It's Alright, We Will Help You!

Last week Okoboji officially launched into a 1:1 (a computer for every student) learning environment. It is an exciting time to be a learner in Okoboji and around our great state of Iowa. Last year their were 16 schools in Iowa that had a 1:1 learning environment and this year that number is over 40 (Click here to view the map of 1:1 Iowa Schools). While the number of students in a 1:1 learning environment is rapidly growing, the even more important change is happening in the minds of students, parents, and educators.

In our not so distant past, learning was often contained to what could be found in the book or what the teacher knew. Information was confined and our mindset was such that if we studied the information in the textbook and memorized the notes from the teacher, then we were learners. I will never forget when my grandparents, in 1984, purchased a set of World Book Encyclopedia for our family. I remember thinking, "If I will just read these books and commit the information to memory, I will have all the information I need to know."

Today, a learning mindset needs to be completely different. Technical information (similar to information found in an Encyclopedia) is doubling every two years. Information is being added more rapidly than any human mind can keep pace with (Click here to see how fast social information is being created). A learning mindset today needs to be adaptable. A learning mindset today has to know how to manage and leverage, not memorize, information. A learning mindset today needs to realize that creating, collaborating, contributing, communicating, critical thinking, and character are keys to knowledge in our new information landscape.

Yesterday, Erin Frerichs admitted to her 7th grade class that she was a bit fearful that students would know more than she would on certain technological issues. Erin is an amazing teacher with phenomenal technology skills and her comment reflects something all of us can resonate with at some level. It reflects a thought process from our past mindset where information and learning can be contained. The most amazing part of Erin's comment is how it sparked one of her students to react. He stated, "It's alright Mrs. Frerichs, we will help you!" This student's comment is a great example of the new learning mindset. Mrs. Frerichs, as well as teachers across our state and nation, are giving up the control of "knowing it all" and releasing control to a new information and learning process. A process where filtering, analyzing, applying, creating, synthesizing, and evaluating information is the key to knowledge. A process where we overcome our fears and enter into a new journey of co-learning. A process where teachers like Mrs. Frerichs are selflessly giving up control for the purpose of empowering their students. Erin's example is a microcosm of the wonderful change we are seeing in so many teachers in Okoboji. I also am seeing this same mindset change in teachers across school districts in Iowa and our nation. If you are a parent, student, or educator reading this and you are a bit fearful of giving up control, please know that everything is alright, because in this new learning environment, we will help you! You are not alone.

Get a Little Crazy

I was looking through a few videos from this last school year and I came across this unpublished video of Tyler, an OMS student, trying to cook a hotdog on a very cold winter day. I remember walking into my office last year when I saw Tyler outside crouched over this unusual looking contraption. I immediately grabbed my coat, a flip camera and hustled outside for a quick interview. As I reviewed this clip today I thought to myself, how often do we go crazy about learning in school? When I say crazy, I don't mean going literally insane, but rather willing to risk a bit in order to push ourselves and empower others to learn in new ways. Bob Miller, Okoboji's Superintendent, always asks potential candidates in job interviews if they are risk takers. I love this question because it is very telling of a person's comfort with change and new ideas. I also think it gets at the heart of the most important attribute a teacher and administrator can have: Adapability. We are always talking about how we are preparing our students for an unpredictable world. Adaptability, therefore, becomes a necessary and vital character component for all teachers and administrators because the only thing we can predict with certainty is that there will be change. So, come on, embed a bit of crazy into your learning experiences. It doesn't matter if you are a parent, student, teacher, or principal. Your willingness to risk, think, and learn will encourage others to do the same. Thanks Tyler for being a little "crazy" and inspiring me.

Who Owns the Learning?

This week marks the last full week of summer break for the students of Okoboji. It is completely normal to experience feelings ranging from anxiety to excitement as we all look forward to a year of school. What excites me the most is the potential that every year holds for learning. Two weeks ago the Okoboji administrative team heard Alan November speak to school administrators from around Iowa as he challenged us to create classrooms much different than many which exist today. (Click here for a schedule of when Alan's talk will be aired on IPTV). The classrooms he describes will leverage the power of technology and great teachers to ignite a passion for learning in students and propel them to desire a continuous learning mindset in their lives. While I use the word different to describe the kind of classroom he challenged us to create, I was most impressed by the simplicity of the change. With just a few small tweaks, every classroom teacher can begin to shift their learning environment to help maximize the learning potential for every student. Here are a few simple questions November encouraged us to ask ourselves in order to assess the type of classroom environment which is currently being created and nurtured:

• Are students empowered in your classroom to contribute?
• Who works harder in your classroom, teachers or students?
• Does the teacher or the student own the learning?

While these are very simple questions, the answers have the potential to quickly assess the impact of learning in a classroom. We are entering an exciting time in education. Technology advances are moving at an exponential rate. Information is being developed and added faster than ever before in human history. But with this excitement of the new and amazing developments, we need to really sit back and ask ourselves if we are preparing our students to engage in this new information environment. If a student does not feel they are connected to the learning, then the advancement of technology, the expansion of new information, and the power of high-level learning will be missed. A great teacher is the most important variable in a student's learning experience. A great teacher is one who realizes the most important thing they can do is enable their students to take on the ownership of learning. With the potential to connect every student to a world of knowledge, we all need to work hard to make sure our students are stepping forward with the skills to engage in this world. What we need now more than ever are teachers willing to give up control for the good of their students. Teachers willing to use their wisdom to guide students through an ever-changing information landscape. And most importantly, teachers who believe the best thing a student can do is to leave their classroom more excited about learning than when they entered. When that happens you can surely say the students are the owners of the learning.

Summer Learning

What are you learning this summer? One thing we all know is that we learn everyday, no matter what the circumstances. Summer offers students (and staff) the opportunity to learn with the freedom that only comes from this time of year. To keep up your academic progress over the summer, here are a few ideas you can implement to help your learning progress and come into next school year ahead of where you left in May!

1. READ: This is the most important thing you can do to keep learning going. Pick up a book, magazine, or read online...it really doesn't matter the source--JUST READ (and try to read everyday)!
2. Google Reader--ever heard of it? Check out this video on what Google Reader is (or any RSS Reader) and how you can set one up for yourself. It is a great way to filter the internet and create a personal learning environment for yourself.
3. Set up a Skype or Google Video Chat and teach one of your friends or relatives (preferably someone outside of the Great Lakes Area) to do the same! It's a fun way to converse and you can learn a new technology at the same time. Not sure how, click on Skype or Google Video Chat above and watch the videos on the page.
4. Get out and enjoy a little local Iowa History! When was the last time you went to the Abbie Gardner Cabin or the Maritime Museum. They offer some phenomenal local history which you can learn about for free, and they are within minutes of each other in Arnold's Park.
5. Find someone to mentor! All of you have someone you know who looks up to you and would love to have a bit of your undivided attention this summer. Think of someone you could mentor and devote a little time with them this summer. You don't have to do anything profound, just give them a bit of your time and let him or her know that you care about them. For some of you, a little brother or sister may be the ticket (even if you can't stand them:). Mentoring is a great way to serve and really make a difference in another person's life.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of all the learning opportunities you will have this summer, but I hope it sparks a few ideas in your mind and keeps your summer learning on the right track. I hope all of you had a safe and fun-filled 4th of July. Take care and keep learning!

Mind Wandering

I love summer! It is a time for rejuvenation, relaxation, and reconnecting with my family. It is also a time for me to get away from the day to day work and let my mind wander. It is during these times when I do some of my best thinking. My recent mind wanderings have led me to wonder about some things which I observed this past year. As always, these wonderings are still just questions and that is what I love about this time of year. It's a time when thoughts can be generated with time to reflect and refine on these questions before the school year starts. So, here are a few of my thoughts--I can throw them out now and let them sit for a while. My mind will continue to chew on them for the next month or so, and then it will be time to do something else I love--start finding ways to turn the answers into a reality.

#1 What if every child had a mentor in our school who worked with them on a Personalized Educational Plan? We have a staff to student ratio of 7:1--is there a way we can harness this ratio to make this mentoring a reality?

#2 Should we change our schedule to allow for longer periods of time for our classes? Currently we have a 9 period day with each period running 40 minutes. With longer periods for learning (80-90 minutes) we may have the opportunity to go deeper with learning and have more time for higher-order thinking around concepts.

#3 How can we help every student to succeed in class? With online learning exploding and our move to a 1:1 learning environment coming to fruition in the near future, can we find a unique path for all students to succeed? Every student has a unique learning style and even with the best differentiated teaching, we have students who we don't reach. How can we harness the power of technology and our understanding of individual students to help all students succeed?

#4 This past year, we had a handful of students who did not really connect with an adult in our school. Despite our best efforts, a connection was never seriously made. What can we do about this? Are there other extracurricular activities we could offer to reach more students? Are there adults in the community who would be willing to mentor our students?

I'm glad I work in a school that is extremely successful in preparing students to be productive citizens in a changing world. Okoboji Middle School is a great school, but we can be better. Our staff is committed to helping all students succeed and our parent support is phenomenal! We will continue to improve and it will take all of us to do it. Let's see which of these questions we can answer in 2010-11. I'm ready for the challenge, but first things first--A little more time off to let my mind wander. I hope you find time to let your mind wander as well!

7 Middle Schooler's to State for National History Day Competition

On Saturday, February 27, 2010, after months of work, 18 Okoboji Middle School Students headed down to Albert City to compete in the Regional National History Day. The students, 6th to 8th grade, made projects in the following categories of Individual Website, Group Website, Individual Documentary, Individual Performance, Individual Exhibit, Group Exhibit and Paper. Only two students per category went on to state, and these Okoboji Middle Schoolers won a total of 7 spots. The winners are Clare Eckard, Individual Exhibit; Natalie Delaney, Individual Website; Clare Huntress, Paper; Abi Meyer and Hannah Grosvenor, Group Exhibit; Anna Vos, Individual Documentary; and Olivia Albright, Individual Performance. They will be preparing and reworking their projects in order to compete at the State National History Day competition on May 3rd in Des Moines. Good Luck and Congratulations!!

Staying In Touch With Your Child's Progress

At Okoboji Middle School we are lucky to have such great support from parents! As students move through middle school, one challenge we often hear from parents is that they begin to lose touch with their child's progress. This is a very common phenomenon as students move from having one teacher to six-eight teachers a week. However, the importance of keeping up with your child's progress does not diminish. Below are a few tips for staying in tune with your child's educational experience so, if they are doing great, you can give them praise for their hard work and, if they begin to falter, you can work with us to provide the necessary interventions to get your son or daughter back on track.

• Check your child's grades online: You can go to the Okoboji Middle School Website and click on the JMC Parent Access Link. You should all have a username and password for accessing the grades for every class which you can enter at this point. If you have forgotten or lost your login information, just email Lenae at lrubis@okoboji.k12.ia.us or give her a call at 332-5641.
• Every student is issued an assignment notebook at the beginning of the year which you can check daily to see what assignment they have due or what tests and/or quizzes are coming up. If your student is not filling out the assignment book, help hold them accountable by asking them to show you their notebook on a daily basis.
• Always remember that your child's teachers are just an email or phone call away. Email is the quickest way to get a response, but you are always welcome to call (332-5641) and we will get a message to your child's teacher. You can find all our teacher's email addresses by clicking on the grade/department level links on the left-hand side of our website.

We are always happy to work with you as together we pursue a great learning experience for your child! We hope the above tips are a help for you as you continue to support your child through their middle school years!

TV Turn-Off Challenge for ITBS Week (February 8-11)

Students are being encouraged to turn off the television three days prior to Iowa Tests of Basic Skills Week. In an attempt to teach the importance of moderation, students will be encouraged to not watch TV February 5th, 6th, and 7th(since the Super Bowl is the 7th, we are not counting watching the Super Bowl against students) and to limit their television watching to 30 minutes on the days of testing (February 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th). Brain research states that individuals have higher cognitive ability when they shut down television for just three days. This is our second annual TV Turn-Off event. Over 100 students successfully completed the challenge last year. All students who complete this year's challenge will also get to toss a snowball at Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Thompson as a reward for their efforts.

Good luck to all students as you prepare for ITBS and thanks to all parents who encourage their middle schooler to complete the challenge!!

Playing Volleyball to Earn $ for Upper Des Moines

The day before Winter Break, our 7th and 8th grade homeroom classes took an hour out of their day to have a little fun, play a bit of volleyball, and, most importantly, raise money for Upper Des Moines. Our teams were created by their homeroom groups and gender, and the kids played in a round-robin format to decide the male and female champions. The OMS staff then played the student winners to culminate the fun! Over$200 in cash and canned goods were delivered to Upper Des Moines as a result of students bringing in $1 or canned goods if the wanted to participate. Thanks to Mr. DeWild for organizing the event and to all of the 7th and 8th grade teachers for helping facilitate a great activity for the students!!

Making the Best of the Snow at Okoboji Middle School

In P.E. classes at OMS, the fifth and sixth graders went on a snowshoeing journey around the local area. The students are learning new recreational winter activities that they can enjoy outside of school time. Along with learning new recreational activities, the students are learning how they can improve their physical fitness in fun and exciting ways!

Using Technology to Collaborate, Create, and Learn: Mr. Bouse's Social Studies Class

Mr. Bouse's Social Studies classes are currently using various technologies, including online videos and Google Docs, to do a group investigative report on American History. The students are using websites and video (and their textbooks) to gather information which they will put into a final report using Google Docs, an online tool which students can use to create and edit the same document (in this case they will be making a slideshow) from anywhere they have online access. Great work class!!