Diversity Program: Raising Boys for the New Millenium

Check out the following program at Penn Charter this Wednesday night!

Diversity Program- Raising Boys for the New Millenium with Dr. Michael Reichert

Date: Wednesday - February 17, 2016

Time: 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Location: Middle School: Balderston Commons

Faculty Train in Formative Assessment

Recently, Dr. Catherine McGeehan, Professor of Education at Kutztown University, came to GA to help us explore the topic of flexible assessment and learning. Her classroom observations earlier in the fall, her discussions with teacher focus groups, and her analysis of the Needs Assessment completed by all faculty members informed her presentations.

All good teaching begins with assessment, and Dr. McGeehan’s presentations focused specifically on the benefits of using formative assessment in the learning process. The goal of formative assessment is to monitor student learning to provide ongoing feedback that can be used by instructors to improve their teaching and by students to improve their learning.

Effective and successful teaching requires us to meet students where they are in all aspects of their development and provide a variety of strategies to meet the varied needs of each child. How can we best challenge and support individual students, regardless of their learning preferences, pace of learning, and intellectual readiness?  Teachers, skilled in the variety of kinds of assessment that provide accurate information about what students know and don’t yet know, are primed to be able to reach and teach their students most effectively.

For years the idea that each person possessed a distinct learning style served as basis for individualizing instruction.  In the past several years the validity of that concept has been questioned, and the following TED Talk and article on learning address the “myth” of learning styles.  The article on retrieval practice provides more food for thought.  Definitely something to think about and discuss with colleagues.  Enjoy!

Our Memories at Work

Wait a second.  I can’t remember what I wanted to post this weekend.  I know it was important…oh, right.  Memory.

As teachers we spend an awful lot of time deciding what is important for our students to know and how best to teach that information.  Whether content or skills, we hope to teach that which will them well as they move through their lives.  We would do well to consider constructing lessons with retention in mind, too.  How can we help our students not only learn the material presented in class but also remember it for more than a day or two?

Where did it all go? offers four strategies that will help.  The fourth, Mental Glue, is of particular interest. 

Additionally, the book Memory: at work in the classroom by Bailey and Pransky addresses the issue of improving student memory. “In Memory at Work in the Classroom, Francis Bailey and Ken Pransky expertly guide you through the aspects of human memory most relevant to classroom teachers. 

Real classroom examples help to deepen your understanding of how memory systems play a central role in the learning process, as well as how culture plays a sometimes surprising role in memory formation and use.” 

I have a copy so let me know if you want to borrow it.

ADVIS and TechGirlz on Gender in STEM Feilds

On Monday, January 11, 2016 a group of GA faculty and administrators, attended a conference on Gender and Sexuality Diversity with Jennifer Bryan Ph.D., sponsored by the Multicultural Resource Center and ADVIS. Look for more information about gender and sexuality diversity as those who attended find ways to continue the conversation.  Among the numerous topics addressed during the presentation was the issue of gender imbalance in mathematics, science, and technology.

On Friday January 29 from 3-5 pm in the Beard Center for Innovation, Sarah Johnson founder of Techgirlz, will be sharing the curriculum they developed to build the next generation of female technology leaders and close the gender gap in technology occupations. While their curriculum aims to provide middle-school girls with hands-on experiences with different kinds of technology and enable them to interact with women who have carved out successful careers in technology fields, it can be purposed for all ages.  Want to know more about the gender gap in the tech sector click here.

ADVIS Opportunities

In support of Germantown Academy’s ongoing diversity efforts, please review the following professional development opportunities offered by ADVIS (The Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools);  the first is in January and the second in April.  If you are interested in attending either or both, please speak with your division head about funding.  Click here for more information.

Digital Library Presentation Rescheduled

The First Thursday presentation on Utilizing Digital Library Collections has been rescheduled for Thursday January 7 at 3:30 - 5 pm. 

Utilizing the Libraries' Digital Collection to Support and Extend our Students' Learning Experience

Colleagues from all three divisions will share how they creatively incorporate GA Libraries digital resources into their lessons and projects in order to deepen and broaden the learning process.  

GA Librarians: Sharing GA's Digital Collections; 

Phy Chauveau:  Discovery Education

Bob Moyer and Mary Fraser:  Exploring beyond our borders: Utilizing global resources to teach critical thinking and the research process.

Sarah Blake and Cory Eklund: Supporting Inquiry-Based Learning with Digital Resources

In response to the 2015 Faculty/Staff Survey, GA has invited Dr. Catherine McGeehan, a professor of education at Kutztown University and an authority on differentiated assessment and instruction, to spend time observing classes and talking with focus groups in each division to help us identify our strengths in teaching and assessing flexibly and the areas in which we still can grow.  Cathy will be here on Monday, November 9^th.

Dr. McGeehan will be the keynote speaker at the Delaware Valley Reading Association Conference on Saturday, November 21, 2015 here at GA. Click here for information.

All effective instruction begins with assessment.  Carol Tomlinson writes in a recent article in Educational Leadership, “ Formative Assessment is-or should be-the bridge or causeway between today’s lesson and tomorrow’s.  Both its alignment with current content goals and its immediacy in providing insight about student understanding are crucial to helping teacher and student see how to make near-term adjustments so the progression of learning can proceed as it should.”  To read the entire article click here.