3rd Year Students Create Beautiful Christmas Wreaths
Posted on December 17, 2011 by Jocelyn Bystrom
John Abbott visits 2nd Year Challenge Students
Posted on October 25, 2011 by Jocelyn Bystrom
Tuesday, October 25th, 2011
John Abbott, Director of the 21st Century Learning Initiative spent the morning working with 2nd Year Challenge students today!
Mr. Abbott challenged students to think deeply about global issues and to be mindful about what their role in the changes might be.
It would be interesting tonight to be a fly on the wall and to overhear dinner table conversations across the valley as parents ask: “So what did you learn in school today?”
…I can only imagine what they’ll hear tonight after our thought-provoking discussions.
Mr. John Abbott, an internationally acclaimed educator and visionary, shared his thought-provoking message with us and took the time to really listen to our districts’ talented young minds. You may want to check out the website, which represents 21st Century Learning initiatives at: http://www.21learn.org/site/activities/staff/john-abbott/.
We began the morning as usual with check-in! Students were challenged to reflect on the question: What is an experience you’re not likely to forget…and why? Then under Mr. John Abbott’s teaching students transitioned into a meaningful conversation and exchange of ideas. It was truly impressive to listen to our young people confidently share their passionate responses and reflections.
At one point Mr. Abbott challenged students to break into groups and come up with ideas to respond to how they might personally take action to reduce carbon emissions? It was interesting to be an observer and listener as students excitedly shared opinions ranging from harnessing the force of gravity and solar power to making a more conscientious effort to ride bikes, walk to school and car pool when possible! Students were surprised to find out that Canada is one of the top three countries world wide that have a huge negative impact on our environment due to carbon emissions.
I believe one of the highlights of student participation today were the many seeds planted as well as thought provoking questions which students were challenged to reflect upon now, as they mature, become parents and leaders of their generation.
If there ever was a time to speak up, take courage and express their thinking today was the day and I believe Mr Abbott was very impressed by the depth and complexity of student reflection! I was very proud to be an educator today in School District 71! Our students were amazing ambassadors filled with exciting ideas and fresh enthusiasm to tackle the important big picture questions of the day.
Mr. Abbott showed severa videos, which many of our students had taken the time to view last night and once again encouraged students to think ahead as to how they might parent their future children? Although hard to contemplate when you’re ten; Mr. Abbott reminded them of the significance of parent in those precious first years of life! It was heart-warming to hear what students valued as they reflected on the influence of their parents as well as the influence of older siblings, who had encouraged their curiosity, taught the to be passionate thinkers and to love learning. Parents being the most important first teachers, are extremely valued contributors to their child’s future success as well as to their child’s ability to use their intelligence! Are we nurturing our children to ask questions, reflect and take part in meaningful conversations? John Abbott reminded students to thank their parents tonight as it was apparent to him that they’d been parented well in ways that have and continue to support nurture of their intelligence! If the brain is dynamic and similar to a muscle! Will we use it, strengthen it and assure that we’re engaged in our own learning?
“If humans have such amazing brains why do we get stuck in traffic, not have enough to eat and mess up the planet? Check out the following short video clips if you’d like to review any of the video clips students discussed today. http://www.born-to-learn.org/ We’d love to hear back from parents and students as they reflect together about the events of today! Please add a comment to share your feedback with our Challenge community.
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What do Challenge Students Value?
Posted on October 7, 2011 by Jocelyn Bystrom
September 2011
In answer to the question: “What counts in our learning community?” Challenge students came up with the following, which is posted in our classroom.
Challenge Students Value:
WE value a friendly, encouraging atmosphere.
WE value that we all have the right to be unique.
WE value a sense of belonging and feeling connected.
WE value being ourselves without feeling judged or embarassed.
WE value creativity and various gifts.
WE value different ways of expressing ourselves.
WE value being treated fairly and respecting each other.
WE value a clean, organized learning environment in an artistic and literal sense.
WE value being able to take pride in our work, creating quality work and trying our best.
WE value fun and engaging activities.
WE value a sense of humour.
WE value freedom to make choices and to choose alternate ways of showing our thinking.
WE value daily physical activity.
*co-created by the all Challenge Students September 2011!
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Challenge Students Learning to Collaborate and Co-Create Criteria
Posted on September 19, 2011 by Jocelyn Bystrom
This past week the students and I have been co-creating criteria for our Challenge classroom. Challenge students in each of the classes last week collaborated to share their thinking and answer the question:
What counts in our learning community?
Students were asking what matters when building a place to learn something new? Individually and collectively they came up with incredibly powerful insights about their learning preferences. In our Challenge classroom we have posted their thinking as well as begun the process of sorting and organizing their ideas. This week students will begin to prioritize their ideas and determine what they value most.
As we learn to collaborate and listen to each other we also spent time in the computer lab last week learning to use Google documents. Your son/daughter will be able to share this learning with you at home as they master working collaboratively on documents. Google documents provide a platform for students to work collaboratively on a document while in different locations. For example, they can both work simultaneously on the document without e-mailing their work back and forth. I believe this will create excellent opportunities for students to work together when they can’t always get together.
Today I’ve created a document using Google Documents where students will begin to share their thinking on what our new Challenge classroom theme will be. They’ve initially suggested that it might be about animals. I’ve also reminded students that outside of Challenge class if they’re accessing work for Challenge on the computer; they should ask for parental permission for computer time. Please check with me if you have any questions about this process.
If any parents would like to learn to use Google Documents please e-mail me and we’ll see if we can set up a workshop session for parents.
Sincerely,
Jocelyn Bystrom
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Welcome Back Mrs. Stewart
Posted on September 12, 2011 by Jocelyn Bystrom
It is with great pleasure that we welcome back to our ‘gifted’ education team, half time, Mrs. Karen Stewart. All the letter writing and advocacy that parents did over the past two years certainly paid off! Thank you!
Mrs. Stewart will be working with upper intermediate Challenge students. She’ll be in touch with grade 7 students shortly to invite our Grade 7′s to participate in our district’s Challenge / Workshop series, which we initiated for the first time last year. Watch out for details to come in the weeks ahead. Mrs. Stewart will also be providing in-school support for students transitioning between our elementary model Challenge program and the Secondary gifted programs at each of our district’s high schools.
If your child, is now in secondary and your aren’t aware of what’s available for secondary ‘gifted’ kids in S.D.#71; you might contact Mr. Gerald Fussell: Gerald.Fussell@sd71.bc.ca who is an administrator at Isfeld. He’ll be able to tell you which teachers are the staff; who have time alotted in their schedules to watch for and be mindful of gifted learners, at each of our district’s high schools.
More news and details to come…
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Challenge is underway again…
Posted on April 4, 2011 by Jocelyn Bystrom
What might our 2nd year challenge students name their group blog?
Thank you to all 2nd year students who’v handed in their Internet Permission Forms and the Parent Consent for Blogging Forms .
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Challenge attends Destination Imagination Tournament
Posted on March 7, 2011 by Jocelyn Bystrom
Saturday, March 5th 24 Challenge Students on 4 Destination Imagination teams travelled to Campbell River to attend the North Island Regional Tournament.
The Macaroni Penguins completed the “Verses! Foiled Again!” challenge, which was a structural challenge. One of their tasks was to build a strong structure of only wood, tin foil and glue. These students came first in the grade 3-5 category.
The Knights in Shiny Tinfoil also completed the structural challenge and came in 1st in the grade 6-8 category.
The Polar Express our grade 5 team completed the “Triple Take Road Show” challenge and also came in 1st in their category. This team comprised of grade 5 students from Challenge came in 3rd, which was an excellent showing in a category of 8 teams determined to earn the right to go to provincials.
Our fourth team a.k.a. The Platinum Penguins completed a challenge called “Unidentified Moving Objects,” which saw them challenge themselves to move a variety of objects from the top of a tall tower to the ground and other objects from the ground back to the top of the tower without using their hands among other challenges!
For more incredible details be sure to ask team members about their experience at the tournament.
For further information about Destination Imagination in B.C. be sure to check out their website at: www.bcdi.org
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