Dear Blake Families:
Now that April has officially arrived it sure is nice to be able to get outside and have some spring weather - amazing how a few '50 degree days' can lift the spirits! We had a nice family weekend - Girl Scout square dance Friday evening, Muppet movie on Saturday, and some time to get outside and play with the kids and do some gardening (of course, this was all amidst the day-to-day catching up for both work and home that we save for the weekends!).
One of the best parts of this past week was attending the Special Olympics event Friday morning at Medway Middle School. This was the second year that Medfield has collaborated with a cohort of area towns (Ashland, Holliston, Medway, and Millis), and we are thrilled that this has become an annual event for our athletes and their families. I hesitate to recognize people who helped by name with the fear of forgetting someone, but I know it was indeed a team effort. Last year I shared the Special Olympics oath with everyone in the blog and I think it is worth sharing over and over again as they are indeed words to live by: 'Let me win. But if I can not win, let me be brave in the attempt.'
I know I am not alone in feeling as though the pace has increased as we approach the two weeks before April vacation and the last part of the academic year. As I noted last week I do recognize that my own approach and ideas that are shared and brought forth can contribute to this pace and feeling of 'demand/things to do'. I know the healthy approach is a delicate balance of 'pushing and supporting' and this is something I am continually working to refine. At the end of each week, I try to set aside some time (Friday evening into Saturday morning) to reflect upon the last in an effort to learn so that the next week may be a better one for students, staff, and families. At times the reflections are more positive, and as expected, at times they are not as positive. Although my own 'to do' list feels a bit insurmountable (yes, I am exaggerating a bit) this weekend, I am happy to share that I am feeling quite optimistic and clear about the work we are doing - a good place to be and a mindset I hope continues. The posts below from my reading this week provide a window view into the thinking that is currently driving the vision and work I believe is worthy of our collective pursuit...
To Advance Education, We Must First Reimagine Society
by Luba Vangelova in MindShift
Vangelova's post is based on the work of John Abbott (@21learn), Director of the 21st Century Learning Initiative, with a focus on the interconnectedness of society and education as we plan educational experiences for students and adults. In determining what it is we want as a 'society', Abbott argues that we must depend on the three 'pillars of education' - schools, families, and communities. In addition to some quotes below, the points that stood out for me are: the continual need for reflection by all, creating 'collaborative learning communities', viewing 'teachers as guides', and an emphasis on flexibility and transferable skills....
"The emphasis has been on feeding children static information and rewarding them for doing only what they’re told, instead of helping them develop the transferable, higher-order skills they need to become life-long learners and thrive in an uncertain future."
“I don’t think teachers should be over prepared for any particular lesson,” he says, “because if they are, they lack flexibility to adapt to where the children are in their understanding.”
"Lastly, in this vision of the world, our expectations of children would also be recalibrated. Rather than being considered the age at which people start to become independent learners, 18 (and even younger in some cases) should be viewed as the age when young people “demonstrate that they have already perfected that art, and know how to exercise this responsibly,” says Abbott."
Because It's On The Test
by Peter DeWitt (@PeterMDeWitt) in Education Week
As you may know Peter DeWitt has had a profound influence on my thinking over the past couple of years, as he pushes me out of my own comfort zone as a learner and leader. This post challenges us to think about the language we use in regards to curriculum, lessons, and assessments. One may not agree with all of DeWitt's points, but I believe it is important that we must challenge ourselves to think about the 'intent' and 'impact' of our words and the answer to the question of 'Why are we doing this?' should never be '...because it's on the test'. I encourage our staff to keep this in mind as we design lessons and experiences with students, in relation to all assessments - internal and standardized as well. It is a good reminder for parents as well, as we help our children with their studies.
When to Put the Tech Away in Your 1:1 Classroom
by Beth Holland (@brholland) and Shawn McCusker (@ShawnMcCusker) in Edudemic
This week we will be holding more iPad and Mobile Learning information sessions for parents, and as we expand our initiative I want to make sure we keep our values and principles clear and present for students, staff, and families. The technology we bring into the classroom brings great promise, but it is not a panacea and we should never lose sight of the impact that relationships and community have...
"At its best, technology enhances, extends or deepens the learning taking place. At its worst, it detracts, distracts, and otherwise frustrates you and your students."
"The trick is to never let technology erode the relationships in your classroom. It takes a while to understand how to effectively create the same relationships that existed in a traditional classroom. When the teacher is talking less and the students are interacting more, the process for building community looks and feels very different."
"Technology is a lot like sharing a good story with your class. When it connects to the lesson and provides a solid memorable story that students can wrap their minds around, go with it. When the story fizzles, the connection is lost – or it becomes a self-inflicted class distraction – set it aside, regroup and try to be wiser the next time."
Weekly Twitter Chat Times
This link highlights Twitter 'chats' that take place each week, and as many of us are exploring this medium for professional development, I thought you may find it of interest and worth bookmarking as a reference.
Much of the work that I highlight each week is rooted in philosophy and I recognize can be read or interpreted as 'idyllic'. Although 'idyllic' is often seen as unrealistic by some, I strongly believe we must always be aiming towards our ideals. Our mission as a school is rooted in this mindset and must always drive our decisions and approach: Blake Middle School believes in a living mission statement, based on the concept that our community seeks and respects knowledge, integrity, character, wisdom, and the willingness to adapt to a continually evolving world. Our school is not perfect, and I know that perfection is not the goal. But, I appreciate the collective efforts that are in place and look forward to the week ahead.
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Take care.
Nat Vaughn