The Digital Age

Some thoughts from Kim, our 3/4/5 combo teacher:

Marc Prensky's book "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants" made me think about how the children of today learn differently than we did. This has important implications about education, which we are only beginning to understand. I thought you might find this excerpt interesting.

"Do our children learn differently from us? Are they "digital natives"?

It is amazing to me how in all the hoopla and debate these days about the decline of education in the US, we ignore the most fundamental of its causes. Our students have changed radically. Today's students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach....

Today's students - K through college - represent the first generations to grow up with this new [digital technology] technology. They have spent their entire lives surrounded by and using computers, videogames, digital music players, video cams, cell phones, and all the other toys and tools of the digital age... Computer games, email, the Internet, cell phones and instant messaging are integral parts of their lives.

It is now clear that as a result of this ubiquitous environment and the sheer volume of their interaction with it, today's students think and process information fundamentally differently from their predecessors. These differences go far further and deeper than most educators suspect or realize.*"

Most parents aspire to have their children enjoy reading and sports and find that somehow, modern electronics (television, game machines, computers, etc.) competes with these activities. It is a challenge for parents to manage the modern media's impact on our children and families. But as parents, you can manage your environment. Of course, tools and services to help are useful. Some tips:

1. Email. Have your children write emails to their cousins and grandparents. Of course, you should closely supervise their online activities including having the youngest ones use your email account.

2. Blogs. While children have traditionally loved keeping journals, it seems that many get particularly excited by seeing their own writing on the internet. Since starting a blog takes minutes and it's easy to keep safe and anonymous, it provides a simple motivating way to "publish" your children's writing.

3. Websites. There are great learning games available online. Three sites that we recommend: LearningGamesForKids, SpellingCity, and Vocabulary is Fun.

4. Online interactive curriculum. Time4Learning's online automated curriculum teaches from PreSchool to 8th Grade. Give it a try. Time4Writing has recently been created to provide eight week online writing courses with individual feedback.

Thanks for reading,

John Edelson
It's Time4Learning. And Fun.

Copyright 2008 Time4Learning All rights reserved

*Excerpted from: "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants" By Marc Prensky.

Social Emotional Success

Compassionate Communication Success at IA!

From a mother of at first grader at IA:

I have to share with you something that impressed me tonight. My son got in trouble for shouting at his Dad, they went back and forth a little, and he was sent to his room. He came out a few moments later, and asked his Dad if he could talk to him. Little did Dad know that he was about to learn a lesson from his 6 yr.old. My son asked his Dad to please speak to him in giraffe talk. He then proceeded with the conversation, making sure to stop Dad and correct him when he wasn't doing it right. (It was so cute!) In the end they were both speaking Giraffe, both agreed to treat each other with honor and respect. It was awesome! I am so pleased that my children are learning to communicate in such a peaceful way! I see a difference in the way my daughter is communicating also. Several weeks ago she shocked me with a very mature reaction to something that I was upset about. It is amazing to me, what they have learned in only a few months....can't wait to see what else they bring home to teach Mom and Dad!

~~~

From a mother of a middle school student:

I just wanted to let you know that my son is not only enjoying school for the first time in many years, but I am also seeing such personal growth and evolving maturity. I'm not sure what all you're doing with the social emotional curriculum but he is definitely integrating the lessons and putting them into action at home. I only wish I could do as well!

Thanks for all you do.

~~~

Reminder: Mandatory Parent Meetings are on December 1st (in the Community Room in the Admin building, far East) and 4th (in the Multi Purpose Room in the Ed Building) from 7pm - 8pm (please attend one, not both).

Breakthroughs!

He gossips habitually; he lacks the common wisdom to keep still that deadly enemy of man, his own tongue ~ Mark Twain

Here at IA one thing we talk a lot about with the kids is the importance of going to the source of their issues. We call it avoiding x, y, z talk (when x has something to say to z but tells it to y instead). It's amazing how much gossip can take a situation to one of a simple issue to one of pandemonium.

In the last week we've had a lot of breakthroughs with students. Generally, with a breakthrough a breakdown will occur before hand. Last week one of our students had a breakdown in which he acted inappropriately and threw a chair and knocked over a table. After this situation there were a number of people upset and rightfully so. What wasn't seen was that Christine and I handled this situation with a lot of care and guidance. On Friday, this same student had a huge breakthrough with his teacher about knowing that people truly care about him here. We have seen a complete turn around and could not be happier about it.

One thing I have seen through this situation is a lot of x, y, z talk. There has been chatter about Innovations not having discipline, and that is just not true. Our way of working with students, even through problems, doesn't look the same as other schools, and that's purposeful because we are not just another school. Unfortunately when this talk flies it's very hard to give clarity and peace to a situation. Hopefully we will be able to give this clarity and peace at a meeting that is currently being scheduled for families (stay tuned!).

I would strongly urge that if any members of the IA community have an issue or concern that they come straight to the source so that we can create breakthroughs together. I know that from speaking with families I have gained much insight into what is working for them and what is not. Through that dialog and feedback we can make IA stronger every day.

~Danielle

Fundraising Meeting

Greetings Parents and Families!

Innovations has made a new partnership with Mad Science of San Diego to bring fun, exciting, hands-on learning to our students during our Friday enrichment program. So far, the students seem to love it! Feel free to check out more on their programs and curriculum at: http://www.madscience.org


However, Mad Science is not cheap, and we must fundraise to keep them! Various parents came up with good ideas to follow up with at the last parent meeting. In addition to ideas such as eScrip, Powermall, and dinners at local venues, we are also planning a music-&-art fundraiser for the spring here at the Kroc center.

To that end, we will be holding our first fundraising meeting here at the school on Monday, November 17th at 6pm in Bill's room upstairs (219).

Please come! Your energy and support here at Innovations is greatly appreciated!

Sincerely,
Desiree

Updates from Innovations!

Innovations is into its 3rd month of school! It has been quite a ride to go from founding Innovations to becoming an integral part of a living organization.

Some triumphs have been:

Hearing how much the students are enjoying their math and language arts curriculum!
Having students work out their issues using Compassionate Communication.
Seeing how polite our students were during a ballet that we were invited to at the Kroc Center at the last minute (no time to prep about audience etiquette).
Creating the morning quote.

Some items that we're working on:

Obtaining 80 computers for the school! (Being a first year with no credit history makes this a challenge. Anyone have any ideas/leads?)
Giving more choice to students during their Friday partnerships.
Planning our Student Support Program nights (We've had one thus far on Compassionate Communication)

Reminders, and new calendar dates, for the coming month:

November 11th - No School - Veterans Day

November 14th - Picture Day Make-ups.

November 14th - Crazy Hair Day!

November 19th & 20th - Back to School Days - Come and see what your child(ren) is doing in school! Teachers will be sending out separate announcements about how they are running their Back to School Day. Both of these days will be 1/2 days and families can come in during the afternoon.

November 20th - Half Day - Due to scheduling with the Kroc Center, one of our Back to School Days will be on Thursday, November 20th, so we will have a 1/2 day ending at 1pm. Please plan accordingly.

November 24th - 28th - Thanksgiving Holiday - School is off. See you in December!

December 1st - No School - Staff inservicing.

Have a great day!

Danielle

Social Emotional Learning

http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/08/22/should-social-emotional-learning-be-part-of-academic-curriculum/

Schools are beginning to offer an increasing number of courses in social and emotional intelligence, teaching students how to better understand their own emotions and the emotions of others.

It sounds warm and fuzzy, but it's a trend backed up by hard data. Today, new studies reveal that teaching kids to be emotionally and socially competent boosts their academic achievement. More precisely, when schools offer students programs in social and emotional learning, their achievement scores gain around 11 percentage points.

Unanimous!

We've been unanimously approved by the SD school board!

Congrats, IA!