Welcome to 2013!! What a great holiday with family!! and friends! This blog entry was inspired by my daughter who just started her own (Alison super TRAMP). I really like her pictures so will add some of my own. Not too much personal writing since this is a professional blog. My class has posted a whole bunch of stuff on our school blog from Christmas concerts to skipping and such. The students are still wrestling over who will get to do the next one. I don't even have to ask anymore they just come up and say "can I blog this one". I usually say "get your ipad and go for it!".
http://bestschool.blogs.sd73.bc.ca/ please have a look at it and comment on a students writing, thanks.
The first week of school was the best of the year. I really hit them with what I could do for them and their education. Stuff like fun, creativity, freedom, group work all the great things that indicate the children are taking charge of their learning and having a great time with it. Alas the honeymoon was short-lived. This week they have arrived exhausted and self-stimmed themselves to keep from falling asleep. I must think of something to get those main 8 students engaged in their own learning. I will keep you posted.
Had the greatest staff meeting of the year and perhaps of the last 6. The meeting went late because we had a discussion!! Wow!! Our discussion was on our failed attempt at implementing a behavior management system. Wonder of wonders it died a very natural death - loss of interest (aka need)! The staff, including me, were initially frustrated because of lack of bottom lines in our classroom management. Two things happened, 1. A bottom line was found
2. Creative management strategies and lots of district help
We now are discussing important things like a collective vision of student expectations. Also a vision for what the school should look like as a "Science and Technology School" (this is my addition and we are at least heading that way). This is quite fulfilling I have been suggesting it for years!
Another great thing is I have support from my principal in applying for a grant to get our computers upgraded to handle the Quest Atlantis virtual reality 3 D gaming program. I have used it for several years previously but have been frustrated with our hardware and our internet connection. The IT department has us clamped down in the way of bandwidth and upload speeds. Finally after 3 years I feel enough data has been published to support gaming as a valuable part of education!! What is really interesting is I am not even a gamer!
