Jun 18
Changes at Sigourney Elementary
The west wall at the Elementary is being replaced! It is interesting to see the studs in Mrs. Claywell's room.
Jun 11
June 11, 2011
Drive time is reflection time for me. The latest drive time allowed me to feel proud of my soon-to-be 20 year old daughter and her sense of accomplishment of driving 4 hours to a new destination and not getting lost. These thoughts progressed to what as parents and educators do we want for our children and students. In aligning with Common Core, Iowa Core and 21st Century Skills, we want our children to ask questions in order to develop critical thinking, and to learn from their mistakes. As adults, it should be our responsibility to provide encouragement in order to build a child's self-confidence. This encouragement could be cheering a child's first steps to supporting them during a new adventure. How are you providing encouragement?
Dec 31
Happy New Year!
As I have spent the Christmas break reflecting on 2010 and looking forward to 2011, my thoughts and conversations have been based on "How to achieve balance!" and "What is best for the students?". This morning I reprimanded myself for spending time on Twitter and not taking care of my to-do-list, but my reprimand or reflection has propelled me. My debate between balance and what is best for students stems on the balance between content and technology, what basics students should know, and "What is the whole picture?". For example, I attended the Iowa-Illinois Men's Basketball game. At the start of the game, Iowa was on fire, and it was a good game. Optimism was high, but as the game went, disappointment set in. It was a day later when I found out that Illinois was ranked 23rd.If I had seen or known the whole picture, my attitude would have been different. Students should have the "whole picture" of reading, grammar and mathematical basics and how those basics or skills will be integrated into technology. With technology, it is remembering that the basics are viewed by the world versus our classrooms. These basics give the world the first impressions of ourselves. The power of the word has grown! In order to continue the changes and to find balance, one needs to have a clear vision, and trust in themselves and in their peers. That trust is developed in multiple conversations, both to explore concepts and to check the balance. May your 2011 be filled with balance, trust, conversations and exploration!
Oct 25
October 25, 2010
In every Elementary, plenty of learning happens within the walls everyday. Today a Kindergarten section created 4 Jack-o-Lanterns with the assistance of 4 adults. A first grade section was comparing addition by a sentence or left to right to up and down. I had a discussion with a 3rd Grade teacher about applying the "Daily 5" in her classroom. A 4th Grade section was comparing basalt, limestone, marble and sandstone rocks. The 5th Graders were working on their political platforms for their parties, while the 6th Graders were sharing thought processes on solving math problems with fractions and exponents. All of these events can be applied to Bloom's Taxonomy - remember, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate and create. The Kindergarteners were analyzing and evaluating where to place their Jack-o-Lantern eyes, noses and mouths (and what shapes) while working together as a team (which is a 21st Century Skill in Iowa Core). First graders had to apply/solve and analyze/explain why addition could be done as a sentence and have the same result as up and down. Fourth graders were comparing/contrasting/analyzing the rocks. The 5th Graders were creating/ inventing/designing their new political parties and what platforms to use. This afternoon's evidence demonstrates that learning is more than paper and pencil and remembering details. Earlier I mentioned about the "Daily 5" which was created by "the sisters" Gail Boushey and Joan Moser to foster literacy independence. Superintendent Todd Abrahamson had witnessed this in the Morning Sun Elementary. Several of the Sigourney staff have read or are reading the book to have a better grasp of the strategies. The "Daily 5" consists of students reading individually, reading to someone, writing, listening to stories and spelling/word work. The staff will have more discussion on how the "Daily 5" would benefit our readers.
Sep 3
In the Iowa Core, there are 21st Century Skills expectations which include Employability, and Technology Literacy and Health. Sit ups, running, teamwork, cooperation, iPod Touches and the Macbooks fit into the 21st Century Skills. In the National Common Core Curriculum, there is a 5th Grade standard of "Number & Operations in Base Ten - Understand the place value system". Writing coincides with the English Language Arts Standard in the National Common Core. This standard incorporates "Text Types and Purposes", "Production and Distribution of Writing", "Research to Build and Present Knowledge" and "Range of Writing". Staff members are refreshing students' minds about complete words versus text messaging, and using complete sentences with punctuation. Much has been accomplished in one week! It will be exciting to continually watch the progress through out this school year!
September 2, 2010
In a K-6 building, the activities and lessons vary greatly. In Kindergarten PE, Mr. Eslich was teaching them how to do sit ups. In a 1st Grade section, logs holding 10 frogs were being used to teach about place value. While in 5th and 6th Grade Math, place values and decimals were being used into the millions and billions. Teamwork and cooperation was incorporated into 5th Grade Science. 4th Grade Science is learning about rocks. Within this week of school, I have observed an autistic child go from quickly touching salt in a tray to writing his name in the salt tray. In addition, the child is working with two new teachers. Another 1st Grade section was reading books at their individual levels for 15 minutes. Kindergarteners are quickly learning the routines and expectations. Ms Hobbs, a High School Science teacher, visited the 2nd and 3rd Grade classrooms talking about butterflies. How do the above activities correlate with the Iowa Core and National Common Core Curriculum?In the Iowa Core, there are 21st Century Skills expectations which include Employability, and Technology Literacy and Health. Sit ups, running, teamwork, cooperation, iPod Touches and the Macbooks fit into the 21st Century Skills. In the National Common Core Curriculum, there is a 5th Grade standard of "Number & Operations in Base Ten - Understand the place value system". Writing coincides with the English Language Arts Standard in the National Common Core. This standard incorporates "Text Types and Purposes", "Production and Distribution of Writing", "Research to Build and Present Knowledge" and "Range of Writing". Staff members are refreshing students' minds about complete words versus text messaging, and using complete sentences with punctuation. Much has been accomplished in one week! It will be exciting to continually watch the progress through out this school year!
Sep 1
Macbooks
It has been an exciting week at Sigourney Elementary! The 5th & 6th Graders received Macbooks Monday night. The spring in their step and the pride demonstrated are evident. Staff used Tuesday to help students organize their documents, email, Google Calendar and Skype. It was amazing this morning to watch these students go directly to their desks and open their Macbooks. Their immediate reaction was to connect to the outside world by checking their email and seeing what was new on internet. As one teacher stated, "The kids were perfect when I walked into the classroom." Engagement within the lessons, and the willingness to help each other out has increased. Staff has shared how they are using the various programs in real life. It has been amazing to observe and be a part of!
Jun 28
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Core
Recently the Sigourney Junior Senior High Principal Jeff Kirby and I attended the Iowa Leadership Academy in West Des Moines. The focus was "Deep Learning" which involved discussions on the Iowa Core and National Core Standards. These standards are written so students would learn from transcending concepts versus specific topics. For example: students may have a unit on specific topics such as Iowa, China, or polar bears. These units usually involve memorization of details or presentations containing copied and pasted material or having Google find all of the answers. Honestly how many details will be recalled five years down the road. When we teach transcending concepts such as Conflict, Migration, Relationships or Leadership, students will be able to make connections or compare and contrast. For example, in Migration, students could make the relationships between birds, whales, butterflies, foxes, bears and people. For Conflict, let the students learn or explore h ow the Revolution, Civil, Vietnam and Iraq Wars are similar and different. The probability of these students recalling these conversations or explorations in five years is much higher. This was the first seminar that I have attended that connected the Core standards, Deep Learning and classroom teaching! YEAH!*** This Email was sent by an educator.
Apr 28
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Biz Night
Seventeen students in Grades 3-6 are promoting their businesses today in the Commons. These businesses have ranged from eggs, magic shows, crafts, pet care, lemonade stand, lawn care, pet photography, sport logos, paintings, and artwork. The Community support has been outstanding and amazing! TAG teacher Cyrena Buschmann has guided these children with brainstorming, developing and promoting their businesses. Totally amazing!*** This Email was sent by an educator.
