EAGLE MOUNTAIN NEWS & NOTES #11
October 27, 2014
EAGLE MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY
Email: bmclain@ems-isd.net
Twitter: @bmacEME
REAL QUICK
I hope you enjoy Red Ribbon Week which is always a fun week for the kids with the additional activities. Thank you for your patience as Halloween approaches. I also want to thank our third, fourth, & fifth grade teachers for the time they spent with me in our goal conferences. I will finish with second grade by the end of the week.
I understand there have been some questions regarding what we’ve asked you to start doing with regards to technology beginning the second nine weeks. Let me clarify a few things that have been asked.
· You do NOT have to use your own personal phone to tweet. You can easily use Twitter from a laptop or desktop…it is not difficult & actually takes less time than blogging.
· If you would like to blog we can also get you set up. However, blogging is not just having an introductory page on your web-site. It should be updated every week or two.
· Please decide if you would prefer to blog or tweet. Tweeting is faster as you are limited to 140 characters.
There are people on campus who stand ready & willing to help you & provide support if you will ask. PLEASE know you can come to us with concerns or questions. Kelli & I are approachable & willing to listen.
I want to speak to the WHY so maybe those that are resistant or hesitant will understand the need to change & move forward. The need to move to more 21st Century technology has never been greater!
As Angela Maiers said one time (regarding tweeting) “It might not be your thing, but it IS your responsibility!”
Queen Elizabeth tweeted for the first time last Thursday. If it’s good enough for the queen, it’s good enough for us! J
We are here for KIDS. They are first & foremost the most important stakeholders we serve.
Why wouldn’t we be willing to do more for them?
Wouldn’t we want that for our OWN children?
I understand the fear of change & the hesitancy to change…much of that, in my opinion, is that we’re all creatures of habit & change is difficult – for many of us. However, if we understand the reason behind the change I think we are more willing to embrace it.
Kelli & I KNOW you are all working hard. We know expectations have increased & we acknowledge that there is a LOT going on. However, we also recognize that we are not satisfied with EME remaining at the status quo. We owe it to our kids to provide them with the BEST educational environment possible & to continue evolving as a school of learners. No doubt that we have made significant strides, & we celebrate those accomplishments BIG TIME! We have come a long way in many respects, & in a relatively short amount of time. However, there is always work to be done & if we work together, the sky is the limit!
What kind of school do we want to have?
What will it take to get there?
So, yes, some of what we’re asking you to do regarding pushing for more rigorous instruction or stepping up our work in PLC’s or increasing our use of technology is daunting. But it is DOABLE! All this is the norm in most of the surrounding districts.
We ALL have a lot on our plates. And we know that you are working hard & we are not disputing that.
Our desire is to instill an even greater sense of mission – of why we’re here. If you have concerns, questions, or suggestions, you are encouraged to speak up, but we EXPECT you to be a problem solver as well. These should be exciting times for us at EME even though we will experience some growing pains…the best is yet to come! I really believe that!
I am reading a book called 21st Century Skills: Rethinking How Students Learn, & I want to share the foreword with you because it applies to what we’re beginning to do here at EME.
It’s titled 21st Century Skills: Why They Matter, What They Are, and How We Get There – written by Ken Kay who is the president of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills.
The writer Malcolm Gladwell (2000) astutely describes how and why social change happens when we arrive at a “tipping point”, the moment when a critical mass of circumstances come together and sets us on a new and unstoppable course. Scientists, economists, and sociologists all use this term to describe moments when significant change occurs and results in a new reality that is markedly different from the old.
I believe we are on the threshold of a tipping point in public education. The moment is at hand for a 21st century model for education that will better prepare students for the demands of citizenship, college, and careers in the millennium.
Why Do We Need a New Model for Education in the 21st Century?
The forces instigating the inevitable changes on the horizon in education have been building for some time:
· The world is changing – The global economy, with its emerging industries and occupations, offers tremendous opportunities for everyone who has the skills to take advantage of it. There has been a dramatic acceleration in global competition and collaboration over the past thirty years, spurred by information and communications technology. The service economy, which is driven by information, knowledge, and innovation, has supplanted the industrial economy and reshaped business and workplaces. More than three-quarters of all jobs in the United States are now in the service sector. Manual labor and routine tasks have given way to interactive, non-routine tasks – even in many traditionally blue-collar occupations.
· Technology has replaced workers who perform routine work, while it complements workers with higher-level skills and empowers them to be more productive and creative. (Autor, Levy & Murnane, 2003)
· In this era of rapid change, the social contract prevalent for a good part of the last century doesn’t exist anymore. Doing well in school no longer guarantees a lifelong job or career as it did for previous generations of Americans.
· Today, people can expect to have many jobs in multiple fields during their careers. The average person born in the later years of the baby boom held jobs between the age of eighteen and forty-two, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
· The new social contract is different: only people who have the knowledge and skills to negotiate constant change and reinvent themselves for new situations will succeed. Competency in 21st century skills gives people the ability to keep learning and adjusting to change. Twenty-first century skills are the ticket to moving up the economic ladder. Without 21st century skills, people are relegated to low wage, low-skill jobs. Proficiency in 21st century skills is the new civil right for our times.
· U.S. schools and students have not adapted to the changing world – Our current public education system is not preparing all students for the economic, workforce, and citizenship opportunities – and demands – of the 21st Century. Many students are not engaged or motivated in school learning that seems out of step with their lives and irrelevant to their futures.
· Alarmingly, we now face two achievement gaps – one national and one international. This is especially troubling as the demographics of the United States are shifting, with minority populations growing at a much faster pace than the rest of the population.
· Today, a different set of skills – 21st century skills – increasingly powers the wealth of nations.
· A 21st century education must be tied to outcomes, in terms of proficiency in core subject knowledge and 21st century skills that are expected and highly valued in school, work, and community settings.
· Critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, and the other 21st century skills are the tools people need to move up the economic ladder.
· With 21st century skills, students will be prepared to think, learn, work, solve problems, communicate, collaborate, and contribute effectively throughout their lives.
· Students who can apply critical thinking and problem solving to math and science content perform better than those who cannot. In a 21st century education system, RIGOR must refer to master of content and skills.
· We need to move from consensus about the vision of 21st century learning to a thorough understanding of and commitment to the outcomes of 21st century learning.
· There is a danger, in fact, that a “21st century education” or “21t century skills” could mean anything. Many people equate technology-rich classrooms or modern schools or rigorous core subjects with 21st century learning, regardless of whether students are mastering 21st century skills.
· In reality, the ability to use digital devices in no way means that students know anything about global awareness or health literacy, learning and innovation skills, life and career skills, or even media literacy skills.
· Similarly, many educators claim that they already teach 21st century skills, even though these skills are not systemically infused into standards and assessments, curriculum and instruction, or professional development and learning environments.
· The most important next step is to agree on outcomes in terms of proficiency in 21st century skills.
Important Information for the week:
· We’re glad to welcome back Kristin Mullen today – you’ve been sorely missed!
· Our Eagle Mountain 25 Skill of the week is Rule #8 –Follow all of your teachers’ rules. (You will like this one!)
· Please turn your two Eagles of Character names in to Sandra this week. Their time with me will be scheduled for Friday, November 7th.
· If you have items for our November calendar please get those to me this week.
· Goal conferences for second grade will be held on Thursday.
· This reminder that the Math & Science training will be held on Wednesday for our 4th grade teachers involved with this, & Thursday for 5th grade.
· Colleen Clower will be doing walk-thrus in our math classrooms on one of the following days in November: November 6,7,10, & 11
· Thanks for remembering to take attendance at the designated time every day.
· On Wednesday Kelli & I will be presenting our RISE presentation to Dr. Chadwell & his team.
· We have cancelled our faculty meeting that was scheduled for Wednesday, since you stayed for TELPAS training last week. Sometimes the gift of time is the greatest gift, so I don’t think I’ll have any objections. J
· Our third graders will present a musical program under the direction of Leslie Summerville Thursday afternoon at 2M & evening performance at 6:30 PM.
ELATED
WORDS OF THE WEEK
CONCUR
TEACHER CHALLENGE – HOW MANY OF THE 21 ITEMS LISTED CAN YOU DO THIS YEAR?
The link at the bottom will explain each one.
Rules:
You will need to prove each item you’ve completed by taking a photo or some other form of evidence.
Not only will your students benefit from all of these, but so will you.
TEACHER PRIZES:
ANYBODY COMPLETES 2 THINGS GETS A SONIC DRINK OF THEIR CHOICE.
ANYBODY COMPLETES 5 THINGS GETS 5 JEANS PASSES
ANYBODY COMPLETES 10 THINGS GETS A FREE LUNCH FROM SONIC
ANYBODY COMPLETES 15 THINGS GETS YOUR DUTY COVERED FOR A WEEK
THE FIRST PERSON TO COMPLETE ALL 21 THINGS GETS AN iPAD MINI FOR THEIR CLASSROOM
THE CHALLENGE STARTS ON OCTOBER 6TH AT 7:40AM
SCAN FOR SOME TWITTER PAGES
Mr. Mac's Twitter
Mrs. Cooper's Twitter
Mr. D'Amico's Kinder Class Twitter
PLEASE CLICK ON POLLEVERYWHERE QUESTION AND ANSWER IT, THANK YOU
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE:
Monday – Kelli is out, Bryan will be working on RISE presentation,
our EME 25 Skill of the week is Rule #8 – Follow all of your teachers’ rules,
Red Ribbon Week – Pledge Day/Wear Red Day,
PBIS Committee meets, Drama Club
Tuesday – Bryan & Kelli finish Rise presentation (hopefully!)
Red Ribbon Week – “My future is bright” – Wear neon bright colors or sunglasses,
Fire-Drill – 1:30
Watch-Dogs Dad’s Club Kick Off event & Pizza Night – 6-7 PM
Wednesday – Red Ribbon Week – “Team Up Against Drugs” Wear sport team
Jerseys and shirts, Bryan & Kelli to give RISE presentation in the afternoon
Thursday – Goal setting conferences with 2nd grade, Lunch with kids who won the Fund-Run drawing, “Follow Your Dreams”…wear pajamas, 3rd grade musical program 2PM dress rehearsal & evening performance for parents at 6:30 PM, Lisa Simmons will be here during your planning period to provide training on using/maximizing the benefits of I-Station, Book Fair Preview after school
Friday –NASCAR/ADA Ryan Reed is here at 8AM for grades 3-5, Monthly Staff Luncheon, Names of your Eagles of due to Sandra, Red Ribbon Week – “I’ve got Good Character” – Dress up as your favorite storybook/comic book character – kids must bring the book with them.
Book Fair Preview during block
NOTEABLE QUOTABLES:
Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.
-Jim RohnSOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
If not Now, WHEN? If not me, then WHO?
SHOUT OUTS
- Kim Meadows is being recognized this week for taking the initiative to seek outside funding for a classroom need. She recently was awarded a classroom set of leveled readers through GoFundme. Congratulations Kim & way to show initiative!
- Debbi Roest – Debbie uses I can statements as part of her learning targets & essential questions. She also incorporates “I May & I might” which her students are responding well to! I appreciate Debbi’s creativity as well as her desire to make the learning targets user friendly!
- Special thanks to our Technology Committee who met last week: Kim, Janet, Karyn, Steve, Dedra, Angela, & thanks to Tim for co-chairing this committee with me!
- Our Campus Improvement Committee also met last week & discussed our TOP 5 – Kudos to Danielle, Lora, Candice, Emily, Lisa Kelli, & Tommi Eck for their thoughtful discussion & commitment to this committee. The Campus Improvement Committee will be working on creating a template that can be used school-wide to help assist with an individualized learning plan for all students.