Blended Learning Bulletin
UCISD Updates and Celebrations
The Growth Mindset
We talk a lot about the growth mindset with teachers participating in the blended learning grant program. Blended learning is a research-based, innovative, fairly new teaching method that is challenging teachers to think about teaching and learning like they never have before. Having a growth mindset is a critical part of this process for teachers and students alike! Read the quote below by Carol Dweck -
“So what should we say when children complete a task—say, math problems—quickly and perfectly? Should we deny them the praise they have earned? Yes. When this happens, I say, “Whoops. I guess that was too easy. I apologize for wasting your time. Let’s do something you can really learn from!”
― Carol Dweck, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
This way of thinking is not something that comes naturally to us as people, students, or even teachers. Blended learning contains many components that will challenge and sometimes even frustrate students because they are being pushed out of their comfort zone. Helping your child understand the value of a growth mindset is very valuable in this process. Use the graphic below to get some ideas on how you can help them commit to a growth mindset by simply changing the way we respond to failure or mistakes.
Why Blended Learning?
Math Innovation Zones/Blended Learning Grant Program is a four-year process to design, launch, scale, and sustain a high-quality blended learning model in math (and non-math pilots) throughout a K-8 feeder pattern. Blended learning is defined by the Clayton Christensen Institute as:
A formal education program in which a student learns:
- at least in part through online learning, with some element of student control over time, place, path, and/or pace;
- at least in part in a supervised brick-and-mortar location away from home;
- and the modalities along each student’s learning path within a course or subject are connected to provide an integrated learning experience.
Blended Learning combines face to face instruction with online learning by leveraging technology to assist teachers in diagnosing student prior knowledge, differentiation of academic paths for each student, and adjusting lesson execution based on real-time information about student mastery.
Blended Learning can be categorized into one (or a hybrid) of four models: a rotational model, flex model, a la carte model and an enriched virtual model. These models are clarified in the image below (source: Clayton Christenson Institute). Further information on blended learning taxonomy can be found at www.christenseninstitute.org.
- increase student agency (students taking ownership of their own learning)
- increase student achievement on STAAR
- close the learning gaps for students across UCISD
These three goals were established through strategic design with input from community members, students, parents, teachers, and administrators. We are excited about the possibilities to come and we are confident that with the blended learning practices implemented with fidelity, we will see great strides in student success in the years to come!
District IXL Achievement
Check out our progress below compared to last month!
Campus Achievement
Dalton Elementary
Robb Elementary
Flores Elementary
Batesville Elementary
Top IXL Students at Uvalde CISD
Ezechiel Egiraneza, 5,181 Questions Answered, Dalton Elementary
Jose Saucedo, 4,750 Questions Answered, Flores Elementary
Randy Hernandez, 2,551 Questions Answered, Robb Elementary
Elizabeth Flores, 3,302 Questions Answered, Batesville Elementary
iPad Update!
The iPads students receive will come with a durable case, keyboard, and they will be 8th generation iPads that were just launched by Apple. Please contact your child's campus principal if you have any iPad related questions.
Natalie Arias
Email: narias5342@uvaldecisd.net
Website: www.ucisd.net/blendedlearning
Phone: 8305914954
Twitter: @BlendedUCISD