One of the biggest challenges in the planning process for me so far, is to stay true to the PBL method. Several times I've found myself wanting to be too prescriptive in my guidelines, or wanting to present students with information instead of their discovering it more independently. Thankfully, Mary Anne Mullenax, my PBL guru, keeps me on track in those moments, reminding me that "that's not really PBL." I think that straying back to "traditional" methods early on would be dangerous, and before long we'd look more and more like a traditional classroom with fancy laptops.
Thinking PBL is becoming more second nature each day, and when I stray I'm counting on Mary Anne to reign me back in!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
North Marion Teachers are Ready to Roll Out the Innovation Zone
The "First Wave" of North Marion Innovation Zone teachers are ready to roll! Excitement was high as teachers wrapped up last minute plans for the first day of the Innovation Zone co-curricular classes tomorrow.
Algebra I and Physical Science 9 will be co-taught and so will English 9 and Social Studies. First Wave teachers have moved to new rooms, co-opted new furniture, and designed engaging lessons for the freshmen. However, they are not without the support of the rest of the faculty.
Other faculty have pitched in to support the First Wave teachers as we've designed the new Husky Mentor program, a Peer Tutoring program, and started piloting the e-mentoring program offered by the WV Education Alliance. Our idea is to help students make connections that foster better attendance on our way to an improved graduation rate.
Additional teachers have made new signs for the classroom doors, written more grants, and set up trainings in Edline and other technology and software.
Stay tuned for more exciting news on the IZ front!
Algebra I and Physical Science 9 will be co-taught and so will English 9 and Social Studies. First Wave teachers have moved to new rooms, co-opted new furniture, and designed engaging lessons for the freshmen. However, they are not without the support of the rest of the faculty.
Other faculty have pitched in to support the First Wave teachers as we've designed the new Husky Mentor program, a Peer Tutoring program, and started piloting the e-mentoring program offered by the WV Education Alliance. Our idea is to help students make connections that foster better attendance on our way to an improved graduation rate.
Additional teachers have made new signs for the classroom doors, written more grants, and set up trainings in Edline and other technology and software.
Stay tuned for more exciting news on the IZ front!
North Marion Receives $22,500 in Grant Money!
On August 28th, North Marion Principal, Rusty DeVito, and several North Marion teachers accepted a $20,000 award from the George W. Bowers Foundation in a public ceremony held in Mannington. This grant was written to pay for laptops that this year's freshmen students will use in their Innovation Zone classes. Although 18 additional laptops will be needed to reach the desired 1:1 computing ratio, other funding is still in the works. North Marion also received $2,500 from Mylan Pharmaceuticals, which will be used to purchase lockable, mobile storage cabinets for the 60 new laptops.
Thank you to both of those organizations for their support of our mission!
Thank you to both of those organizations for their support of our mission!
Monday, July 25, 2011
Husky Mentor Update
Debbie, Carol, and I met today to make plans for the Husky Mentors as the beginning of the school year is rapidly approaching. We drew up a contract for the mentors, and we have 2 trainings scheduled for the mentors (Aug 1st and 15th). At those trainings we will be reinforcing the vision of the program, and brainstorming with them what they will need to communicate with their freshmen (for ex., get contact info, ask questions about schedule, etc...) and how they can communicate with them (text, notes on/in lockers, meet in morning, etc...).
After these trainings, the mentors will meet with their freshmen at orientation, make introductions, ask and answer specific questions (that they come up with at training), and do some icebreakers.
We still have a lot of questions- a major one being: when is freshmen orientation?
We hope that, with administrative approval, the mentor program will become a club meeting throughout the school year. We see it being a bigger deal with more time involved at the beginning of the year, tapering off throughout the year. However, we do feel that the mentors can be helpful talking to their freshmen throughout the year, and a debriefing session at the end of the year would benefit the program as a whole.
We are really excited about this program, and if you would like more info about it or would like to get involved, we invite you to attend either of the training sessions (Aug 1st 6:00, Aug 15th 1:00)!
After these trainings, the mentors will meet with their freshmen at orientation, make introductions, ask and answer specific questions (that they come up with at training), and do some icebreakers.
We still have a lot of questions- a major one being: when is freshmen orientation?
We hope that, with administrative approval, the mentor program will become a club meeting throughout the school year. We see it being a bigger deal with more time involved at the beginning of the year, tapering off throughout the year. However, we do feel that the mentors can be helpful talking to their freshmen throughout the year, and a debriefing session at the end of the year would benefit the program as a whole.
We are really excited about this program, and if you would like more info about it or would like to get involved, we invite you to attend either of the training sessions (Aug 1st 6:00, Aug 15th 1:00)!
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