Showing posts with label inquiry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label inquiry. Show all posts

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Fueling the Wonder of Kids

Update for Nov 23-24

Last Wednesday, Adrianna Kruse captured the moment above, recognizing the "pure joy" of her kindergarten students playing in the leaves on a windy day.

 Later on that afternoon, I was heading out to my recess duty a little early and noticed a group of kids playing in the same leaves.  The kids ranged from 1st grade to 5th grade, but each was captivated by the "leaf tornado".  One of the kids noticed I had stopped to watch them having fun and said, "We were wondering if leaves turned into soil or compost when they die?".

 "What does everyone think?" I asked.

 "Well, I think they turn into compost and he thinks they turn into soil," the student replied.

 With a smile, I asked, "What's the difference between compost and soil?"

 "I don't know."

 Ah, the perfect response for starting a learning opportunity!

"I have an idea. Let's ask Wonderopolis if they know the answer," I suggested.

 I told the kids that there is a website called Wonderopolis that has hundreds of posts questions, or wonders, that kids have asked.  They post information including videos and resources that help answer the "wonder".

 I took a picture of the kids standing in the leaves and tweeted Wonderopolis:

Wonderopolis is great about interacting with others!  Here's what they said later on that day --


While this is a great example of recognizing when we can take learning further, it actually made me reflect on the way kids learn and make sense of their world.

Kids are naturally curious.

They ask lots of questions, they create their own hypotheses, and work out meaning through play.

 As adults and educators, we need to remind ourselves that kids are naturally curious and build off of that.

How much would our unit or lesson plans change if we started with the fact that kids are naturally curious?

How much more would the learning experiences we create for kids reflect inquiry and build on a sense of wonder?

 We should commit ourselves to letting the curiosity and wonder of children inspire us to create learning experiences that fuel their learning.

 Here's to fueling the wonder and curiosity of kids!

 Have a GREAT week!

 -Herb
Articles Worth Reading --
When Students Drive Improvement
http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/jun15/vol72/num09/When-Students-Drive-Improvement.aspx
Service Learning: Growing Action from the Roots of Passion
Real-World Problem Solving: Project-Based Solutions



Video Worth Watching --


Upcoming Dates --

Nov 23 - Board Meeting at ADE (Preschool is hosting in Cafeteria)

Nov 25-27 Thanksgiving Holiday

Dec 1 - BIT Meeting -- Please have your wish list items submitted by Dec 1 to be considered by PTO.

Dec 2 - Yearbook Picture Day; ADE Staff Meeting, 8:00 AM - Media Center

Dec 3 - Admin Meeting (Herb)

Dec 7 - PTO Meeting, 7PM

Dec 8 - 3rd Grade ELA State Assessment; Steering Committee Meeting, 3:45 - ADE Media Center

Dec 9 - Spec Ed Team Meeting, 12:30; IAT Meeting, 3:45

Dec 10 - PD Series by Donna - "Dealing with Challenging Children", 3:45 ADE Media Center

Dec 11 - KG Toys for Tots Fire Station Visit

Dec 16 - ADCC Staff Meeting, 3:40 - ADE Media Center

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Sunday, October 18, 2015

Change As Simple As Returning To Our Roots

Update for Oct 19-23
From Wikipedia; Labeled for Resue
Allison Zmuda's message in the video below is timely for me -- When it comes to change, staying focused on how students learn helps us continue to change and grow.
Zmuda cautions us not to focus on the "pace of change" but instead to stay focused on the simplicity of the learning experience.  

She reminds us that powerful learning experiences are just a few key ingredients such as co-creation of learning with students, meaningful feedback to students, and providing the opportunities for students to share new learning with a broad audience so that they can "change the world one problem, one question, one task at a time".

Zmuda's message makes me think of how important it is to return to our roots -- Return to the purpose of why we are doing what we are doing.

For us, it's remembering that we believe students learn best through inquiry and when they are our partners in learning.

It means remembering that we value feedback- student to student, teacher to student, and student to teacher.

It means remembering to build units of study around enduring understandings -- Essential truths and understandings that students will remember for the rest of their lives.  

Furthermore, an article in KQED News's Mind/Shift blog explains Will Richardson's call for a "third narrative" in school reform. Take a look at an excerpt where Richardson describes what he thinks the third narrative should focus on:

What if we were to return to consistently using an inquiry-based approach to learning and connecting what we have learned along the way? How could we grow those roots?

 If we were to return our focus to our roots of inquiry-based learning experiences, and then grow those roots deeper, we could support one strong and durable tree.

 Have a GREAT week!

 -Herb
Videos Worth Seeing --

Adventure Time! --



You'll need to get ready for some tears for this one, especially if you've ever had a dog as a pet. -- (Shared by George Couros):





 Articles Worth Reading --

Lessons that Matter: What should we learn from Asia’s school systems? http://zhaolearning.com/2015/06/19/lessons-that-matter-what-should-we-learn-from-asia’s-school-systems/

Math At Home Adds Up to Achievement At School http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2015/10/14/math-learning.html?cmp=SOC-SHR-TW

The partnership side of leadership http://smartblogs.com/leadership/2015/10/15/the-partnership-side-of-leadership/


Upcoming Events

10/21--ADDC Staff Meeting @DCR, 3:45
10/23 -- ADE Staff Meeting with Dr. M, 8:00am.  Preschool Staff will join us in the Media Center
10/26 -- Yearbook Cover Contest Begins (Ends Nov 6)
10/26--6:00 p.m. STATE OF THE SCHOOLS ADDRESS at Bradley HS
10/28 -- IAT Team Meeting, 3:30
10/28 -- Superintendent Advisory Committee Meeting, 4pm
10/29 -- CRAZY HAT DAY!
10/30 -- CRAZY SOCK DAY!

11/2--7:00 p.m. PTO meeting
11/3--Election Day--Hilliard U Day -- District Staff report ONLY--NO SCHOOL for students.
11/20--END OF THE FIRST GRADING PERIOD
11/25-11/27---THANKSGIVING BREAK---NO SCHOOL
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