"Launch"ing New Programs

As a district, we continue to prioritze college and career readiness for students, and that means being purposeful in STEM programming as early as elementary school.  Last year, Sappington's fifth graders were the first to experience PLTW Lauch; this year, K-5 students are experiencing the program at Concord and Dressel through one of their block classes.  Through these pilots, we've been able to accommodate the need for additional class options for larger schools while gaining valuable input to further more universal and integrated K-5 programming.

A Kindergarten Example:  What structure will keep the big bad wolf from blowing down your house?

Students plan and design a structure to withstand the wolf's strength.

Testing their design - yes, that's a wolf attached to a leaf blower!

They can't even contain their excitement.

Future engineers build structures that withstand the force!

Reflecting on their design and its ability to withstand the force.

 A Third Grade Example:  How do varied natural forces result in increased erosion?

Students simulate forces of wind and collect the sand that's eroded, measuring and recording the data.

Students simulate the force of glaciers to collect more data.

What we see above are low tech examples of PLTW Launch...stay tuned to see how computer science is embedded in the program.

A Pictorial Peek Into Middle Schools

Science:  Measuring lung capacity with their own hot air, a balloon, and measuring tape

Science:  Graphing their data in multiple trials to find the mean and draw conclusions

ELA:  using annotation marks to document thinking during reading

ELA:  Post-it notes track student thinking while reading and serve as inspiration for reading journals

ELA:  Book clubs engage students in dialogue about reading

ELA:  A preview of novel choices helps students determine interest for future study, concluding in critical essays on characterization

Math:  Collaborative discussion helps students figure out the mathematical errors

Math:  Real life problems are solved through critical thinking, "Which product is the better deal?"

Math:  Online games help students further their mathematical fluency

Math:  Front Row helps students navigate learning based on current skills

LEAP:  Students apply learning in models of body systems, including coding to demonstrate the path food takes through the stomach

Lindbergh Learning - In Pictures

Word Walls are a key component of our Writers' Workshops

Using anchor charts throughout a unit helps writers when they get stuck

Another great word wall

Students keep track of their writing goals and have them out in front of them during writing time.

Check out this drafting!  

Anchor charts can easily be added on to each day with new content from the mini-lesson

100% student engagement...every student has an instrument!

Clear "I Can" statements help get the lesson started

Each student has a plicker and heart rate monitor assigned to them.  

A 2-dimensional industrial town - it's about to be redrawn...

Step by step directions to modify the town as it expands its industy

You can't see it here, but these students are collaborating to find the correct answer to their missed assignment...they must cite the source of their corrected work.

Bazinga! an engaging and fun formative assessment. Students in this Spanish class work together to get the correct answer. 

Clear learning goals connected to learning activities and assessments with the added bonus of Spanish and English directions

An anchor chart emphasizing appropriate civil discourse

Science notebooking with graphs and foldables

Drawing conclusion in science based on observation and using evidence to support that conclusion

Revising in writing:  each draft is a different color to emphasis the importance of the writing process

Reminding us all about a growth mindset

A class meeting provides closure to the days learning activity

Lindbergh High School Learns

A quick walk through the halls of Lindbergh High School highlights the innovation mindset that has infused energy into teaching and learning.  Whether it's project/problem-based learning (PBL) models of instruction or grading based on standards, the high school continues to reinvent learning for the 21st Century.  

Students demonstrate their understanding of yeast by designing a game for their peers.  Besides being fun, it also affords them problem-solving skills.  This isn't their first game - using peer feedback from their last design, they work to improve both the content and application of skills. 

Ever hear of ZipGrade?  It's an app that allows you to scan student assessments and get itemized data analysis to inform your instruction.  And, it's only $6.99/year.

In combination with multiple choice responses for ZipGrade, assessments add higher level application skills in a written format.

Math Notebooking:  Students reference both their class notes and use foldables to ensure understanding in their application of skills.

Students learn about efficiency as they experiment with ramp angles and collect data.

When the data doesn't add up, students question their procedure and readjust to ensure accuracy...all on their own!

A Snapshot of Lindbergh Learning

The pictures and captions below are just a snapshot of the great learning occurring in yesterday's walkthroughs.  Not every group took pictures, but the pictures we have speak to one of the primary purposes of walkthroughs:  identify practices throughout our schools and learn from the diversity of instruction.

MinecraftEdu

Making grammar real...

Anchor Charts

Book Club

Student:Student Feedback

Notebooking

Finding purpose in reading...

Connecting Learning Targets and Student Work

Reading Journals

Keeping the learning going...

"Uh What?" A student identifies his confusion on the marker board, resulting in responsive teaching.

Engaging rhythm and beats

 To see a "live" book club conversation, click here.