Thursday Thoughts August 22
As I am writing this week's blog I realize that it is only Day 9 of school (actually Day 8 because I'm writing it on Wednesday night). The significance of this statement is that I feel like we have worked ourselves into a frenzy. As type "A" people (most of us are) we don't stop and reflect on how well things are going. We only focus on what's going wrong. Step back and look at your students today.
For just a few minutes don't think about BAS, RTI,TKES, Curriculum Night, affidavits, your checklist items, the fact that Fulton Connect is not working properly, the parent that is ready for their third conference with you etc... etc. Just look at your kids and the smiles that light up the room when they "get it". Know that it will all get done....it always does. You are the best!
Staff Spotlight:
5th grade teachers have posters in their rooms highlighting the ways that students can use mini post it notes to highlight certain aspects of their novels as they read (I tried to post a picture of one but no such luck). The students have common symbols that will identify funny parts, surprising parts, favorite parts etc...... Please walk down and check it out!
4th grade teachers had their students use www.wordle.com to describe themselves. Parents enjoyed reading the wordles at Curriculum Night to try and figure out which one described their child. Great activity!
I will work on uploading pictures to the blog!
4C's: Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, Critical Thinking Skills
Please check out an exerpt from this article:
What Does 21st Century Learning Look Like in an Elementary School?
Posted by Ian Jukes on
“One of the points stressed by former teacher Angela Watson in this Cornerstone article is that the majority of ed tech trends in education today are oriented towards the higher grades. Thus was born her journalistic quest to illustrate what learning in the 21st century looks like for the elementary school classroom. Read on for some great insights and resources to help you envision this. ”
To me, 21st century learning in an elementary school has the same overall goals as a secondary school: it’s only the implementation that differs. We want students to be practicing the 4 C’s: communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking. They should be producing content, not just consuming it passively. Though technology isn’t synonymous with 21st century learning, it IS an integral part of it, and it’s often the set of tools that makes this new approach to teaching and learning possible. The purpose of technology used in a 21st century classroom should be (in my opinion) to connect students with their world and enable them learn from others and to share their own ideas. It should also be used to differentiate the curriculum so that students are learning on their own developmental levels and are able to pursue their unique interests and passions.
I think that’s one of the greatest things about technology and one of the most exciting aspects of the vision for 21st century schools: that children are no longer all forced to learn the same thing the same way just because the teacher doesn’t have a simple way to differentiate. I don’t think we’re quite at the point where technology makes it “simple” to differentiate instruction, but certainly simpler. And with the thousands of new apps and websites being launched each day, I believe the quality and a variety of tools available for teachers is going to continue increasing. Even the most tech-averse teacher will be saying in 10 years, Wow, [insert name of tool/program/app] really makes it easier to help my students. How did I ever live without this? Many of us have already reached that point with tech tools in our personal lives (smart phones, laptops, tablets, eReaders): our teaching lives are going to be transformed soon, too. For some teachers, that’s already a reality, and it’s amazing to see.
To me, 21st century learning in an elementary school has the same overall goals as a secondary school: it’s only the implementation that differs. We want students to be practicing the 4 C’s: communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking. They should be producing content, not just consuming it passively. Though technology isn’t synonymous with 21st century learning, it IS an integral part of it, and it’s often the set of tools that makes this new approach to teaching and learning possible. The purpose of technology used in a 21st century classroom should be (in my opinion) to connect students with their world and enable them learn from others and to share their own ideas. It should also be used to differentiate the curriculum so that students are learning on their own developmental levels and are able to pursue their unique interests and passions.
I think that’s one of the greatest things about technology and one of the most exciting aspects of the vision for 21st century schools: that children are no longer all forced to learn the same thing the same way just because the teacher doesn’t have a simple way to differentiate. I don’t think we’re quite at the point where technology makes it “simple” to differentiate instruction, but certainly simpler. And with the thousands of new apps and websites being launched each day, I believe the quality and a variety of tools available for teachers is going to continue increasing. Even the most tech-averse teacher will be saying in 10 years, Wow, [insert name of tool/program/app] really makes it easier to help my students. How did I ever live without this? Many of us have already reached that point with tech tools in our personal lives (smart phones, laptops, tablets, eReaders): our teaching lives are going to be transformed soon, too. For some teachers, that’s already a reality, and it’s amazing to see.
Technology Tidbits:
Check out the following websites:
www.busyteacherscafe.com
This is a resources site for K-6 teachers. You will find resources, ideas. lessons etc.
http://teachers.post-it.com
Who knew you could do so much with post it notes! Check out the hundreds of activities that are available on this site. The activities are sorted by subject and grade level.
News and
Notes:
It is anticipated that the work will begin soon after the October Board meeting and will be completed at all schools by spring break. The focus will be on getting the system installed at all elementary school sites first, middle and high schools to follow, with multiple installation teams working throughout the county. Of course I will keep you posted.
Last Spring a front door video and audio security system was proposed and funding approved by
the Board during the capital budgeting process.
The intent of this
system is to allow staff to secure all exterior doors once the school day has
begun and monitor/control visitor access to the building through a single
entry. It is anticipated that the work will begin soon after the October Board meeting and will be completed at all schools by spring break. The focus will be on getting the system installed at all elementary school sites first, middle and high schools to follow, with multiple installation teams working throughout the county. Of course I will keep you posted.
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