Goals & Activities:

Brain compatible learning | Decreasing achievement gap | Use of technology

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Brain compatible learning

• Teachers attended the Bonnie Benesh training on brain compatible learning
• Use of music to start the day, getting brains ready to learn (see training example)
• Utilization of 20 minute learning intervals (see training example)

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Decreasing the achievement gap

• Extended day Kindergarten for Title I students
• Plan for extended day Kindergarten next school year for all neighborhood children (utilizing research on cooperative learning groups of high-low achievers)
• Using computerized pre-post testing (see Technology, below)

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Use of technology

• Harris has two COWs (Computers on Wheels): sets of wireless laptop computers which are able to access internet. They are in constant demand by teachers and students for a variety of tasks at all grade levels.
• Technology Enhanced Student Assessment (TESA), and Reading/Math Screener tests
  • TESA used with all 3rd & 5th graders; Reading/Math with all grades in fall/late spring
  • use early fall to determine instructional needs, then later in year to assess progress
  • can track individual student progress (with immediate feedback) as well as instructional improvement year to year
  • here 3rd graders do TESA spring reading tests [click picture to see larger view]:

• Curriculum embedded technology utilization examples

1) Celia Heilbronner's literacy unit, grades 1-2 [click here to see Celia's own slide show of the process]

• read story by Beatrix Potter, then go to Scholastic recommended website to do research about author

• students read both abridged stories and full length, then compare

• students vote on favorite story, put data on a spreadsheet and graph

• students do review by creating a slide show with Kid Pix on computer (independently or in partners)

• students must be able to direct the computer to find central server, and then save their work

Teacher Celia Heilbronner works on her own slide show of how she teaches the unit.	Two of her eager students get ready to show the principal, Gig Nelson, their slide shows.	After turning on the computer, you have to log in to the central server to find your saved slide show.
Aha! There's my slide show! Now let's see...how do I turn it on so it works...	There it is, the slide show review of one of Beatrix Potter's stories, in color and action!	Wait, wait - you have to see this one, too!

2) Deanna Olson's students, Science iMovie, grades 3-4 (with help from Sherri Greatwood, Tech IA)

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