ISAT Season!

This is a reminder to all 3^rd grade parents that your student will be participating in the Illinois State Achievement Test for the first time.  ISAT testing is THE measure for No Child Left Behind and school ranking within the state.  Students participate in ISAT from grades 3 to 8. 

The testing window is March 4^th to March 15^th.  Students perform best following a good night sleep and a healthy breakfast.  As testing occurs primarily in the morning, please help ensure students are present by scheduling all appointments in the afternoon or after school hours.  We thank you for doing all you can to help ensure your student’s success.

Shift Happens and Sock Puppets

"Shift Happens" is a video that first came out in the mid 2000's.  It brought to light how the present world reflects a very different picture than what we may have seen growing up in the United States.  Attached below is the 2012 updated version.  Even in those past 6 years, many things have changed - a lot.

As parents and educators, it is important for us to keep in mind that our kids face change at an ever increasing rate.  While we learned that change is the only constant, the pace is absolutely quickening.  Along with the core educational needs, higher level thinking, creativity, and flexibility are more essential than ever.  Technology is a vital tool in developing these skills.   

Below is a video from students in Mrs. Beckman's class.  After reading biographies on important people in history, students worked in pairs using the Sock Puppet app on our iPads.  The puppet shows were created, written, and recorded in one class period - on an app they had never used before.  How smoothly do you think this would go the second and third times they use the app?

Of course, the product's final appearance is secondary.  What I find very exciting about this product is that kids used technology in a collaborative setting to apply and synthesize information - and they were fully engaged throughout the process.