Day 131: Grade level and School Wide Incentive Day!

Day 131 marks the end of the 3rd quarter and also the start of spring break! The staff and students have work so hard for the 1st 3 quarters and will enjoy the next week off. What a great time to reflect on the 1st 3 quarters and to reenergize ourself for the 4th and final quarter of our blended learning journey for the 2015-16 school year. Our grade levels had their behavior incentives this afternoon and our monthly school wide incentive today. Rarely, the calendar works out this way for us to have two incentives on 1 day. The great thing about our incentives is that the school wide incentive every child can participate and the grade level incentives have to be earned through grade level criterion. Below is a picture of students in 2nd grade enjoying their incentive. The students who did not participate in the grade level incentive get a chance every month to participate school wide with the hope that it will motivate them to meet the criterion for grade level incentives. Great to see the students celebrating their successes! Have a great spring break!

2nd grade students enjoying their behavior incentive! 

Day 130: Time, Place, Pace, Path

Day 130: In the 3 part definition Michael Horn and Heather Staker released in their book blended, they express that Blended Learning is a formal education program in which a student learns 1)at least in part through online learning with some element of student control over the time, place, pace, and or path. 
2)At least in part in a supervised brick and mortar location away from home. 3) And the modalities along each student's learning path within a course or subject which are connected to provide an integrated learning experience. The highlighted portions are what I have really been enjoying as I muse upon their definition. Below are some highlights from today. Match the phrases with the pictures.

Day 129: Teaching students is a great joy!

Day 129: One thing that I hope that never diminishes with us educators in midst of so many activities and daily events is the joy of working with and teaching students. It is so great to see teachers at HDES work so diligently to provide our students with a great learning experience! Below are some highlights from today.

Day 128 BL T.O.W. MRS. BATES 'I am to reach each student's needs...'

Mrs. Bates is becoming a blended learning extraordinaire!

BLENDED LEARNING TEACHER OF THE WEEK: MRS. BATES

Q. How long have you been teaching? This is my 6th year teaching. I have taught all 6 years here at Hanford Dole Elementary. I taught 3 years in 5th grade and this is my third year in 1st grade.

Q. What grade do you teach? First Grade

Q. How has your first year went with BL implementation? I have absolutely enjoyed implementing blended learning into my classroom. I knew that there would be challenges, however, the impact that it has made on my student's learning is amazing. I feel that I am able to incorporate teaching best practices and expand my student's ability to learn. The support that I have received from my teammates and administrative team has also been a huge help in making this transition possible. 

Q. How has BL changed your thoughts about teaching? The success that I have seen through my students data has truly help boosted my self-confidence as a teacher. I feel that I am making a difference and that I am beginning to master my trade. I feel that I am able to reach each student's needs as a learner and we are able to thrive in the classroom. 

Q. If you had one word to describe BL what would say and why? I know it is two, but I would summarize blended learning as, "Game-Changing." The implementation of blended learning has definitely been game-changing in my classroom. 

Day 127: 10 reasons of why Blended Learning

Day 127: 10 reasons among millions of reasons why Blended Learning is a great instructional model:

1) Student Centered
2) Personalized Learning
3) True Teacher Facilitation
4) Meets the needs of ALL Students
5) Learning is fixed, time is the variable
6) Technology is leveraged and purposeful
7) Instruction is truly Data Driven
8) Modalities are interconnected
9) Students feel successful everyday and have fun with friends
10) Student agency and ownership...

What are your top ten reasons of your instructional model? How do they compare to this list of ten?

Day 126: Teacher leaders produce student leaders

Day 126: Teacher leaders produce students leaders. A Teacher who models and demonstrates excellence have students who do the same thing! The greatest compliment you can get is when students mimic your behaviors! Below are highlights of Day 126!

Day 125: Is your school student centered?

Day 125: Every day I drive in to work, I ask myself a question as I prepare for the day: Is our school student centered? I believe this is the ultimate goal of every teacher, administrator, and parent that is serious about helping students grow into their potential. So thankful that Blended learning makes this possible inside and outside the class. Personalizing the students day is the highest level of student centeredness! As we continue on our journey, we continue to look for ways to make our classes and schools student centered. Check out the ways our awesome teachers are making this happen!

Day 124: Success and Fun with Friends

Day 124: Below are the highlights of today showing our students making progress and having fun with their friends as they enjoy engaging, interactive lessons. So many wonderful things happen in schools everyday. Focus on the positives!