MSP from Chicago

Hey Folks
Listening to a Georgia group who are doing the same grant we have. Their district requires pre and post assessments every 3 weeks. I am picking up some good ideas, so far I have some texts for this summer and am planning on teaching using interactive notebooks. I also hope to meet with the prof early and often to help structure our class. I also plan on a focus on inquiry based and maybe Project based learning.

I hope to layout expectations early. If you have anything that you should have known sooner, let me know. I also want to have more of a hand in the on-line class. I am leaning toward making the on-line content rather than pedagogy.

If you know anyone who is interested, please encourage them to apply. Jen Richter is not planning to be with us, and Jim Smyth might be back, I don't know. How many of you are planning on returning?

Details about our Grant

Hey
did you know we are part of a national grant from the Departmetn of Education? I just put the pieces together, thanks to this site. Intersting info. Rick and I are heading to the regional conference on Sunday. I will try to bring good info back.

The online class is on! And I am going to Chi town!

Well about 8 of us are participating in the on line discussion group. I am getting a lot out of hearing other peoples idea and perspectives. Rick and I are going to the city of big shoulders, slaughter house to the world, Chicago. to be a part of the national convention for other MS3 types. Who would have thunk it.

Once I get permission, I will post the address to this blog.

I expect the rest of the kits to get in any day and will let everyone know when to expect the materials.

Update March 1

I will be using this as a way of communicating about the program. Especially for those of you out side of the district.

Hopefully everyone is registered for the on-line course, if not e-mail me at mwarner@mesastate.edu and I will help you with that.

We built kits and you should have them if you were there, I was not so as soon as I find out what happened I will be able to help.

we will order the missing equipment ASAP and get that out to you. Sara, you are our contact with the out of town three. I want to use the kit a lot between now and the capstone and share ideas. I will try to get pic and video. I hope everyone will try out as many labs as possible.

The Capstone is June 1,2 and 3. I plan to revisit the kits and look at what changed should be made to them, and we will walk the math people through some of the investigations.

Rick and I are going to Chicago to attend the National Conference of people who lead MS3 grants, April 1-3. I hope to come back with lots of ideas.

This summer will be Earth Science, we do not have a prof yet, but Rick is working on it. I talked with a couple of you about what you would like to see, I know I want some field trips, let me know if there is something you would really benefit from.

Once again, I am proven right.

It has been a long time since anyone has accused me of have poor self-esteem, so at the risk of sounding even more arrogant, I am good. Actually, we are good. Which I have predicted. My prediction, maybe even hypothesis, is if you give teachers a job, time and resources, then get out of the way, great things will occur. Take this week-end for example, although I had to leave at noon to go the the wrestling tournament, I know my group of teachers produced great things. I helped get them started, shared with them what I would like to see happen, listened to them and gave them the help they need. No protocols, whip-arounds or gallery walks. The secret ingredient here is time. I tried to value their time and I trusted that they would act like professionals. The result is our output way exceeded expectations.