Please see me if you are not. We are going to need to make some adjustments to locations for the shelter protocol, but I'll get that information to you soon.


New School Year Leadership Team:

The district is moving into a second year of requiring schools to have an L&L Team. Since the initiation of this last year was slow and inconsistent, our L&L leaders are going to retain this leadership role this year (Pam, Brittany & Elisha). We needed a digital lead, and Lindsey has agreed to take this role. Debbie is stepping into Noreene's shoes.

In the spirit of keeping meetings to a minimum, it makes sense to have L&L folks on the Leadership Team instead of having a separate meeting. So, our Leadership Team for this year is comprised of:

Deborah - administrator

Debbie - instructional leader

Elisha - CIL (instruction), special education

Brittany - DAL (data), Discovery

Pam - QUAL (assessment), IA's

Lindsey - DATL (digital), secondary level

Mary Beth - primary lead

The Leadership Team will be meeting on Monday, August 11th at 5:00 pm

Focus:

* View the District Strategic Plan and assign parts for presenting the plan to the staff on September 3rd.

* Discuss CITE evidence and classroom observations/visits to seek a way to make them less intrusive.

Second meeting: Tuesday, September 2nd

Focus:

* Unified Improvement Plan (UIP) - review data, review school information and make a decision for the goal focus.

* Create a focus for 'instructional rounds' that is aligned to the school UIP

We want everyone's input and thinking on these important decisions. If you have ideas, thoughts, feelings, please seek out a Leadership Team member and share. These folks are representatives for our whole school and so it's critical that you share with them so they can represent the views of our entire staff in making school decisions.

* What are your thoughts about how I can support you in your work and be less intrusive when I visit your classroom? How can this time double to help with evidence for CITE? How do we manage the evaluation component?

* What are your thoughts about where we need to focus, as a school, in this coming year (UIP)? How might that be differentiated for teachers?

New to our Renaissance Family
Hudson Baker

The proud Papa

Hudson Holmes Baker

Securing Student's Attention - Establishing Rule and Procedures -  Creating Culture and Community -

Practice, Practice!

I saw so many wonderful management techniques working well in our classrooms. I'm going to ask you to share some of your own management tips with each other. Take a minute or two to think of a management strategy that works particularly well for you. Then share it with someone! 

I also saw the creation of routines, agreements, culture that were set up to intentionally create shared ownership. Kids all over the school making decisions about their community and their role and responsibilities as a citizen within that community. I was surprised by the emotional reaction I had - the genuine caring and expression of self was powerful. 

Once again, just tingling from the power of a community that is so unified and who creates such a safe and meaningful learning environment. 

Peek Into the Life of our School

" I told Phoebe she was first in clinic this year and must wear the tiara! (first day of school!) It made her smile-kinda! " Kristin

The Future of Friday Flash...

Debbie and I are going to begin to share the weekly communication. We will switch off week to week.

We would like to add a section in response to Lauren's great suggestion (!) and include technology tips and the way you are using these digital tools for learning. Please continue to share with me those funny moments from your classroom and also share what you are doing with digital tools.

We are also going to try to include an instructional focus tip - we have lots of ideas but are relying on your feedback so we can determine whether they are beneficial, or how they can be tweaked to be useful to you.

I love it when you share information, links, pictures, humor, stories...while Debbie and I may be putting Friday Flash together, it's a tool to keep our community linked together and informed so it is always 'our' blog. It will be exciting to see how we use it this year - all of us!

Have a great weekend!

Deborah