Be Open to Learning New Things

As an educator we learn new things everyday. We also must commit to learning about the changes in our educational field and we MUST be willing to change our ways. If we want to be an effective impactful educator TODAY we must acknowledge that what we did in the classroom just 5-10 years ago may not be the best approach in 2015.

I was able to attend the Pearson: STEM Event: Closing the Gender Gap this Thursday-Saturday. I had many take aways from the event. But, what resonated with me the most was the high school student panel on Saturday morning. There were several girls from Bay Area high schools on the panel. They were there to speak to us about encouraging more students, specifically girls, to get involved in computer science. However, it was their non course specific appeals that really hit home. The girls looked out at the audience and each gently told us to think about the following: "Don't always tell us to not touch things. We need to touch to find out how things work." "Don't tell us it can't be done. We may find a way to make it work that you did not see." "Encourage us to try things. Don't tell us we can't." "When you click into a student's interests the possibilities are endless." "Students only know about their teachers what they see. Show them who you really are. Capture their interest." "Help students to not let stereotypes and roadblocks get in their way. Help them prove what they can do."

My hope from attending STEM Event: Closing the Gender Gap is that the information that is shared below will spark some of you to become excited and passionate to head up a club, start a class, share information with students, and build upon our computer science offerings at Fairfield High. If you aren't following me on Twitter yet, please do. Follow me @KristenWitt13.  See all the Tweets from the conference at #PearsonSTEM. You MUST check out the following links.

Maker Education: http://makered.org/

Made with Code:  https://www.madewithcode.com/

Code Jam: https://code.google.com/codejam

Grants for Computer Science in high school: http://www.cs4hs.com/

Google for Education: https://www.google.com/edu/

Girls Who Code Clubs: http://girlswhocode.com/clubs/

Girls Who Code: http://girlswhocode.com/

I continue to encourage each of you to look at your teaching practice from a student's perspective. I can't stress that enough. Make your classroom environment relevant and meaningful. If students are able to find purpose and self discover they will go so much farther. My short tour at Google enforced this as well. The employees at Google are encouraged to be problem solvers and out of the box thinkers. It was a "Noogler" (an employee @Google for less than a week) that created what we know as Google Hangout in a very short 30 hour time period so the Dali Lama could participate in the Desmond Tutu International Peace Lecture without actually being present at the event. Amazing things happen when we pose a problem and let people go with it!!! On Twitter this weekend I came across some very insightful quotes.

Good education is not what fills your head with facts but what stimulates curiosity. You then learn for the rest of your life. —@neiltyson

We had a large team of FHS teachers attend the GAFE Summit this weekend!! The following teachers spent Saturday and Sunday learning as much as they could about Google Apps for Education. James "Mac" Macariola, Shari Patterson, Mike Patterson, May Cranford, Von Wolf, Ryan Clemenson, Val Quijas, Paul Walpole, and Eddie Wilson attended the event for Fairfield High. I know they were filling their brains to the brim based on the Tweets I saw them sharing during the summit. I am looking forward to each of them modeling and sharing in depth what they learned with the rest of you. See all their and other attendees Tweets on Twitter with #GafeSummit or #GafeSummitCA.  Follow "Mac" @JamesMacariola, follow Shari @MrsPattersonFHS, follow Paul @imissmybeard, follow Val @quijas_fhs, follow Mike @mr_pattersonfhs.

Our ONE goal: To graduate every Fairfield High Student and to ensure that they leave FHS college and career ready!!! Inspire, Engage, Excite, Lead, Foster, Create, Empower!!

Many more great things are in store for Fairfield High!

Continue to be innovative, creative, and a model of excellence! 

HAVE A GREAT WEEK

What passions DRIVE our students?

Each week there is something that inspires me to blog. However, there is always a common thread about our students and improving their experiences at school. This week I can't help but be inspired by my 9 year old daughter. Most of you have seen or heard of Rainbow Loom bands. The colorful small rubber bands that people usually make friendship bracelets from. Well...about two weeks ago my daughter received a bracelet from her cousin that inspired her to start looming again. She went on Youtube to find a video on how to make a "waterfall" bracelet. While searching, she found a video on an owl design and she wanted to try it. She watched the video, created the owl, and the rest is history. Every time she has a spare minute she grabs her bands and her tablet, finds a new tutorial on Youtube, and starts looming. She has now made over thirty different unique designs that range from Disney characters to charms for pencils.

I asked her today why she keeps doing it. Her answer, "It is fun and I like being creative." The interesting part to me is that she is being "taught" every time she goes on and watches a tutorial. However, she is seeking it out because she wants to create more and find the most challenging designs to make. This is where I make the connection to our classrooms. Dr. Vince Bertram, president and CEO of PLTW, states, "The key to education-especially in critical STEM fields is activity based learning that makes concepts relevant in real-world meaningful ways. No field should be isolated, on an island, or in a silo."

For those of you asking yourselves why your students aren't engaged in your class or why they aren't doing their homework, I have these questions for you. If you were the student what would excite you about the assignment? What relevance to the real world does the assignment or activity have? Do you see purpose in completing the assignment? Put yourself in the students' shoes for a minute. Be the student and experience what you are asking them to do. If you wouldn't be motivated to complete it then more than likely they would not either!! It may be a shift for some of you, but we cannot continue to just deliver curriculum in isolation. When we do we are not preparing students for success in a future career. We need to develop our students ability to collaborate and critically think in order to be competitive in the global market. We need our students to be facilitators of their learning. We need inspiring role models and hands-on experiences. It starts with you!!

Our ONE goal: To graduate every Fairfield High Student and to ensure that they leave FHS college and career ready!!! Inspire, Engage, Excite, Lead, Foster, Create, Empower!!

Many more great things are in store for Fairfield High!

Continue to be innovative, creative, and a model of excellence! 

HAVE A GREAT WEEK

From Creative Idea to Finished Product

Every day we use different products and tools that were once only someone's idea. That idea was fostered and through creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, and perseverance a final product was born. Take a minute and look at something close by. It could be what seems as simple as a coffee mug. Someone had to think about the purpose, then designed the shape,  added emotion through choices in material and color, went through the manufacturing process, and we end up with a beautiful handcrafted or machine crafted coffee mug. A mug that someone will touch and use on a daily basis. A mug that could be the inspiration for another creative jumping off point.

Suzanne Duncan sent us all a video link this weekend. The video shows how something so simple as an unused cardboard box could be repurposed to provide a better learning environment for hundreds of students in India. It was created because someone saw a problem and decided to create a solution.

The designers and creators of today and tomorrow fill the classrooms at FHS. What would happen if you took a step back and looked at the students in front of you differently? What if you looked at them as the problem solvers for our economic situation in the US? What if you looked at them as the new engineers that will build our country's infrastructure? What if you looked at them as the doctors and lawyers that will ensure your livelihood during retirement? What if you looked at them as the authors that will write the books you won't be able to put down? What if you looked at them as the actors that will entertain you on the stage and the big screen? What if you looked at them as the artists whose work will fill galleries and museums that you will spend your weekends at? What if you looked at them as the musicians whose music will fill your hearts and whose songs you will download? What if you looked at them as the men and women that will defend our country with service through the military? That is who our students ARE!! Foster that!! 

Don't forget why you are their teacher. You aren't their teacher to prepare them for a test. You aren't their teacher to ensure they complete a worksheet. You ARE their teacher to inspire them. You ARE their teacher to facilitate learning. You ARE their teacher to learn from them. You ARE their teacher to be a learner, planner, architect, team player, mediator, coach, mentor, and champion of children!

Our 2015 District Teacher of the Year: Shari Patterson!!! She is flanked by FHS and District Teacher's of the year Brian Swetland and Michelle Daughtery!



Congratulations to our Color Guard and Percussion Units that brought home Three First Place trophies Saturday at the Winter Review!!

Our ONE goal: To graduate every Fairfield High Student and to ensure that they leave FHS college and career ready!!! Inspire, Engage, Excite, Lead, Foster, Create, Empower!!

Many more great things are in store for Fairfield High!

Continue to be innovative, creative, and a model of excellence! 

HAVE A GREAT WEEK

STEM/STEAM What it Means for the Everyday

On Friday I attended the 5th Annual San Francisco Bay Area STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Colloquium. The focus of the day was on building students' ability to create, innovate, and think critically.  The information presented parallels a book that I am currently reading, One Nation Under Taught, by Dr. Vince M. Bertram, president and CEO of Project Lead the Way. Whether you talk about STEAM or STEM, NGSS, or CCSS we need to rethink our approaches in education. In order to prepare our students for the workplace and to be competitive globally we cannot continue to present content in isolation.
   
Here is an expert from the author's note in One Nation Under Taught:
     "This is a call to nurture our children's natural curiosity, inspire them, and insist they use their minds to solve problems.  This books asks us to rethink the way we think about school.  It asks that we abandon the mindset that second grade is a preparation for third grade or of teaching content merely to prepare for a test. Instead, I am asking for a new mindset about school, a mindset that our schools can be places of confidence, places that inspire a love of learning, promote curiosity, and convince students that skills and knowledge matter--not because they are on a test or necessary for the next year, but because they matter for a lifetime."

I attended three breakout sessions on Friday. Here is a recap of each. Check out each of the links!!
 
  1. Beak of the Finch: Connecting STEAM and NGSS through an Evolution Activity from HHMI. Presenters Jim Clark and Samantha Johnson from Arroyo High School showed participants how to engage students with the science and engineering practice of arguing from evidence while having them create and work collaboratively as teams.

• Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) resources: http://www.hhmi.org/  
• Biointeractive is another great resource off of the HHMI site for science teachers and students. Free animations, short films, and apps: http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive

  2.  Animation Integration: Bringing Learning to Life.  Presenter Natalie Mann from the Walt Disney Family Museum showed participants how to build an animation studio using basic materials and animate a short film, honing 21st Century skills such as media literacy, creativity, and collaboration. 

• The Walt Disney Family Museum: waltdisney.org/schools
• The Walt Disney Family Museum offers teacher resources.  The museum offers a variety of resources for educators.  These resources are aligned with CCSS and are designed to spark curiosity and inspire learning, both in the classroom and at the museum. waltdisney.org/school-resources

http://youtu.be/4b6dvLg362U

3. Stories from the Field: Designing Mobile Games to Situate Learning. Presenter David Gagnon showed participants how to find inspiration in popular video games and mobile apps, grounding successful elements of design in contemporary learning science.  Participants examined a number of projects that have been produced by the Field Day Lab at the University of Wisconsin.  

Questions to ask before creating simulation: This can be done in any content area with any topic of study. Creating authentic interaction in real time. 

1. What identity could the learner inhabit?
2. What actions could they take? What would they DO?
3. What resources would they need to manage?
4. What systems would they interact with?
5. What forces would challenge them?

     a. Does one of your topics have “real life” examples that a learner could document in their own 

         neighborhood, family, back yard?

     b. What categories could you give them to “Perceptually Attune” their thinking?

     c. What could be done with the observations they make?

As I reflected on my own experiences with video games it made me think of the following: The context of video games as an internal competition. The addictive nature of returning back again and again to the same game to conquer where you were when you left and pursuing to get further and further. How can we incorporate that into learning in the classroom?

• What happens when teachers, education theorists, software engineers and game designers collaborate to produce innovative educational experiences?  The Field Day Lab’s goal is to co-create dozens of mobile games, apps and hackathon events that explore the intersection of digital media design practices and contemporary education research. We are applying agile software development approaches to education by producing prototypes, testing them in the field with real kids, iterating, and developing generalized theories of design based on in situ research. By releasing our apps and curriculum freely and openly to fellow explorers worldwide, we are incubating communities of users that provide ongoing grant writing, research, documentation and support.  http://fielddaylab.org
• Open Source: arisgames.org Authoring platform to make interactive learning games, documentary games etc.
• AtomTouch: https://mobile.wisc.edu/mli-projects/project-atomtouch/ AtomTouch is a molecular simulation app, created through a partnership between UW MRSEC and MLI, that allows learners to explore principles of thermodynamics and molecular dynamics in an tactile, exploratory way.
• https://www.yoyogames.com/studio  GameMaker allows you to create cross platform games in record time at at the fraction of the cost of conventional tools. 
• Coming Soon: Siftr  A free and open social photography tool (They are in beta testing right now.)
• Coming Soon: Nomen Project : Now anyone can make a field guide for free.

Our ONE goal: To graduate every Fairfield High Student and to ensure that they leave FHS college and career ready!!! Inspire, Engage, Excite, Lead, Foster, Create, Empower!!

Many more great things are in store for Fairfield High!

Continue to be innovative, creative, and a model of excellence! 

HAVE A GREAT WEEK

The Rotary 4 Way Test: It applies in our every day life

On Friday, January 23rd students from all three high schools were recognized for exemplifying the tenets of the Rotary Club Four Way Test. Fairfield High School had the honor of  recognizing six students: Brandisha Wynne, Molly Eichenberger, Destiny Akin, Erika Chuatakoon, Jerrick Hall, and August Johnson. These students have made an impact in their world and to many people around them.

THE FOUR-WAY TEST

The Four-Way Test is a nonpartisan and nonsectarian ethical guide for Rotarians to use for their personal and professional relationships. The test has been translated into more than 100 languages, and Rotarians recite it at club meetings:
Of the things we think, say or do

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Keynote speaker, William Wesley, had some very inspiring words for all to hear. "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others." It emphasized the importance of role models for our youth. We as the adults need to be the role models for what we want to see in our youth of today. We also need to encourage the youth that are making the sometimes difficult choices to do the right thing. Each day reflect on your choices and see if they stand up to the Four Way Test. The more each and every one of us models the expectations of what it means to be a good citizen the more examples our students have to emulate. 

The Great Kindness Challenge, January 26th-30th, couldn't have come at a better time. Let's keep paying it forward day in and day out. 

Our ONE goal: To graduate every Fairfield High Student and to ensure that they leave FHS college and career ready!!! Inspire, Engage, Excite, Lead, Foster, Create, Empower!!

Many more great things are in store for Fairfield High!

Continue to be innovative, creative, and a model of excellence! 

HAVE A GREAT WEEK

Collaboration: It works for students and for adults

Merriam-Webster's Online dictionary defines collaborate as, "to work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor." We at FHS recognize the importance so much that it is built into our weekly schedule every Wednesday. We are finding new and different ways to collaborate. Many of us are now collaborating using technology via Google Docs, Google +, and Twitter. Students are also collaborating using Google docs. This does not mean that traditional face to face communication is gone. In fact, it is increasingly important for us to find time for our students to work together and collaborate in person. So many business leaders today comment that one of the "soft skills" that are needed to be successful in today's job market is the ability to collaborate and work in a team. "Employers want employees who play well with others -- who can effectively work as part of a team. That means sometimes being a leader, sometimes being a good follower, monitoring the progress, and working with others across the organization to achieve a common goal," says Lynne Sarikas, the MBA Career Center Director at Northeastern University.

The more that we are developing situations within and outside of the classroom for our students to collaborate, the better prepared they will be for their futures. We need to not only encourage students to communicate and collaborate, but we need to model and facilitate what successful collaboration looks like. I have seen this work well in classrooms with a "fishbowl" approach. The fishbowl works with one group in the center of the classroom working through a task out loud while the rest of the students are circled around listening and taking notes. 

Additional collaboration is occurring with our teachers as well. The English Department just finished the second Plan, Observe, Debrief cycle of the year with Tammy Hall. The math department just completed their third full day of training with Tremain Nelson. The English department is working on their Four Phase Lesson planning while incorporating student interactions. The math department is focusing on creating a Data Driven Instructional Approach. 

Below is a great example of students working collaboratively in Ryan Clemenson and Lynn Bocca's co-teach English class. These pictures capture the culminating day of the lesson where members from each of the smaller groups joined to form larger units. Students were now "experts"on their information and were sharing that with the larger groups. Students had to "teach" each other.  (Notice how easily our new furniture lends itself for group work.)

Our ONE goal: To graduate every Fairfield High Student and to ensure that they leave FHS college and career ready!!! Inspire, Engage, Excite, Lead, Foster, Create, Empower!!

Many more great things are in store for Fairfield High!

Continue to be innovative, creative, and a model of excellence! 

HAVE A GREAT WEEK

Forging Bonds Across the Globe and Within our Own School

What an AMAZING first week back from winter break. The energy was high, staff and students were excited to be back to school, and we had some life altering experiences. Bonds were forged with our Japanese visitors and bonds were forged with our Safe School Ambassadors.

Nirasaki, Japan and Fairfield, California have had 43 years of cultural exchange as Sister Cities and have conducted student and adult exchange visits for 27 years.  Six students from Nirasaki, Japan visited Fairfield High on Thursday and took an all day tour of the campus. Kalea Kaloi, 2013 Fairfield Student Ambassador to Nirasaki, acted as campus tour guide along with Colonel David Avery. Mrs. Shari Patterson planned the entire visit as she has for many years. Bonds were formed and friendships were created despite language barriers. Both the students visiting and the students of FHS were able to learn many things from each other. We even had an impromptu dance lesson lead by the ultra talented Kyree Scott. It was a day that will never be forgotten. Bonds will continue to grow between the two cities when six students from the city of Fairfield journey to Japan in July of this year.

Thursday was also the kickoff to our Safe School Ambassador training. We had over 100 students that were interested in participating and we had a difficult task of narrowing the group to 40 students. The students and teacher/staff advisors worked from 8:00-3:00 both Thursday and Friday to forge their Family Groups, role play, share, communicate, and learn how to be change agents on campus. The feedback from the students was more than POSITIVE! It was unanimous that these were two of the best days they have ever spent on campus. A BIG Thank You to the following staff members that are now SSA advisors: Lisa Burke, Val Quijas, Shannon Balthazor, Myrna Baylis, Will Cushman, Shari Patterson, Ryan Clemenson, Brian Swetland, Jeannie Mena.I am looking forward to the many positive outcomes that will come from our Safe School Ambassadors this year and in years to come.

Our ONE goal: To graduate every Fairfield High Student and to ensure that they leave FHS college and career ready!!! Inspire, Engage, Excite, Lead, Foster, Create, Empower!!

Many more great things are in store for Fairfield High!

Continue to be innovative, creative, and a model of excellence! 

HAVE A GREAT WEEK