Learning Posted on:

The Most Revealing Question

The Most Revealing Question It’s a good day when you can get a specific, meaningful answer to this question. At the dinner table or in the crosswalk at the end of the day, I have asked my students and my own children, “So, what did you learn today?” My experience is that one’s answer to this question is very revealing (and often disappointing). “Tell me something you learned today.” “Um, I don’t know.” “What’s something you learned?” “Stuff.” “Can you think of something specific?” “I learned some math.” “What did you learn in math?” “Fractions.” It’s like pulling teeth. Every […]

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Learning Posted on:

Learning to Improve

Learning to Improve by Anthony S. Bryk, Louis Gomez, Alicia Grunow, and Paul LeMahieu Six principles that represent the foundational elements for improvement science carried out in networked communities: * Make the work problem-specific and user-centered * Focus on variation in performance * See the system that produces the current outcomes * We cannot improve at scale what we cannot measure * Use disciplined inquiry to drive improvement * Accelerate learning through networked communities Resources: Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching

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Collaborative Team Teaching / Teamwork Posted on:

Collaborative Team Teaching

Collaborative Team Teaching Amy Choi and Pam Ambler presented a compelling and highly useful workshop for team teaching pairs on the first day of pre-planning. As the Upper School scales collaborative team teaching up from Humanities 9 to Humanities 10 and several new inter/multi-disciplinary courses this year, the models and tools they provided will be key to our success. This workshop was the result of a grant that included elements of design thinking. Resources: Collaborative Team Teaching: Challenges and Rewards Team Teaching: Advantages and Disadvantages Team Teaching Benefits and Challenges

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PBL: Passion Based Learning Posted on:

Project Based Learning Workshop

Project Based Learning WorkshopExternal Experts Jill Akers and Shayna Cooke from the World Leadership School lead the Upper School team in professional learning focused on the inquiry-based, teaching approach known as PBL or project based learning. The Upper School team learns how to lead a class discussion without a teacher “at the front.” Each person must speak at least once before the next prompt/question is posed. Someone at the board maps out the discussion to make sure each person speaks and that no one monopolizes the air-time. The teacher does not make eye contact and does not allow the students […]

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Learning Posted on:

First Day

Firing up the blog. Though I’m not “new” to Mount Vernon, today was my first “official” day of work as the new Head of Upper School. It was productive on many fronts. Much remains to be done to prepare for new and returning faculty. There are several facilities improvements happening and though the bustle hasn’t fully started yet, there is a buzz of excitement in the atmosphere. Feeling well rested and ready for the opportunities and challenges ahead.

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