Students Make for JAMazing Teachers!

It was the best 45 minutes of my day on a Friday after a long week! It was a Student Focus Group comprised of two students from each grade level along with a few adults. We just sat around the table talking and there was this positive chatter and energy that I really cannot describe - you'd have to experience it yourself to truly understand the impact. Students were randomly selected; they didn't have to be the top students nor struggling learners - just students who would be open, honest, and willing to share all things JAMS. And so they did...politely of course! As two students would begin to speak at the same time, one would graciously offer the other a chance to begin first. The mutual respect and understanding these students demonstrated toward one another was commendable, especially given the fact that none of the students knew their upper or lower grade level counterpart. It was clear from the start that the commonality each shared was a love for learning and excitement toward our school!

Because of our 1:1 device initiative this year, it didn't take long before the pros and cons of this new type of learning entered the discussion. I wasn't surprised by many of the positive comments students relayed in response to how the added technology assisted with organization, research, resources, etc. However, my heart sank a bit when unanimously, students mentioned how they missed being able to interact more with other students as well as their own teachers. For example, one student noted that although they are encouraged to share documents and collaborate on that document with other students from the same class, they could be sitting right next to each other and never talk. In addition, another student mentioned how videos are incorporated into instruction now and although in many cases this helps reinforce the concept or skill being taught, it works as a deficit when it replaces the instruction from the teacher. 

I learned so much from students during this one class period. They love technology but they love other things too: spending time with their classmates and teacher(s), interacting in meaningful ways outside of something technology-based, and getting their hands dirty (specifically with science labs) are just a few items mentioned by this group. As I sat there hanging on their every word, I thought so much of this is just common sense but could it be in our effort to infuse technology to enhance instruction we may have lost sight of building relationships, communication and community-building?

Another fruitful facet of our conversation had to do with choice. Students mentioned that although choice was almost always included within assignments, the choices are not always of interest to them. For example, one student recalled a recent assignment where three historians were provided as topic options. The student had an inclination toward a fourth historian of whom wasn't an option. When I asked if the student brought it up to the teacher to see if it could be an option, the student said it was just easier to go with the options presented but that she really wasn't into it as a result.

After the discussion ended and the students went back to class, the adults in the room reflected. We all agreed that the information received was eye opening; it would help in providing our educators the information necessary to tweak instruction. It would also help in goal setting and professional development opportunities but more importantly, it would help our kids get what they deserve - experiential learning opportunities that incorporate creativity, collaboration, communication and community-building. Remember, it is clear our kids already love learning and share an excitement toward our school - in spite of some of the minor glitches each may have noted. Imagine we tweak things every so slightly based on the information they provided during the focus group. Imagine what THAT would look like?? I can't wait to see it all unfold and am forever grateful for the honesty, openness, and willingness of these students to share things of which I know will make a difference!

The #JAMazing Race by J. Valentine & K. Tsaoys

It was a hot summer’s day (August 21st to be exact) when a JAMS teacher retweeted Dave Burgess’s retweet of Misty White’s APP-Mazing Race idea! “This could be fun!” is what the teacher posted. Little did we know then JUST how much fun we’d have...from the planning, to the set-up, to the implementation, to reviewing the feedback - a #JAMazing time was had by all!

The timing was perfect since the 2015-2016 school year was about to start and we would begin a 1:1 device initiative using chromebooks. In order to succeed with this extremely exciting journey, we needed our teachers to be open-minded, flexible, and supported  More importantly, we wanted to create something awesome that teachers would find relevant, meaningful, and useful for classroom use. After all, our kids deserve the very best! #Makingmemories

The original plan Misty created was spread over the course of a few days. Our version would need revision since it would serve as this year’s PLC kick-off where time is always of the essence! PLC start time begins at 3:15 and ends at 4:30 so the planning needed to be perfect.

The first planning day took place in September. We discussed our vision: allowing staff to work together as a team while learning about different APPS and having fun! FUN was a key component! We discussed challenges, clues, team captains, prizes and t-shirts - the list goes on and on.   To really get the excitement going we wanted to place a bug in their ear to get them thinking about what they were going to experience during the #JAMazing Race.  Thank you Twitter!

During our intense brainstorming session we created five challenges that we felt would help our teachers learn but also could be replicated in the classroom. Each challenge seemed to have a stamp of approval from each member of the planning team. Some of us were way more enthused than others but having someone who wasn’t overly enthused on the team was helpful, this allowed us to anticipate how some staff members may react. Those moments didn’t bring us down though, we knew some wouldn’t like the plan but we also guessed that the majority would love it.

Here’s what we created:

• Challenge 1:  Discover a platform to share their learning.
• Challenge 2:  Embrace the power of a Selfie
• Challenge 3:  Create an Edpuzzle
• Challenge 4:  Have a Google Hangout
• Challenge 5:  Tweet out their Learning

As the day drew near, we worked feverishly to make sure all the details were covered: teachers had to form teams, we created hints that would be fun by using youtube videos and QR codes. The weekend before the JAMazing Race took place we had a working brunch where we made t-shirts for JAMazing Race Facilitators and Champs. Every aspect had to be FUN...if the teachers were having fun then we were hoping it would mirror in their classrooms.

After some smack-talk in the twitter universe, the day arrived and the excitement was contagious. Some staff came dressed in team colors, others created team names; ALL came to win! The start of the race was pretty simple. The staff convened in the cafeteria and were given a brief overview of the rules: they must collaborate, follow their team color-coded QR codes, not to coerce the judges in any way but most of importantly have FUN!!! With only one hour and fifteen minutes….every minute mattered!!!

With the sound of the whistle, the teams began the first challenge like their lives depended on it. The challenges were varied in that team clues lead them to different locations around the campus.  This allowed no teams to just follow one another.  Once at that location, they would use the Scan QR app to open the challenge doc and get to work.

The timing was planned perfectly! Although groups finished at varying times, we set up a short reflection piece for each team to complete after passing through the finish line. Meanwhile, the other teams were able to complete their mission while our judges kept tally of who was in the lead. (This is an important part to note since at first, it seemed confusing to a few of our teams. The team who finished first may have initially thought they won the race but because our challenges were based upon varying point totals, it was the team with the highest number of points who won the race.)

While challenges took place, race facilitators were stationed in each challenge location. The facilitators were not privy to the details of the race, this allowed us to create authentic learning experiences where teams worked together...and did they ever! The excitement, fun, laughter, and silly moments were never lacking!

Once all the teams finished, they were directed to reconvene in the cafeteria where first, second, and third place winners were announced - along with their point totals since the scores were so close! A round of applause was provided to the first place team along with their choice of two prizes and the JAMazing Race Champs 2015 t-shirts!

One of the best parts of the whole JAMazing race experience was what later happened in clasrooms. Teachers were so excited with what they learned that we started to see some of the challenges revisited throughout the school; teachers took the concept and made it their own in and out of the classroom. Students scurried through the hallways to find different QR codes and excitedly shared what they were doing and why. Word traveled and soon, other students knew what they would encounter as they got to certain classes throughout the day - it truly was #JAMazing!

Making Memories Over Memorization!

I've been thinking about my first blog for about a week now and before I get started, I will say - there was definitely this underlying pressure involved with coming up with something I thought would be of interest. Would anyone want to read what I write? Do I have anything really important to say? But then today, a staff member talked about his reflection of a recent book he read and how this year he is going into the school year not caring what anyone else thinks. If he wants to be goofy, he will be goofy - if he wants to dole our high fives or fist pumps, he will do that too. So there I was...inspired and encouraged to just begin to blog until my heart's content and not care what anyone else thinks! And so away I go....

With a little over a week until the start of the 2015-2016 school year, a lot of thought, planning, purpose, and collaboration have gone into what I hope to be an AMAZING school year. Of course, there are a lot of cool gadgets and gizmos that will hopefully, ignite the spark to learning. From 3D printers to Lego construction to Genius Hour to stationary bikes to white boards boards for challenge questions (thanks Twitter peeps for so many inspiring ideas)!! The possibilities are endless.

However, gadgets and gizmos aside, what I really hope to make happen this year are awesome learning experiences for students. I want students to come to JAMS daily with a fire burning inside of them for the unknown; at the same time, I want them to leave yearning to come back and excited to talk to anyone and everyone about their experiences. This won't happen on its own. Although many students love the socialization of school - seeing their friends, etc. It will take more than just that to lure them into daily amazing experiences and the idea that school is cool! It will take intention and effort from every adult. It will take building connections, personalizing learning, supporting risk taking, and so much more to make this happen - and why shouldn't it happen; kids deserve it!

I've heard students describe the school day as "boring" where they learned "nothing" at one time or another as I'm sure others have as well. What if THIS year had the potential to be different? What if THIS year students were able to explore curiosity, discover new learning paths, and have fun - THIS is what learning should look like. No student should be burdened with memorization of facts or content. Instead, each and every student should have the opportunity to make memories each and every day. It will be the memories made in each classroom that will make for one AMAZING school year. So why not now? Let's all make it happen!