An Article Worth Sharing

In the article titled, Fostering Teacher Leadership Through Collaborative Inquiry, Jenni Donohoo presents a four-stage model that allow for teachers to become more meaningfully involved in school-improvement and a catalyst for change.   

"Rather than being merely consumers of research and the professional knowledge that accompanies it, teachers engaged in collaborative inquiry become producers and disseminators of knowledge." - Jenni Donohoo

Learning After Hours

Click Here to view an archive of our first #piconnect chat!

As a Result of Your Lesson.....

Dr. Justin Tarte recently published a piece called, It's Not Teaching If There's No Learning.   (Click to read full article)

"We can have the most wonderfully planned lesson in the world with varying degrees of differentiation, plenty of opportunities for global collaboration, autonomy and flexibility in how to demonstrate student understanding, and a healthy dose of technology integration, but if the students aren't able to accomplish or demonstrate any level of learning or understanding, then our lesson frankly was not a success." - Justin Tarte

Tips For Choosing Strategic Partners

Our Piedmont Intermediate blog creates one place to share our knowledge and experiences so that we can all benefit as a personal learning community of teachers.  Recently, Mrs. Dunn shared with me a video from The Teaching Channel called, Choosing Strategic Partners.  I think we all agree that partner work is effective, but not all partners work well together. Click here to view the 2 minute clip and think about the following questions:

• What can you learn from Ms. Tse about choosing partners for your students?
• How does Ms. Tse consider the task when selecting partners?
• When might you allow students to pick their own partners?

Hook Them the Second Students Walk Through Your Door

Show Me the Strategies is a great article that provides many resources on how to engage your students from the time your students walk through your classroom door.  "What happens in the first minutes of your class will indicate your success for the rest of the class period."  If students could vote with their feet, what will you do the first five minutes of every lesson so that students will want to be in your classroom?  Something to think about.

Together, Let's Make Shift Happen

Cultural Shifts In A Professional Learning Community

In five years from now, and if we commit to the following shifts within our school, in what ways do you believe we will be different?  Describe what is going on in terms of practices, procedures, relationships, results, and climate.  I look forward to reading your comments.

Click Here to view important shifts to move any school from good to great.

Videos Worth Sharing

The following video features Marc Chun and his presentation on Diving Into Deeper Learning.  Have you purposely focused and assessed students in the area of transfer?

How to Escape Education's Death Valley

"If you sit kids down hour after hour doing low grade clerical work, don't be surprised if they start to fidget." - Sir Ken Robinson

Rita Pierson presents: Every Kid Needs A Champion

"Kids don't learn from people they don't like." - Rita Pierson

In this Leaving to Learn video, a high school senior shares what students expect—and what they deserve—from their schools.

Video can be viewed here

Home Learning... Because I Choose To

The following two tweets resonated with me as I believe the ultimate reward for a teacher is to see their students carry on the learning beyond the school day.  Not because they are required to, but because they can't wait to! 

I believe Piedmont Intermediate's Melissa Lau makes it clear that for learning to extend beyond the school day or "all day" as she calls it and to be self-initiated by the students themselves, we must purposefully plan with this ultimate goal in mind.

The following video demonstrates this type of learning as Piedmont Intermediate's Tammy Stokes allows her students to own the learning.  When they own it, even a ringing of the bell won't interrupt it.  When is the last time you had to remind your students the bell rang?  Something to think about.

Shawn Blankenship, Principal

Piedmont Intermediate

Share Your Takeaways

EdcampOKC was a huge success as many passionate educators from across three states participated in a new type of professional development.  It was exciting to think, learn, and grow with several Piedmont Intermediate teachers including @saintswife0, @PamTarlton, @W_Kayleen, @DunnStacie, @Dch300Haynes, @ClarkTrip2Wife, and @LisaFouts. 

Please share your favorite takeaways from EdcampOKC.  How could we modify our "Tech Tuesdays" to look more like the Edcamp model?

Let's Begin A Discussion

What do you think Jim meant when he sent out this provocative tweet?  
Please comment.

Great Article by Rick Wormeli

Click:  Bring Class Discussions to Life

Quotes:

"We can create curiosity by presenting students with puzzling phenomena, surprising facts, challenges to accepted opinions, appeals to imagination, playful situations with manipulatives, connections among seemingly disparate concepts, moral dilemmas, and personal dramas when facing struggle." - Rick Wormeli  

"Work to create positive anxiety in the classroom.  We want students so concerned that they will be called upon to say something intelligent that they remain on their toes mentally." - Rick Wormeli

Worth the Read!

Joe Bower, a teacher in Alberta, Canada, did a terrific job articulating what learning should look like and provides a video that captures this process.  Take a look at his post!  

Here's What Learning Looks Like

What is EdCamp OKC?

EdCamps are a way for educators to come together to think, discuss and problem-solve around topics that interest them. EdCamps facilitate peer-to-peer learning, collaboration, and creativity.  Unlike traditional conferences, sessions are not planned or scheduled until the day of the event. At the beginning of EdCamp OKC, participants suggest ideas based on their area of interest, or desire to share. 

You will have a voice and choice!

‘Voting with your feet’ also is strongly encouraged.  You may quickly leave one session for another if it’s not meeting your learning needs. Since all EdCamp sessions are facilitated discussions that tap into the collective wisdom of attendees rather than ‘sit and get’ presentations directed by outside consultants, EdCamps always turn out to be incredible, energizing days of conversation.  

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!   FEBRUARY 23rd

CHECK OUT THESE LINKS

EDCAMP OKC Press Release

TOM WHITBY - Post describing Edcamps

LILLIE MARSHALL- Reflection of first Edcamp

EDCAMP RAP - GREAT DESCRIPTION OF EDCAMP

My Favorite Post of 2013.... So Far

Chris Lehmann is the founding principal of the Science Leadership Academy, a progressive inquiry-driven, project-based, 1:1 laptop high school in Philadelphia, PA.  In September of 2011, Chris was honored by the White House as a Champion of Change for his work in education reform.  Recently, he posted the following article on his blog.  It is worth the read!  I have also included a short quote from the piece:

"And so, whenever you have a new idea, ask yourself and your colleagues:

What is the worst consequence of my best idea? What is the thing that, even if we do this really well, will frustrate me, frustrate kids, frustrate parents?" 
- Chris Lehmann

The Worst Consequence of Your Best Ideas