Core Curriculum, Homework, and MindSets

As I prepare for the Core Curriculum Committee meeting this afternoon, I'm looking forward to a healthy discussion about homework and how we can maximize the benefits of it while paying attention to the whole child. 


This article from ASCD's Educational Leadership publication lays out a thoughtful analysis of the research that's been done to address the issue.

We are going to create a white paper outlining and defining our philosophy about the work we ask our kids to do in and outside of the classroom. This document will be distributed to the faculty and will be communicated to parents and the Board as a clarifying statement for us as a school.


Carol Dweck’s research (Mindset in particular) concerning the effects of a ‘fixed’ or ‘growth’ concept of intelligence is a key component in shaping this work and I'll be posting articles and links related to her work in future blog entries.  


Big, important questions: 


Are our students meaning makers or vessels waiting to be filled with information? 


Do we recognize the messages we send them when we praise success based on being smart vs. working smart? 

Other key questions:

Do we value play in our teaching?

What lessons from athletics and the arts are we incorporating into our academic work? 

Have a great weekend!

Thoughts on Preparation

In this NY Times article, Mark C. Taylor,  chairman of the department of religion at Columbia University and professor emeritus of humanities at Williams College, asserts that many of his students end up at college not exactly knowing why they're there.


His point resonates with much of the research on motivation and 21st Century educational thinking in that so much time is spent preparing for the next level that our kids don't have time to think about and develop  passions. As we race to prepare our students for the next level, we make it very difficult for them to find out who they are and what they care about.


This is a real issue.


Overemphasis on product over process leads to disengagement and passivity. Creativity is a necessary component of a life lived well, and time must be given to develop a creative mind-set within the context of the school day. Students involved in meaning-making will be the adults who improve our world in substantial ways. Schools like ours need to understand this and work to structure educational experiences so that our students are connected, inspired, and challenged to bring themselves fully into their world and to make a difference for those around them.


As we move into the third week of school and as our routines are becoming, well, routine, I remind you to stay focused on what matters and why. If our students are to develop their passions and involve themselves fully in their work, we're going to have to make sure the work we ask them to do is the kind of work that nurtures the spirit, raises consciousness, and allows them room to find themselves within it.

Rethinking Study Skills

Just read an interesting article about study skills. It seems as though much of our prior thinking is misguided. I will be trying some of these ideas with my own kids at home. I'll let you know if they begin to work. 

Have a great weekend...

Even Geniuses Work Hard

Here's an interesting and important article by Carol Dweck on fostering a growth mindset in our schools.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Libya, Words, and Bieber.

I just realized that I can check to see where people are reading my blog. I have readers in the US, Canada, Japan, France, Ireland, Aruba, Colombia, the United Kingdom, and Libya.

Libya.

Just today, for instance, there were 5 'page views' of my blog in Libya.

It's hard for me to believe that anyone, much less someone living in Northern Africa, would care about my thinking, my travel, and my fitness regimen.

But someone does, apparently.

Because we're no longer anchored to our birthplace like we were not so long ago, where we find ourselves in our lives can be quite surprising. Our futures aren't predictable and our careers change and evolve in ways unheard of twenty years ago.

As it happens, someone with whom I used to work is now living and working in that country and from what I can tell is quite happy to be there.

It's striking that our instantly-connected and interwoven global community is so real and yet so 'virtual'. Just a few years ago my words had exceedingly limited range - if I could convince my students to listen to me and to remember instructions for assignments, I could honestly say I had achieved something.

Now it seems as though my ramblings have found ways to escape the bubble, as it were, and to spread like one of those Tron light-cycles around the planet.

My mother always told me to be careful about what I wrote because it was almost a guarantee that the one person who I didn't want seeing it would almost certainly end up seeing it.

And, I would be sorry.

Now I still have to be careful about how I use my words, but it seems that my ability to reach others has radically changed. Our students are enmeshed in this interconnected world and they think it's normal. Understanding that requires us as teachers and parents to speak their language and use the tools they use so that we can communicate effectively and meaningfully. At the same time, it's our job to teach them how to slow down, look each other in the eye, and listen carefully.

The challenge is to find the balance.

This brings me to Justin Bieber. His song: U Smile is apparently quite popular. But, being over 40, I don't really have much time to spend listening to it, or anything he sings, for that matter. It's only 2 minutes and 40 seconds long, but it seems to last forever.

Ironically, I heard a version of this song slowed by 800 percent. The tones and rhythms remain exactly the same, the only thing altered is the tempo.

It is stunningly beautiful. All 9 minutes and 50 seconds of it.

Don't believe me? Listen to the original version and compare it to the slow version.

If Justin Bieber's music can sound this good just by slowing it down, think how we'd all feel if we could slow things down and appreciate the details that rush by in normal life...

Pep Rally Today!

As you may or may not know, tonight we play our rival, Heritage Hall at home. Kick-off is 7:30. You also may or may not know that Monday night this week, our security guard interrupted two individuals who were spraying "Round-up" on our field in the shape of an H. When discovered, they ran off, their work unfinished. 

I’ve discussed the situation with Heritage Hall’s administration and they’ve addressed it with their students. In addition, they’ve seen the damage, they’ve agreed to make it right and they’ve offered an apology.

Today, two Heritage Hall students came forward and accepted responsibility for the vandalism. They will be going through a disciplinary process at their school.  They will not be at the game this evening.

There are certain to be consequences for them, in school and perhaps outside of school.

Of course, under no circumstances will we to respond in kind with any retaliation. 

This of course, doesn’t include beating them for the second year in a row on our very own Hoot Gibson Field.

I want to thank our incredible maintenance staff. Our grounds crew does amazing work all year to keep our campus looking great – our school is one of the most beautiful places in the city and the fields are second to none. They’ve responded to this with incredible creativity, energy, and have shown a deep dedication to the School.

While some of the damage has been covered over, you’ll still be able to see it, and that’s just fine with me. When compared to the awesome power of our team, our school, and our community, those marks pale into insignificance. Shining strong and proud in the center of our field you’ll see our crest, emblazoned with the words: Fideliter et Fortiter (with faith and with courage).

Focus on that.
Focus on what makes our school great.
Focus on victory.

Let’s ring that bell tonight!