Reflections on Design Principles:
The Responsibility For Learning
As I reflect on the design principles I am usually thinking about the learning experiences we are creating for the students in our school. However, this time, I kept coming back to the adult learners in our school - all of us. As I read about The Responsibility for Learning it talks about teaching students how to learn, rather than a set amount of material. We are establishing a 'habit of mind' they will never forget. Hmmm? What exactly is that? What does that mean to you?
Teachers in an Expeditionary Learning school are relieved of the burden of having to pretend to know it all. They learn along side their students. They explore, research, reflect, revise and construct new understandings with the support of their colleagues. "If I had to know everything before taking the first step in teaching this expedition, I would never have undertaken it." shares a teacher in an EL school. Shared learning. What exactly is that?
Encouraging students to steer their own learning does not free them from high expectations. Clearly articulated learning targets keep the expectations high, focused and intentional. How is this statement reflected in the creation of Learning Expeditions? Are teachers in an Expeditionary Learning school participating in the same learning as their students when they sit down to write their Expeditions?
A sense of pride and investment is high when the learner is discovering things for themselves and creating their own demonstrations of their learning. Is this why it is so important that teachers create their own Learning Expeditions? A sense of achievement is the most lasting when a student (whether that be you or your students) knows that they are responsible for the creation.
As you read the design principle below, join me in celebrating that Expeditionary Learning has been and is so aligned with the current research and philosophies for best practices for learning AND the 21st Century! We've been waiting for everyone else to catch up!
The Responsibility for Learning:
* Learning is both a personal, individually specific process of discovery and a social activity.
* Each of us learns within and for ourselves and as part of a group.
* Every aspect of a school must encourage children, young people, and adults to become increasingly responsible for directing their own personal and collective learning.
Teachers in an Expeditionary Learning school are relieved of the burden of having to pretend to know it all. They learn along side their students. They explore, research, reflect, revise and construct new understandings with the support of their colleagues. "If I had to know everything before taking the first step in teaching this expedition, I would never have undertaken it." shares a teacher in an EL school. Shared learning. What exactly is that?
Encouraging students to steer their own learning does not free them from high expectations. Clearly articulated learning targets keep the expectations high, focused and intentional. How is this statement reflected in the creation of Learning Expeditions? Are teachers in an Expeditionary Learning school participating in the same learning as their students when they sit down to write their Expeditions?
A sense of pride and investment is high when the learner is discovering things for themselves and creating their own demonstrations of their learning. Is this why it is so important that teachers create their own Learning Expeditions? A sense of achievement is the most lasting when a student (whether that be you or your students) knows that they are responsible for the creation.
As you read the design principle below, join me in celebrating that Expeditionary Learning has been and is so aligned with the current research and philosophies for best practices for learning AND the 21st Century! We've been waiting for everyone else to catch up!
The Responsibility for Learning:
* Learning is both a personal, individually specific process of discovery and a social activity.
* Each of us learns within and for ourselves and as part of a group.
* Every aspect of a school must encourage children, young people, and adults to become increasingly responsible for directing their own personal and collective learning.
Calendar
Week of March 12 - 16th:
CSAP Window
Tuesday, 13th:
*RTI meeting 7:15 a.m.
Wednesday 14th:
* Sarah and Hanni's Crew to Snow Mtn for Winter Voyage
* You may use this afternoon for student-led conferences
Thursday 15th:
*Love and Logic Parent Training 6 pm. library
Saturday, 17th:
* Apple Award Ceremony
Yeah Mary Sue and Dolores!!!
Week of March 19th -23rd:
Student Led Conferences this week!
Fourth grade and Mr. Bill have made other arrangements and will be doing conferences the week after Spring Break.
Tuesday, 20th:
*RTI meeting 7:15 a.m.
Wednesday, 21st:
* All School Meeting
(post card, SAVE THE DATE, for Life is Art will be given out to kids to take home)
*4th grade field work to Art Museum
* Afternoon devoted to student-led conferences
Thursday, 22nd:
* 9:15 Lockdown Drill
* 6:00 Love and Logic Parent Night
* 6:30 2/3 Discovery Musical
Friday, 23rd:
* School IS in session
REMINDER to parents!
Please be sure to communicate to parents that our calendar was changed and we swapped a non-student contact day from Friday, March 23rd to Tuesday, April 8th. On Friday, March 23rd students WILL come to school. They will not come to school until Tuesday, April 8th following Spring Break. It's time to start reminding them!
Student Led Conferences
We will be conducting student-led conferences the week before Spring Break, unless other arrangements have been made. You will have the afternoon on both March 14th and the 21st to use for conferences.
Douglas County School District Art Show
Take a look at Pam's blog where she shares information and photos about the student's and their art featured at the district Art Show.
Thanks Pam for all of your hard work to coordinate the entire Douglas County School District Art Show! Talk about leadership!
http://artteacherc.blogspot.com/
Save the Date!
Life is Art!
Friday, April 27th
Love and Logic
Teacher-isms: Wise Words for Teachers
When a student leaves you speechless,
experiment with saying,
"I'm going to have to do something about this. We'll talk tomorrow."
Wise teachers know they can do everything right with a student
and still not see that student succeed in their class.
A Peek Into the Life of Our School:
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| Just look how smiley the first grade team is as they embark on their winter voyage! |
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| Dee giving that extra help that learners need to grow. |
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| Jill shares a new series that has her first grade readers very excited! |
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| Kathy works with a small group of writer's who need a little extra before she releases them to work independently. Gradual release of responsibility. |
Who says great learning doesn't still go on during TCAP testing?
It does at Renaissance!
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| Linda teaches sixth graders to tell time....in Spanish! |
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| Lisa uses realistic fiction to build background for their Learning Expedition. |
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| With only 30 minutes between lunch recess and afternoon TCAP, Rebecca conducts a science experiment in her crew. This is a visual representation of the water on earth and where it is. Hard to tell in this photo, but easy to see that the vast amount of water is in the ocean. Below is a chart they created. |
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| Neil's crew took advantage of the nice weather and took their learning outside. They were 'playing' a game to learn! |
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| 'Playing' also includes recording, reflecting, revising and trying it again! Learn by personal experience...not being told. |
Words to Ponder:
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"I believe you've got to do what's right, every single day of your life, even if the rest of the crowd isn't. Teaching is about honor and goodness and mercy. You either live up to the calling of this profession or you don't, and most likely no one will ever know but you." - Penny Kittle
Have a great weekend!
Deborah
Deborah
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