http://www.thenorthstarcommunity.org/home/2007/08/23/a-community-of-learners-a-love-of-learning/ A community of practice inspired by Peter H Reynolds' Book "The North Star" Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:29:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 http://www.thenorthstarcommunity.org/home/2007/08/23/a-community-of-learners-a-love-of-learning/#comment-238 Marli Tue, 04 Sep 2007 13:41:46 +0000 http://www.thenorthstarcommunity.org/home/2007/08/23/a-community-of-learners-a-love-of-learning/#comment-238 That's great - for the teacher, but also for the students! So many students stress about meeting a new teacher, it must have been a nice change of pace to be looking forward to working with a teacher they already knew! That’s great - for the teacher, but also for the students! So many students stress about meeting a new teacher, it must have been a nice change of pace to be looking forward to working with a teacher they already knew!

]]> http://www.thenorthstarcommunity.org/home/2007/08/23/a-community-of-learners-a-love-of-learning/#comment-234 Maryann Sat, 01 Sep 2007 15:42:44 +0000 http://www.thenorthstarcommunity.org/home/2007/08/23/a-community-of-learners-a-love-of-learning/#comment-234 I guess you could say we team teach our buddy activities. Some of the teaching, I would say, is the older children helping the younger ones. One of the fifth grade teachers (not my buddy teacher) just told us second grade teacher a great story. On Thursday we have an Open House where families can come for an hour and meet their new teacher. The fifth grade teacher wanted to let us know how excited some of her former second grade buddies were to have her as their fifth grade teacher. They had been waiting and hoping three years later that they would get to have her! What great community spirit. I guess you could say we team teach our buddy activities. Some of the teaching, I would say, is the older children helping the younger ones. One of the fifth grade teachers (not my buddy teacher) just told us second grade teacher a great story. On Thursday we have an Open House where families can come for an hour and meet their new teacher. The fifth grade teacher wanted to let us know how excited some of her former second grade buddies were to have her as their fifth grade teacher. They had been waiting and hoping three years later that they would get to have her! What great community spirit.

]]> http://www.thenorthstarcommunity.org/home/2007/08/23/a-community-of-learners-a-love-of-learning/#comment-229 Marli Tue, 28 Aug 2007 13:50:18 +0000 http://www.thenorthstarcommunity.org/home/2007/08/23/a-community-of-learners-a-love-of-learning/#comment-229 That's great- do you team teach with the older students' teachers? That’s great- do you team teach with the older students’ teachers?

]]> http://www.thenorthstarcommunity.org/home/2007/08/23/a-community-of-learners-a-love-of-learning/#comment-225 Maryann Mon, 27 Aug 2007 13:49:33 +0000 http://www.thenorthstarcommunity.org/home/2007/08/23/a-community-of-learners-a-love-of-learning/#comment-225 Our elementary school uses "buddies." An older grade works with a younger grade on projects and special activities. The older children tend to look out for their younger buddies even outside of the school, such as on the bus or on the walk home from school. Many teachers invite former students back to their class to help. This is especially helpful when we are doing a big and/or complicated project where extra support is invaluable. Since they have already done the projects, they have a unique insight that even adult helpers don't have. Plus, the former students connect with the younger ones and learn some great leadership skills. Our elementary school uses “buddies.” An older grade works with a younger grade on projects and special activities. The older children tend to look out for their younger buddies even outside of the school, such as on the bus or on the walk home from school. Many teachers invite former students back to their class to help. This is especially helpful when we are doing a big and/or complicated project where extra support is invaluable. Since they have already done the projects, they have a unique insight that even adult helpers don’t have. Plus, the former students connect with the younger ones and learn some great leadership skills.

]]>