Part 1 – As the year ends…
The end to a very strange school year is upon us. Thank you for your service to our schools during these challenging times. As director I have no classroom, however, I have began to tutor students in my neighborhood online there is a new perspective on the challenges of transitioning to remote, or distance, learning. As a friend of mine says, “this year we are all first year teachers!” Oh, how I agree with her.
We want to assure you that we will try to support you as best we can as you deliver instruction online that is effective, but also reflects your teaching approach and vision. A recent article in Edutopia discusses this very issue.
“I was trying to engage my students in a manner similar to what I had used under typical circumstances. But the reality was that these were not typical circumstances. This was a crisis, and attempts to stay on the same path were futile. To help me chart my path forward, I needed to revisit my teaching philosophy and apply that philosophy to the new situation.”
Part 2 – Current participation requested if you are interested…
In addition, we have set up Roundtable discussions with teachers inside, and outside, the network to brainstorm and share ideas about what all this means as schools ponder various methods of reopening. Our next session is Thursday, June 4 at 4pm Chicago time. If you would like to join us, please send an email (aflaherty@conceptschools.org) and you will be added to our Zoom session.
We are working hard to plan new teacher, as well as returning teacher sessions, that reflect how we want you to use Google Suite (or other online tools) with your students such as Google classroom and slides. Our focus will be on how to select appropriate tools to deliver your kind of instruction online.
Here are two resources
Adjusting our Teaching Philosophies
- https://www.edutopia.org/article/revising-your-teaching-philosophy-crisis
- Eduprotocols – student-centered, time-bound, flexible lesson frames that are easily adapted for technology mediated instruction.
- A colleague of mine, outside the network, created these helpful videos:
- Specific Tech for English stuff
Wrap up of Concept English Events….
Writing Contest
Theme: You Find Your Truth Within
3-5th Grade
1st Place
Johndral White – Noble Cleveland
Abena Boynes – HSA Columbus Elementary
2nd Place
Jamie Butler – Noble Cleveland
Esther Igbekayi – HSA Columbus Elementary
3rd Place
Alexander Chisholm – Noble Cleveland
Honor Hayes – HSA Denison Middle
Honorable Mention
Bria Johnson – Noble Cleveland
Moriyike Owolabi – HSA Columbus Elementary
6-8th Grade
No entries
9-12th grade
1st Place
Aleena Redmond – MMSA Michigan
Beverly Rose – HSA Lorain
2nd Place
Daniel Angel – HSA McKinley Park
Bruce Tugce Iyiyol – GSA Fyler
3rd Place
Gabriel Crane – GSA Fyler
Zeynep Cetlin – HSA Lorain
Honorable Mention
Rowan Elliot – GSA Fyler
Spoken Word Competition
Theme: Lost & Found
Individual Free Form
Grace Murphy – GSA Fyler
Decker Elizabeth – Toledo
Michael Zamudio – McKinley Park
Monica Gonzalez – McKinley Park
Najah Martin – McKinley Park
Team Free Form
HSA Toledo – Aaron Rodgers, Tyrell Ragland, Antonio Bell
