Thursday Thoughts January 22
I have conducted 30 minute observations in over twenty classrooms within the past two weeks and I can honestly say that being in the classrooms is the best part of my day. When I walk around your classroom and witness the hard work that you put into the lessons and the love that you have for the students, I truly feel like I am among superheroes. I don't mean that I see you leaping over tall buildings or moving faster than a speeding train; however I see you juggling 3 or more groups for just about every subject. I see that you've created countless center activities and games per subject. I see that even if you are not as tech savvy as you would like, you are trying new things and allowing the kids to lead the way. I see that you are collaborating and spending hours finding resources, writing lesson plans and assessing students. You are setting the standard for great teaching and learning!
Staff Spotlight
This week I would like to shine the spotlight on Jennifer Birkmeyer. As a new teacher, Jennifer has experienced the challenges that come with being a first year teacher. Jennifer is constantly looking to increase her repertoire of instructional best practices and she is always willing to give 110% to her students. She has a positive attitude and has truly become a valued member of her 2nd grade team. In fact, Jennifer has not taken one sick or personal day this school year. Jennifer, we thank you for what you are doing for students.
4C's: Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, Critical Thinking Skills
Imagination: The Forgotten 21st Century Skill?
The world changes every day. There is always something new. New technology that we instantly wonder how we ever lived without, video games and 3-D movies that are hyper-realistic, and toys that let kids simulate everything from cooking on the grill to vacuuming.
These things are awesome and I love them all (except maybe for the noise that the play vacuum makes . . . I could live without that and still feel I lead a fulfilled life), but what they are slowly stealing from us is our sense of imagination. I am not the first (and I won’t be the last) to talk about this issue, but instead of just stating the problem, I want to offer a solution.
Antoinette Portis wrote a book called Not a Box and, in my humble opinion, it’s a must-have for every classroom. I was once asked what I thought the quintessential read-aloud book for kindergarten would be and (after I looked up the word quintessential to make sure I had the definition correct . . . and I did) I easily chose Not a Box.
This book is one of the first that I read to my class every year, and one that we revisit several times. The message is clear: use your imagination. The main character, a cleverly drawn rabbit, has a box. An off-page adult asks the rabbit why he’s standing on, beside, and in the box. The rabbit always responds, “It’s not a box.” The words and illustrations are both very simple but they serve as a powerful reminder that during the course of my day I have to allow time for my students to develop their imaginations. I keep this reminder at the front of my room all year.
To help inspire students to use their imagination there are four things that I do:
It is so easy, especially during the second half of the year, to lose sight of the fact that our students are still children. The end of the year seems so far away to our students (and many of their parents), but every teacher knows that it will be here before we know it. Teachers will soon be judged by what we have taught our students and because of that many will say that there isn’t enough time for “play” in school. I understand that point of view and I feel those pressures too, but when I look at those 21st century skills and how one of the three big areas is critical and creative thinking, I feel like I would doing a disservice by not making time for building imagination.
These things are awesome and I love them all (except maybe for the noise that the play vacuum makes . . . I could live without that and still feel I lead a fulfilled life), but what they are slowly stealing from us is our sense of imagination. I am not the first (and I won’t be the last) to talk about this issue, but instead of just stating the problem, I want to offer a solution.
Antoinette Portis wrote a book called Not a Box and, in my humble opinion, it’s a must-have for every classroom. I was once asked what I thought the quintessential read-aloud book for kindergarten would be and (after I looked up the word quintessential to make sure I had the definition correct . . . and I did) I easily chose Not a Box.
Mobile users can view the video here.
This book is one of the first that I read to my class every year, and one that we revisit several times. The message is clear: use your imagination. The main character, a cleverly drawn rabbit, has a box. An off-page adult asks the rabbit why he’s standing on, beside, and in the box. The rabbit always responds, “It’s not a box.” The words and illustrations are both very simple but they serve as a powerful reminder that during the course of my day I have to allow time for my students to develop their imaginations. I keep this reminder at the front of my room all year.To help inspire students to use their imagination there are four things that I do:
- While the students are working on different projects or learning in our centers, I introduce situations where the solutions aren’t immediately evident by asking¸ “What if . . .?” or “How could . . .?”. These questions help take play to an imaginative level.
- When we have an extra five minutes before lunch or some other transition, I will call out an item such as the playground slide and we brainstorm different things it could be. My favorite answer so far is they could lay at the top and the slide could be Rapunzel’s hair.
- I give them time and space. I supervise, but I also encourage independence. I’ve found that when students are given time for physical activity that isn’t structured by the teacher, they will find a way to structure it on their own. This is when they can let their imagination take over. Four students and a patch of grass becomes good guys/bad guys, Power Rangers, or a choir that sings our calendar songs in a concert.
- Finally, I read other books that talk about imagination such as:
- I’m Bored by Michael Ian Black
- Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
- Stella: Star of the Sea by Marie-Louise Gay
- Alice the Fairy by David Shannon
- Not a Stick by Antoinette Portis
It is so easy, especially during the second half of the year, to lose sight of the fact that our students are still children. The end of the year seems so far away to our students (and many of their parents), but every teacher knows that it will be here before we know it. Teachers will soon be judged by what we have taught our students and because of that many will say that there isn’t enough time for “play” in school. I understand that point of view and I feel those pressures too, but when I look at those 21st century skills and how one of the three big areas is critical and creative thinking, I feel like I would doing a disservice by not making time for building imagination.
Technology Tidbits
http://www.kidsciencechallenge.com/#/home- Science games and videosNews & Notes
The Fulton School Board approved additional instructional funds for each school for the remainder of the school year. Stay tuned to learn how these funds will be used at Medlock.
In addition, last year you may have heard about the 21st Century media center transformation that took place at Centennial H.S. through their School Goveranance Seed Fund proposal. The project was so successful, that the Fulton School Board has voted to renovate every FCS high school media center into a similiar model.
Keep you fingers crossed that our Medlock Bridge Flexible Learning Classroom Seed Fund proposal will be approved. This could be the start of something big!
In addition, last year you may have heard about the 21st Century media center transformation that took place at Centennial H.S. through their School Goveranance Seed Fund proposal. The project was so successful, that the Fulton School Board has voted to renovate every FCS high school media center into a similiar model.
Keep you fingers crossed that our Medlock Bridge Flexible Learning Classroom Seed Fund proposal will be approved. This could be the start of something big!
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