Play, Passion, Purpose
It's been a joy going through the observation process with many of you. It's been a great learning process for me to see what we understand, what we are struggling to understand, and where we still need to grow.
I also know that our learning grows and goes deeper with exposure to good speakers, presentations and who better than Tony Wagner! In this video and the next, you will find connections to the hard work you are engaged in as you wrap your arms around identifying modern, rigorous, relevant, integrated, transferable, and aligned outcomes. Why is it important to have outcomes that have purpose? How does passion and play align with engagement? How does creativity provide ownership for learners, and therefore increase engagement? Do we honor play?
Please take a minute to watch this video and reflect.
If you love it...watch another!
7 Skills Students Need for the Future
It is so exciting that we are part of the great shift in transforming education.
Will we ever arrive? Nah...
But it is very validating to listen to Tony Wagner and his vision and recognize that we here at Renaissance have been on this path - We have embraced this vision and are involved in the hard work of figuring out how to take an idea and move it into action.
Before we can implement an idea, we must understand it.
Then, we must get busy trying to do it.
February 11 - 15th:
Monday:
Lisa's Crew leaves on Winter Voyage
4th grade leaves on Winter Voyage
Tuesday:
RTI meeting 7:15 a.m.
Wednesday:
All School Meeting
Professional Development: Team Planning
Thursday:
Valentines Day (This has authentic writing opportunities...)
Friday:
No Students
Professional Development: Planning and Collaboration
February 18th - 22nd:
Monday: No School - President's Day
Tuesday:
No RTI meeting
Wednesday:
Professional Development: Team Planning
Friday:
First grade Winter Voyage day trip
Leadership Team Discussion and Decisions:
The Leadership Team looked at the results of the Professional Development Survey. 20 teachers responded. 100% of the respondents wanted planning time on Friday, Feb. 15th. The top other three categories were to spend some time learning how to teach and assess the 4'C's; participating in a discussion about generating systems for giving students feedback against the learning targets; and time to explore digital tools. The team decided to allocate our Professional Development day and allow teachers the full day to plan. IF you want to collaborate with other teachers to increase your knowledge and skill in any area, we encourage you to network on Friday!
Originally we thought we would survey the whole staff with the CDE TELL survey. This is a lengthy survey and takes a chunk of time to complete. So, in the interest of conserving time and prioritizing tasks, the Leadership Team decided to take a sampling of our staff instead.
Planning Time
Last week in Friday Flash I wrote a focus piece on the many responsibilities of the classroom teacher and included a check-list of sorts that a teacher might use to map out their time. I'm putting a hard copy of that list in your mailboxes for you to use over the next few months.
In addition, at the beginning of the year, I asked you to keep a log of your extended planning time. For example, days spent over the break on planning, or days spent with Noreene planning outside of school, days you get a sub for planning purposes. I will need you to submit that log to me at the end of the year as we are responsible for tracking our planning grant dollars. Just a reminder :)
Some of you expressed interest in having some support planning. If you want to work with Noreene next Friday you better hurry and set that up! Perhaps she can do two half-day sessions. We are also extending Elisha's role and responsibilities and she will be available to starting supporting team planning. Unfortunately, she'll be leaving soon to give birth to her daughter, but keep her in mind for next year!
Peek Into the Life of our School:
 |
| Rats...blurry! Lisa is teaching Doug a wrestling move! |
 |
| Collaboration between teachers - Elisha and Jody analyze student writing - puzzling over what the next steps for this student should be. |
 |
| Integration of art with social studies Learning Expedition in 2nd grade |
 |
| Starry Starry Night - it's gorgeous! |
 |
| ...and they know it! |
 |
| ...and they work hard at it! |
 |
| Worm mud left behind in Nathan's hand... I just missed the worms! First grade begins a new science learning expedition |
 |
| Collecting student thinking... |
 |
| ahh...here's those pesky worms. |
 |
| Scientists cleaning up after handling the worms. |
 |
| Long lines for check out at the library! |
 |
| No 'wonder'! |
 |
| Beautiful singing and dancing coming from the music room! |
 |
| Differentiating the instruction for students |
 |
| Digital tools for learning |
 |
| ...and dressed for success! |
 |
| Teacher and students learning side by side |
 |
| Have you seen the dazzling paper cranes in Rebecca's Crew? Inspired by literature - |
 |
| Classification - inquiry in fourth grade |
 |
| Conferring |
 |
| A rubric and a system for providing feedback so that students know how they are doing. "I did it!" moves away from kids thinking whatever they do is 'good enough'. |
 |
| Dialogue between teacher and students |
 |
| Winter Voyage paperwork... See? She's smiling! Bless you Julie |
Have a wonderful weekend!
Deborah
No comments:
Post a Comment