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Day 31 – Behind Every Great 21st Century Teacher…

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IMG_0069…is a smart and responsive technology department!

Document storage and access, communication tools, calendars — these are integral to most everyone’s 21st century work life. For teachers, though, technology integration doesn’t stop with email. Teachers use multiple digital applications and tools in their classrooms every day–to share content, integrate multimedia components, assess student comprehension. and solicit student feedback. None of this would be possible without computer systems experts, IT specialists and a dedicated support staff in place.

IMG_2289HSE Technology Department employees work tirelessly and creatively behind-the-scenes on behalf of teachers. Their overall goal is to support the curriculum and to enable responsive teaching and learning in HSE classrooms. HSE Technology…a vital part of the Hamilton Southeastern learning community!

Day 30 – A Visit to the Empire State Building

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IMG_2262A few years ago, it would’ve been nearly impossible for students across the nation to hear their favorite author speak live–and yet, thanks to the the digital age, classes now interact with authors and field experts with ease. Yesterday, fifth graders at Fall Creek Intermediate School participated in a live webcast with Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson novels. The site for the webcast– the top of the Empire State Building!

IMG_2275Existing fans of Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief  sat in awe as Riordan led viewers around the Empire’s top landing (a key location for Percy Jackson!), answered Greek mythology questions, and read from his upcoming release. Following the webcast, some students expressed an interest in reading Riordan’s work for the first time.

By fostering interaction and conversation around texts, virtual author visits are one way in which 21st century technology tools can enhance good reading instruction and deepen comprehension.

-Susan Drumm, Instructional Technology Coach

 

Day 29 – What’s on YOUR Bookshelf?

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IMG_2238Research shows that when children take charge of their reading lives, they grow as readers. Brooks School Elementary third graders are doing just that! One tool that is helping the students take charge of their reading is BiblioNasium. BiblioNasium is an online tool that promotes volume reading and self-selected reading while leveraging the power of book recommendations from teachers and peers. During weekly school logins, students add titles and book reviews to their digital bookshelves, based on information they have been tracking in their Reader’s Notebooks.

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Third grade teacher Mrs. Kussy gives her students two thumbs up as they log in to BiblioNasium.

The Reader’s Workshop model of instruction emphasizes connecting and interacting with text. Through BiblioNasium, students are recording their reading, writing about and responding to text, and sharing their reading with others. Motivation to read comes from the self-selection of titles and from students’ own sense of accomplishment in building their shelves. One previously reluctant reader has logged 58 titles in just the first month of school!

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-Submitted by Kristin Patrick, Brooks School Elementary Media Specialist

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Day 28 – The AP Capstone Diploma

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Both Fishers and Hamilton Southeastern High Schools now offer a new program called the AP Capstone Diploma.  To receive the AP Capstone Diploma, students must participate in the AP Seminar and the AP Research courses and earn a 3 or higher on both exams as well as earning at least a 3 on four additional AP exams of their choosing.

As it says on the College Board website, the AP Capstone project “offers students a unique opportunity to distinguish themselves to colleges and universities.”  The courses give students rigorous experiences that develop collegiate level research skills as well as abilities in developing and communicating logical argument.  Aspects of the courses include completing team projects, documenting findings, authoring a thesis paper and presenting an oral defense.

One of the most interesting features of the course is that students are able to select from a range of pursuits based on their particular college and career interest.  The research component requires the student to work with a mentor who is an expert in the field of interest.  HSE Schools are among only 144 in the country with a 2014 cohort in this program.

-Submitted by Dr. Dawn McGrath, Director of Secondary Curriculum

Day 27 – Marble Moves

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DELIVER A MARBLE TO A TARGET.

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These were the instructions given recently to Riverside Junior High 8th grade science students. Supplies were provided, but the method…wide open!

Science teachers Stephanie King, Ashley Heckly and Teri Folta developed this inquiry project to introduce their students to the scientific method and the process of design. As they accomplish this task, the students are learning how to write procedures, and to collect and analyze data. The next step in the activity will be to synthesize their learning by composing their first lab report; class discussion will focus on the process of inquiry as well as the difference between precision and accuracy in data.

zip3This introductory science inquiry project gives a clear example of HSE21 learning in action. In dynamic 21st century classrooms, students think critically and creatively to find solutions to problems. In this case, teams pooled their creative ideas and scientific knowledge to design a successful marble path. Along the way, they learned the concepts of precision and accuracy, and they gained experience in collecting/analyzing data, writing lab reports, and collaboration. Heckly, Folta, and King will spend the rest of the year helping their students build on these foundational skills as classes delve deeper into chemistry and physics through the school year.

–Submitted by Shawn Humphrey, RJH media specialist

Day 26 – #Dot Day: @TeamMurch4 Makes Their Mark

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murch2After discovering the #Dot Day on Twitter, students from Mrs. Murch’s 4th grade class decided to join the creating, celebrating and, most importantly, the connecting during this day! Students were challenged to think outside the box and create their own unique dots, math games that incorporated concepts using dots, writing activities and goals all around message of the book The Dot by Peter Reynolds. Students and teachers were challenged to think of ways they were “going the make their mark” on the world; they had time to self-reflect and set goals for this school year and for the future.

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Dot Day also provided Mrs. Murch’s class with the opportunity to work toward another class goal for the year: 50 states in 180 days via Skype in the Classroom. 50 States in 180 Days challenges students to connect with all 50 states this school year through #Mystery Skype. @TeamMurch was able to add two more United States schools because of Dot Day! They also participated in their first international Skype with a school in Canada! Students read and discussed their perspective of The Dot with 2nd graders in New York, and they shared and explained their “dots” creations with 5th & 6th graders in Canada–they even learned a bit of French during the call! Finally, they shared their writing and ways of making their mark with students in TN. Dot Day was an amazing HSE_21 day for all learners!

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-Submitted by Amy Murch, Brooks School Elementary, 4th Grade

Day 25 – Learning Through Listening

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photo 2[1]Hamilton Southeastern Schools is a wonderfully diverse learning community, and growing more so each year. HSE families represent over sixty different languages and a wide variety of cultural backgrounds and experiences. We believe that all members of our learning community have unique stories and histories; and that each of us are richer for the things we learn as we recognize and celebrate our uniquenesses.

Over the past several years, the District Diversity Team has been instrumental in fostering learning and celebrating diversity across and throughout our 22 schools. This Team is composed of interested parents, as well as several administrators and teachers. Last night was the Team’s first meeting of the year. As always, conversation was rich: histories were shared, new friendships were begun, and, in the process, learning happened. The Team will meet again in November to continue the conversation, looking for ways to help our children appreciate and learn from our diverse, ‘global’ local-community, and to prepare them for the wider global community they will enter in adulthood.

-Submitted by Susan Drumm, Instructional Technology Coach and District Diversity Team Member

Day 24 – Change the Play, Family Style

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image[1]The Riverside Intermediate Physical Education Department has just begun the 8-week Change the Play Challenge, sponsored by Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health. Through Change the Play, Riley has partnered with Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts quarterback, to promote childhood nutrition and good health.  The challenge includes professional advice and video tutorials about how students, teachers and families can “tackle” this very important topic both at school and at home.

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Change the Play is another prime example of HSE21 collaboration throughout a learning community! In addition to completing daily challenges at school, P.E. teachers Jill Berry and Adam Vincent are encouraging families to complete the tasks together at home. Through this fun and motivating program, Berry and Vincent hope families will enjoy working together toward better health!

 -Submitted by Jill Berry, Physical Education, Riverside Intermediate School

 

Day 23 – Living USA

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The entire student body of Hoosier Road Elementary just culminated a very special collaborative endeavor. Together, students and faculty created and presented a “Living USA”, which was photographed by an arial photographer. The project was led by Renee Ross, HRE music teacher, along with Shannyn Miller (physical education) and Linda Hill (art). Ross, Miller, and Hill worked with students during Literacy Fridays to prepare the program and organize the ‘photo opp’.  The student body learned and sang the national anthem and another patriotic song; a fourth grade class presented speaking parts for the program. HRE faculty agrees that “Living USA” has been a great tribute and community-builder at their school! And the picture is gorgeous!

DCIM101GOPRO-Submitted by Lauren Avery (media specialist) and Renee Ross (music), Hoosier Road Elementary

Day 22 – Creativity for a Cause

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SCEOne component of HSE21 is the principle of contributing positively to the community at large. Miss Coffman’s 4th grade class at Sand Creek Elementary recently enjoyed a day of cross-curricular arts study AND worked towards the welfare of endangered species in the process! Ms. Golando, SCE music teacher, led students through the Carnival of the Animals; students then selected their favorite endangered animals based on the music they heard. Afterward, Ms. McDuffee, SCE art instructor, guided students through the creation of clay bowls out of patterned animal shapes. The creations will be raffled off later in the year with funds donated to WWF. Creativity for a cause!

Submitted by Laura Collier, SCE Media Specialist