Snapshots of our Class Economy Today

Marketing strategy:  Bringing props to show how your products look 'in use'

Basketballs as 'mannequins' and homemade magnets in use

Delaney getting a manicure (service) from Mackenzie @ BEET.M

Reikley's Auction During Economy Time

Reikley has beefed up his store every week.  This week he had ways to 'model' his product and had 'one of a kind' creations that he then auctioned off.  Watch him in action.

Reflecting on Mr. Risch's 'Lecture'

Aly, Autumn, Kaiyli, & Bugs sharing their thoughts about Mr. Risch's lecture regarding 'Project: Traditional'.

Our Beautiful Garden of Reading

Mackenzie & her Dad

Sophia and Aly engrossed in a book (in the book nook:)

Our garden has a jungle feel

Welcoming and full of books...two of my favorite things!

Part of our new library area

Student Protests

Not everyone loves our new library.  Students protest my acquisition of their cubbies that I used to create a new class library.  See photos above.  A summary of their learning: picketing allows you to share your voice, but doesn't promise results.

Ella Agile Agility

More of the same process of students collaborating on reaching nonfiction literature standards.

Strategies for Nonfiction Reading

Mackenzie and her group are sharing out what they did to reach the NF literacy standards they were working on in their core groups.  Prior to the working toward standard mastery, core groups created and listed descriptors of 'what it looks like to master this standard'.

Bugs & Sophia Talking Math

Both brains engaged!

Angellee Interviewing Me

Angellee interviewing me about how I manage stress and what my preferences are within whatever environment I am in with regards to sounds, space, activities, etc.  Her interview is helping her gather data for her Movement Room Project.  One of the essential questions of the project dealt with whether or not we even need a movement room in our charter.  Each student had their own spin and entry point into the content and process of their projects.  Some students focused on budget, while others focused on muscles or ADHD, or childhood obesity, or how colors impact mood, etc.

Classroom Economy - Services Added

We read Lawn Boy as a class read aloud.  Each of the chapters of Lawn Boy focuses on a different economic principle.  About mid-book, BEET.M (one of our many stores in our classroom economy) imitated art by deciding to add services to their already booming sales of goods.  It has proven to be a successful supplement to their store.

Book Talks with their Core Groups

This video illustrates the discussions that happen daily.  Learning is socially constructed through meaningful talk, differing points of view, and diverse background knowledge.

Alex & Aaron - Invasive Species

Alex and Aaron explain to a visitor about their invasive species project.  As part of their four-year independent choice project, they cut down invasive species such as buckthorn and box elder behind our school.

Robby's Interview for Security Officer

Robby interviews for the position of Security Officer, which is a position that he and a small group of other classmates created.

Reikley's Interview for Technology Specialist

Reikley interviews in front of a panel for the position of Technology Specialist.  He had already applied in written format (with references), and worked specifically on interviewing skills (Speaking & Listening Standards).  The panel consists of our Speech & Language Pathologist, a parent, another teacher, and myself.  

Sir Ken Robinson

Sir Ken's closing message at the TIES Conference in MN.

Students Learning to Advocate for Themselves

Random Images of Learners

Trails to Bridges Trip

Learning about fair trade

After students presented @ board meeting (their kitchen was approved)

Angellee's purchases during our weekly class store

Most goods are handmade by students

Reikley worked hard to earn enough for his science kit

Almost time to present to board members. Nervous anyone?

Close up of some of the special order lizards @one store

Sharing kitchen info to touring families

Readers sharing their process, learning, and standards in our school 

Talking to parents about our class economy

Hmmm...colored kleenex creation

Ella sharing some of her goods

Time to buy!

Mr. Risch's "Speech"

We planned for Mr. Risch to come in the day we ended our traditional 'mock up' in our classroom.  His job was to be in shock and awe of what was going on in the very charter where we had worked so hard to create an environment that supports and honors the whole child, their needs, interests, background knowledge, and uniqueness.

Project: Traditional (Experiment & Reflection)

Email I sent to parents:

Subject: Experiment and Reflection

Hello families,

One tenant of constructivism is to challenge the suppositions of learners.  In response to group discussion and reflection about our classroom, students 'voted themselves in' to 'traditional learning' of segmented subjects.

To challenge their thinking on this, we have created a 'traditional' environment within our classroom, gathered textbooks, and are limiting student choice and voice.  This is a prime example of responding to and tailoring learning to student interests, needs, voice, and choice.

I certainly have a hypothesis as to what will (and is already) happening, but time will tell.  My plan is to continue this for a few days, give or take.

I ask that you support this process by allowing your child to explore the spectrum of emotions, thoughts, questions, and reflections surrounding our 'experiement'.

An overall goal is for students to really formulate what true learning is to them and also to help students construct the understanding that their learning, in HSCL and in life, is truly is in their hands and that our resources are aplenty.

Andy hard at work with his textbooks, cursive work, desk, and pencils.  That is the scope of his resources.

Look at these.  Think about the world students will be living in/are living in.  Why do these tools rule the school?

Hmmm...what about these guys?  They chose NOT to go traditional. 

A wealth of knowledge for one and all...how far can these textbooks take us?!?!

Raise your hand and make sure you do not interact with peers

Look at them.  Perfect.  Silent.  Working.  "Learning".

 New Creations for our Class Economy

 Christopher taking notes during interviews for prospective charter teachers

Autumn proudly displaying her self-created daily plan

Mastery Connect

Do I believe in multiple choice? No. Does my philosophy of education support solely using assessments with right/wrong answers? No. Why then am I choosing, happily, to incorporate Mastery Connect into my assessment plan? Because the process of managing, monitoring, and sharing out student mastery of standards in a multi-age environment is something I have not yet mastered myself. So, Mastery Connect is a nice bridge for me and a fairly painless one for students to have more traditional documentation for reporting purposes.

http://www.masteryconnect.com/