Instead of having a traditional Open House where your kids walk you from class to class, and you get all of 30 seconds to assess teaching styles, parents at ICS were given the opportunity to attend 4 classes. I chose Technology, Art, English, and Science.
In Technology, I fell in love with the teacher, a Miami-vice type guy whose screen saver is his adorable daughter. What's not to love? I'm sure this school-girl crush was just my way of getting the total experience of my 6th grade adventure. The Smart Board was my second love. All the parents were mesmerized by what this board could do. Those darn kids didn't seem to know how good they had it. Back in my day, teachers used chalk and you were lucky to have a computer in the school much less a whole classroom devoted to them! Wikipedia explains the Smart Board a bit better than I can:
The SMART Board interactive whiteboard is a large interactive whiteboard that uses touch technology to detect user input – e.g. scrolling, right mouse-click – in the same way normal PC input devices, such as a mouse or keyboard detect input. A projector is used to display a computer’s video output on the whiteboard, which then acts as a large touchscreen. The SMART Board typically comes with 4 digital pens, which use digital ink and replace traditional whiteboard markers.
The students were working on a presentation for their research of endangered species. They needed to include words, charts, and pictures on each slide.
The dreamy tech teacher suggested that I ditch my scheduled art class and attend C.J.'s class instead. (C.J. wasn't actually in my tech class. It turns out that he takes design tech instead of computer tech this year.)
I introduced myself to C.J.'s art teacher and explained that I would just observe from a corner, since he hadn't been expecting me. He immediately said, "Absolutely not! Every student in this class participates. And that includes you!" Then, he tossed me a hunk of clay and asked C.J. to show me what to do with it. Yes, C.J.'s is currently doing pottery in art. He was working on a great vase, while I got to do a thumb bowl. It was fun to be sculpting clay. The teacher commented that C.J. was a great pottery student -- he was able to get a thin shape and keep his vase line straight. (There were a few leaning towers of Pisa in the class.) I enjoyed having the opportunity to work side-by-side with C.J. while he told me about the class and his day. Supposedly the teacher was going to fire my bowl, C.J. was going to glaze it, and I would have a new work of art for our home, but my bowl hasn't shown up yet. Sigh.
Next up: recess. I'm not sure what C.J. did, but I made a bee-line for the parent's meeting spot where they served us tea and amazing chocolate chip cookies. (C.J. did mention that this part of the day was a departure from reality as they do not provide him with free cookies each day. They are, however, the same cookies they sell in the school cafeteria.) I believe the cookies were meant to provide us with energy for our stair workout. The middle school building is at least 4 stories, and classes alternated whether they were on the 4th floor or the 1st floor. I'm sure it's scheduled this way to stimulate the brain between classes, but it was a workout for many of the parents.
So, after my cookie, I trudged up my stairs to an 8th grade English class. I wanted to see C.J's teacher in action, but the only English class offered for the day was 8th grade. We started the class by embracing our inner Macbeth and recited lines to each other. Not remembering the play too well, I can only hope that I conveyed the right emotion in my line. From there, we had a free write for 7 minutes beginning with the words "Fear is..." The final exercise was to "write your own Macbeth act." We formed small groups, were given a short description of the scene we were to re-write and then got to work. Groups re-wrote their scene in any time period -- one group cast Macbeth as a mob boss, while another scene took place in an internet chat room. I had a brilliant suggestion for my group, but I can't recall it as this time. I just know it was absolutely brilliant.
My final class was science. This class involved another group exercise. In the first half of the class (it was a double period day, and I had only come for the second period), the class had broken up into small groups. Each group had become an expert on one of the earth's biomes: arctic, desert, grasslands, forest, mountains, and rain forest. For the second period, the groups were shuffled, with one "expert" from each biome in the new group. The experts taught the rest of the group about their biome, with a quiz at the end of the class. I had to quickly study up on grasslands, as I was the expert for this biome. I am proud to say that my group got every grasslands question correct on the quiz!
While the rest of the 6th graders went on to their 5th class of the morning, the parents all headed to lunch. The food was delicious, but I do understand why C.J. chooses to bring a lunch each day. The "good" food sells out quickly and the line can be long. C.J. mentioned that if you want a wrap, sandwich, or cookie, you need to buy it during the morning break.
It was a fun morning and I definitely learned a bit more about C.J.'s day. The school emphasizes hands on learning and lots of group work. I can't wait to be a student again next year. The best part of only going for a day? No homework for me!
2 comments:
I think I need to go to that school too.
I'm still amazed by ICS and all they offer. I don't know how the kids will ever adjust to US public schools. I know I'd have a tough time if I attended ICS.
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