Sources of information

 High tech, low tech, and directly from the source - information takes many forms!

It takes grit

A little rain couldn't dampen the smiles at Camp Chincachgook. 

What do kids learn there?  That they can do things they thought they couldn't: like being away from home, sleeping in a cabin, going out in a giant canoe or kayak for the first time, and climbing pilot Knob or Buck Mountain.  These things take real "grit" - and everyone can manage it.  The satisfaction of accomplishment will last - and it will transfer to other challenges.

Meanwhile back at school...

What is grit?

What if the Secret to Success Is Failure?  www.nytimes.com

Why our children’s success - and happiness - may depend less on perfect performance than on learning how to deal with failure.

Rich curriculum = rich vocabulary

What does it mean when the average verbal SAT score is dropping, as has been reported recently? Demographic changes, sure.  More kids taking the test.  But thoughtful analysis shows it is actually the focus on memory and testing in elementary school, instead of on a content-rich curriculum. 

A savory, juicy, rich curriculum develops a big vocabulary - exactly what's needed for success on the SAT.  Seems simple doesn't it?  Read more in How to Stop the Drop in Verbal Scores from the NY Times.

Being smart about technology

Technology has expanded what we do in school in amazing ways.  We can communicate face-to-face in real time with people far away.  We can write, revise, and collaborate in ways unimagined 25 years ago.  We can see the New York Times from 1864.  We can crunch data, design and test a bridge model, and tell a story through video that can be seen around the world in a moment.

But it doesn't replace building the bridge model and seeing if it stands.  Or taking 50 yellow cubes and dividing them into seven cups by hand.

This article from the New York Times, In Classroom of Future, Stagnant Scores, tells the story of schools seduced by the glamour of technology, but not necessarily using it for better learning.  To do that takes teachers with discriminating intelligence.

Technology transforms learning - if we're smart about it.

Snapshot of the first days

Getting to know each other, getting to know the school grounds, observing what looks different after recent rains, helping to spruce up the school...These are a few ways we develop that all important culture of strong community!

Sunny smiles

Sunny smiles prevailed over gray skies on the first day!  It is fantastic to see our friends back in school  - and some new faces who will soon be friends. 

Read this article from Smithsonian about Why Finland's Schools Are So Successful.  It sounds an awful lot like Parker!