With first quarter in the books, here are articles on creating brief moments of connection with students, looking to how education might change as a result of Covid, and remembering to order from local independent bookstores. Also check out the second half of the expansive professional growth list from this summer!
Jennifer Gonzalez, Creating Moments of Genuine Connection (MCGs) Online, Cult of Pedagogy
We’ve all been finding new ways to talk with students since August. English teacher and author Dave Stuart Jr. acknowledges that these connections might sometimes seem awkward or forced, but they’re well worth it.
The moments are embedded inside the work you’re already doing as a teacher. “So they’re before class, right after class, during independent work.”
Vicki Abeles, Forget About Making This School Year as Normal as Possible, Boston Globe
The author behind the Race to Nowhere video argues that we should grab this chance to “cultivate a better education system.”
Teachers are facing enormous pressure to somehow maintain pre-pandemic expectations and standards. It is a tragically Sisyphean effort. And it is made worse by our failure to seize this opportunity to “release” ourselves from the erroneous assumptions, outdated practices, and antiquated attitudes that plagued American education well before the pandemic upended our lives.
Elizabeth A. Harris, Your Local Bookstore Wants You to Know That It’s Struggling, New York Times
We have so many voracious readers on the faculty and staff that I thought I’d include this piece. Vroman’s is mentioned in this national article, which encourages people to shop local so their favorite bookstores stay open.
According to the American Booksellers Association, more than one independent bookstore has closed each week since the pandemic began.
Upcoming Online Workshops
Global Online Academy is offering several upcoming classes in its Competency-Based Learning (CBL) series: From Lessons to Experiences (Nov. 9-13), From Educator-Designed to Co-Designed (Jan. 25-29), and From Time-Based to Performance-Based (Feb. 22-26).
Faculty Professional Growth, Part 2
So many people participated in professional development this summer that we highlighted some last month and are finishing now. Here’s the second half of the list!
- Performing arts teacher Jen Bascom attended Self Recording for Actors: Commercial Klaz with Kaz, sponsored by Alvarado Rey.
- French teacher Lauren Van Arsdall, French and Latin teacher Toby Wagstaff, and Spanish teacher Katie Canton attended in the virtual summit held by the National Foreign Language Center, Apart but Together: Expanding Our Community.
- In addition, Katie Canton in her role as 11th Grade Dean learned “strategies to improve student health, motivation, and engagement” with Challenge Success in its virtual Summer Leadership Seminar.
- History teacher Abel Fuentes joined Harvard Graduate School of Education for a workshop on Teaching Students to Ask Their Own Questions.
- Math teacher Michelle Gee took two YouCubed courses online: How to Learn Math for Teachers and Mathematical Mindsets.
- Math teacher Eric Hallett attended California Teacher Development Collaborative’s four day seminar focused on diversity and equity work in schools: Equity as Excellence.
- Global Studies Coordinator Ingrid Herskind attended the “Meetup for Global Education Professionals” put on by the National Association for Independent Schools.
- Math teacher Joel Ishii took advantage of the on-demand webinar Teaching With Graphs From The New York Times.
- Associate Dean for Student Support Midge Kimble participated in the “Executive Function Intensive: Teaching Students to Manage Materials, Time and Information,” hosted by Learn to Learn & Hannah Ross Ed Therapy Group.
- Spanish teacher Manny Nunez focused on online teaching with the University of Puget Sound presentation Active Learning in the Age of COVID-19: Five Strategies and Tools.
- Assistant Head for Academic Life Sarah Cooper and Assistant Curricular Coordinator Reid Fritz both took part in the Council for Spiritual and Ethical Education program “How to Lead Your Community,” with a focus on “how to support those who feel unsafe in our communities.”
- In addition, Reid Fritz saw online learning from the student perspective during Students Speak: Listening In to Move Forward by Challenge Success.
- In July, Assistant Head for Student Life Vanessa Walker-Oakes, Assistant Head for Academic Life Sarah Cooper, and Head of School Jim Pickett took part in Antiracism by Design, hosted by Blink Consulting.
- In addition, Vanessa Walker-Oakes took part in Strong Space for Relationships: Building a Flourishing Advisory Program, a seminar hosted by the Institute for Social and Emotional Learning.