The results are in and the data shows that both seniors and ninth graders can collaborate quickly and effectively when posed a challenge. It was wonderful to watch these bright young minds quickly begin the problem-solving process. In order to be successful in the 21st Century, individuals must learn how to communicate and work together to solve common problems. Three years ago, I shifted my academic focus to incorporate a new instructional/assessment strategy, Gold Seal Lessons. The approach is based on the Rigor/Relevance/Relationship Framework of the International Center for Leadership in Education. At the start of each learning unit, the students are given a real-world problem to solve. The daily lessons provide the standards-based skills and knowledge for the student to solve the problem. In the end, the students collaboratively solve the problem applying what they have learned in the class. This application of learning creates an environment where students better retain information. Congratulations to all the teams that were involved in this challenge.
(Seniors)Block Two Winner: Group #1 with a height of 20″
(Seniors)Block Three Winner: Group #5 with a height of 37.75″
(Freshmen)Block Four Winner: Group #3 with a height of 24.5″
Tags:gold seal lessons·International Center for Leadership in Education·problem-based learning·relationships·relevance·rigor
Dear Students and Parents,
I would like to first welcome you to room 329. This is a location where students are given control over constructing their own meaning and understanding of the world around them. Several years ago, I made the shift to a constructivist classroom, and it has made all of the difference in the world with student motivation and learning. Students will have units of instruction that are standards-driven and connected under a real-world problem statement. As the students move through the lesson process, they will pick up the knowledge and skills necessary for solving the problem in a new and unique way. This blog will explain activities that we are doing in order to keep parents connected to the classroom.
Make sure to check on McGough’s McMoodle on the high school page under Moodle. This interactive page will allow access to classroom materials and important information. If you have any questions please post a comment or email me @gregg.mcgough@pennmanor.net.
Hope everyone has a great school year!
Tags:constructivist·parent-involvement·problem-based learning·real-world·welcome
The educational presenter Kelly Gallagher gave a compelling talk about the need for reading instruction in a secondary setting. The power of an educational in-service can be evidenced in the changing of the classroom practices of participants the day after the presentation. One key element from Mr. Gallagher’s talk that has made an impact on me is the lack of background knowledge our current students seem to bring to our course readings. He recounts a story of a young student in his class who didn’t know who this “Al” guy was in the newspaper. She did not know that Al Quieda is the terrorist group responsible for 911; she thought he was an actual person. No matter how many teaching strategies he taught her, she was not going to comprehend that particular article because she lacked the proper background in current events. I believe that it is every teacher’s responsibility to teach current events to their students. I feel that the responsibility of current events has fallen typically on social studies educators. It is time for other disciplines to teach current events from their discipline’s perspective. It is also a parent’s responsibility to discuss current issues with their children in order to develop the “cognitive- antecedents” needed for reading comprehension.
Tags:current events·Kelly Gallagher·reading
Students in the career pathways class had a wrap-up discussion about the topic of Habit#2: Begin with the End in Mind. The class discussed how having an end goal colors the present decisions that one makes. The topics of drug and alcohol abuse came up as negative examples of individuals who don’t see the end result of their poor decisions. In order to end on a positive note, the class shifted attention to the end product of our class problem. The students went on a virtual tour of the Foundation for a Better Life website. They were instructed to attempt to locate individuals from their lives that exemplify one of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens.
Ask your student if they have found anyone to celebrate on their final poster.
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Today, the BBC health report spent the better part of an hour talking with Dr. Martin Seligman of the University of Pennsylvania. As the father of modern, positive psychology, Dr. Seligman spent the interview discussing the benefits of optimism and reviewing the research of happiness. It has been determined through research that optimistic people live, on average, 8 years longer than their pessimistic counterparts. According to the experts on optimism, everyone would benefit from reading and taking to heart Sean Covey’s 7th Habit: Sharpen the Saw. Live, Laugh, Love…and live longer!
Tags:BBC health report·Martin Seligman·optimism·Penn·positive psychology
As the second rotation comes to a close, the students worked today on Habit#7: Sharpen the Saw. This habit calls upon students to take care of themselves as they work toward their academic and career goals. We discussed mind, body, and spirit and the importance balance plays in life. Achieving long and short-term goals are important, but one needs to balance the pursuit with love, laughter, and harmony. The Greeks said it best, “Nothing overmuch!” Make sure to discuss your student’s hobbies and interests as much as you do his/her schoolwork. Sometimes a hobby can turn into a career.
Tags:Balance·career goals·Goals·Habit #7·Harmony
Today, the class witnessed the second installment of Dirty Jobs Thursday. This career exploration activity begins each Thursday class and takes about 15 mins. In order to paint a true picture of the American workforce, I play small, edited clips from the popular, Discovery Channel show Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe. The idea for this weekly lesson came from a feeling I was getting in the class. The students are always respectful to each other, but I detected an undercurrent of disdain for blue collar, manual-labor jobs. It is the role of the educator in this course to be everything to everybody. I want a student to feel as happy and content about a job in automated-manufacturing as the student who wants to be a lawyer. Ask your son or daughter to share with you the “dirty-job” that we watched in class.
Hope to see some of you at the Gold Collar Career night at Manheim Township Middle School.
Tags:Dirty Jobs·Discovery Channel·Gold Collar Careers·Mike Rowe
Educators, both past and present, can sometimes have narrow views of the correct path to success after high school. Poet Robert Frost wrote about life’s tough decisions in a famous poem about two roads diverging in a yellow wood. One of the paths is worn and the other is overgrown and want of ware. The narrator in the poem chooses the path less traveled and that has made all the difference. The path to success after high school is very much the same situation, and students sometimes take the worn path of college. They are not quit sure what they want to do and figure college is a safe, four-year resting spot before setting out on life’s great journey.
Two summers ago, I had the opportunity to work with the Lancaster County Career and Technology Center in a summer program for at-risk students. As a former traveler of the college path, I tended to favor this decision when helping my students make career choices. The LCCTC summer program opened my eyes to the Gold Collar Careers(GCC) that are available to students right here in Lancaster County. This experience has helped me to show my students that the less traveled path of GCC sometimes may be the best path for them…and it doesn’t even require a four-year degree!
The senior graduation project requires students to look at their interests and abilities to choose a career that is suited to them. Once a career pathway has been selected, the student then begins to prepare by planning relevant coursework for this option. In order to help them on their journey, I would like to advertise a “Pathways to Gold Collar Careers” County-Wide Event at Manheim Township Middle School between 5 and 8 pm on November 12th. Students will receive information on Thursday about this event. I hope you take advantage of this great opportunity and help your student to make the best decision for future success.
Tags:Gold Collar Careers·Graduation Projects·Lancaster County Career and Technology Center·Robert Frost
I would like to begin this post with a thank you to the guidance department for scheduling the College Day activity. I attended the event with my third block seniors. Several students used the experience to talk to college recruiters about possible admission.
The Career Pathways students had a wonderful discussion about what they found in the College Day activity. Many students were happy to find that their Career Cruising college recommendation was in attendance in the gymnasium. Ask your student to share his/her college research.
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