What should I being doing for my child?

What should I be doing for my child?

Often, I get asked this question by involved and dedicated parents.  My response has changed over the years!  15 years ago, I would have told parents to get out the math books and do enrichment math, or get ahead, or challenge kids with writing activities, reading the classics, and taking on classes or workshops.  The more, the better!  

Now, I ask:  what is your child doing outside of school?  

Because, usually the child is involved in a plethora of outside sports, enrichment classes, language classes, music classes, or art lessons.  Which, can be a great thing for the child.  

But..now I wonder....and respond:  "does your child have 'down time'? " - a phrase used quite often in our family.  Down time is our children's time to tinker, hang out, maybe play video games, or read, or even watch TV!  We have down time because the rest of the time the boys are doing homework, or skiing, or involved in some hyper intense activity.

I also ask parents:  Does your child read?  Does your child get outside and exercise?  Does your child turn off the technology, and have time away from screens?  This is because I think it is vastly important to not only have "down time" but also time to get away from technology and to interact with real people and real situations in the world.

Above all, parents need to be connected with their kids,  provide time for the family to be together, and finally, provide "space" so that children can relax and be kids.  

I am noticing that more and more parents and children are anxious.  Anxiety is running rampant throughout our highly industrialized and complex society.  This constant worry about "getting ahead" and "providing everything" for our children is not helpful to this young generation.  You and your children have everything you need, and the best gift you can give your child is the ability to relax, enjoy life, and take pleasure in the small things! 

Individual Projects

In just under a week, we will be seeing students for the seminar on "Individual Projects".  Here, we will be taking students through the steps in order to carry out research on a topic area of their choice.

I have sent out a letter to the schools requesting the following so please make sure students have the following information:

1.     Students should have an idea of something they would like to study for their individual project.  This should be a topic/person/historical event/concept they are interested in learning more about, or something they are passionate about. 

      

2.     If a student has an area of interest, he/she should begin to think about specific questions concerning their topic. 

3.     The student needs to bring in some primary sources for researching their project.  This can be books from the library, or on-line resources.  Although we have wireless internet in the classroom, we only have a few computers.  Therefore, students can bring in their own laptops, ipads, or computer devices whereby they can get online.  All items will be secured and locked up during recess and lunch, so there is no need to worry about items being lost or stolen.  

4.     WE will be learning about the following:

·      How to research using on line resources, primary resources, and how to take notes and put information into our own words.

·      How to put a project together in four days.

·      How to share and present learning to others in an original format.

·      How to create effective products of learning to demonstrate understanding.

·      It is hoped, by completing this seminar, that students are able to create their own projects in the future in a comprehensive format!

Thank you for sending your child/student to the challenge centre.  If you require more information, please feel free to contact me at Brock Elementary at 604-713-5766 or email me at:

mwiesinger@vsb.bc.ca

21st Century Learning is alive and well

The buzz word in education for the last two years has been "21st Century Learning".  What is it and what does it mean?


The idea of 21st Century learning as outlined in the Ministry of Education's website is a framework for how we teach and learn in our knowledge based society.  These ideas and principles in the document "A Vision for 21st Century Education"  are similar to the ideas that have guided our practice in gifted education: 

Here's what some of the document says about how to transform our current state of education - in other words, let's move in this direction:

A Flexible Educational Path: The transformed system would have a flexiblecurriculum that allows for more in depth study. Early in the student’s education the curriculum will remain structured and focus on the foundational skills. As the student progresses and gains more understanding and life experience they will, with the assistance of teachers and parents, take on more responsibility for choosing their educational path. The student would still have to achieve learning outcomes but focused on the student’s particular interests. This requires an “integrated”, “project-based” or “problem-based” approach to learning which will enable the student to understand how the skills they are learning are integral to their future life.
A Blended System: The system would have a mixture of face-to-face classroom and online learning. It would also incorporate the immense range of learning
opportunities outside the classroom. Some students would prefer a heavier emphasis on classroom learning while others may prefer the options of online learning. There has already been a strong uptake of online learning in BC.

Access to Learning Objects and Teaching Tools: Technology allows for better
access to learning objects, teaching tools, and information. This is important for
students, parents and teachers to collaborate in creating an individualised learning path that incorporates the information they need to know in more customised ways.

Open Access to Information Systems: Students need to be able to access
information. Unfettered (but not unguided) access will allow them to learn and to teach themselves as they go forward. Furthermore, access to information will allow students to make informed decisions about their interests and understand the implications of new information for potential career decisions.

Constant Feedback and Assessment: While the system will be more flexible, there is a need for assessment based standards that will be higher in the future than they are today. Technology can provide new options for assessment and improving learning outcomes. In particular it allows for timely assessment so that students, parents and teachers can be informed during, not after, learning and in ways that allow for correction and celebration.

The document goes on to state that as we move to a knowledge based society, we need to develop certain skills and attributes.

Skills and Attributes for a 21st Century:

• Functional Numeracy and Literacy  
• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
• Creativity and Innovation
• Technological Literacy
• Communications and Media Literacy
• Collaboration and Teamwork
• Personal Organisation
• Motivation, Self-Regulation and Adaptability
• Ethics, Civic Responsibility, Cross-Cultural Awareness 

What do we do in the Challenge centre that supports these ideas?  

We develop these skills and attributes on a daily basis:  critical thinking and problem solving; creativity, collaboration, motivation, and ethics! 

Furthermore, we support students in a flexible education path that is driven by their needs and desires as learners.


This is powerful information.  We are heading in an interesting and thought- provoking direction in terms of what education will look like 10-20 years from now.  It is very exciting and also very daunting...but the possibilities are endless...

What do you think of 21st Century learning?

21st Century Learning is alive and well

The buzz word in education for the last two years has been "21st Century Learning".  What is it and what does it mean?


The idea of 21st Century learning as outlined in the Ministry of Education's website is a framework for how we teach and learn in our knowledge based society.  These ideas and principles in the document "A Vision for 21st Century Education"  are similar to the ideas that have guided our practice in gifted education: 

Here's what some of the document says about how to transform our current state of education - in other words, let's move in this direction:

A Flexible Educational Path: The transformed system would have a flexiblecurriculum that allows for more in depth study. Early in the student’s education the curriculum will remain structured and focus on the foundational skills. As the student progresses and gains more understanding and life experience they will, with the assistance of teachers and parents, take on more responsibility for choosing their educational path. The student would still have to achieve learning outcomes but focused on the student’s particular interests. This requires an “integrated”, “project-based” or “problem-based” approach to learning which will enable the student to understand how the skills they are learning are integral to their future life.
A Blended System: The system would have a mixture of face-to-face classroom and online learning. It would also incorporate the immense range of learning
opportunities outside the classroom. Some students would prefer a heavier emphasis on classroom learning while others may prefer the options of online learning. There has already been a strong uptake of online learning in BC.

Access to Learning Objects and Teaching Tools: Technology allows for better
access to learning objects, teaching tools, and information. This is important for
students, parents and teachers to collaborate in creating an individualised learning path that incorporates the information they need to know in more customised ways.

Open Access to Information Systems: Students need to be able to access
information. Unfettered (but not unguided) access will allow them to learn and to teach themselves as they go forward. Furthermore, access to information will allow students to make informed decisions about their interests and understand the implications of new information for potential career decisions.

Constant Feedback and Assessment: While the system will be more flexible, there is a need for assessment based standards that will be higher in the future than they are today. Technology can provide new options for assessment and improving learning outcomes. In particular it allows for timely assessment so that students, parents and teachers can be informed during, not after, learning and in ways that allow for correction and celebration.

The document goes on to state that as we move to a knowledge based society, we need to develop certain skills and attributes.

Skills and Attributes for a 21st Century:

• Functional Numeracy and Literacy  
• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
• Creativity and Innovation
• Technological Literacy
• Communications and Media Literacy
• Collaboration and Teamwork
• Personal Organisation
• Motivation, Self-Regulation and Adaptability
• Ethics, Civic Responsibility, Cross-Cultural Awareness 

What do we do in the Challenge centre that supports these ideas?  

We develop these skills and attributes on a daily basis:  critical thinking and problem solving; creativity, collaboration, motivation, and ethics! 

Furthermore, we support students in a flexible education path that is driven by their needs and desires as learners.


This is powerful information.  We are heading in an interesting and thought- provoking direction in terms of what education will look like 10-20 years from now.  It is very exciting and also very daunting...but the possibilities are endless...

What do you think of 21st Century learning?