Mission Statement

In order to have a successful year, we wanted to start with the end in mind by creating a vision of what our ideal positive learning environment would look like. We began by brainstorming what each of us would need in order to be successful in school.  Then, we grouped our thinking into big ideas.  You can view our Padlet of this process here.  

Below is the mission statement we crafted for our homeroom.  I am excited to see where this year takes us.  

Project Based Learning

Next week, we will be launching our first PBL (Project Based Learning.)  To help us prepare, we have been learning more about what collaboration looks like and sounds like.  We have discussed the traits of  effective listeners and communicators and how they impact our ability to be an effective team member.  

You can learn more about PBL here.  

Our Classroom Environment

One thing you will notice when you enter our classroom is that we have a flexible open-seating environment.  Students do not necessarily have assigned desks.  We have team tables where student teams might choose to meet to collaborate in their learning.  

However, some teams might choose to spread out on the floor so we have pillows, stools, and beach chairs. Having a flexible environment enables us to make necessary adjustments to the space to best serve our learning rather than having to adjust our learning to meet the space.  

One immediate reaction to our room at the start of the year is it seems bare. There are very minimal wall decorations.   This is done intentionally.  Our wall space will begin to fill up as we collaborate as a learning community to create anchor charts to record our thinking.  Some of these will be create by the teacher as I collect their thoughts as a group.  Other times, they will work in teams to create charts that will fill our walls and serve as a resource for further learning.  It is my belief that filling our walls with authentic work rather than teacher purchased decorations enables students to take ownership of the classroom.

Another important aspect of our classroom centers on my philosophy that every child needs 21st century knowledge and skills to succeed as an effective citizens, workers, and leaders.  I will strive to structure our instruction to develop learning and innovation skills that will equip our students to be life-long learners and positive contributors to the world.  At the start of the year we will focus heavily on developing communication and collaboration skills so we can work effectively as a learning community.    

Additionally, our team will utilize Project-Based Learning at numerous points throughout the year to help foster 21st century knowledge and skills through our content standards.  Below is a short video that will explain a bit more about Project-Based Learning.  

I am excited to join the Rooster Springs Elementary team and look forward to collaborating with students, their families, and our community in order to make this a fun year filled with profound learning.