Monday Musings
from The Kravis Center
April 22, 2019
Colleagues:
Sheesus! Was Clint Smith an awesome convocation speaker, or what? In honor of Mr. Smith's visit and all of the incredible student dance, music, and theater performances that take place in the months of April and May, the first section of these Musings is dedicated to the creative arts.
I've been thinking a lot about empathy lately. Did you know that some theorists believe that empathy is finite? I wonder how Smith, who stated that "Poetry is radical empathy," would respond to this theory.
Don't forget to check out the upcoming concerts, recitals, and student performances. The Music Review begins this Friday, the 26th!
In addition, please see all of the amazing professional development opportunities listed at the end of these Musings. From Kravis Center offerings on May 9 and 16th dedicated to student evaluations and goal setting to the Kingswood Oxford Institute for Educators of Color, there is something here for everyone! Last but not least, please sign up your classes for Open Classroom Week, which will begin next Monday, the 29th.
Rachel, on behalf of the Kravis Center
Innovative School Models
Mount Vernon Presbyterian School in Atlanta, GA has done some really innovative curricular work over the last several years. I actually connected one of my CL U.S. History classes with a MVPS school last fall and my students did a really neat project (see description here) worked closely with students from Atlanta to propose a 28th Amendment to the Constitution. The project was not perfect, and yet it presented both sets of students with the interesting challenge of coming to consensus on a values-infused proposal despite their very different backgrounds.
Please feel free to check out a copy of What Schools Could Be in the Kravis Center that highlights 100 schools that Ted Dintersmith visited from 2015-16. At the top of this discussion guide, Dintersmith suggests that students thrive most in PEAK (read more to learn about the acronym) classroom settings.
"Small in Size, Big in Innovation" focuses on the influence of smaller institutions on larger universities in higher ed.
"The Record of Everything You've Forgotten" highlights universities who are experimenting with transcripts that place more of an emphasis on experiential learning rather than traditional grades earned in a classroom setting.
The Creative Arts and "Extracurriculars"
Drama, debate, extracurriculars as antidotes to boredom at school
"In essence, two different logics reign in the same buildings. Before the final bell, we treat students as passive recipients of knowledge whose interests and identities matter little. After the final bell — in newspaper, debate, theater, athletics and more — we treat students as people who learn by doing, people who can teach as well as learn, and people whose passions and ideas are worth cultivating."
25 Life Skills Learned in theater
*Thanks to David McCamish, Sue Chrzanowski, and Jen McCandless for their suggestions for this section.
Accessibility
Host Shankar Vedantum ended last week's Hidden Brain podcast, which questioned the validity of personality tests, with these thought-provoking words: "Throughout our lives, we evaluate our children, our students, our friends and our colleagues. We enthusiastically look at tests that supposedly reveal the aptitudes and interests of others. What isn't always clear, to them or to us, is the power of these expectations to transform people's lives.
Sometimes, our beliefs lift people up - make them run harder, reach for more. Other times, our expectations attach leaden weights to wings and keep dreams from taking flight. I can't say I have much confidence in personality tests. But I've come to understand there is huge power in the faith we have in them."
Have you read about current integration efforts taking place in some parts of the U.S.? In areas of Brooklyn and Manhattan, parents - mostly white and affluent - are leading the way.
Spotlight on the BLT on James Lang's Small Teaching
In our last BLT meeting, we discussed, among other things, the importance of teacher feedback. One way to do this is through individual conferences, which don't necessarily have to take place outside of class.
Sadly, this Thursday will mark the last meeting of our BLT. Are you considering participating in a BLT next year? If you want to be convinced to do so, talk to Ewen Ross who believes that "everyone should participate in a BLT every year"! Phyllis Grinspan, Dennis Robbins, Laura Rochette, and Hudson Harper have also participated enthusiastically in our group.
Professional Growth Opportunities
If you are looking for more ideas, please remember that the Loomis Chaffee PD doc has many exciting opportunities to offer. If interested, talk with your Assistant Department Head or anyone in the Kravis Center.
May 9 and May 16 PD Sessions (7:45 - 8:45 am in the Kravis Center) to discuss and workshop how SET (student surveys) can and should inform our teaching. The first Thursday (5/9) will be focused on reviewing the SET results while the second session (5/16) will be used to set goals based on SET. Please be in touch with us if you'd like to survey your classes in advance of one of these sessions.
An invitation: Athena is looking for excellent, passionate, and diverse high school humanities teachers for a limited number of Summer Fellowships. Ideal candidates are English, History, Humanities, or Religion/Philosophy teachers hungry to find and join communities of educators with shared interests, teachers eager to share their best and favorite assignments, classroom activities and discussion questions, teachers excited to offer feedback to help others.
Only 1-2 more spaces available!! Take a deep dive into the neuroscience of learning with the authors of Neuroteach, Glenn Whitman and Ian Kelleher. Read more about the Science of Teaching and Leadership Academy at The Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning (CTTL) from July 21 - 25. Sara Deveaux attended last summer and would be happy to chat with anyone interested. Rachel Nisselson and Lena Sadowitz are signed up for July, 2019. 1-2 more spaces available.
Interested in learning more about project and problem-based learning? Read about an online opportunity from Amy Baeder. Read more about the Buck institute which is considered the gold standard in PBL training.
July 29-31 (College Park, MD): An entire conference dedicated to formative assessments. Formative Assessment Conference with Dylan Wiliam, Tom Guskey, Susan Brookhart and Jay McTighe (Understanding by Design). What an array of experts! Become the LC expert!
CAIS Conferences: The Connecticut Association of Independent Schools is offering a number of conferences in April and over the summer
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion PD opportunities
Race and Racism Workshop at Windsor High School
Windsor High School will hold another four-part series that will explore issues related to race, white privilege and how to combat individual/structural racism in our communities. Sara and Delphine have both completed this series, so feel free to send questions their way. This workshop will fill up, so register early! The dates are as follows:
Monday, April 29 - The History of Racism, part I
Monday, May 6 - The History of Racism, part II
Monday, May 13 - Understanding White Privilege
Monday, May 20 - Anti-Racism: Strategies and Tools
NAIS Inclusive School Network Institute in Potomac, MD on June 17-18.
Summer Gender Institute at Andover on July 28 - August 3.
The Race Institute for K-12 Educators at the Agnes Irwin School in Philadelphia on July 30 - August 1.
Power, Practice, Privilege: Unpacking Our White Selves at Georgetown Day School HS on June 18-21.
Please fill out this form for suggestions for Thursday morning PD opps.
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