If you want to be an author on the blog, send me your email (carpenter.amyl@gmail.com) and I'll send you an invitation so that your posts will appear under your name instead of the generic North Marion account. If you already have a blogger account, you can comment on posts under your name, but you can't write a new post. You can actually send yourself an invitation under the permissions tab when logged in as North Marion, but I'll be happy to do it for anyone who doesn't know how.
Also, when you post something new, try to put a label on it (in the area under the white space where you write your post) so that the post will be categorized in the Labels cloud on the right hand side of the blog. That way, you can easily find blogs about specific subjects instead of having to sort chronologically as we add more and more posts to the blog.
I added a Follow by Email gadget. If you want, you can have new posts sent to your email so that you don't have to check the blog as much.
Does all of that make sense?
Monday, June 27, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
PBL planning
This past week, some of the "first wave" of IZ teachers at NM started planning our PBLs for the first semester. Kristin asked if I had ever worked on lesson plans in the summer, and the answer was no--especially not as early as June!
Since I didn't go to the training in Texas, Kristin, April, and Mary Anne helped me figure out what a true PBL is compared to our traditional way of teaching. Mary Anne used an analogy that I liked. She explained that traditionally we teach a unit and do a project at the end as the "dessert." With PBL, the project is the "main course."
I really enjoyed firing ideas back and forth among the four of us, and am surprised by how excited we all are about teaching this fall. Normally, I spend all summer trying to forget about school, not planning for it.
Mary Anne and I worked on a PBL for Ancient Greece and The Odyssey. We reached out to a Greek History professor from WVU to be a resource for our PBL, and he responded very quickly and seems very excited to help! We think he might be part of our entry event to grab our students' interests.
Since I didn't go to the training in Texas, Kristin, April, and Mary Anne helped me figure out what a true PBL is compared to our traditional way of teaching. Mary Anne used an analogy that I liked. She explained that traditionally we teach a unit and do a project at the end as the "dessert." With PBL, the project is the "main course."
I really enjoyed firing ideas back and forth among the four of us, and am surprised by how excited we all are about teaching this fall. Normally, I spend all summer trying to forget about school, not planning for it.
Mary Anne and I worked on a PBL for Ancient Greece and The Odyssey. We reached out to a Greek History professor from WVU to be a resource for our PBL, and he responded very quickly and seems very excited to help! We think he might be part of our entry event to grab our students' interests.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Innovation Zone PLCs Get to Work!
On Faculty Senate day, June 3rd, 2011, North Marion teachers began the work of Professional Learning Communities focused on moving our innovation zone forward.
These committees include: School Culture, Mentoring and Peer Tutoring, PBL teaching and learning, Technology and Software, Digital Media Master's Degree, Community and Business Partnerships, and Evaluation (including Action Research). In addition, the Steering Committee will continue to do their work of supporting each of these PLCs.
Only moments after the formation of these PLCs, the Mentoring PLC designed an upperclassmen mentoring program and asked for permission to speak with each student class on Monday to begin implementing their vision! Huskies rock!
These committees include: School Culture, Mentoring and Peer Tutoring, PBL teaching and learning, Technology and Software, Digital Media Master's Degree, Community and Business Partnerships, and Evaluation (including Action Research). In addition, the Steering Committee will continue to do their work of supporting each of these PLCs.
Only moments after the formation of these PLCs, the Mentoring PLC designed an upperclassmen mentoring program and asked for permission to speak with each student class on Monday to begin implementing their vision! Huskies rock!
Developing a Partnership with FSU
This school reform journey began with teachers who wanted to make a difference in the lives of their students--and we are determined to keep that focus. Rather than becoming an actual New Tech high school at this point, we decided to begin our transformation by changing the experiences of our students and teachers. We want to work on the "nuts and bolts" of the educational practice, and yet we knew that the grass roots efforts we have begun will need structure as we carry on.
Therefore, we have reached out to Fairmont State University to help us with this challenge. Dr. Van Dempsey, Dean of the School of Education, has been working with North Marion teachers and administration to help us redesign our school. Recently, Dr. Dempsey worked with us to write the Benedum Foundation Grant. He listened to our plans and helped us organize our efforts into PLCs. These Professional Learning Committees of 5-8 people will become "experts" in specific areas which we've identified as key to our vision. In addition, Dr. Dempsey and his colleague, Professor Denise Lindstrom, will work with North Marion teachers as a part of FSU's new Digital Media and New Literacies in Learning Master's Degree classes.
We are optimistic that capitalizing on the long-standing relationship we have with both Dr. Dempsey and Fairmont State University will be the right move for North Marion!
Therefore, we have reached out to Fairmont State University to help us with this challenge. Dr. Van Dempsey, Dean of the School of Education, has been working with North Marion teachers and administration to help us redesign our school. Recently, Dr. Dempsey worked with us to write the Benedum Foundation Grant. He listened to our plans and helped us organize our efforts into PLCs. These Professional Learning Committees of 5-8 people will become "experts" in specific areas which we've identified as key to our vision. In addition, Dr. Dempsey and his colleague, Professor Denise Lindstrom, will work with North Marion teachers as a part of FSU's new Digital Media and New Literacies in Learning Master's Degree classes.
We are optimistic that capitalizing on the long-standing relationship we have with both Dr. Dempsey and Fairmont State University will be the right move for North Marion!
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