MTW 2010

Day 5: Celebration of Learning

We had much to celebrate on the final day of Model Teaching Week:  almost 100 students and 100 teachers participated, six of Sope Creek's teachers served as Model Teachers, community members and local experts taught students about real-world topics, problems, and solutions.

Erin Mauldin, Kerry Lance, Alisa Braddy, Ellen Auchenpaugh, Fallon Hinz, Kate Francis, Cheri Vaniman, & Stephanie Neal

Students who participated in each of the classrooms created Social Action Projects. 

Kindergarten and First Grade Students assembled bags of food to donate to MUST Ministries. They learned how to cook a healthy recipe for zucchini fajitas (with vegetables from the garden) from Seth Freedman and Nichole Lupo. Earlier in the week, students wrote a persuasive letter to Publix at Delk Spectrum requesting donations of healthy food to feed people who may not otherwise have food to eat. After learning the recipe, they assembled bags of food (complete with a copy of the recipe) in bags.  A representative from MUST met students and taught them about how meals are prepared daily for children who may not otherwise eat a healthy meal.

Second and Third Grade Students in Mrs. Lance and Ms. Mauldin's Class created a variety of public service announcements (posters, videos, graphic organizers, pamphlets, and PowerPoint Presentations about pollution problems and solutions.  They educated visitors and then presented  them with a bag of "Green Tips."  Directions for making air fresheners with essential oils, natural laundry detergent, and helpful hints were presented in a reusable grocery bag. 

Second and Third Grade Students in Mrs. Vaniman and Mrs. Neal's Class presented a PhotoShow about Native & Non-Native Plants and their Being There Experience to Sibley Pond where they studied macro invertebrates.  They taught others how to make and disperse Seed Balls with native plant seed to repopulate native plant species.  View their PhotoShow below:

 Fourth and Fifth Grade Students presented a variety of Public Service Announcements about survival and taking care of the environment.  Students used thier SMARTS to educate others about our world and how to help it survive.

We were also fortunate to have Susan Kovalik join us for our final day of MTW.  She visited all four classrooms, met students and teachers, and challenged the group to make decisions based on what is best for kids and to BE THE CHANGE in education.

Day 4: Curriculum

Curriculum writing is based on grade level standards.  Teachers take the standards and arrange them in a framework that is meaningful to students.  Components of HET Curriculum include:

Kid Grabbing Title

• Fun titles to hook students

Concept

• Big Idea
• Creates an address in the brain to send learning to

Rationale

• Why teach this, this way?
• Justification to: teacher, students, parents, administration

Year Long Theme

• Curriculum Map, pacing guide

Component

• Marking Period

Key Point

• Standard in kid language
• Conceptal, Significant Knowledge, Skill

Inquiry

• Activity students do to learn the Key Point

Teachers who participate in MTW for the first time focus most on the environment (Stage 1).  Teachers participate in MTW for multiple years attend Curriculum-Writing Coaching with Linda Jordan.  They work to write Performance Based Instruction for the entire year based on the Georgia Performance Standards.  This year, over 20 of Sope Creek's teachers participated in Curriculum Writing!

Day 3: The Being There Experince

Intelligence is a function of experience.

Wednesday is the second day of attendance for students.  At the beginning of the day, students prepare for  a BEING THERE EXPERIENCE or study trip.  Traditional education practice uses field trips as a culminating activity.  The HET Model advocates to have study trips or Being There Experiences at the beginning of a unit of study to allow students opportunities to engage all 19 senses and to provide real-world background knowledge. 

We have 19 senses?  What are they?
Barometric, Geogravimetric, Ionic, Ultraviolet, Infrared, Magnetic, Electrical, Proximal, Vestibular, Balance, Vomernasal, Pain, Temperature, Smell, Taste, Touch, Eidetic Imagery, Hearing, Sight

Why is it beneficial to have a Being There Experience BEFORE a unit of study?
When you front-load students with sensory input from a Being There Experience, students then have prior knowledge of the concept, have developed some language regarding the concept, and after instruction are ready to apply their learning to the real world.

Where did students go during MTW?

Mrs. Hinz and Ms. Francis' Class visited the Sope Creek Gardens and harvested zucchini and turnips.  They met with local experts, Seth Freedman and Nichole Lupo from Seeds of Nutrition. 

Mrs. Lance and Ms. Mauldin's Class visited Sope Creek and found evidence of pollution in our environment.

Mrs. Vaniman and Mrs. Neal's Class discovered macro-invertebrates at Sibley Pond.

Mrs. Braddy and Mrs. Auchenpaugh's Class toured the campus with an Arborist and learned about the incredible variety of trees on campus.

Day 2: Creating a Community & Absence of Threat

On Day 2, the students arrive! The focus is on building community and creating a community of learners.  The day starts off with teachers of students leading inclusion activities.  Many activities from Day 2 and throughout the week have been adapted from Jeanne Gibbs' book, Tribes.  More information can be found here. 

Students toured the classrooms, got to know each other and their teachers, learned procedures, reviewed the agenda, learned the Lifelong Guidelines Pledge, were introduced to LIFESKILLS, and began to investigate Conceptual Key Points.  An amazing amount of material was covered in the first day....especially since it was only about 3 1/2 hours of instructional time!!!

Day 1: Creating a Brain Compatible Environment

Close to 100 teachers arrive on Monday of Model Teaching Week 2010 (MTW).  This year, Sope Creek has hosted our third annual MTW; a week that is especially exciting to us because six of our teachers are serving as Teachers of Students!   Additionally, staff development is focusing on strategies that will have impact upon both general education students and special education students.   We will receive visitors throughout the week from Cobb County, from the community, and from various communities of expertise. 

This year's learning spaces and leaders are:

• Stage One, Teacher of Teachers:  Jill Hay
• Stage Two, Teacher of Teachers:  Linda Jordan
• K-1 Teachers of Students:  Fallon Hinz and Kate Francis
• 2-3 Teachers of Students:  Karry Lance and Erin Mauldin
• 2-3 Small Group Teachers of Students:  Cheri Vaniman and Stephanie Neal
• 4-5 (with 6th & 7th) Teachers of Students:  Alisa Braddy and Ellen Auchenpaugh
• Special Education Liaison:  Jody Drum

The focus of Day 1 is creating the physical environment for a
brain-compatible classroom.  A classroom should be the seen as an invitation to learning, and should include the following elements:

• Physical arrangement that allows students to move from one task to another, room for both large and small group activities, comfortable space for seating, maximized grouping.
• Color flow with two prominent colors.
• Learning clubs with shared supplies and all materials easily accessible to all students.
• Space for Town Hall Meetings.
• Where in the World? - a map to display examples of STEWARDSHIP, LEADERSHIP, AND CITIZENSHIP.
• Australia - a space where students can become centered again in order to perform their personal best.
• A teacher's area that reflects professionalism and vision.

Stage One teachers will complete a book study on Exceeding Expectations by Kovalik & Olsen, learning about the HET Model, brain research, and step-by-step instructions for developing and implementing brain-compatible curriculum and instruction.

Stage Two - Five teachers will complete a book study on Worksheets don't Grow Dendrites by Tate, learning 20 instructional strategies that help students maximize memory and minimize forgetting and increase learning for students.

General Information

Are you a student participant in one of the model classes?

Class will be held Tuesday, June 15th through Friday June 18th from 8:00 until noon every day.  On Wednesday, class will be held until 2:00 pm.

Please bring a snack and water bottle each day.

Are you a teacher participating in staff development?

Please arrive in time to sign in and be seated by 8:00 am Monday through Friday.  You need ot bring paper or a note pad to write on.  We will provide a flash drive with all handouts, a folder, and a resource book.  Bring a lunch and a water bottle each day.   If you would like to access the handouts during the day, bring a charged laptop. 

What is Model Teaching Week?

June 114 - 18