iPads Take Over the School

The first day back to school after Christmas break was an exciting one.  Today was the deployment of iPads to each student and teacher.  The school received significant support from iSchool Campus and Apple.  The school was selected to be the sixth school in the Nation and the first on the east coast to be selected for this program.  


On hand for the deployment was presidential hopeful and former Utah Governor, Jon Huntsman.  Tagging along with Huntsman were member of the press from CNN, ABCNews, Fox and several newspapers.  

Following is the press release

Dec. 28, 2011: Strong Foundations Charter School receives NH’s first Smart School deployment from iSchool Campus.

Strong Foundations Charter School in Pembroke, NH is excited to announce an agreement with Utah-based iSchool Campus, which will begin NH’s first Smart School deployment on January 3, 2012. It will consist of over 200 iPads, one for every student and teacher, and more than a dozen advanced iMac computers.  Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who has a long record of supporting innovation in education in Utah, will be on site for a kick-off event from 10-11 a.m. This is NH’s first Smart School deployment by iSchool. Steve Pitcher, Venture Director for iSchool, says, “Smart Schools consist of more than putting iPads in every student’s hands. This deployment will create a safe, advanced wireless and networking infrastructure with more band width than most small cities, in one school. iSchool Campus technology makes the world the student’s campus.”

Kathleen McClaskey, Board Chair for SFCS and President of Ed Tech Associates, remarked, “1:1 computing is the future of innovation in education. Strong Foundations has been a model school for reading instruction, the Core Knowledge© curriculum, the integration of technology in the classroom and now, 1:1 iPads in the hands of every student.  I believe that the 1:1 iPad learning environment can truly level the playing field for all students."

 

Beth McClure, Principal of SFCS, says, “Our affiliation with iSchool has helped us begin using 1:1 devices years ahead of schedule. We will use a blended model of digital and traditional instruction, so students will have the best of both worlds. Our curriculum is one of our hallmarks, and that will stay the same. Teachers will receive professional development to help them become skilled at integrating this technology into their lessons.”

Waiting

Weekdays at 3:00 will find us here in the pick-up queue, waiting and listening to the goodness of all things NPR.  Today's listening pleasure, This American Life - Middle School.  

A New School Year

This school year brings a BIG change -- we are no longer homeschooling.  Alix is attending 6th grade at a local charter school.  The decision was made last spring after realizing it was time to give each other some space.  Over the summer I quietly listened to her tell people about the school.  I was happy and relieved that she was looking forward to the adventure.  A week before the first day, she received an email inviting her and the other girls in her class to an afternoon of bowling.  It was a fabulous ice-breaker.  By the end of the afternoon my social butterfly had spent time talking with each girl.  She left the bowling alley beaming with anticipation.   

Chance enters 5th grade at his same school.  His summer-long wish of having Mrs. Sullivan came true and as an added bonus two of his best friend are in his class.  He is ready ready ready to get started.

Our fingers are crossed as we embark on a new educational year.  Away they go!

How Many Pencils Does It Take?

When I came out to pick up the table for lunch I stopped and laughed at how many pencils Alix and I used this morning during Math.  Seven may be a little excessive. 

Thoughtfulness

I had two things on my To Do list for today -- pay some bills and make banana bread. Both were completed. But only one was completed with thoughtfulness. I was thoughtful of my grandmother (my mom's mom) as I pulled her handwritten recipe card from a small recipe book that she put together for me years and years ago. I was thoughtful of Grammie Greene (my father's mother) as I stirred the batter in a pyrex bowl she had purchased for me twenty-three years ago when I was setting up my first home. I thought of both these women and all the love they shared with me and I thought of how much I miss them both.

It Comes to an End

While at first glance this picture looks typical. What is different is Alix is working on homework. She completed her first day of public school 5th grade today. Just before the holiday break we decided to send her to school. She's been very happy going in for Specials (Art, Music, Gym and Chorus). She's met some new friends and seems very comfortable there. She seemed ready to give it a try. She was placed with the class she's been attending Specials with so she knew everyone in her class. Knowing that she knows everyone has relieved some of her nervousness.

For me, this means I am home alone for the first time since giving birth to Alix almost eleven years ago. I have mixed feelings about her being gone. I will miss her, but I know it is time. Her and I had been butting heads more frequently this school year and I didn't like what it was doing to our relationship. I think we were both ready not to be around each other 24/7. No regrets on our decision to homeschool and I feel pretty good we've made the right decision to officially end homeschooling. (It's not to say they won't still be learning things at home.)

Pow wow

The 5th graders at school have been studying Native American since the start of school. Each class studied a different region and within the class the students broke out into groups to study tribes within those regions. The study of Native Americans was also integrated into the Art and Music classes which Alix participated in. In Art class the students made pinch pots that were placed in the campfire for firing, clay beads for stringing, and spirit sticks. In music they learned songs and dances. Their studies and hard work culminated in the annual Pow wow.

The day started with the assembly of the tepee.

(tepee photos by fellow parent)


After a lunch, including some of the foods the 5th grade harvested from their garden, each class performed songs and dances from their region.

My favorite dance was the Ribbon Dance. Following is an explanation of the dance.

The dance begins with three couples. Each of the women carries a different colored ribbon. The first woman carries a red ribbon which represents the men of the tribe. The second woman holds a blue ribbon which symbolizes the women of the tribe. The third woman carries a yellow ribbon representing the Great Spirit. When the drum starts, the three couples separate into different directions, only to meet together at the center of the dance circle.

The men face the women and take one end of their partners' ribbon. Then, the men braid the three ribbons together to symbolize the coming together of a man and a woman with the blessing of the Great Spirit. The ribbons are then unbraided and encircled about the waists of the women. The women must unwrap themselves, turning to each of the four directions of the world - north, east, south, and west. Finally, the men return the ribbons to the women, the couples separate, and they dance their way out of the circle.

A Time for Change

There comes a time when one has to accept that things may not be working -- that it's time for a change. Some people come to this realization sooner, some later. I have been of the later group -- not quite ready to accept that things may not be working.

But this past week the realization hit me. After one more aggravating day of listening to Alix and Chance at each other, I made a decision. One that I have not been ready to make although many people have made the suggestion over and over again. I decided it was time to let Chance go back to school full time. He's been requesting, periodically, that he return to school since the day after we took him out four years ago.

In addition, because of spending nearly every waking moment together, A&C's relationship has been eroding. Their constant bickering, name calling, and general unkindliness was affecting our family.

So with nervous excitement on Chance's and my part, I brought him to school this morning. I said good-bye to him in front of school and watched him walk in with the rest of the 4th grade. As I drove home, I hoped I had made the right decision.

A New School Year

On our way back from the gym early this morning Paul and I drove to our neighborhood elementary school. Armed with sidewalk chalk we were on a secret mission. Our mission: to write encouraging messages to the students who would be heading off to school today for their first day.

We continued the messages all the way to our house where two additional children would be heading off to school today for one class. Alix and Chance will be going in to school for (specials)Music, Art, Chorus, Gym, and Musical Instrument lessons. They are thrilled to be doing this. The classes are 45 minutes long each day of the week at 8:40. I was able to choose the time of day and we decided the first slot of the day would work best with our homeschool schedule.

Alix chose to wear a skirt that I once wore back in 5th grade. I was so surprised with her choice. It was just so cool!

Alix and Chance loved finding each message along our walk. Although they did start rolling their eyes after reading "You are special" one too many times.

We had the best dinner conversation we'd had in a long time. A&C talked about their time at school for Chorus and while listening to them excitedly give us the details, I realized Hey there was actually a part of their day (albeit very small) that I didn't know about. How refreshing!

Doodlin'

This morning while adding and subtracting compound units in kilometers and meters, Chance had time for some doodling. I love the details of the hat and scarf.

I'm all for combining Math and Art.

Eggstraordinary Eggsperiment - Book of Days

I have been a follower of the blog Blue Yonder for awhile. In January the Blue Yonder family created a Book of Days. As described from their website:

Essentially, it is a monthly journal of mindful experiences, natural pursuits, yummy recipes, science experiments and time spent soaking in life's goodness. It's meant for any family that wants to spend time together, not just homeschoolers. Each edition comes with at least 12 illustrated pages to download, print and put in your own binder (you can make one for each child, or just make one big family book). The issues also come with a detailed Parent Field Guide that provides seasonal reading lists, ways to expand each month's activities, and ideas for slowing down and holding on to the magic of each day of the year.

I eagerly ordered the January issued and was pleasantly surprised with creativity and simplicity of the journal.

With the month winding down and a foot of snow in the forecast I thought today would be the perfect day to try the Eggstraordinary Eggsperiment from the Book of Days. Click on the photo below for directions. (use a brown egg not a white egg)

For a solid hour A&C did not take their eyes of their eggs. They noted their observations by the minute at first and then in longer intervals.

Within 30 minutes the vinegar/acid started to breakdown the eggshell/calcium carbonate. This was really fascinating to watch.

About thirty-six hours later the shell was completely gone with just a thin membrane covering the white and the yolk. Chance said it felt like a water balloon. It popped like one too.

Thank you Blue Yonder family for sharing this Eggstraordinary Eggsperiment with us.

Morning, Afternoon :: Learning

Spelling with http://www.spellingcity.com/ in the morning.

Thanks to this post at Pioneer Woman http://thepioneerwoman.com/homeschooling/2008/12/taking-spelling-online/ for introducing me to Spelling City.

We used it for the first time today. A&C thought it was way cool, me too, and it's free.





Math with Monopoly in the afternoon.

They were trying to finish a 3-day Monopoly game that included Paul until last night when he went bankrupt. I listened to their wheeling and dealing from the other room and thought how it sounded so much like the financial news on Market Place on NPR.