In+the+beginning........

Welcome to our Wiki. The potential for what we can create is endless.

=In the near future at Joan MacQueen: = =1) What will classes look like? =
 * 1 - 27 ratio
 * laptops for every student and teacher
 * laptop cart
 * flexible groupings between partners
 * smaller class sizes
 * longer day with FRidays for planning
 * proper placements (advanced,inner core,AVID, etc.)
 * having a school within a school (more camaderie)
 * clerical help/aides to run copies/machines
 * document cameras
 * electronic readers
 * quick transitions with media(kids more hands on)
 * textbooks for EVERY student
 * multi-modalities in classes
 * specialists with electives
 * sufficient supplies for projects without teachers using money
 * emphasize foreign language
 * more of the arts (with specialists)
 * special ed; more aides to help with paper work and behavior
 * equipment replaced in a timely manner
 * teachers getting paid for after school activities
 * support classes for latch-key middle schoolers at our site and within our community
 * well-equipped, up to date, useful technology Ex: docucams, smartboards
 * manageable class size, <28
 * newer condition of texts, more than one copy to send home
 * updated technology, computer lab availability
 * library availability
 * general supplies available: butcher paper, copy paper, pencils, lamination, etc
 * art and music classes
 * microphones that work for presentations and assemblies
 * improved acoustics in the gym
 * supplies for health ed and PE
 * money for buses for field trips for after school sporting events
 * positive reenforcement program - get back to the candy...a little goes a long way
 * heterogeneous grouping, stop stratifying our classes
 * properly placed students
 * updated facility, regular custodian/maintenance schedule
 * all classes and subjects grouped by ability
 * flexible grouping by ability or not
 * materials available-basics (pencils, paper)
 * less decompartmentalization to improve consistency of instruction
 * 1 - 27 ratio
 * laptops for every student and teacher
 * laptop carts for classrooms
 * Smart cards & smartboards
 * language person for people who speak foreign languages
 * variety of classes to reach student interests and levels
 * specialized classrooms that match content - environment specific (art room for art class)
 * furniture that allows for variety of classroom configurations
 * updated technology
 * more $ for supplies
 * wireless system for campus
 * staff development outside of scheduled student days; not pulled out of classroom
 * Implementation of software/systems in which all glitches have been figured out before beign required
 * students shall be engaged
 * classes will be balanced
 * proper materials
 * enough books
 * updated materials/technology
 * class size as small as possible
 * criteria for class adhered to (i.e. inner core, gate, etc.)
 * proper class placement
 * kids will feel safe and accepted
 * support personnel will be there in all classes
 * learning obvious by class displays/products
 * placement in classes is supported/vocalized by administration during parent meetings

=2) What will students be doing? =
 * definitely engaged and active in learning
 * project based learning
 * pursuing interests
 * enjoying learning in a multi-modal enviroonment
 * using technology to its fullest
 * working with teams
 * WICR
 * AVIDologies
 * more face-to-face dialogue/debate/socratic seminar (teacher = facilitator)
 * time to enjoy reading (set aside school-wide time for daily reading)
 * tutorials in the classroom
 * interractive, engaging projects
 * arts and music included in lessons
 * technology
 * dynamic lessons where students want to be there
 * less teaching to the test
 * students connected to the learning
 * projects
 * reading every day, freedom to choose
 * laptops
 * positive reenforcement
 * meaningful activities that kids look forward to Ex: holidays, special events
 * fun back in the classroom
 * more cross overs where one grade level helps another
 * students on task in a safe and positive environment
 * immediate consequence for disruptions to learning
 * enforce zero tolerance-offer anger mgmt or conflict resolution to violators
 * meeting higher standards thru individual effort
 * portfolio as an evaluation tool
 * thinking critically
 * learning in their best style
 * not always working on standards
 * hands-on real world experience and education
 * vocational training for the non-college bound
 * teach only the standards that the students don't know
 * implement character ed in all classrooms
 * <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">See satelite interaction with other classes
 * <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Actively engaged students
 * <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">varied activities and tasks
 * <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">No packets
 * <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Variety of tools for students to use: white boards, manipulatives, computers, etc.
 * <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Students working on real life applications
 * <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Community-based projects
 * <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Students enjoying the learning process
 * <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Happy atmosphere
 * <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Want to be there - students
 * <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Students motivated to take learning into their own hands
 * * on task/engaged
 * * actively participating
 * * working harder than the teacher
 * * students working on a variety of curriculum
 * * having appropriate materials/manipulatives for each lesson/subject
 * * active learning/collaborating
 * * taking ownership/responsibility
 * * linking their education to the real world
 * * applying subject to real world
 * * field trips
 * * following the teacher's direction
 * * having fun
 * * laughing
 * * thinking
 * * acting proud
 * * showing commitment
 * * performing/doing/acting/talking/writing
 * * using the arts for their learning
 * * encouraging each other
 * * cooperating/using teamwork

=<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">3) What will teachers, staff and admin be doing? = <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">__**Teachers will:**__ >
 * * communicate with peers
 * * share and support each other
 * * have the time and resources to do
 * * built in support system especially for new teachers
 * * time to collaborate with support staff and other teachers (other schools as well)
 * * teachers have ability to coach and be coached
 * = Planning together - collaboration - by subject and grade level  =
 * = working cooperatively as result of feeling supported & encouraged by each other  =
 * = Direct instruction  =
 * = small group facilitation  =
 * = individual conferences and goal setting for students  =
 * = correlating standards between grade levels  =
 * = vertical teaming  =
 * team teaching
 * Teacher relationship with students - must be personal and affirming
 * Working without stress and confusion
 * Educating students
 * Teach students

**__ Admin Will: __**
 * * get organized
 * * timely info
 * * teacher input on decisions
 * * listen to us
 * * not micromanaging us
 * * FOLLOW through
 * * better planning of scheduling (fire drills, CPTs,)
 * * advance notification of changes
 * * better prepared
 * * treated professionally
 * * no lip service
 * * courteous treatment
 * Keep all lines of communication open with everyone
 * Proactive
 * Visible
 * Interacting with kids
 * Making sure students and teachers have what they need before they need it
 * When coming into classroom, give some kind of feedback - good & bad, but honest and ongoing
 * Should come up with creative solutions to problems that impact the classroom the least
 * Allow us to be the professionals we are - value our opinion
 * Pay us what we are worth
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; margin: auto 0in;">Support Admin - Enforce the rules with NO exceptions
 * not teaching to a test
 * * encouraging
 * * setting high expectations
 * * positively reinforcing
 * * modeling
 * * enforcing accountability with students/parents
 * * praising, laughing, acting proud
 * * making students a top priority
 * * sharing ideas/collaborating
 * * observing colleagues
 * * listening
 * * supporting other teachers
 * * administrators treating teachers as professionals
 * * being committed to the classroom
 * * administrators being organized, following through
 * * admin having reasonable expectations
 * * admin providing positive feedback
 * * admin respecting teachers' judgment and knowledge of students' needs(not just based on a #)
 * * admin understanding the workload of teachers and not adding to overload
 * * admin being empathetic - remembering the teachers' perspective
 * * admin helping students
 * * support staff actively helping

**__Staff (classified)__** > They need to remember that students are there
 * Need to be kind and polite to students and each other
 * Need to make personal connections with kids
 * Support teaching staff more in classrooms
 * Receive training for specialized jobs
 * Run ALC
 * __ General __**
 * displaying a caring attitude to every student
 * smiling, happy,
 * team-teaching
 * collaboration (more time and opportunities to work with one another)
 * all staff must have direct interaction with kids
 * fair consistent
 * more observations of other classrooms/teachers
 * administrators working side by side with teachers and student
 * administrators spending time in classrooms more to see dynamics and combinations of students
 * clear lines of communication, clear and consistent expectations
 * building lines of communication from the bottom up
 * teaching with a focus on and awareness of what the brain and mind are doing when learning
 * conscious embedded planning time
 * we are enjoying teaching because we are not burned out
 * praising other staff members
 * support of teachers by administration (words of encouragement, helping place students in mainstream classes, recognizing tremendous amount of paperwork, preparation when needed)
 * support for behavior problems
 * ASB as a collaboration between teachers