Our Week in Review: Week 7 of 36: Giving Students HOPE

Thanks to Kelly Feimster and Salisbury NC Symphony, our students have the opportunity  learn how to play the violin. So may read this and wonder why this post is entitle HOPE...


Our school has over 95% free and reduced lunch students. Many of our students will never have an opportunity like this. 

HOPE  is Having Opportunities to Pursue Excellence...and this is one of those opportunities. 


Our 5th grade students have the opportunity to pursue excellence.

It is important that with Blended Learning, we make school FUN for students. When students enjoy coming to school, they excel. 

This opportunity provided to us by the NC Symphony is more than just students learning how to play an instrument...it is giving our students HOPE. 

When implementing Blended Learning, remember the importance of giving students an opportunity to have FUN at school. Create opportunities for students to pursue excellence in all areas of life, will optimize students blended learning experience.

Our Week In Review Week 6 of 36 ~ We Are Extraordinary

Swain County

Florence One School District









As I spent the weekend reflecting on what I should discuss in the week's review, a few weekly pictures popped into my head...


Hanford Dole's Superheros...our staff and students!






On Wednesday, we remembered Jacob Hall, the student from SC who was killed during a school shooting. Ms. Stepp suggested our school participate with others on this day to remember Jacob Hall. As I saw staff and students with their Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Avengers, and Spiderman shirts, I realized the power we have given our students to feel extraordinary.

A superhero can be defined as someone with extraordinary powers or someone who is exceptional. That is the best way to describe the impact Blended Learning has on our staff and students. It has given us extraordinary powers to always do our best in order to be exceptional at everything we do.

The smiles in the pictures above was not just for the camera, the implementation of blended learning as given all of us the power to be extraordinary and exceptional. 

This week we were able to share our passion for blended learning with two schools: Florence One School District (SC) and Swain County (NC). It is always an excited time for us when we are able to show other educators why we love blended learning. It is not because of the recognition It is the positive impact is has on the lives of our students everyday, making them extraordinary and exceptional.

As you continue to follow our Blended Learning Journey, you will see the extraordinary and exceptional things it is doing for our school. It has given us the opportunity to meet the needs of each individual student where they are. With Blended Learning we give our students the opportunity to be extraordinary and exceptional. 

Our Week in Review - Week 5 of 36 ~ Collaboration Station

Mrs. Bates' First Grade Class 

Over the past couple of weeks, we have shared with you our teacher directed station and our technology station. This week we are excited to share with you our collaboration station.

This station rotation is one of my favorites. Most classrooms have the collaboration station, but a few includes the individual station base on student need.

In the collaboration station, students are reviewing skills, reinforcing what was learned in their teacher directed station, or working with a group of students to complete a project or assignment.

Getting to have a discussion, make shared decisions, and/or design or create a product to show their understanding is powerful.

Mrs. Moore's 3rd Grade Class having fun reviewing math
skills.

The collaboration station provides students with 21st century skills. In this station, students are communicating, collaborating, creating, and critical thinking. Four skills that is essential in creating lifelong learners.



Our collaboration station allow students to engage in meaningful conversations that can extend their learning. Students learn a lot through these interactions

Students in Mrs. Smith's 5th Grade collaborating while writing.

Our Week in Review - Week 4 of 36 ~ Digital Tools

Last week's post was on our teacher directed stations. This week, we will focus on our technology station and the digital tools were are using with our students.  Our students are able to participate in a technology station for at least 15 minutes in both literacy and math.

We are fortunate to have many digital tools for students to participate in during their technology station.


Some of the digital tools we used in our technology station are: Smarty Ants, Achieve 3000, Raz Kids, Spelling City, Moby Max, TenMarks, Xtra Math, Khan Academy, IXL.

On Thursday, we hosted a Title 1 Parent Involvement Activity event to show parents all the digital tools we are using with our students. It was a great opportunity for parents to learn what we are using and how they can use them with their child at home.

Blended Learning is so important to our students because it gives them the opportunity to learn at their own pace, place, and time. Using these digital tools to assist in their journey is essential for their overall success.

Our Week In Review ~ Week 3 of 36 Teacher Directed Station

One of the most important part of blended learning is the direct instruction provided by teachers. We have adopted the Station Rotation model, where our students participant in at least 3 rotations. One of the required rotation is Teacher Directed.

We have disrupted education and eliminated the traditional learning of whole group instruction. No longer do our teachers stand in front of a board to teach an entire class. We have created small learning communities in the implementation of blended learning station rotations. In the teacher directed station, teachers spend more time working individually or in small groups with students to customize and personalize learning.

The teacher directed station delivers the content to students. In this station, the teacher is able to differentiate, customize, and personalize the content and delivery base on the group's ability. Teachers can also use the teacher directed station for remediation or enrichment. 

The magic that happens in this station is the relationship that is built between the teacher and student. Students are able to learn in a small group, that helps them learn better and build self-confidence.

If you are interested in visiting our school to see how we have disrupted education, contact our school.

Hanford Dole Elementary
704-639-3046
Principal: Michael Courtwright
Michael.Courtwright@rss.k12.nc.us

Our Week In Review ~ Week 2 of 36

Can't believe we have another week under our belt. Wednesday our Admin Team visited all classrooms for at least 5 minutes for our Blended Learning Walkthroughs.

Each class modeled and/or explained to us how they did their stations rotations. A Google Form was used to record how well the class did on their station rotations.

 Our 4th grade teacher Mrs. Daye created I Can statements for her students to learn and model classroom blended learning expectations.

Teachers creatively post student groups and rotations for students follow for math and reading. 4th grade teacher Ms. Ellis creatively has moveable names to easily switch students. 

For all smaller students, Mrs. Griffin and Ms. Blackwood uses visuals to remind students which group they are in.  

 Ms. Joyner uses this bulletin board for groups and her classroom blended learning expectations. She reminds them that their voice level during transitions is Level 0.

Students rotate in a least three rotations for both their math block and literacy block. A teacher directed station, a digital learning station, and a independent/collaborative learning station are required.

During our walkthroughs, we were so amazed how the students worked in their stations. Blended Learning has helped many of our challenging students to be more productive and engaged in class.

Students in Ms. Stepps class working math problems at the Promethean Board.

Ms. Rossi's homeroom class celebrating with doughnuts and juice for completing their multiplication songs!

Students in Ms. McNeil's class Hitting the Quan with Go Noodle for their brain break,

Students even participate in stations during PE with Coach V.

Ms. Smith's students in their teacher directed station. Focused!


Mr. Courtwright said from the walkthroughs, blended learning and connecting with students is the most current way to crack poverty.
Blended Learning provides students with an opportunity to have fun, be engaged, and learn in a small group.

Our Week in Review ~ Week 1 of 36

Our Week In Review ~ Week 1 of 36

School is back in session and so is our Blended Learning Journey. Our students and teachers got started with implementing our Blended Learning Rotations and a little Playlist integration into their instructional day. Even our Kindergarten students started blended learning this week. 

The most amazing part of our week (besides seeing the wonderful staff and students) was being recognized for all of the handwork our staff and students put in last year. Hanford Dole Bobcats Exceeded Growth...

What does that mean? It means we are growing our students! So continue to follow us through our Blended Learning Journey...here goes Blended Learning 2.0!