Bolton Bears...Discovering the Leader in Me!

This year at Bolton Elementary teachers are reading "The Leader in Me", by Stephen R. Covey. We are excited to watch how students will discover the leader inside themselves as the year progresses. To begin the 2009-2010 school year we would like for students to brainstorm what it means to be a leader in the school, their classroom, and in their personal lives. Please post your thoughts on how you will become a leader here at Bolton, your feelings about being a leader, and what your leadership behaviors will look like this school year.

Reflecting on the 2008-2009 Year

As the 2008-2009 year comes to a close take some time to reflect on what you have learned, how you have learned, and how teaching and learning have changed at Bolton School. As 5th graders you are finishing the first leg of your formal education. You are getting ready for middle school, more freedom and more responsibility. Reflect and respond to the following.

• You have been taught BEARS, which basically helps you understand what kind of culture we want here at Bolton school. BEARS just helps you understand what is expected in every location of our school. Do you agree or disagree that BEARS helps you be part of a positive school culture? Please explain why you agree or disagree.

• Technology has become a bigger part of our school with the addition of Smart Boards, the use of blogs, and the many skills you have been taught in the computer lab. Do you like using these tools? Do they help you learn? Please explain why and how they help, or why they do not help.

• Sometimes you are asked to work by yourself, and other times we ask you to work with others as you learn. Do you prefer to learn working by yourself, or by working with a partner or in a group? Please explain why or why not.

• What has Bolton School meant to you? Is there a special teacher or person here that has helped make you successful? How have they helped you grow and learn? Please explain.

Leave your thoughts at Bolton on this blog! Your comments will be shared with Bolton teachers, and archived on this blog so you can go back later and see what you and your classmates have written! (Photo by Carf via Flickr)

Reflections on Teach21 - Year One

The title says it all. Year one implies there is a future for Teach21and there will be. Teach 21 will be implemented with a new group of teachers next year, and this trailblazing group will continue to grow and learn and pass it on.
That alone tells me that Teach21 has been a great success. If you go back to the origins of this blog you will see the milestones along the way. There have been pitfalls and glitches, but they've not been excuses for not moving forward.
Teach21 has changed my teaching significantly. In the lab I have tried to teach our students how they can use technology to show what they know. It has made me more of a facilitator, forced me to become more connected within my own school and worldwide. That's exciting!
The impact on students has been significant. I don't know what it's impact will be with regard to NC's End Of Grade Test scores, but I know it has had a big impact on students and their ability to connect, create, and be lifelong learners. I will never forget what one fifth grader who has been at Bolton since kindergarten told me about being a class with a teacher who has been part of Teach21. She said this year has been her best ever. Digging deeper into what she means I found that the Smartboard was a part, but it was more of what they did, and how they approached learning than it was having a glowing interactive whiteboard in the room. All in all, I know our students have some skills they didn't have before.
The success within our group of educators will be evidenced through their reflections on their own blogs so check those via our links. Please comment and let us know what is working where you are. This is an ongoing process and that makes being in education a rich experience.

A Visit With Author Robert Kimmel Smith

Bolton students had a unique chance to pick the brain of a popular children's book author April 9. Mrs. McMillan's third grade reading group read and studied the book Chocolate Fever by Robert Kimmell Smith. Mrs, McMillan contacted Mr. Smith, who lives in New York City and setup a video conference with her students and Mr. Smith.
Third graders prepared questions and asked them, and Mr Smith had wonderful stories to share about how developed his books. He also previewed some of his other other books like The War With Grandpa and The Squeaky Wheel.
This event was shared with other classes who watched from all over our building through a streaming broadcast of the event using Ustream. We even had those classes use the chat feature to ask Mr. Smith a couple of questions as well. If you missed it - you can still experience it. Watch the recording of our Ustream event.
Broadcasting Live with Ustream.TV

The Jamestown (Va.) Story

Fifth graders have looked deeply into the story of Jamestown, Virginia - the place where the United States was born. You've looked at the history, the challenges and the despair. Pretend you can go back in time and help this colony not only survive, but prosper
What recommendations would you give to the leaders and people of Jamestown that would make their lives better and help the colony succeed. Please respond to the location of the fort, the quest for gold, their ability to get food (hunting and gathering/growing), relations and trade with the Native Americans (don't forget Pocahontas and Chief Powhatan), and their fear of attack by Spain (don't forget spies).
Post your recommendations here.