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Marie Ayer (3/4 Teacher)
What: Math Enrichment/Differentiation Workshop
What new learning did you take away from this experience?
Working with other professionals in our district, we worked to create enriching and differentiated math activities/problems. A focus of this workshop was to implement Main Lesson Planning into our current math programs. Various teachers, including myself, will be conducting a year-long pilot in hopes of rolling out a completed product for each grade level and each Investigations book!
I am so excited to pilot this Main Lesson Menu in math. It will allow for more differentiation within our current program as I strive to meet the needs of all of my 3rd and 4th graders!
Tonya Darby (4th Grade Teacher)
What: Vermont BEST Institute PBIS Targeted Implementation; professional reading/blogs/podcasts; DCF reading
What new learning did you take away from this experience?
Lots of idea and strategies for successful tier 2 implementation of PBIS, tons of classroom ideas and inspiration for more learning!
Lise Erickson (4th Grade Teacher)
What: Enhancing Pedagody with Technology
What new learning did you take away from this experience?
I learned about using Google Docs and iPad apps integrated into my instructional practices.
Karyl Kent (Food Services Director)
What: Vermont Nutrition Education Institute
What new learning did you take away from this experience?
RES is part of a ten school Institute to create best practices for Nutrition Education throughout the state and the country. Our team is involved in creating a whole school community approach to improving health and wellness.
http://blogs.burlingtonfreepress.com/hometown/2012/07/03/community-nutrition-education-at-shelburne-farms/
Karyl Kent also attended:
National Farm To Cafeteria Conference and Vermont Child Nutrition Summer Institute
Ileen Gilbar (Kindergarten Teacher)
What: 2 courses- Digital Tools for the Connected Classroom and English Language Arts Common Core Standards
What new learning did you take away from this experience?
Through the digital tools class I learned about the many uses of the iPad in the classroom. I also learned about many apps that would be of value in my kindergarten classroom. I redesigned a unit to include technology in a meaningful way. During the Common Core course I learned about the English-Language Arts Common Core Standards in greater depth. I wanted to understand the expectations for teaching and instruction more completely.
I am thrilled with what I learned in the Digital Tools course. I appreciate the opportunity for professional development that allows me to collaborate with other teachers, discover tools I can use with my students and redesign and improve curriculum units.
Amy Roberge (Title 1 Teacher)
What: Laying the Foundation: Building a Deep Understanding of Number
What new learning did you take away from this experience?
Many of the problems students have in math stems from not understanding how numbers work.
http://nzmaths.co.nz/, Kindergartenkindergarten.com. There were so many resources. I came away from this class completely excited to get to work using all of the information I have now. It will benefit my students and I am excited to see what the outcome of helping them understand numbers will bring.
Darcy Woodruff (Literacy Specialist)
What: Mindfulness in Education for K-12 teachers and Administrators, and Digital Tools for a Connected Classroom
What new learning did you take away from this experience?
A better understanding of a variety of technology tools and applications and the importance of balance in all we do.
Emily Ankerson
What: Introduction to Educational Research (graduate course at Saint Michael's College)
What new learning did you take away from this experience?
This is the preliminary work for my Capstone Project, as I will be completing my master’s degree this coming spring. I am focusing on how using peer critiquing in the classroom can improve student performance. By the end of this course, I will have a 3-chapter research proposal, including an extensive literature review of related topics.
This class has been a lot of work, but the topic is fascinating and I am excited about this project. I think this work will have a positive impact on student learning and enhance my teaching.
Emily also participated in:
The Neurobiology of Stress: Implications for Educators and Students (graduate course at Saint Michael's College)
What new learning did you take away from this experience?
The focus of this course is to reduce stress in the lives of educators, and learning how to create less stressful learning environments. Looking at research, we learned about stress-reduction practices and looked at how we might apply them to our classrooms.
Liza Cross (First Grade Teacher)
What: 2012 BEST Summer Institute
What new learning did you take away from this experience?
Our PBIS team worked hard to learn about new programs, curricula, practices or activities that emphasize positive, research-based strategies and supports for all of our students.
Wendy Purvee (First Grade Teacher)
What: Enhancing Pedagogy with Technology
What new learning did you take away from this experience?
This course is focusing on differentiation and teaching with the UBD (Understanding by Design) model or framework. We also learned about some ways to add in new technology pieces to existing units that we already teach. We actually have two more days to complete this course, one day in October and one in December.
Darcie Rankin (Enrichment Teacher)
What: Digital Tools for a Connected Classroom
What new learning did you take away from this experience?
This course focused on the implementation of technology in the classroom as well as for use as a professional educator. I learned a lot of new digital tools, in particular for the iPad, to use with students. I also gained insight into my techniques for working with other educators both locally and globally!
Technology is not the answer to education, but successful implementation and fluidity of use in the classroom will present students with an environment that not only connects to their future, but provides them with a great and diverse learning experience! I am enthusiastic about seeing how students will use some of these new applications to create and share what they know and learn!!
Bridget Hackett (First Grade Teacher)
What: Enhancing Pedagogy With Technology
What new learning did you take away from this experience?
This was an excellent chance to look at our current units and explore ways to include project-based learning.
Marian Mumford (Kindergarten Teacher)
What:
1.On June 25, I attended one day of the Nutrition Education Institute at Shelburne Farms with the RES team. I learned more about how our school team can improve our food and nutrition environment. As a team we set goals for RES to integrate food and nutrition education curricula across the classroom, cafeteria, and community environments. www.vtfeed.org
2. On June 26-28, I attended Mentor Training at CESU central office. I learned how to maintain an ongoing structured comprehensive system to support the success of a new teacher. During this training we took a close look at the four domains that make up the components of professional practice. I was able to reflect and review the practical skills required to be an effective teacher. www.teachingandlearning.org
3. On July 17-19, I took a 3 credit course Enhancing Pedagogy with Technology in Montpelier. I became more familiar with the partnership for the 21st Century Learning Skills, Vermont Technology Grade Expectations, NETS-S, and their implications on current teaching practices. In addition I worked on writing a standards based unit and lesson plans that exemplify best practice and attributes of the 21 century classroom; interdisciplinary, inquiry based, and following the Understanding by Design format. www.iste.org
4. From July 9- August 2, I taught 1st graders at Intervention Camp as well as co-taught Action and Adventure games during Camp Invention. I learned many new exciting games and activities that enhance and promote team building, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, cooperation, coordination, flexibility, and creativity. The students were active in designing rules and games.
5. On August 7, I completed the Second Step Skills for Social and Academic Success program’s on line training course. I became familiar with the program's lessons, songs, and academic integration activities. www.secondstep.org
What new learning did you take away from this experience?
Through this course I learned about the critical role that movement and exercise play to facilitate learning. Building movement and exercise throughout the school day increases learning, decreases stress and anxiety, and can play a pivotal role in student performance. There has been much brain research and data to support this. II. I worked with a team of teachers to create and compile differentiated math activities. Those of us who took part in this curriculum work will pilot math instruction that takes a menu approach to support small group differentiated instruction, supplements our Investigations Math Program, and meets the varied needs of our students. This is an ongoing project and we will meet throughout the year to add to our repertoire of activities and monitor the success of the program. III. Jacqui Robinson, Kristen Darling, and I began to meet the week of August 6th for curriculum mapping, development, and the sharing of new summer learning.
Michael Berry (Principal)
What: Vermont Principal’s Leadership Summit and BEST Summer Institute
What new learning did you take away from this experience?
Both opportunities provided me with insight into the student experience. Specifically, I learned ways in which school systems can be structured to better support students, staff and families toward a positive learning experience. I particularly appreciated the presentation from Dr. Bill Daggett at the Vermont Principal’s Association Summer Leadership Academy. My notes from the presentation are posted at http://principalberry.wordpress.com/2012/08/06/my-notes-from-the-vt-principals-association-summer-leadership-academy-vted/
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