February 21, 2014

I have a good feeling...

Today I was reminded of the quote about how the moment you're ready to quit is usually the moment right before the miracle happens. While maybe not a miracle today,  but today a really important thing happened. A leader in our district NOTICED and acknowledged that we are doing amazing things at Renaissance (Ted Knight the Chief Academic Officer of Elementary Education). This leader noticed that we are closer to providing the kind of 21st Century Education we are aspiring to do than probably most schools in our district. While this was not a surprise to me, to hear a district leader voice it - was. He wanted to know how we could spread this!

Over the last two weeks some events have happened at the district leadership level that has left me with a good feeling. A feeling of trust has returned. A feeling that district leadership is listening and responding. Just today I heard that the descriptors on the CITE evaluation are going to be changed. They heard us when we said that labeling learning as partially effective was a problem. There are plans in the works to slow things down, provide clarity and shape the path for achieving a new strategic plan. (Huge sigh.)

We will never be done stretching ourselves and responding to our students and the world. Stretching and grappling with how to create a learning environment that prepares our kids for the future is ever changing. I think we have all released the notion that 'things will get back to normal' eventually. They won't. That is gone. This is the new 'normal'.

I think we have survived the hardest part. We've worked hard and held on to each other as we went through one of the biggest change events of our profession. In some ways, it was almost a perfect storm with different change actions happening at the same time, on different fronts. But we stayed the course. To our advantage, our course was always on track and we only needed to chart a clearer course with better methods and adding some newer and better parts - but our vision was dead on.

I'm rejoicing tonight that all of your efforts are FINALLY acknowledged, noticed and applauded at the leadership level of our district. I would like to say I don't care about that - that we don't need that. Deep down, I know that's true - but dang if it doesn't feel good to hear it!

So Crew, the time is now. We are growing, learning and embracing a transformation in education and I am so proud to be doing that with you.

Second and third grade students learn the structure of a Socratic Circle
for sharing their thinking and having their thinking
extended by the thoughts of others.
The social construction of knowledge.

This student is taking notes about what the inner circle is doing well and what they could improve. Peers providing meaningful feedback.

Students in inner-circle building on the thinking of one another. 

Walked in on a discussion around a short story...

The students were making connections to their own culture about what keeps girls from being worthy of respect. With guidance they were making connection to the the most recent Goldiblox commercial. Which led to viewing the commerical and finding out about the creator of Goldiblox, which led to thinking about whether any of them could do that. And low and behold,  a student in the classroom wanted to create something and had -
See below the sweatshirt that Shelby was wearing that day and had personally created. She had to figure out how to create the images and get them onto a sweatshirt...and everyone was wondering how she might market it??

All of this from one question, designed to engage students to think critically about a story they read?!
Great example of connecting and extending to what is relevant to kids, lives in their world and pushes them to think about their place in their world.

Socratic discussion around a great piece of literature...

...tied to the learning target...

...tied to assessment.
Here is one student's question developed to lead to a critical discussion.

Chelsea came up with an idea to provide the structure for kindergarten students to share jokes everyday at the end of lunch.
This student had one to share!
What a great idea! What a great way to give kids another opportunity to build independence, leadership and belonging. Great idea Chelsea!

Lisa had a joke book handy to share a few more!

The kids love it!
What a creative idea to add some authentic reading and communicating opportunities in a novel way! Really taking advantage of every moment for immersing kids in learning and in such a fun way!

Reading buddies...

Conferring with a reader-
Jill has an inventory checklist she uses to track the reading strategies that students use.
She provides them with feedback with this inventory
and students also look at it to monitor their own learning and set goals. 

Thinking Workshop in Lisa's Crew

*  I can figure something out from doing it myself

*  I can lead my own learning

*  I can make a claim and back it up with evidence I gathered myself

Three girls were working together to see what would be the best fabric for creating pajamas you could draw on and then washing them would erase the image and the wearer could start over.
In this photo, they were testing the materials and recording the results.

Not exactly sure what these two students wanted to find out, but they were doing some different things with mold and then were going to gather observational data to make a conclusion.
(That's moldy cheese in the center)

This group had created some gooey substance and was trying to recreate 'the recipe'
to share with the group.

This student had created a rocket from a kit previously, but now wanted to see if she could do it from homemade materials. She researched how on the internet, had printed out 20 pages of directions, and was giving it a try. 

This student had redesigned his stick house to reinforce it -
in the photo he is putting it through an earthquake simulation.

The challenge of providing support, feedback and direction
to a group of learners all doing different things.
So hard to remain quiet and let them test out their ideas.
So many teachable moments...

Can you imagine teaching two students to sew AND facilitate the rest of the group? Impressive!

February 24-28th:

Lisa's Crew to Cameron Pass for Winter Voyage

Discovery 2/3 and 4/5 to Keystone for Winter Voyage

Wednesday:

All School Meeting

Professional Development: as identified during your PLC

* Appreciation Circle for Kristin at 1:30 p.m. 

Thursday/Friday:

First Grade Winter Voyage

Saturday:

Apple Award Event

Congratulations Michelle and Kristin!

March 3- 7th:

TCAP Week

Spring Climbing

Tuesday:

RTI Meeting 7:30 a.m.

Wednesday:

Professional Development: Personal Reflection in google docs

Makes Me Smile....

The prompt:  If you were to ask someone to "go out", what pickup line would you use? 

Are you McDonalds?  Cause I'm lovin' it! 

If kisses were snow flakes, I'd give you a blizzard!  

(Thanks Kenny!)

Dear Ms. MaryBeth
You are the best teacher ever.
You are a good teacher.
You did a good job at the ASM.
You have a good job here.
I think Ms. Deborah likes you.
You are the greatest teacher ever in the entire world.
Love Lexi

Have a great weekend!

Deborah