contemplating a brave new classroom
related to my amazing action research project
Written by Celeste Kirsh
By no means do I think that I have ever been (or ever will be) the “smartest” person in any class I have ever taken. I think this fact has actually made me quite fortunate as a learner. In high school I knew, without any wavering, that if I put forth effort, I could grasp … Continue reading “Getting messy with mindsets”
Written by Celeste Kirsh
Whether or not you teach in a school with students who could be labelled as “challenging”, reading Jeffrey Benson’s “Hanging In” will prove to be time well spent, as any teacher can learn from the gut-wrenching and heart-string-plucking stories in this 180 page, 2014 text. This book was my final check mark on my “required summer reading” list … Continue reading ““Hanging In: Strategies For Teaching the Students Who Challenge Us Most” by Jeffrey Benson (a book review)”
Written by Celeste Kirsh
This text was as useful as it was brief. This 104 page manual on supporting character development in schools was a swift, enjoyable read that helped refresh my perspective on teaching and mentoring young people. Truthfully, I might not pick it up off a shelf had it not been on our summer reading list. I … Continue reading ““Breaking Into the Heart of Character” by David Streight (a book review)”
Written by Celeste Kirsh
A slight confession: I wholeheartedly admit that when I saw the book “The Price of Privilege” on our reading list, by Madeline Levine, I was in part hoping for a book that would pick apart the devastating effects of power and affluence in white communities and how this privilege not only affects those people who are oppressed, … Continue reading “The Price of Privilege by Madeline Levine (a book review)”
Written by Celeste Kirsh
I happen to be one of the lucky few who has happened to find herself teaching at a school whose ideologies regularly match her own. I am nurtured and nourished by the idea of reading juicy, provocative, and challenging texts over the summer to push forward my practice as a teacher. I even, dare I … Continue reading ““Quiet” by Susan Cain (a book review)”
Written by Celeste Kirsh
I think Ruth said it perfectly when she reflected at the end of the final F2F session that happened this past Friday, that it seemed like we were all just getting to know each other and then this Cohort thing is over. Perhaps it was because we all just went through something challenging together or … Continue reading “We were just getting to know each other…”
Written by Celeste Kirsh
[youtube]http://youtu.be/0ERX3g7dYLw[/youtube] Initially, at the start of the year, I thought that I would focus on a “21st century novel study”. This is what I tweeted out on the 24th of January: And then I started to consider where the areas of strength and challenges were with my class’s study of The Book Thief: some aspects of … Continue reading “2014 Final Reflection”
Written by Celeste Kirsh
This article, about the assessment of deeper learning, helps to put a few key ideas into context that connect to my action plan. Namely… – Students benefit from having a say in how they are assessed – The right feedback at the right time is essential – Reflecting at the end of a learning experience … Continue reading “Other people are saying it too”
Written by Celeste Kirsh
Authentic audiences, student voice / choice, SAMR friendly uses of technology, academic mindsets, thoughtful exhibition of student work, big ideas, essential questions, cross-curricular connections, and critical thinking…it’s enough to make my brain burst! In many ways I feel like going deeper into deeper learning and 21st century pedagogy through the DLmooc and Cohort 21 has … Continue reading “Making assessment planning as yummy as cookies”
Written by Celeste Kirsh
I have to admit that I have enjoyed the messiness of my journey this year to uncover and articulate my action plan. I knew that I wanted to explore something related to personalized learning and my English teaching specifically, but it really took me some murky moments to understand what I need to improve and … Continue reading “Revised Action Plan”
