Critical Thinking in the Classroom

Critical Thinking has been cited by many pundits in education as one of the key 21st Century Learning Skills that must be instilled in our students in preparation for what will unfold in the years to come.

The quality of our life and that of what we produce, make, or build depends precisely on the quality of our thought.  Poor thinking costs our society financially and in our quality of life.

Are we doing enough to foster Critical Thinking in our students?

The Foundation for Critical Thinking (http://www.criticalthinking.org/) defines critical thinking as "the art of analyzing and evaluating thinking with a view to improving it."

This organization states that a well cultivated thinker:

• raises vital questions and problems, formulating them clearly and precisely;
• comes to well-reasoned conclusions and solutions, testing them against relevant criteria and standards;
• thinks openmindedly within alternative systems of thought, recognizing and assessing, as need be, their assumptions, implications, and practical consequences; and
• communicates effectively with others in figuring out solutions to complex problems.

Our Catholic Learning Community is blessed with many excellent teachers that have embraced critical thinking as a piece in their instructional and assessment practices.  We are definitely "out of the harbour" in this process in most of our departments. 

Specifically, our Department Heads were in-serviced in Critical Literacy and subsequently their staff members have discussed or will discuss plans for the consistent application of critical literacy in all of their subject areas as we move forward.  This is a SMART goal in our 2010-2011 School Improvement Plan. 

We have focused on "Critical Reading" questions which are cited not only on the Foundation's website but the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat's website (Capacity Building Series) as well.

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/inspire/research/capacityBuilding.html

1. What is the author's purpose.
2. What key questions or problems does the author raise?
3. What information, data, and evidence does the author present?
4. What key concepts does the author use to organize this information, this evidence?
5. What key conclusions is the author coming to?  Are those conclusions justified?
6. What are the author's primary assumptions?
7. What viewpoints is the author writing from?
8. What are the implications of the author's reasoning?

Thanks for reading.  Looking forward to your comments and thoughts.

Educational Assistant Appreciation Day

We do make a difference!

Monday, February 28, 2011 is Educational Assistant Appreciation Day.  The theme of the day is cited above.

We have ten wonderful Educational Assistants (EAs).  These "unsung" heroes are deployed through our Department Head of Special Education.  Educational practice cites that EAs are assigned to the needs of our developmentally delayed students first and foremost in conjunction with teaching staff.  That said, there are many occasions where our EAs are working with other at risk students within the classrooms of our school in association with our teachers.

What does an EA do with these students?

They care for them physically, psychologically, emotionally and academically.  Our EAs do this through love, compassion, care and dignity.  EAs coach, are members of our Catholic School Council and have a voice in the direction of the needs of our special education students.

In short...they "do make a difference" in the lives of our most exceptional students in the school.  Their contributions to our Catholic Learning Community are invaluable.

On behalf of the staff, support staff, students and parents of Christ the King Catholic Secondary School, I would like to extend a sincere thank you to our Educational Assistants for all of the work that you do in relative anonymity.

iPad Pilot Study at CtK

Our school has been approved through 21st Century Learning funding to run a pilot study with a class set of iPads!

In a nutshell, a cohort of students taking Grade 9 Applied Math and English, of which some have exceptionalities, will be given the opportunity to use iPads in a cross-curricular effort.  The students' attendance and achievement will be measured before, during and after the use of the iPads.

So the question is....does technology make learning easier, more efficient or more motivating?

There have been widespread claims to this effect.

We will find out with our pilot study.  Our students and staff will complete a survey that addresses the ease, efficiency and motivation issues.

Either way, it is my opinion that ease and efficiency should not be the leading criteria for advocating and implementing computer technology in schools. I assert that to produce more meaningful learning, computer technologies need to be designed according to sound learning theories and pedagogy.

Thanks for reading.  Looking forward to your comments.  Happy Family Day tomorrow!

Christ the King C.S.S. to be honoured with the Dr. Bette M. Stephenson Recognition of Achievement

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) will be honouring Christ the King Catholic Secondary School on February 22, 2011, with the Dr. Bette M. Stephenson Recognition of Achievement.

This honour will be presented in recognition of the school community’s dedication to student achievement and use of provincial assessment results to improve student learning, as well as the school’s leadership, positive attitude and sincere effort to help every student succeed.

As the Principal of Christ the King, I am very fortunate to have such an exemplary array of shared leadership, teaching and support staff that not only  believe in our vision but model it in every aspect within our Catholic Learning Community.

A special thank you is extended to our wonderful students and parents who without their dedication, prepartion and support, this special recognition of our collective efforts would not be possible.

Please refer to the link below for more details regarding our literacy, numeracy and data-driven instructional, assessment and evaluation strategies.

http://www.hcdsb.org/News/Pages/2011-02-07-Christ-the-King-Catholic-Secondary-School-in-Georgetown-to-be-Honoured-by-EQAO.aspx

Thank you for reading.  Looking forward to your comments.

Shepherd Leadership

Isn't this photo from LIFE worth a thousand words?!  It inspired me to mention a book that I have recently read.
 
Specifically, our board has embraced a book called Shepherd Leadership that gleams the wisdom for leaders from King David's Psalm 23. 

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want;
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters;
He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

The authors, Blaine McCormick and David Davenport parse each verse and draw leadership analogies to how a shepherd tends to its flock and how a leader interacts with those that are under his/her charge.

I will refrain from citing all the key messages from this book because I hope that you will read it.  However, I will touch upon one key message which alludes to the picture and to the most important function that we have as educators for our children.

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me."

We are behooved to lead and protect our disenfranchised and/or wayward students with courage and compassion so that we not only role model for them but nurture the resiliency required to effectively meet life's challenges.

Thank you for reading.  Looking forward to your comments.

Thank You Notes

When was the last time you sent someone a hand written thank you note?

Has social networking on Facebook, texting, instant messaging and email all but eradicated this act of sentimentality?

Sending hand written thank you notes was covered on my favourite TV show, CBS Sunday Morning.  They interviewed a man that wrote a book about the 365 thank you notes that he sent last year; called "365 Thank You Notes."  He cited that the hand written thank you notes literally made him feel better and brought better relationships into his life.

I think it still holds tremendous value in sending someone a personal hand written note acknowledging a good deed, a job well done, or a friendship for example.

Our staff sends out "Good News Postcards" to students.  This Postcard was the brain child of our wonderful Student Success Teacher, Mrs. Patterson.  These cards acknowledge any positive behaviour one could imagine. 

From my perspective, I have sent out notes to students for high achievement levels or for something as simple as achieving all of their credits in a school year or for just doing a good deed.  Each student has a different story which would dictate the message on the card.  I have received positive feedback from the students that received the cards and even more feedback from their parents.  Why? 

People still have a true appreciation for the time and effort that it takes to write a note to someone else.  This is why I have sent hand written notes to staff in the past.  As well, I hand sign report cards and often add notes on them......all 1600 or so in the first semester.

People like to feel and touch the hand written word and just get more sentiment out of this mode of communication than a Facebook message or a Tweet.  At least...this is my opinion.

Go ahead....send someone your best wishes.....you will both benefit.

Thanks for reading.  Looking forward to you thoughts and comments.  As an aside, Semester I Report Cards will be distributed to students on the 4th of February.

Childhood Obesity

Over the last 25 years, there has been an alarming rise in the proportion of overweight and obese children.  Obesity rates among children and youth have nearly tripled during this period.  It is an issue that affects children everywhere in Canada.  Like tobacco use, obesity substantially increases the risk of developing some of the most debilitating chronic diseases; obesity contributes to type 2 diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease.

The Government of Canada has taken to help Canadian children live healthy lifestyles including:

• The Children's Fitness Tax Credit
• Eat Well and Be Active Toolkit &
• The Nutrition Facts Education Campaign

The Ontario Ministry of Education has created a Healthy Schools Recognition Program where schools can apply for a Healthy Schools Recognition Certificate.  Schools are required to submit an acceptance form whereby they pledge to undertake at least one healthy school initiative.

Our school will be applying this year as we have always implemented a myriad of initiatives that speak to the physical fitness and well being of our students.  Most notably, our breakfast program in partnership with Halton Food For Thought and our Inside Ride Campaign.  The former provides a healthy breakfast of raw cut oatmeal and fruit and the latter includes a large population of our Catholic Learning Community that spins for over an hour in teams in an effort to fundraise for cancer research.  (Please note that our school has just been approved to deliver a Health and Physical Education Specialist High Skills Major for the 2011-2012 school year.  See Guidance for details.)

We are also applying for a special grant that will allow at-risk students to spin for an hour first thing in the morning while monitoring their heart rates in an effort to improve their physical well being.  This class will allow them to exercise and achieve a Health and Physical Education credit.  We will also ensure that key courses such as English, Math and/or Science directly follow this first period class.  Research findings cited from a wonderful book called "Spark" by Dr. Ratey, indicate that they will fare better in such courses right after exercise as opposed to any other time in the day.

He chronicles the positive effects that aerobic exercise has on the brain which in turn positively impacts, stress, depression, dementia, hormones and ADD/ADHD.  Since more difficult classes such as math and science take place right after the aerobic exercise, there will be enough time to take advantage of the benefits of this exercise before it dissipates.

Dr. Ratey states scientific research indicates that aerobic exercise improves an individual's mental ccognition, takes the edge off by balancing the key attention, behavioural and motivational neurotransmitters of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine.  This will in turn improve academic success in courses such as English, Math and/or Science as the brain is in its optimum mode to receive and synthesis information.

Oh an by the way, have you heard about the soon to be implemented Policy/Program Memorandum No. 150?  This is a beauty!  It is the new School Food and Beverage Policy for September 2011.  It will directly impact what schools in elementary and secondary sell to our children.  Schools will need to account for what they sell by following a stringent formula that includes essential nutrients and lower amounts of fat, sugar and/or sodium.  More to come on this topic.  Just to leave you with the type of impact this may have on school commissions derived from cafeteria and school store sales that go directly back into the educational needs of our students...the following list are some of the products no longer allowed for sale in schools....

• all soft drinks diet or otherwise
• all sports drinks
• french fries
• cream cheese
• bagels
• chocolate bars and all candy
• chips
• anything that is fried

Our fear is that students will just leave the building in droves during lunch to go to nearby fast food franchises to indulge despite the Ministry of Education's efforts to instill environments promoting healthy lifestyles.

Thanks for reading.  Looking forward to your comments.