Awareness Alert!

Are we slipping into old thoughts and old patterns? I still need to hear some good ideas on how to build on our awareness! The day to day grind can take us all over which is why it is so important to MAKE time to talk about the things we have learned and how we want to improve. Students, Teachers, Administrators and Parents!

The "HOW TO!"

Without realizing it, you all have aquired the skills and the vocabulary to maintain the new level of awareness we have gained from each other this week. Can you transform the lessons learned from this semester into workable ideas that will allow us to continue that awareness and caring attitude?????

I would love to hear some of those ideas!!!!

Change?????

Can we change the way we do things, the way we think about things or the decisions we make - without - worring about totally changing what we are about as a person?

Values Values Values

Developing values is hard. Where do you want to go? Who do you wish to be? Which directions are you being pulled in? Alot to think about! If it's too much, start with the one thing you do best and build from there. Why is it your best? What do you do that makes it easy? etc...

"Relationships" Time

We will need to express our thoughts. We will need to listen to the thoughts of others. And we must find the common ground on which we all stand.

Time to "verballize" your voice

We have been collecting a bag of skills, while finding our voice in the composition books. Now it is time to start vocalizing these examples in class. We will start by recognizing "lessons" around us. See the social learning page

The "Hump"

We are close to the point of routine. Many of you are getting adjusted to the routine and have gotten closer to developing habits. There are some who have realized WOW this is fast! The only thing to say is to "stay with the routine." The adjustment will happen over night if you just stick to the routine and stay on top of your work.

Comp Books are looking good!

You all have improved the depth of your writing in the first 3 weeks. Everybody is trying hard to find their voice when writing, just so ya know, I'm hearing it! SO KEEP IT UP! The more you write, the clearer your voice becomes.

CLASSROOM NORMS

Our classroom norms are being developed but our base has been established. The norms of OUR Health and Leadership classroom are:

We will not use words as weapons.

We will build our knowledge together, as a class.

We will be "Engaged" during class time.

We will find - and use - Our Voice.

Discourse in the classroom

For the most part, discussions have been good in the classroom. There have been some good examples of students finding their voice. It is very important that the student express their words and their perspectives when learning the content of the classroom.

If this is the start, I can't wait to see where it ends! I look forward to great discussion in the future!

A Moral, Social and Emotional Learner

This is a learner who has the ability to reason through tough scenerios and think for themselves in all situations. They can inquire about information in all environments. They acknowledge the need for group colaboration and have the skills to construct their individual knowledge from the combined knowledge of the group. Our belief is classrooms can facilitate this type of learning in all students.

Community Models Page:

Here we will explore the range of community building activities within the classroom. Creative ways to offer community building between classes above and below each grade that will add to the depth of knowledge building, will be a key component to each model.

Social Experiences Page:

Searching for the best examples of learning from the environment around you. Looking for good vicarious learning experiences, adding depth to their knowledge. Teaching the process of how to learn from the social, emotional and moral knowledge around us.

Development and Methods Page:

Matching developmental milestones with age appropriate teaching methods is at the base of our model. These base models need to be a mesh between sound developmental research, good educational practice and the will to teach the students how to learn as a community.

Discourse Page:

The article posted in the discourse page is a small exerpt on the moral implications of how teachers and students talk to each other. It gives a basic overview of the type of discourse we should be building our curriculum on.