Friday Focus May 22nd
Learning for Life
We did it!
Congratulations to everyone on another successful school year! I wish you all a wonderful summer. At 1:15 today, we will have a celebration of our year, and especially our retirees, Susan, Becky, and Marty. I deeply regret I won't be able to attend the party because of a conflict that was unavoidable. Ron will step in and serve as the master of ceremonies, a significant upgrade I'm thinking.
Checkout
Be sure to check the list today to make sure you have completed your tasks prior to your departure. If you need the weekend, or a little longer, to finish grades that is fine. I know several classes are still waiting on EOC scores. Requisitions can also be submitted later if needed. If you need more time on something else, send an email to me to let me know. Thank you for your attention to these important items.
Faculty Checkout List
Faculty Checkout List
Reflecting on this year
Each year we strive to move forward to continuously improve and this year was no different. However, I feel very proud of the efforts our teachers have made to grow personally and collectively. Our goals from the beginning were to integrate literacy in everything we do, to improve how we use technology for learning, and to further grow our skills with various instructional strategies, including project-based learning. Your personal learning plans helped to guide this effort.
Our growth was personal as you were able to set goals and do work that mattered to you. But it was focused on improving our collective value to students and learning. We focused on the process of growing and improving, of having a growth mindset.
Recently, I asked for some feedback from leadership team on examples of risks teachers took this year in the classroom to try something new. Many of you had these conversations in your Late Start meetings. Here are just a few excerpts that were shared:
Our growth was personal as you were able to set goals and do work that mattered to you. But it was focused on improving our collective value to students and learning. We focused on the process of growing and improving, of having a growth mindset.
Recently, I asked for some feedback from leadership team on examples of risks teachers took this year in the classroom to try something new. Many of you had these conversations in your Late Start meetings. Here are just a few excerpts that were shared:
- Contacted more parents, positive and constructive feedback.
Tried think alouds.
Re-designed unsuccessful lesson plan.
Increased character education.
- I used more differentiated instruction. I started small and only did one differentiated activity per unit.
- Contacted more parents, positive and constructive feedback.
- This year I incorporated more reading and writing into the JROTC Leadership curriculum. I had my Cadets choose articles to read about military leaders and complete a reflective reading exercise.
- I gave students guidance and questions that led the class to choosing various projects that could influence their community in some way.
- I tried a project based lesson over the Novel Farewell to Manzanar.
- I added Google classroom to all of my classes.
And then we asked teachers, what did you learn from this?
- Students learn more when they have more ownership in the project.
- I learned a new programming language along with the kids. We learned together how to troubleshoot robots. I learned that I really love computer science!
- Authentic learning experiences are fun. Kids learn a lot more than just content, and they get to be active learners.
- Having outside interest in the project made it easer to "sell" the assignment to the kids and have them buy into it.
- I learned some things 'not to do' and I learned the difference between projects and problem based learning.
- Students can make deeper connections when challenged to apply aspects of a novel to their real world. Writing improves when meaning is attached.
- I learned that when students have input on what they will be doing with a project they are much more willing to do it and even excited about it. This goes for even the most difficult of students. After giving them choices and having them discuss the choices and narrow them down everyone felt as they had input and were an integral part of the process. It was a real way of giving the students ownership of their learning and leadership.
A year of selfies...
This all started with the seniors in the first picture the night they met here at BHS to chalk their cars. They decided to chalk our family van and so we took a selfie. The madness hasn't stopped.