ADAMS SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
NOVEMBER 14, 2008

Windy City Top Ten

            Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away (Chicago), I asked the teachers in my middle school to share what they had talked about with parents at recent mid-term conferences. My question generated an interesting list, one which I’ve thought about often, as teacher and parent, and come to respect as pretty intelligent street-level points of view.  They are interesting to look at from almost any moment in the school year—the start of school, when kids are facing new teachers, new studies, new friends, and unfamiliar challenges, as  are their parents!—as well as medial and final moments when students have truly become the level of their current grade and might be turning their gaze to the next one ahead. It’s right about now, in November, that most kids fully inhabit, say, seventh gradeness.

            So, as we stand here on the verge of that new habitation, I think it’s interesting to think about the following ten things and how they moderate and influence our common goals. See what you think.

            My colleagues wrote:

1. The majority of kids can take charge of their own learning—if we allow them to do so. Don’t overteach, or overparent. Give them time and space to take charge and they’ll be more resilient and competent for it.

2. Children should feel rewarded by learning itself. External rewards to stimulate good grades thwart feeling long-term joy and power as the result of hard work and accomplishment.

3. The eye of the beholder.... Kids see things from a kid’s point of view. Parents and teachers should be journalists: get several sources for objectivity and accuracy when kids report on their school day. And “the story” keeps evolving long after “publication.”

4. The mother of invention. Focus on good grades alone loses sight of the great positive potential in deciphering a low grade. Failure can be far more instructive than success. Deep learning takes place out of reach of what a grade can ever measure.

5. Collaboration. Crucial life skills come from the struggle implicit in working with others, and wrestling with unfamiliar challenges. Adults want to spare kids discomfort. Better to welcome discomfort and help to guide them out of their discomfort zone!

7. Character. There are no assurances about the exact skills necessary for life in the future. To be forward-looking, teachers must prioritize the concepts that are guaranteed to be at the heart of unforeseeable futures: improvisation, comfort with chaos, skilled questioning, integrity, and ethical character.

8. Balance. Kids need help balancing priorities. Piano lessons getting in the way of homework, or homework getting in the way of piano lessons? Both might be reasonable conclusions...depending on the child.

9. Coach, don't cushion, during homework time. Bring problems and questions back to school. Don't deny the teacher the chance to understand how a kid experiences their homework—especially if hit the wall and they can't do the work.

10. Don't miss school. Work can be made up, but not the contact, texture, and experiences of school.

            I’ve come to feel that this list does a good job of encapsulating the deeper equations for learning, fulfillment, happiness, hopeful lives, and resiliency. The problems on the quiz last Friday or the projections about term grades are vital, but so is the larger concept of proportion, which will support that architecture unit across the hall in history or friendship triangles.

            Parents and teachers share the vision and guardianship of long-term learning as well as its daily tasks. It’s the primary partnership for raising effective and resilient kids. And, as I think about it anew, maybe that galaxy isn’t so far away. Perhaps there are some universal truths or fundamental accuracies in the inter-stellar realms of teaching and learning—and intelligent life we can spread throughout the known universe.

—Todd

Thank you for making time to conference with us on Monday!

Teacher Luncheon on Monday: Thank you (Arigato!) to Susan Adam, Anne Berleant, Karen Koos, Kathy Ferreira, Lori Witting, Kathy MacArthur, Amy Gutow, Vicki Stearn, Lisa Haugen and Christine Lutz-Garrity for the great food they all provided on Monday for the teachers. A special thanks to Denny Colson for setting up the table and chairs and getting silverware and plates for everyone. 

Thanksgiving Luncheon with town employees: Next Friday.

Basketball Starts Next week: Coaches Amanda Laney and Omar Chaar met with our teams on Wednesday. Next week they will hold practices on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, from 2:30-4:00 at MMA. At that time they will present a practice schedule/calendar for the rest of the season. The games schedule has changes in it…posted on the web site, and sent home with your kids on Wednesday. Here’s to a good season! Go Team! We will not have practices during Thanksgiving week—the coaches are away.

Any more Soccer Uniforms to turn in?

Newsletter follow-up: Last week I wrote, in part, “Now people of a certain age will add this to a list of the other dates we carry around in a special place in our memory: the “Where were you when” file…..You all have your own such headline days. I was in second grade in Mrs. Lee’s classroom at Lincolnwood Elementary School in Illinois at 12:30pm on November 22, 1963.”

            A few parents wrote and pointed out that you are too young to remember 1963—or even more recent dates in my list of the historical touchstones in my own memory. I guess a lack of specific memories also qualifies as understanding one’s life in relation to the historical continuum. And this adds, of course, to my own “where were you when” moments, pinning down my inter-generational standing in reference to the community. Much obliged. —Todd

Turkey Dinner Baskets: We are delivering food to The Tree of Life Pantry on Thursday, Nov. 20th 2:30-4:30pm.  We will be handing out permission slips this week for students who want to ride with parents and also have a few of these forms on hand at school.  We will be collecting all of next week in the classrooms for the Turkey Drive.  Each classroom is asked to concentrate in one area as follows:

                                                K                     canned vegetables

                                                1&2                 stuffing

                                                3&4                 cranberry sauce & applesauce

                                                5&6                 potatoes

                                                7&8                 pie makings (crust & fillings)

     In addition, Thanksgiving Food Baskets will be located in the Adams School lobby.  Please send in non-perishable items only.  Food will be delivered and distributed to The Tree of Life food pantry in Blue Hill on November 20.

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ADAMS SCHOOL MENU   Nov. 17-21

Monday – Chicken or Cheese Quesadillas, Tortilla Chips, Salsa/Sour Cream, Salad, Peaches, Milk

Tuesday – Meatballs, Noodles, Corn, Yeast Roll, Pears, Milk

Weds. – Pancakes, Bacon, Yogurt, Juice, Fruit, Milk

Thursday – Grilled Cheese Sand., Sun Chips, Baby Carrots, Juice, Cookie, Milk

Friday – Thanksgiving Lunch:  Turkey, Gravy, Mashed Potato, Stuffing, Yeast Rolls, Peas,

               Cranberry Sauce, Pumpkin or Chocolate Mousse Pie, Milk                     

November

2   Daylight Savings Time begins. "Fall back" an hour.

10   Teacher inservice day (Parent/teacher conferences)

11   Veteran's Day: No School

19   Soccer Awards evening....6:00pm....at school.

20        Turkey Dinner delivery to Tree of Life 2:30-4:30.

21        School Thanksgiving Luncheon with town employees.

25        Term One ends.

26   Thanksgiving Break begins

December

5          Term One grade reports go home.

9   7th & 8th graders, Centerpiece activity with Castine Garden Club, 1:00pm.

17 Chorus sings for Castine Men's Club, 5:30pm. at the Manor.

18 Winter Concert, 6:00pm. Delano Auditorium, MMA.  (Snow date: Monday, 12/22).

24   Holiday vacation begins

January

5   School Resumes