Good morning and welcome back for another full week in the 3rd quarter stretch. Coming off an inspiring PCT at Aviation HS last week, I am looking at our work, and our teaching, through a lens of project-based-learning. More in this week’s Instructional Point, but first let’s celebrate…
Celebration Points:
I want to celebrate good work by our staff thinking about student transitions. At CHOICE we have begun interviews for next year’s incoming 7th grade class, which is an all hands effort. If coordinating and organizing isn’t enough, the days run long for all staff engaging in the intimate meetings with prospective families deciding to come to CHOICE. How exciting it is to meet new students and parents making their way into our community. On the other end, Counselor Andrea Love led 10th grade families through High School and Beyond Planning in a well attended evening event. It is soon decision and transition time for our older students to think about Running Start or Puget Sound Skills Center next year. I was also moved, and want to celebrate several meetings I had with Seniors at New Start. In class sized senior meetings last week, and in one-on-one conversations I was encouraged to talk with several seniors who are preparing themselves for the final steps to walk across our stage at commencement. Happy Transitions everyone!
Instructional Point:
Last week both staffs attended a PCT entitled PBL Seminar at Aviation High School. The PCT reminded me, and I hope you, about our school commitment to bring projects into the educational experience for our students. I walked away with two important reminders about project-based-learning that I want to re-edify for you. But first, let’s think about the traits of a learning project:
· PBL is usually associated with a question or problem that must be solved.
· PBL has a tangible product at the end which is created (and usually presented) by the student(s)
· PBL is authentically relevant to real life, and often explicitly connected to post-secondary education, career or citizenship
· PBL is Learner-Centered involving a poignant learning/connecting experience had, and realized, by the student.
This reminds me that PBL does not necessarily have to involve small groups, or include cross-curricular integration. While small group and integrated studies are nice add-ons to a student’s learning project, the PBL model can also be effective for individuals, and/or contained in one class or a unit. Think about Senior Projects. A true Senior Project is PBL.
I share this after learning about some individual student PBL experiences students engaged in at Aviation. Content integration and small group logistics are commonly believed barriers to effective PBL teaching. This weekend I learned they don’t have to be!
Certainly connections – authentic connections - still need to be made in PBL (as we know it) but that connection can be between content and career, community, transferable skills, or even previous learning in the discipline curriculum. Think about your practice, you might be doing more project-based-learning than you thought you were?
PCT Point: NO PCT this Friday. It’s Friday Furlough Afternoon for Certificated Staff. Certificated staff is directed to leave campus at 12:00 p.m. (noon) and not work this Friday, February 15. Enjoy the day.
Mike’s Schedule:
Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Feb 11
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Feb 12
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Feb 13
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Feb 14
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Feb 15
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Weekly Letter
ERAC Meetings
NS Assembly
In Classrooms
Sped Meeting
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School Board Visitor to New Start
District Principal’s Meeting (ERAC)
Principal/Supt. Social
Present CHOICE at Des Moines Elem.
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Observation
Shelter In Place Drill
Tardy Sweep
CHOICE Staff Meeting
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Teacher’s Development Group (TDG) Math Conference (Portland All Day)
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Continue TDG Math Conference (Portland All Day)
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Few closing notes this week:
· CHOICE Staff meeting is this Wednesday
· Thursday & Friday I will be out of District at a Math Conference. Here is the link if you are interested where I am http://www.teachersdg.org/institutes.asp
· Next week is Mid-Winter Break. Enjoy an extended weekend.
· Because of the short week there will be no Monday Point Post next week.
· Monday Points Returns February 25 with Guest Writer Bruce Dearborn.
Have great full week teaching our kids, enjoy the break, and Happy Valentine’s Day.
- Mike
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