Holland
Elementary School’s Room 127 students were very proud of the hard work they did
on their presentations. Their parents were invited to watch and they were quite
impressed at what their children had accomplished!
Thursday, April 14, 2016
WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL eighth-grade girls enjoy speaker at Exploration 2016
In
late March, 22 eighth-grade girls from West Middle School attended Kingswood
Middle School for “Explorathon 2016.”
The
girls heard from several successful women from a variety of STEM careers. The
keynote speaker was Dr. Thoms. She explained that although she was only
one of three women in her medical school class, she continued to reach her
dreams and goals.
The
students also attended workshops on many interesting topics, such as plastics,
physical therapy, engineering, veterinary science, chemistry and mathematics.
This
was an amazing opportunity to raise career awareness. To interact with
women and girls from all walks of life was invaluable. As one of our students
remarked "It was inspiring to meet so many strong, smart, women."
WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL: Venture to skating rink is a STEM lesson
Earlier
this month, the West Middle School academic incentive trip was to the Lincoln
Park Roller Rink.
Students
began their visit with an introductory lesson on the STEM concept. They
learned that we used the principles of STEM in very aspect of our every day
life.
For
further understanding, the students were asked to take apart and reconstruct a
roller skate. From this activity they learned the properties and function of the
many skate parts.
After
being treated to lunch, the students tied up their skates and skated to their
favorite tunes. Beginners and experienced skaters enjoyed the day.
A
good time was had by all, including the staff.
Sunday, April 10, 2016
TOMMIE SAYLOR: If we are going to establish state mandated tests, let's do it the right way
“When
you wage war on the public schools, you’re attacking the mortar that holds the
community together. You’re not a Conservative, you’re a vandal.”
Garrison
Keillor
By
Tommie Saylor
Kennedy
High School Principal
Once
again, the State of Michigan does not understand basic educational methodology.
It is changing the State Mandated Test. Or should I more accurately say,
has decided to defund the current SAT test, and will no longer have schools
give the M-Step test.
The
real issue is that the state has not yet made an announcement as to what will
replace the SAT and M-Step. In the eyes of our legislators, the next
testing cycle is a year away, so they feel that they have plenty of time to
pick and fund a new standardized test. In reality, if a new standardized
test is not selected soon (by the end of this school year?) then it is almost
certain that our students will not do well on whatever test they select.
That
will happen because, without advanced notice, teachers will not be able to
adjust their curriculums to accommodate the new test. If the State of
Michigan waits too long to select their latest version of educational assessment,
students will suffer and schools will appear to be failing their most basic
mission.
What
is truly horrific is that this is not the first time the State of Michigan has traveled
this road. In fact, this is the third consecutive year in which the state
has announced a change in its mandated test. If it follows the same pattern
established the last two years, it will not announce the new test in time for
schools to make the necessary curriculum changes to be successful.
The
State of Michigan has proven once again that they do not understand educational
methodology, the process that educators utilize when creating curriculum,
assessments and lessons.
Good
educational methodology starts by answering this question: “What do you want
the students to know?” Of all the nuances of any specific subject or field
of study, before you can teach the material to the students, you need to make a
determination as to what you want the students to know and master.
Once
this has been determined, then you must answer this question: “How will we know
that the students have learned the material?” Some type of measurement must be
created to determine what the students have mastered, and this is often
accomplished by what we call a final exam.
After
the exam has been created, then the educator must divide the material to be
taught into small “bite size” pieces or units, each with their own assessment
(test) that is directly related to the final exam. It measures the student’s
level of mastery of the material taught in that specific unit.
Only
after the individual unit assessments have been made, can the instructor begin
creating lessons that prepare the students for the unit tests. That process leads
and prepares the students for the final exam, which measures if the students
learned the material we wanted them to learn.
In
essence, good educational methodology dictates that we create the test before
we deliver the lesson, not after the lesson has been taught.
Some
people argue that this method is “just teaching to the test.” I agree, because
if you’re not teaching to the test then you are just crazy, or more accurately,
committing educational malpractice.
The
test is an assessment of what you want the students to know. If you’re
not teaching what you want the students to know, then you’re just wasting time
in the classroom. And that is time, I may add, that can ill afford to be
wasted.
The
State of Michigan does not seem to understand this process. They keep changing
the assessment. They keep moving the target, without letting those of us in the
classroom know what they want the students to master before the lessons have
been taught.
When
that process results in poor test scores, they are quick to blame those of us
in the classroom for not properly preparing the students to take a test – when we
had no idea what was on the test.
This
is just another example of why politics should play no part in the educational
process, and why non-educators should never be allowed to make such basic
educational decisions.
How
and where will you lead them. Making Kennedy the school of choice. Excellence
by design.
RANDALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL children launch headlong into dinosaurs
Randall
Elementary School’s theme for March is Reading Month this year was “Dino-rific
Reading!”
This
year Randall participated in "One School, One Book" for the fifth
time.
The entire
school, including staff, read “The Enormous Egg” by Oliver
Butterworth. Every night throughout March, students read a chapter at home. The
next morning at school, they had a trivia question on that chapter. With Easter
being early this year, the students did read a couple chapters over a
few weekends. Names were drawn for prizes on those who answered the
question correctly.
“The
Enormous Egg” is a story about a young boy Nate Twitchell, who
hatches an egg and gets an Enormous surprise. It is a Triceratops. This
Triceratops' name is Uncle Beazley and there is a statue in the
National Zooological Park in Washington, D.C., of him (at top).
Randall
started the month with an assembly and dinosaur prints on the hallway wall (Student's
wondered how they got there). They ended the month with everyone enjoying the
story and learning a lot about dinosaurs!
MCDOWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL hears cheers for outstanding students
Congratulations
rang out at McDowell Elementary School recently when “VIP Bingo” was played by
students. They got to play after having exhibited fabulous behavior in school.
They
participated in "Candy Bingo" arranged by Ms. Hutchison. Families
were invited to share this time with their special child. McDowell had 42
families come and join in.
The
bigger kids helped the little kids. Lots of treat bags, smiles and fun made
for a winning combination!
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