Students in grades K-12 work is on exhibit at the Waterford Library through April 22nd. Show your support by visiting the work located throughout the library.
https://vimeo.com/91613381
http://media.theoaklandpress.com/
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Waterford Schools and Cultural Council exhibit student work at Waterford Library
Students in grades K-12 work is on exhibit at the Waterford Library through April 22nd. Show your support by visiting the work located throughout the library.
https://vimeo.com/91613381
http://media.theoaklandpress.com/
Monday, April 7, 2014
Michigan Professor the victim of the ultimate April Fools cell phone prank
I have seen most teachers at the high school level give up on students using cell phones being used in class. I know that some schools and some teachers have a better handle on it than others but I have been to some schools and rampant texting and internet usage is as common as a pencil. Many teachers allow students to use their phones as a Kindle or I-Pad so what are you going to do. In Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Professor Stephen Barrows has a policy for students picking up their ringing cell phones and taking a call in class. He has the student put the call on speaker phone. The transcript is below and so is the video link. They are both hilarious.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9rymEWJX38
College student pulls ultimate prank on strict professor
This past April Fools' Day, a professor's strict no-phone policy set one student up to pull the ultimate prank in class, which was caught on video and is now going viral.
(Note: Stop reading here and watch the video if you want the surprise.)
Professor Stephen Barrows, an economics professor at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Mich., has a pretty straightforward policy when it comes to phones in class — if it rings, you have to answer the call on speaker phone.
The clip begins with Barrow telling student Taylor Nefcy to answer her ringing phone, reminding her, "You have to answer it!"
So she does, only to be greeted by an unexpected message:
"Hi, this is Kevin from the Pregnancy Resource Center. Per your request, I am calling to inform you that the test results have come back positive. Congratulations."
Video: A
teacher who has a rule that if your cellphone rings in class, you have
to answer it and put it on speakerphone, got pranked by a female student
when she got a call announcing she was pregnant. The teacher apologized
and she revealed it was a joke.
"There is no need to worry," says the caller. "I know you told us the father is no longer in the picture, but we will be in contact with you throughout this whole process, so don't worry about anything. We provide counseling and other maternity services at no charge."
As the call ends, Barrow states that he'd like to publicly apologize to his student.
"That's okay," Nefcy responds. "I've been expecting this and I already know what I'm going to name the baby. Her first name will be April and her middle name will be Fools," she says as the professor bursts into laughter (and relief).
"I will treasure that," Barrow said of the prank. "You can't understand the internal relief
ideo: A teacher who has a rule that if your cellphone rings in class, you have to answer it and put it on speakerphone, got pranked by a female student when she got a call announcing she was pregnant.
As the call ends, Barrow states that he'd like to publicly apologize to his student.
"That's okay," Nefcy responds. "I've been expecting this and I already know what I'm going to name the baby. Her first name will be April and her middle name will be Fools," she says as the professor bursts into laughter (and relief).
"I will treasure that," Barrow said of the prank. "You can't understand the internal relief."
When teachers build a mousetrap, pretty soon they will end up building a better mousetrap.
Saturday, April 5, 2014
The 2013 Waterford Youth Awards revisited
The Waterford Youth Awards will be presented later in April but the Waterford Youth Awards video story is being showcased from 2013 in this Oakland Press Video Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb6h7ejgITg
Temple Grandin talks autism at the Autism Conference by Metro Parent Magazine
With April being National Autism Month a video story from National Autism Month in Troy is being featured.
Oakland Press Video Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-3Q6c4s9po
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Video Story: Mandatory College Applications- Transcripts as well
In high schools across the nation, administrators and teachers alike have seen what its like to keep kids in school that really do not want to be there. This post will not look at the deep problems that surround this issue but in some states like Oregon, it is mandatory for students to apply for college as part of graduation requirements and it it is causing quite a stir.
http://www.channelone.com/mandatory-college-applications/
http://www.channelone.com/mandatory-college-applications/
Mandatory College Applications
Transcript
Maggie: When it comes to jobs,
there is evidence that a college degree is more important than ever. So
one high school has decided to make a college education a priority by
taking a unique and controversial approach. Keith Kocinski has the
story.
Keith: Hey, everyone! I am outside of Corbett High School, which is near Portland, Oregon, and I am just about to step inside because I have one simple question for the students here. Come with me.
By a show of hands, how many of you guys plan on going to college?
Keith: Yep, that is everyone in the class. At Corbett, applying for college is not an option; it is required to graduate.
Principal Randy Trani: In order to graduate, you need to be admitted to a postsecondary degree-granting institution, and that was just ratified this year and it affects this year’s freshman class.
Keith: Only about sixty students a year graduate from Corbett High School, and when students heard about the new policy, it caused quite a stir.
Kodai Johansen: At first I thought that that was just crazy and ridiculous.
Sophie Steele: I was enraged because I was like, ‘well, what if there’s people who don’t want to go to college?’
Clare Babcock: Some kids don’t do well with pressure. And that might feel like a lot of weight on their shoulders.
Keith: So, what happens if a student doesn’t get accepted to college?
Principal Trani: That can never really happen in the state of Oregon. If you have met the state’s minimum diploma requirements, you’re guaranteed to be accepted in a community college. In fact, you don’t even necessarily have to graduate to be accepted.
Keith: Principal Randy Trani also says administrators aren’t forcing students to go to college, only get accepted. It is their choice to actually go.
Clare: I thought about it and then I was like, ‘oh, that’s a really good opportunity for other students that didn’t plan on going to college and now are encouraged to’.
Allison Croak: I think it’s an exceptional move towards empowerment and showing kids that they have more than one option.
Keith: But the new policy has its critics who say the only reason the school is requiring students be accepted to college is to boost the school’s ranking in national publications. In 2010, Corbett was ranked fifth best high school in the nation by Newsweek. But in 2011, Newsweek changed its system to include college acceptance as a major factor in its rankings.
Now, what if a student wants to join the military or even do a vocational trade?
Principal Trani: Military is an option we keep available for students. We think that’s a valuable option, also a vocational trade. That’s also acceptable as long as it’s going to give them a certificate, something that’s marketable that they can take. What we really don’t want is kids walking across the stage with a question mark or undecided.
Keith: But this isn’t the only thing that Corbett does differently. Before high school, students aren’t separated by age, but academic level. And they don’t get grades until after 8th grade.
In addition to having to be accepted to a college, students here must have passing grades and good attendance. Oh yeah, did I mention that they have to take six advanced placement classes?
School leaders and students hope to spread the Corbett philosophy to other schools around the country.
Allison: I would think it would be really interesting to see what would happen if you put this policy in place in an inner-city school or some school where those expectations aren’t there. This is a great policy, and I feel like it should spread and go beyond this already high-achieving school.
Keith: As for the chance this new policy will be successful,… Well, administrators believe odds are in their favor.
Keith Kocinski, Channel One News.
Maggie: Alright. Now it is your turn. Do you think college acceptance should be required to graduate? Head on over to ChannelOne.com and let us know what you think. Your comments might just make it on the show.
Keith: Hey, everyone! I am outside of Corbett High School, which is near Portland, Oregon, and I am just about to step inside because I have one simple question for the students here. Come with me.
By a show of hands, how many of you guys plan on going to college?
Keith: Yep, that is everyone in the class. At Corbett, applying for college is not an option; it is required to graduate.
Principal Randy Trani: In order to graduate, you need to be admitted to a postsecondary degree-granting institution, and that was just ratified this year and it affects this year’s freshman class.
Keith: Only about sixty students a year graduate from Corbett High School, and when students heard about the new policy, it caused quite a stir.
Kodai Johansen: At first I thought that that was just crazy and ridiculous.
Sophie Steele: I was enraged because I was like, ‘well, what if there’s people who don’t want to go to college?’
Clare Babcock: Some kids don’t do well with pressure. And that might feel like a lot of weight on their shoulders.
Keith: So, what happens if a student doesn’t get accepted to college?
Principal Trani: That can never really happen in the state of Oregon. If you have met the state’s minimum diploma requirements, you’re guaranteed to be accepted in a community college. In fact, you don’t even necessarily have to graduate to be accepted.
Keith: Principal Randy Trani also says administrators aren’t forcing students to go to college, only get accepted. It is their choice to actually go.
Clare: I thought about it and then I was like, ‘oh, that’s a really good opportunity for other students that didn’t plan on going to college and now are encouraged to’.
Allison Croak: I think it’s an exceptional move towards empowerment and showing kids that they have more than one option.
Keith: But the new policy has its critics who say the only reason the school is requiring students be accepted to college is to boost the school’s ranking in national publications. In 2010, Corbett was ranked fifth best high school in the nation by Newsweek. But in 2011, Newsweek changed its system to include college acceptance as a major factor in its rankings.
Now, what if a student wants to join the military or even do a vocational trade?
Principal Trani: Military is an option we keep available for students. We think that’s a valuable option, also a vocational trade. That’s also acceptable as long as it’s going to give them a certificate, something that’s marketable that they can take. What we really don’t want is kids walking across the stage with a question mark or undecided.
Keith: But this isn’t the only thing that Corbett does differently. Before high school, students aren’t separated by age, but academic level. And they don’t get grades until after 8th grade.
In addition to having to be accepted to a college, students here must have passing grades and good attendance. Oh yeah, did I mention that they have to take six advanced placement classes?
School leaders and students hope to spread the Corbett philosophy to other schools around the country.
Allison: I would think it would be really interesting to see what would happen if you put this policy in place in an inner-city school or some school where those expectations aren’t there. This is a great policy, and I feel like it should spread and go beyond this already high-achieving school.
Keith: As for the chance this new policy will be successful,… Well, administrators believe odds are in their favor.
Keith Kocinski, Channel One News.
Maggie: Alright. Now it is your turn. Do you think college acceptance should be required to graduate? Head on over to ChannelOne.com and let us know what you think. Your comments might just make it on the show.
A grant gives all students at Harvey-Swanson Elementary access to I-Pads
For students at Harvey-Swanson Elementary in Brandon Schools, the future is now. The old adage "if you cannot beat them, join them," certainly applies as kindergarteners are bringing cell phones to school and instead of it being a problem, the I-Pads that were given because of a grant from the Michigan Department of Education has turned a prior problem into a cutting edge solution. The I-Pads go well beyond playing coolmathgames.com and typingweb.com. Students are solving real world problems and are posting You-Tube videos on their favorite books using QR codes. As a guest teacher in West Bloomfield recently, students using I-Pads rotated among several learning stations in one first grade classroom and I can tell you the students were extremely engaged. The following story shows how Harvey-Swanson Elementary is working with the technology.
Brandon’s Harvey-Swanson Elementary receives iPads for every student with state grant
The school is the recipient of funds from a Michigan Department of Education program that aims for a 1-1 learning ratio, with access to technology at both school and home.
Principal Andrew Phillips said that he’s noticed that at kindergarten orientation, many preschoolers are using their parent’s cell phones.
“We can either embrace that and use it to speed up learning, or stick with what we’ve done before (mobile) devices were so popular.”
Student engagement can be improved with the use of mobile devices, Phillips said, explaining that students can “mirror” the work done on an iPads by showing it on a monitor at the front of a classroom.
“A kid is more likely to play a math game longer than they’ll work on a worksheet.”
Harvey-Swanson Elementary is the only school in Oakland County that’s been selected to receive tablet computers as part of the program, administered by the Genesee Intermediate School District.
Part of what’s known as the Whole School Technology Transformation pilot program will include an upgrade of the school’s Wi-Fi network.
In kindergarten teacher Jessica Hevel’s classroom, students are already using some tablet computers the school previously received using federal grant funds. Hevel, who’s a Brandon High School graduate herself, said students are excited to work on iPads.
“I think it gets the student better prepared for what they’re going to be doing in the future,” she said, as several kindergartners worked on iPads at a nearby table.
Hevel said she’s able to adjust each device to a student’s learning level: “It’s so much easier to differentiate instruction.”
In a hallway near Hevel’s classroom, the March is Reading Month posters include QR codes that can be scanned with a mobile device to access YouTube videos students have made about their favorite books.
Harvey-Swanson has a schoolwide festival each May, and this year’s will be the Festival of Technology.
With about 450 iPads coming to the school this year, the existing devices at Harvey-Swanson will be shared with the district’s other K-3 school, Oakwood Elementary. That will bring all of the district’s elementary students close to a 1-to-1 learning ratio, Phillips said.
Third grade teacher Bob Larson said another element of using mobile devices in class is teaching students about digital citizenship: How to stay safe online and communicate with each other using social media and other tools.
The arrival of tablet computers in every classroom means added training is needed for teachers is needed, Phillips said. “As excited as we are about (this), it’s going to be a lot of work.”
Since students will take the iPads home, Phillips said the program will benefit entire families and give parents a chance to learn, too.
“Parent newsletters won’t be on paper anymore. They’ll be on some kind of appropriate social media network.”
While he’s excited by the news of the coming technology, the elementary principal said the true payoff will come after the next year of instruction.
“What I can’t wait for are the congratulations when the year is up and they see what we’ve done with them.”
What can students teach Justin Verlander about sports injuries?
With the Detroit Tigers season on tap for March 31st, there are as many reasons to be optimistic as there are potholes on Michigan roads. Well almost. In order for schools to close the gap on teaching relevant subjects, sports medicine is the studied subject at Conant Elementary in Bloomfield Hills. From studying data to talking to trainers of professional sports teams a trio of students are well past learning their multiplication tables and are looking to take their knowledge of sports medicine to change the way we treat sports injuries.
Bloomfield students study sports injuries, offer advice for Tigers star Justin Verlander
“Always stretch out because, if you don’t stretch, you could pull something. But don’t just stretch before. You have to make sure to do cool-down stretches, too. People forget to do that,” Robert said.
Robert, Michael, and Byron have chosen to research sports safety, which includes researching athletic injury prevention and playground safety, as their international baccalaureate project in the fourth grade at Conant, part of the Bloomfield Hills School District.
“A big cause of injury for pitchers is arm injuries,” Robert said. “Because when they throw the ball, they can pull something in their arm. But they can also have head injuries because if they hit the ball back up to the pitcher and it hits them in the head, that can be a serious injury.”
“He needs good reflex skills,” Michael said. “If the ball is coming right at you — he needs to duck or move the mitt in front of his face to stop it,” he said, adding the students have also learned about pitching rotations and how that can prevent pitchers from getting fatigued throughout the season.
The students also interviewed an assistant trainer with the Detroit Lions who told them he treats player injuries with cold and hot baths.
“Now we know that there’s a law about sports safety,” Byron said. “A lot of football players talked to legislators about that and now we’re hearing that they’re trying to make baseball safer.”
Just this season, Major League Baseball changed the rules involving collisions at home plate.
All three boys wished the Tigers well in their season opener Monday against the Kansas City Royals and said they would like to interview Verlander about sports injury prevention.
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