Debriefing from trip #1

Cleveland trip

Check out the pictures from our second trip.  Click on the slideshow on the right to view larger pictures in a new window.

Team 2 travels to Cleveland

On April 14 the second travel team left Fairmont at 5 a.m. and headed for Cleveland.  With Bill Stalnaker at the wheel and Jessie Baker navigating, Christina Gouzd, Amy Carpenter, Elizabeth Stanton and I spent nine hours traveling and four hours learning about New Tech highs.  Just as team one did, we talked about the awesome possibilities all the way home. We are confident that we can change the culture and thus change the educational outcomes at North Marion.

 In the original grant I used the term "infectious enthusiasm."  Our teachers are catching on to this idea, and now we need our students and community to be informed.  We plan to educate our incoming freshman and their families at Parent Night on May 5.  We have several committees and invite all staff members to join one.  (Warning:  these are not your typical name only committees; we are working diligently.)  On May 7 we will add many stakeholders at our kickoff event at the High Tech Consortium.  FSU, WVU and area businesses have offered major support.  Infectious.

As I have said before, the New Tech atmosphere is what prompted us to become teachers.  Now we have the opportunity to live the vision.

Joy

SILENT SUSTAINED READING IN ROCHESTER NEW TECH HIGH by Teresa Baxter

                Rochester New Tech, in Indiana, sets aside 20 minutes during each day to allow students to read for pleasure. Rochester teachers and administrators spent time looking at successful tools to improve reading and writing skills for all students, not just high achieving ones. This simple action improves vocabulary and a student’s ability to write well. Also, employers ask operators to read the technical manuals. Good jobs require the ability to read and comprehend what is read.

                The program starts the first week of school. These are the guidelines:

1.       All students, teachers, administrators, and staff will read 20 minutes during the day.

2.       Students will no read textbook or do homework (no pencil or pens in hands).

3.       Reading materials must be secured before the reading time.

4.       Magazines, newspapers, and journals may be read, but books are more likely to raise reading levels.

5.       Students and teachers will not read on the computer.