If I had to select the three biggest ideas that came from class that I will bring back to my classroom they would be integration, technology, and parent communication. Although, there were many more ideas that I enjoyed hearing from others I would have to say these are the big ones for me. Learning more about charter schools was something that I found fascinating too, since I knew very little about them before.
I have always been interested in integration and a truly integrated classroom. With all of the mandates and our CIPs status, I have felt pressured to get through so much specific curriculum that I have backed away from integration. When I take classes like these I get motivated to do what is best for kids and that is to give them more voice in their learning. I will do something this year with integration. Then, my goal for next year is to try maybe two units using a more integrated approach. This year, I am thinking that during our disease unit in science I will let students come up with questions they have under that topic and then have them help to create the rubrics and projects for the unit.
I have started using edmodo with the students. I felt that the blogs we keep for class gave me a chance to comment on things that were important to me in class and outside of class. Others were able to give me advice and comment on my thoughts. I would like my students to experience this as well. After students get more familiar (and once I get more familiar) with edmodo, I think I will give some time for students to comment on their learning, ask questions, and respond to each other. The foundation is set for this work to begin.
Finally, I am eager to bring some knowledge about middle school students to parents. Communication with parents is constant, but I never really talk to parents about adolescents in general, we are usually focused on their child. By bringing in some background knowledge of what research has shown is good for middle school students, I think we can build better understanding in the community of why our school looks so different from the elementary and high schools. I am excited to continue this work and to meet with parents in the spring. I am also working on Coffee with the Counselor where parents will be invited in to meet in a group with the guidance counselor. We will create some different activities for each meeting, but it is designed to be there for parents to learn more about adolescence.
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