Testing the water

The Tech Driven Classroom Is Here, But Grades Are Mixed tells the interesting tale of what the studies show  - and don't show  - about student learning and technology.  It is interesting that having a one-on-one laptop program doesn't necessarily improve students' skills. 

We just purchased several new laptops and desktops for students and teachers with the funds raised by parents at the auction this May.  Everyone is excited about having better access to computers.  We are not on the bleeding edge with our use of technology, but adapting and experimenting - finding out what works best.  Animation, robotics, videos, blogs, skype, websites, design programs, Google docs... Students and teachers are trying all these and more.  We will be dedicating professional development time in the coming year to find out about glogs, jing, screen casts, voice thread - I just like typing the names.

There is so much and it's hard to drink from a bucket - but fun to try!

The joy of returning

Collecting honey from the hives

Extracting delicious honey

Sleepover at Survivors Camp - they survived!

The rocket launch

Dinosaurs in my office!

I loved being on vacation, but how I love being back!  Here are a few shots from camp in the last week.

A simple route to compassion

Can simple acts increase compassion?  David DeSteno, a professor of psychology at Northeastern has proven that they do.  "Tapping one’s hands in synchrony with another caused our participants to report feeling more similar to their partners and to have greater compassion for their plight"  he says in his recent article in the NY Times: Compassion Made Easy.

It strikes me that our ritual during the school year and at camp of a morning circle with a greeting, a song, and some sharing gives children a chance to connect with each other in a way that adds to each person's compassion.  It seems so simple!  Even thinking about a common interest can trigger these feelings.

Simply learning to mentally re-categorize one another in terms of commonalities would generate greater empathy among all of us — and foster social harmony in a fairly effortless way. 

I like it.

Calm body, calm mind

Calming the body calms the mind.  Read The Secret to Calm Parenting by Dr. Gayatri Devi author of The Calm Brain.  She says too many choices, too much scheduling, and whispered fears can add to children's anxiety. 

Taking breaks and deep breaths are part of the school day and the camp day.  Heading into the shade of a leafy green tree sounds pretty good right now!

Keeping cool at camp

Robotics!

  Check out this video of the LEGO robots Planet Parker kids have built and programmed!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KztaZz7yoic&feature=youtu.be

Could camp actually be any cooler?

Making the grade

Through observing, experimenting and problem-solving, our students work towards understanding of science and math.  We know what they learn by what they demonstrate, explain, write, and build.  A standardized score is not often our measurement.

Exceptions are the New York State Regents exams.  Passing these tests puts our students into a higher level of science and math in high school.  Not passing isn't a failure, it just means that the topic needs more time to be mastered, so the student will take algebra or earth science again in 9th grade.  Students have special study sessions to prepare for the exams and in earth science they also must complete a specific number of labs. 

Students' scores this year in earth science: 95 high; 67 low; average: 90.  In algebra: 99 high, 68 low; average: 82.  Great job, kids and teachers!

Naturalists in the making

Direct experience with nature is incredibly exciting to kids.  A recent essay in the NY Times, Nature Follows a Path of Pixels into Children's Hearts argues that even those funny videos of animals like OMG Cat Meets the Dramatic Lemur can spark children's interest in nature.  Andrew Revkin argues in his article On Children and Digital Depictions of Nature that it's the intersection of media, direct experience and sharing that experience that makes a difference.  His son's video of discovering a baby heron is worth watching to hear the authentic excitement.  However you cut it, nature ignites children's passion.

Muddy Boots Club (where Pre K 4's spend Friday afternoons in the woods, rain or shine) took children from their basic natural inclination to shake a tree to close observation, active listening and keen enjoyment.  Next year teachers are getting K-1's and 2-3's into the act for extended periods of time in the woods where they can hone these joyful skills.

What could taste better than dinner over an open fire?

Terrific time at the 2-3 campfire cookout.  Class parents were the highest bidders on this one-of-a-kind experience at the Parker benefit auction.  Darcy and I had a great time too!