Our mission statement is found on our wiki page (you can find a direct link to the wiki on the right side of this page). Cut and paste it to this blog post and then add your comments that were outlined on the Webquest.
27 comments:
Anonymous
said...
"To be recognized as a progressive, cutting edge program that utilizes best practices to achieve accepted standards."
When it comes to teaching sometimes I find that I think so much that I make my job more complicated than it really needs to be. When I remind myself to look at the big picture...teaching really comes down to what is best for the students' and their education. If you look at the key words in our statement: Progressive, Cutting Edge, Best Practicies, and Achieved Standards, I think these words definitely exemplify that very goal. In fact, if I had my own kids, I would expect their education to be of this caliber. Now we just have to walk our talk...
I think is a process to to become cutting edge and I feel like I am working through that and am believing more and more in it. The biggest thing that I have figured out is that "cutting edge" does not mean purchasing the newest gimic equipment, rather figuring out best practices ar and implimenting them. Once I figured that out I have baughten in to the statement.
I would like to think our program is moving toward using best practices for student achievement but is lacking in the cutting edge arena. I feel many assessment, grading, and teaching tools have been changed for the betterment of our students to reach our goal.
"To be recognized as a progressive, cutting edge program that utilizes best practices to achieve accepted standards." --As we begin a new school year I feel that keeping this mission statement fresh in our minds is very important. I know it can be hard to keep up with cutting edge, but we need to remember that even small changes can make a major difference. I think if we continue to work together we can make some great strides this school year.
Change is difficult. Once I started teaching a lot of things were already set in place. Sure I got to try a few of my ideas, but a lot of times I just did what has been the norm. I want to jump aboard and be able to do this, but do we have the time and committment from others?
"To be recognized as a progressive, cutting edge program that utilizes best practices to achieve accepted standards."
As a PE teacher who is trying to change current practice, I think of a cutting edge program as one that has access to funds that we do not. However, I do realize that it does not have to be this way and there are many ways to lead with funding. I do believe that it is important to use best practice to teach and assess our students using the PE standards. I am still looking for a lot of ways to do this best.
I also believe that at times we need to take a step back and remind ourselves as to WHY we all went into teaching. I think this can get lost in the day to day shuffle of e-mails, meetings, and paper work that consumes our days. I feel that at times we do not do what is best for our kids but what makes us look good in the community and what gets good scores posted in the paper.
"To be recognized as a progressive, cutting edge program that utilizes best practices to achieve accepted standards." I believe I am in the process of improving my teachings towards being cutting edge through literacy and assessments. So in answering the question, I have baughten in to the process, but there is far more improvement to make.
Although I agree with and am willing to work towards becoming a cutting edge program, I feel we have had a difficult time getting ALL department members to "buy in" to it. Until we are all ready and willing to become a cutting edge program, we will have a hard time being successful.
Wanting to improve my student’s perspective on physical education I have strived to use best practices in my planning and assessments. However, I have not linked that desire from our mission. As for becoming cutting edge I think it will take some time, patience and dedication from everyone.
I have bought into the Mission Statement for the most part although there are a couple issues I think that we need to work out. We need to outline a specific plan for each level in order to align our curriculum with all levels.
Once I understand what the junior high expects of us regarding skills, cognitive development, technology, etc....we will be ready to go forward with the goals specified in our mission statement.
An understanding of what the incoming 6th grade students have learned at the elementary level is will give us a starting point.
I believe that we can be on the cutting edge, but that could improve new practices that out of us have not done before. It is thinking outside of the box. Change is difficult and we have to look at the whole picture which is what is good for our students. I am willing to change practices with ideas shared by the group.
I agree change is difficult, but we as a group are working towards it. I think that the group we have together today is going to allow us to be more affective as a vert team and allow us to work towards our goals.
I agree that we need to define what "cutting edge" means. How and what would a cutting edge program look and work? Maybe we need to research other districts are doing and try to lean from them.
After reading several posts, I see that change has been a common theme. I think that change is necessary but we also need to make sure we are changing based on best practices. It is frustrating at times to put something in place for one year and then the next year have something else in place. Was this change necessary? Was it based on best practice? Was student assessment results used to make this change? I think these questions need to be asked.
I agree that we do need to remember what is most important, and that is what is best for kids. Sometimes we do get lost in our emails, phone calls, standards, and everything else, and we need to step back and look at what is best for the classes that we are teaching.
Someone mentions small changes, baby steps. One change could lead to another and another etc.. I think we are heading in the right direction but we all need to be on board! Everyone needs to pull their own weight.
I think it is sad that we have been doing vert teaming for 3+ years and we still don't even lnow what incoming students are expected to have mastered and the expectations of the next level. This reinforces the need to go a different direction with our meetings.
I also agree that change is very difficult. However, we have made great progress within the past year or so in every building. We need to remember this is a long process and we may not have instant gratification.
I think the term cutting edge could be alittle misleading. I think finding new proven techniques to engage student learning is the way we should follow.
I agree with the post regarding cutting edge and high tech expensive equipment. I think we can be cutting edge but not have to rely on money or spend a lot of time writing grants. I feel we need to look at ways of being cutting edge and not rely on funds. I think the Jr. High has done a great job implementing cutting edge assessments.
In response to a comment about knowing what our students know when they come to us and what they need to know when leave us for the next level, I feel that if we can't answer that then what have we been doing in vertical teaming for going on four years? Being a part of the vertical team for some time, I feel that I have resources to go to find this but can't answer either of the questions off the top of my head. I should be able to do that.
I agree. Change is a big thing. It requires us to step out of our comfort zone and try new ideas and practices. If we do not extend ourselves, how do we expect to make improvement? We cannot continue to do the same thing yet expect different results!!!
We can't be rushed into this. It is like a classroom. So many different talents and abilities. Some of us are struggling today with the computer and following these directions. Some of us are dang near done and hoping to go quicker. We need to find a way to meet everyone's needs and utilize their strengths and weaknesses.
I agree with the post on looking at the students needs and using what works for them. Using the Wiki will allow us to collaborate more and spend less time on the computer, phones, or emails.
Thank you for all the interesting perspectives and insight...hopefully this discussion can continue after we have left this room - that is what is great about technology, we don't have to be physically in the same space to communicate.
Posts
27 comments:
"To be recognized as a progressive, cutting edge program that utilizes best practices to achieve accepted standards."
When it comes to teaching sometimes I find that I think so much that I make my job more complicated than it really needs to be. When I remind myself to look at the big picture...teaching really comes down to what is best for the students' and their education. If you look at the key words in our statement: Progressive, Cutting Edge, Best Practicies, and Achieved Standards, I think these words definitely exemplify that very goal. In fact, if I had my own kids, I would expect their education to be of this caliber. Now we just have to walk our talk...
I think is a process to to become cutting edge and I feel like I am working through that and am believing more and more in it. The biggest thing that I have figured out is that "cutting edge" does not mean purchasing the newest gimic equipment, rather figuring out best practices ar and implimenting them. Once I figured that out I have baughten in to the statement.
I would like to think our program is moving toward using best practices for student achievement but is lacking in the cutting edge arena. I feel many assessment, grading, and teaching tools have been changed for the betterment of our students to reach our goal.
"To be recognized as a progressive, cutting edge program that utilizes best practices to achieve accepted standards."
--As we begin a new school year I feel that keeping this mission statement fresh in our minds is very important. I know it can be hard to keep up with cutting edge, but we need to remember that even small changes can make a major difference. I think if we continue to work together we can make some great strides this school year.
Change is difficult. Once I started teaching a lot of things were already set in place. Sure I got to try a few of my ideas, but a lot of times I just did what has been the norm. I want to jump aboard and be able to do this, but do we have the time and committment from others?
"To be recognized as a progressive, cutting edge program that utilizes best practices to achieve accepted standards."
As a PE teacher who is trying to change current practice, I think of a cutting edge program as one that has access to funds that we do not. However, I do realize that it does not have to be this way and there are many ways to lead with funding. I do believe that it is important to use best practice to teach and assess our students using the PE standards. I am still looking for a lot of ways to do this best.
I also believe that at times we need to take a step back and remind ourselves as to WHY we all went into teaching. I think this can get lost in the day to day shuffle of e-mails, meetings, and paper work that consumes our days. I feel that at times we do not do what is best for our kids but what makes us look good in the community and what gets good scores posted in the paper.
"To be recognized as a progressive, cutting edge program that utilizes best practices to achieve accepted standards." I believe I am in the process of improving my teachings towards being cutting edge through literacy and assessments. So in answering the question, I have baughten in to the process, but there is far more improvement to make.
Although I agree with and am willing to work towards becoming a cutting edge program, I feel we have had a difficult time getting ALL department members to "buy in" to it. Until we are all ready and willing to become a cutting edge program, we will have a hard time being successful.
Wanting to improve my student’s perspective on physical education I have strived to use best practices in my planning and assessments. However, I have not linked that desire from our mission.
As for becoming cutting edge I think it will take some time, patience and dedication from everyone.
I have bought into the Mission Statement for the most part although there are a couple issues I think that we need to work out. We need to outline a specific plan for each level in order to align our curriculum with all levels.
Once I understand what the junior high expects of us regarding skills, cognitive development, technology, etc....we will be ready to go forward with the goals specified in our mission statement.
An understanding of what the incoming 6th grade students have learned at the elementary level is will give us a starting point.
I believe that we can be on the cutting edge, but that could improve new practices that out of us have not done before. It is thinking outside of the box. Change is difficult and we have to look at the whole picture which is what is good for our students. I am willing to change practices with ideas shared by the group.
I agree change is difficult, but we as a group are working towards it. I think that the group we have together today is going to allow us to be more affective as a vert team and allow us to work towards our goals.
I agree that we need to define what "cutting edge" means. How and what would a cutting edge program look and work? Maybe we need to research other districts are doing and try to lean from them.
After reading several posts, I see that change has been a common theme. I think that change is necessary but we also need to make sure we are changing based on best practices. It is frustrating at times to put something in place for one year and then the next year have something else in place. Was this change necessary? Was it based on best practice? Was student assessment results used to make this change? I think these questions need to be asked.
I do agree everything we approach to improve has to come down to does this new technique increase and improve student learning
I agree that we do need to remember what is most important, and that is what is best for kids. Sometimes we do get lost in our emails, phone calls, standards, and everything else, and we need to step back and look at what is best for the classes that we are teaching.
Someone mentions small changes, baby steps. One change could lead to another and another etc.. I think we are heading in the right direction but we all need to be on board! Everyone needs to pull their own weight.
I think it is sad that we have been doing vert teaming for 3+ years and we still don't even lnow what incoming students are expected to have mastered and the expectations of the next level. This reinforces the need to go a different direction with our meetings.
I also agree that change is very difficult. However, we have made great progress within the past year or so in every building. We need to remember this is a long process and we may not have instant gratification.
I think the term cutting edge could be alittle misleading. I think finding new proven techniques to engage student learning is the way we should follow.
I agree with the post regarding cutting edge and high tech expensive equipment. I think we can be cutting edge but not have to rely on money or spend a lot of time writing grants. I feel we need to look at ways of being cutting edge and not rely on funds. I think the Jr. High has done a great job implementing cutting edge assessments.
In response to a comment about knowing what our students know when they come to us and what they need to know when leave us for the next level, I feel that if we can't answer that then what have we been doing in vertical teaming for going on four years? Being a part of the vertical team for some time, I feel that I have resources to go to find this but can't answer either of the questions off the top of my head. I should be able to do that.
I agree. Change is a big thing. It requires us to step out of our comfort zone and try new ideas and practices. If we do not extend ourselves, how do we expect to make improvement? We cannot continue to do the same thing yet expect different results!!!
We can't be rushed into this. It is like a classroom. So many different talents and abilities. Some of us are struggling today with the computer and following these directions. Some of us are dang near done and hoping to go quicker. We need to find a way to meet everyone's needs and utilize their strengths and weaknesses.
I agree with the post on looking at the students needs and using what works for them. Using the Wiki will allow us to collaborate more and spend less time on the computer, phones, or emails.
Thank you for all the interesting perspectives and insight...hopefully this discussion can continue after we have left this room - that is what is great about technology, we don't have to be physically in the same space to communicate.
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