We #Struckgold with Soil Profiles

                        

I can explain based on evidence for how the geological features of Hardwick that have been created over a long period of time.

I can work collaboratively and respectfully with my peer group.

I can develop a model to describe the cycling of Earth’s materials and the flow of energy that makes the process of change happen to Earth.

Today was one of those idyllic beautiful almost fall days. House II  had the chance to spend it outside with 50 middle school students digging soil profiles. To be honest we were asked more than once, by students,  if we were having them look for buried treasure. In a way we were. If you consider the 8 science practices as well as graduation proficiencies, "Treasure" like we do. 

 We took the approach of trying to engage students through inquiry, communication and investigation.  Students at this point don't have much experience or background knowledge about how Hardwick was formed, or the Geological history of Vermont in general. Allowing them to jump in and become Geologists for a day let them develop questions that they WANT to know the answers to. It also will help us start to hash out our "I can statements," and be a solid real life experience we can relate new learning to. In the past I may have spent time giving them information before allowing them to experience something. I thought that they wouldn't be able to understand, or become interested if they didn't have background knowledge/vocab/info. 

Now, the current research into best science practices say just the opposite. Teachers need to allow students to develop interest, wonder and then let them help guide where the learning takes us all together.

For more info about best practices in Science check out VSI

And to see the work we did today check out the Hazen Union Live tweeting we did today too. Kids developed their hashtags to tell the world what they were doing:

Soil Profile Tweets

Successes and Challenges

Successes...

There have been many.  One of my favorite moments of the year so far was watching one hundred middle level students in two different rooms engage in a google hangout with students at a school an hour and a half away.  Ideas were shared, students were inspired, and collaboration made it to the twenty-first century.

Challenges...

While our meetings have been frequent, necessary and productive, they are a struggle for me.  I have a hard time sitting still and not being in high-power production mode.  The second reason is that with the frequent meetings, I feel I have no time within the school day to get done what I need to get done.  I am frequently bringing work home and staying up later to write emails and create materials for students.  I plan to purchase stock in the under-eye makeup that I've been using to cover up these  circles.

The greatest success these past weeks has been creating an envioronment of mutual learning and flexibility in our school.  Students have been teaching instructors and vice versa.  There has been a sense of comradrerie amongst staff and a sense of professionalism that is vibrant as well.

The challenges have been changing the standard paradigm of student teacher relationships and allowing for flexibility at a new level for planning.

Not just watching...

Success and failure is all subjective to me. We've worked hard, tried some new things, and have some bumps to smooth out. That happens over the next 4-5 yrs. Nothing is ever perfect.

 As the old saying goes...practice makes...better.

QUARRIES IN VT (Super-fun sites.)

#VolcanoFail

Successes and Challenges

Success:  Students are excited about their iPads. They have played around with apps, taken pictures, and challenged themselves to go beyond their comfort zones.  I believe that the students are starting to see that the iPads are tools to support their learning and make it more fun.  

Challenge:  The main challenge I have encountered is when I am not able to use the technology (as in, the internet isn't working, or a website doesn't work, etc.).  I also have a challenge reaching those few students who have a very negative viewpoint of the technology, seemingly coming from their parents.  I see this challenge going away once we get all parents on board.

Challenge & Success

The race track...

Strengths:

• involved, engaged kids
• lots and lots of great conversations
• exciting field trips and speakers
• a whole team of 8-10 teachers colabrating, sharing and planning

Challenging:

• a whole team of 8-10 teachers colabrating, sharing and planning
• the steep learning curve of new endeavors
• the internet going in and out
• staying focused as teachers and students with all of these endeavors

Success and Challenge

                                         

                                                                                      >






One Success: I have seen real potential for Nearpod (which I've attempted using frequently) to make segments of direct instruction more interactive and engaging. Definitely better than powerpoint, slides, etc.





One Challenge: At times, technological glitches become a major distraction and technology slows down or even stops learning, rather than enhancing it.

We have been doing some great things, one of the best so far was a google hangout with the edge academy.  It was great but could have been better with a better connection.

Hazen Middle School Rocks!

The 1 to 1 initiative is in full swing at Hazen. We have been using the iPads to help our learning in all subjects. We have been learning about Digital Citizenship A LOT. The students really enjoyed the APP from Common Sense where it was a choose your own adventure! They made choices and consequences happened based on their choices. The APP is called Digital Compass. Students for the most part made great choices but some chose to go back and see what happened if they made a poor choice. One student was very surprised when, in the story, the police showed up at his door for copyright violation!

We have talked a lot about how we represent ourselves digitally!!! 

I also want to say a huge THANK YOU to both teams as I had a rough start to the year. It was super great to have everyone chip in to help when I was out!!

My Brain feels like it has been quarried, but there is a lot of granite left over (hopefully)!

@OldManCraig's First Two Weeks Successes/Challenges

Success:

Challenge:

Kids teaching kids.

Successes & Challenges

Share the Learning

Take a few minutes to reflect on what has worked well and what challenges you, your team, and your students have faced in the first few weeks in this 1:1 environment.   

You can do this as individuals or as teams, in whatever combination makes the most sense to you.

Post to our shared blog an image for each - one to represent a success, another to represent a challenge, and be ready to share.  

The image(s) can be pulled from:

• student work, 
• something from your own practice, 
• images from the school, or 
• something you've found online - take a screenshot of it.  

Examples:

Success

Challenge

Blogging on the iPad

Many of us faced challenges using the iPad to post to this shared blog.  Here's some step-by-step instructions from Richard Byrne you can use or share with your students:

A Short Guide to Using Blogger on Your iPad