Central students examine a knotweed patch prior to cutting.
Central students attacking the plant!
Students carrying Japanese Knotweed away from the stream so the seeds do not spread.
The victory pose! Great job students!
Friday, September 26, 2014
Central Students take on Japanese Knotweed! The winner, Central!
On Wednesday, September 24th the Central Global Science class led by Ann Gritzner traveled to Brush Creek Canyon State Preserve near Arlington with Clayton County Naturalist Brian Gibbs. The purpose of the trip was to stop the spread of Japanese Knotweed into the preserve. Japanese Knotweed is an invasive species that has escaped from landscaped areas. It can quickly take over and out compete local vegetation when left unchecked. If caught early, when patches are small, it can be controlled by cutting and then spraying with herbicide. The Global Science class is currently investigating invasive species and how to control and prevent them. A special thanks to Brian Gibbs and Bruce Blair for helping with the project.
Central students examine a knotweed patch prior to cutting.
Central students attacking the plant!
Students carrying Japanese Knotweed away from the stream so the seeds do not spread.
The victory pose! Great job students!
Central students examine a knotweed patch prior to cutting.
Central students attacking the plant!
Students carrying Japanese Knotweed away from the stream so the seeds do not spread.
The victory pose! Great job students!
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Weekly Update- 9/12/14
Another school week in the books! Apologies for no update last week, I took a small vacation and had a pretty short week.
Multi-age classrooms continue to progress. Not only am I asking teachers to take on a different set of students, I am asking them to teach differently than they have ever done in their careers. I read something this morning from A.J. Juliani titled Stop Teaching Kids to Play the Game of School. My biggest take away is that the game of school is similar to treating life as a marathon. In a marathon there is a start and there is a finish. Some will finish faster, most will finish, and some will never finish. In a marathon there is a clear path to follow and everyone is expected to stay on the same path. But is life really this way? The author states "Real life has no signs, and no straight lines. There's just a maze of infinite options: some paths, like careers, take five times longer to get where you want. Some paths, like some relationships, are dead ends". The author asks, "are we teaching students that life is a marathon, or a maze?" Those of you that believe life is more like a marathon, should be perfectly happy with public education's current system. I believe life more resembles a maze and want better for my children and Central students. Each of our students has a path that will take them somewhere in life. Our education system should help guide them on whatever path they choose, not assume because of an "age" or a "curriculum" that all students should follow the same path. If we accomplish this change the possibilities are endless for our students and I am encouraged to see the middle school and high school making similar changes in regards to grading and adding a 9th hour intervention/enrichment period.
Since my last post I have also been very busy working on the Iowa Teacher Leadership & Compensation grant. As I stated back in our calendar discussions I feel very strongly school districts need to begin working together for all of us to be successful. I am extremely happy to report that we have started a coalition to apply for this grant. Central will be working with Starmont, West Central, and East Buchanan to provide teacher leadership positions that will enhance our professional development and in turn our student's academic experience. I will provide more information on this in the coming weeks.
We just finished our FAST testing in the elementary and will begin MAP testing next week. Already elementary teachers have gotten students into like ability groups based off the results of these tests. I am honored to be the administrator of such an amazing, data driven staff. Our teachers are working extremely hard to ensure each student gets the education I mention above. Help me in thanking them every time you see them!
Have a great weekend everyone, and I have to say it... Go HAWKS!
Multi-age classrooms continue to progress. Not only am I asking teachers to take on a different set of students, I am asking them to teach differently than they have ever done in their careers. I read something this morning from A.J. Juliani titled Stop Teaching Kids to Play the Game of School. My biggest take away is that the game of school is similar to treating life as a marathon. In a marathon there is a start and there is a finish. Some will finish faster, most will finish, and some will never finish. In a marathon there is a clear path to follow and everyone is expected to stay on the same path. But is life really this way? The author states "Real life has no signs, and no straight lines. There's just a maze of infinite options: some paths, like careers, take five times longer to get where you want. Some paths, like some relationships, are dead ends". The author asks, "are we teaching students that life is a marathon, or a maze?" Those of you that believe life is more like a marathon, should be perfectly happy with public education's current system. I believe life more resembles a maze and want better for my children and Central students. Each of our students has a path that will take them somewhere in life. Our education system should help guide them on whatever path they choose, not assume because of an "age" or a "curriculum" that all students should follow the same path. If we accomplish this change the possibilities are endless for our students and I am encouraged to see the middle school and high school making similar changes in regards to grading and adding a 9th hour intervention/enrichment period.
Since my last post I have also been very busy working on the Iowa Teacher Leadership & Compensation grant. As I stated back in our calendar discussions I feel very strongly school districts need to begin working together for all of us to be successful. I am extremely happy to report that we have started a coalition to apply for this grant. Central will be working with Starmont, West Central, and East Buchanan to provide teacher leadership positions that will enhance our professional development and in turn our student's academic experience. I will provide more information on this in the coming weeks.
We just finished our FAST testing in the elementary and will begin MAP testing next week. Already elementary teachers have gotten students into like ability groups based off the results of these tests. I am honored to be the administrator of such an amazing, data driven staff. Our teachers are working extremely hard to ensure each student gets the education I mention above. Help me in thanking them every time you see them!
Have a great weekend everyone, and I have to say it... Go HAWKS!
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