From the Principal
Explore learning! Your commentary, collaboration and participation is encouraged and highly valued! This page is intended for our entire school learning community; parents, families, students, both present and past, teachers and educators, as well as anyone else with an interest in learning. I especially encourage our OLHMS students, teachers, and families to share their ideas by participating in my blog or following me on Twitter @PaulEnderle. You can also send me feedback via email at penderle@d123.org or call me directly at school (708)499-6400. I looking forward to hearing and learning from you!
Student Advisory Panel: Students “Speak Out” at OLHMS!
On March 6th and 7th Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School held Student Advisory Panel focus group discussions in the school Library. The purpose of the OLHMS Student Advisory Panel was to provide our student body an organized structure to communicate their perspective on various aspects that constitute our school community. The Student Advisory Panel advised teachers and administrators on policies, procedures, and programs affecting students at OLHMS. We believe that through hearing the voice of our students we will become better informed to improve our practices and perspectives as educators.
Current educational research proposes that middle school educators develop frameworks to support practices to better understand the sociocultural contexts of student lives and investigate how students create, apply, and act upon meanings that they construct (Booth, 2011). This research suggests that schools provide opportunities to gather specific student feedback on what they “think” create learning experiences that work. This research accompanied with the work of Marzano (2003), This They Believe (Booth, 2011), and using predetermined questions based on a questionnaire developed through the Students Speak: How Kentucky Middle and High School Students View School (1997) we organized our questions into four prominent themes: physical needs, safety needs, academic needs, and esteem needs. We expected each member of the panel to think about the questions and arrive prepared to speak openly about their thoughts and opinions.
Based on the information we collected from our students we deduced that middle school students expect the following 5 “Big Idea” Concepts from their learning experiences:
1. To be engaged learners! Students reported that they want their school experience to challenge and motivate them each day. They define engagement as being fun and game-like, offering regular choice and opportunities to be more independent. They believe that competition, taking risks, and failing is all part of learning, and helps to inspire them to dig deeper into concepts and ideas. They want to read things that are relevant to issues that impact their life. They value the perspective of their teachers and parents, however are interested in finding their own identity and curious about many things that affect their life. As I reflect upon this adolescent definition of being an “engaged” learner, I regretfully think back to how I designed learning experiences and lesson plans as a classroom teacher. I was always proud of the fact that I tried to plan at least one “fun” game-like activity each unit, and in retrospect question my narrow-minded thinking. Why didn’t I seek to incorporate more “fun” things into my classroom all the time? What was my rationale for always returning to the content-coverage mode of lecturing, taking notes from an overhead, and doling out worksheets? Did I perceive this as real learning or a rite of passage that kids had to “earn” in order to be engaged or motivated? Based on what our students said, I wish I could turn back the clock and replace some of the monotonous, uninspired pedagogy with “fun” activities that challenge learners and provide them opportunities to build ownership, through inquiry and be self-guided learning.
2. Interaction! Middle School students crave interaction with their teachers and peers. It is evident from these conversations that young adolescents view learning at a social endeavor and long for more opportunities to have individual, small group, and whole group discussions, as well as use social media to communicate thoughts. Students like to discuss academic content as it pertains to social issues that they face and need the adults in their life to listen to them. They like to be heard, but also thirst for the feedback they receive from teachers and parents. Not in the form of receiving letter grades or directives, but value neutral feedback that helps provide them a learning path, an explanation of where they were, where they are, and in what direction they should be going.
3. Connection! In order to make learning meaningful it must be connected. Students want school to be as “real world” as possible. They want us to help them answer the questions, “When am I ever going to use this?” and “How is what I am learning today important to me and my future?” We owe this to our students and must build in opportunities everyday to clearly connect learning experiences to meaning making. They like to see content that is interconnected thematically and gain deper understanding of how they can use what they are learning in multiple contexts and novel situations. If we continue to create learning experiences that cannot answer those two aforementioned questions in a direct and focused manner, we are doing our students a great disservice. As 21st century educators making connections is crucial to making meaning for our students, helping to connect their learning to the world around them.
4. Fairness! It is no surprise that our young adolescents want to be treated with dignity and equity, feeling strongly that school systems are to be reflection of a democratic society. They consistently voice wanting structure, safety, accountability, and rigor in school, while accommodating for each learner in ways that assist and differentiate learning experiences. They encourage teachers to not be “pushovers” and to hold individuals responsible for their own behavior, without punishing the whole group. They expect teachers to not “sweat the small stuff,” but to help provide a peaceful, welcoming, and organized settings for learning. They want poise and guidance from their teachers in handling classroom and student issues.
5. To be apart of something bigger than themselves! Our students voiced a great need to be involved and to help serve others. They want more extracurricular activities and freedom to be involved with different groups as much as possible. Their feedback supports learning experiences grounded in both service and problem-based learning philosophies. They want to give back, help others, and solve societal problems that affect them and others globally. They like to give their opinions, be included, and make a difference in the lives of others.
We felt our students did an excellent job of supporting their positions with both reason and factual evidence. We benefited greatly from listening to the voices of our students, and hope to use this valuable perspective to inform our decisions in creating the best possible learning environment for our students. Please consider responding to my blog and providing us some of your thoughts on our Student Advisory Panel feedback at OLHMS.
References
Booth, M.Z. (2011). This they believe: young adolescents reveal their needs in school. Middle School Journal, 42(3), 16-23.
Marzano, R.J. (2003). What works in schools. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
* Interview Questions from Students Speak: How Kentucky Middle and High School Students View School (1997)
Representative Kelly Burke Visits OLHMS!
7th Grade Social Studies classes had the wonderful opportunity to learn about our Illinois State Government and real lawmaking from Representative Kelly Burke, 36th District. Social studies teachers, Mr. Weber and Mr. Sifling, have been studying Illinois State Government and provided classes the opportunity to engage in discussions and debates with a real-life Illinois State Representative. At OLHMS, we are very interested in creating learning experiences for students that are both meaningful and relevant, transforming knowledge outside the parameters of textbooks into students lives. We thank Representative Burke for sharing with us her time and experiences in government. Let me know what you think about the visit? I am especially interested in hearing what our 7th Grade students think! What did you most learn most about government from Representative Burke! Respond to my blog and take a look at pictures from the visit!
Connecting the Past with the Present 
We live in a great community and knowing your community is extremely important! I believe it is the responsibility of us all to be stewards of where we live and to make a difference in our community. How much do we know about the Village of Oak Lawn? Take some time to read up on the amazing history of the very town we live in by accessing the Oak Lawn Village History page. After reading about our history, take a look at the Historical Buildings Pictures in our OLHMS Picture Gallery. Looking at snapshots from the past can help us better understand who we are and show us how things have changed. Click on the pictures and see some of the many historic homes, schools and buildings located throughout the Village of Oak Lawn! Respond to my blog about this topic. I am interested in hearing what everyone feels about the history and pictures of our community!
Principal Performance Survey ~ 2011
Calling all OLHMS Students…
On behalf of myself, Mrs. Spreitzer, and Mr. Mitchell, your principals, we need your help! Because you, as students, play an important part in our learning process, we are going to ask you to participate in a brief online survey to help provide us some feedback on our performance as your principals. In doing this, we hope to learn more about your perspective, as students, to better inform our role as your principals.
Please view this video that helps further explain our purpose for the principal’s performance survey. Following the video click on this link, Principal’s Performance Survey to take the survey. Your responses will be reported back anonymously, and your feedback will help us make more informed decisions about our school and assist us in developing better ways to foster engaged learning and greater success for us all. Thank you in advance for your feedback!
The 25 Most Powerful Pictures of 2011
I wanted to shared some pictures with you, The 25 Most Powerful Images of 2011. As the calendar year wraps up, I hope you may find some of these images as influential and compelling as I do. Which do you like best? Why? How have some of these events from 2011 impacted you? Let me know what you think by commenting on my blog. I have also started to develop an OLHMS Principal's Photostream. Check it out!
Family Conferences at OLHMS
Why "Student-Led" = "Life-Long"
We want to develop Life Long Learners! Using a “Student-Led” conference format helps us get one step closer to this goal! Here at OLHMS we have been in the practice of using a student-led conference format since opening our doors in 2005-06, and are not looking back! It has been one of the best ways we have been able to involve students and families in the learning process. This is something that most schools do NOT do, but something we do successfully! Learning is more than just receiving a “grade,” it requires self-evaluation and reflection of one’s areas of strength and weakness, self-confidence in the ability to communicate and articulate ideas, as well as being an effective goal setter through out life!
Proponents of student-led conferences say that the practice put students in charge of their own learning, gives students a better handle on their own progress, and shows parents that student achievement is in the student’s hands, not theirs (or the teacher’s). The hallmark of an effective student conference is preparation, from identifying strengths and weakness, to creating authentic reports of progress and goals. As students get older they are at risk to become less engaged in school, student-led conferences allows students to be fully engaged in the process. It also helps parents communicate better with their children, and perhaps can even help parents feel more engaged in their child's academic progress as well.
I would enjoy hearing more from our teachers and families! Comment on my blog. What you do like best about our student-led conference format? What can be improved? Any thoughts on making our current family conference practice better!
Read more on the value of Student-led conferences…
Student-led Conferences – Very recent and up-to-date information, examples, and resources. Multiple videos for a range of grade levels modeling best practices, viewer guides, handouts, and planning guides from Curriculum Services Canada. These videos show that student-led conferences aren’t just a stunt, but a serious reflection exercise for students, parents and teachers.
Student-led Conferences (Education World) – A good overview article of student-led conferences. Some of the links have gotten old, but enough are still working to make this a recommend resource.
How to Run Successful Parent-Team Conferences: Tips by the Dozen for Middle-Level Educators (PDF) – An article from Middle Matters magazine in 1998. These tips are timeless!
Student-Led Conferences Hold Kids Accountable (Education World) – quotes research about the benefits of student-led conferences, including higher rates of parent participation.
Successful Student-Led School Conferences – A number of resources and articles from MiddleWeb – Exploring Middle School Reform.
Great Education Week blog “Finding Common Ground,” explaining the value of using the student-led conferences.
Veteran's Day at OLHMS
We celebrated Veteran’s Day today as a school community. It was both meaningful and moving. They say a picture speaks a thousand words. I stumbled across this picture in a picture cartoon by Gary Varvel, using a brush in Photoshop from the word “Veteran” to overprint the word on the art. Attention all artists! See my blog and let me know what you think about the Veteran' Day picture?
Thank a Veteran! They deserve it!
Word Cloud Wonders!
I like word clouds. Being a competitive person who enjoys the challenge of a good crossword puzzle, as well as Etymology in general, I am really drawn to the charm of using word clouds or “wordles” to conceptually express ideas using a collection of words. By simply typing in literary texts, musical lyrics, content from famous speeches, or practically any group of words one can create a powerful picture based on those words. These interesting word clusters can give an instant summary of concepts by making words bigger and bolder the more frequently they are used.
Word clouds are a lot of fun, really easy to do, and completely free! By browsing onto the Wordle page at http://www.wordle.net/create basically type or paste in the text that you want to use for the word.
Within a few seconds, a “cloud” from a randomly chosen style, color scheme and layout will be created from the words you chose. Typically people create word clouds based on a theme or message they want to send. Feel free to explore the different styles and ways to create this word art. The word cloud you create is completely unique, there won’t be another exactly like yours. The website even offers previously saved examples to explore!
Why Word Clouds?
There are various education reasons to use Word Clouds in school, in a blog, on a webpage or just for fun!
- Learning content vocabulary words
- Communicate a main idea or theme
- A visual way to sort long text documents based on the number of times a word is used.
- Analyze a blog post, wiki, webpage, or essay
- Summarizing the main point of a lesson or unit of study
- Identifying key terms in a unit or from a reading
- As a collaborative tool to identify voting or group consensus
- Comparing similarities and differences of news articles or speeches
- They can also be used as an excellent reflection tool to spark discussion based directly on text.
Analyzing large blocks of text, comparing versions of stories and evaluating the content of websites are common tasks given to students each day. For many students, facing a dense block of text is overwhelming. Creating a word cloud is an excellent resource to enhancing literacy, creating beautiful artworks, and generally having fun with language!
How to…
Easy to watch tutorial videos can be found on YouTube in several places. This is one only three minutes long and easy to watch. In addition to how the video shows to get the Wordle into your blog or document, you can also take a screenshot of the final version.
Ways to extend your Word Cloud
There are other ways to create Word Clouds or Wordles. Listed below are a few options that can extend your knowledge of this tool and help you become even more advanced with this medium!
Wordle
The best known word cloud tool, easy to use, and allows for the word cloud to have its color, font and layout randomly changed or adjusted until it is perfect for your use.
Tagxedo
It allows for the user to make clouds in the shapes of certain forms, such as hearts, circles, and faces and to fit themes. It's useful for making more artistic looking word clouds. For more tips on using Tagxedo, read 101 Ways to Use Tagxedo.
VocabGrabber
A unique tool, it helps the user locate most used words and understand their meaning within context. Vocabgrabber can be a useful scaffold for struggpng readers and can help teachers quickly understand passages and trouble spots that students might have.
Tagul
It is a lot likeTagxedo, but allows for more artistic, shape formed word clouds within shapes and with certain thematic colors.
WordSift
A very simple and basic word cloud maker, it was developed at Stanford University.
CHALLENGE! Name that Word Cloud?
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Respond to my blog with your guesses for each number. Be sure to add a comment to share your ideas and link us back to where you’ve posted your work. I would enjoy reading some of your word cloud creations! If you need a place to start consider the following themes:
· Your favorite things
· Qualities of me!
· My favorite movies and/or books
· The meaning of life
· About OLHMS
· Heroes
GET A HEAD START ON THE NEW YEAR!
Starting middle school is a fun and exciting new chapter in any young adolescent’s life, but it can also be overwhelming. All those new routines, classes, teachers, as well as before and after school activities are a big change from elementary school. No matter how ready you are it can still be easy to fall a little behind when it comes to homework assignments, studying, and maintaining your schedule. Here are some tips that can be useful when it comes to staying on top of your new middle school responsibilities.
Use “Post-its”
Using post-its are helpful in providing your little reminders about responsibilities in common areas at home. I regularly use them on my desk, computer, doors, and mirrors, anywhere I know I will eventually see them. If you have anything important you know you will need to see as soon as you wake up in the morning, write it on a sticky note and post it somewhere you always look. It really works!
Use a Centrally Located Monthly Calendar
Whether you use the D123 Apple Calendar or a large dry-erase calendar it doesn’t matter. Calendars are excellent tools to help you post all of your big events or assignments and be ready of things in advance. You can stick it on your bedroom wall or refrigerator and look at it every time you need to remind yourself of something.
Study Buddies
Making friends in school can actually help you, if you organize a study group with them! When in a group, you will find that someone might have the answer you’re looking for or a different perspective on a topic. It’s a way to make friends and also help you learn!
Use www.d123.org
Our school district website is an excellent resource that families can use to access school-related information and stay organized. Our website contains monthly newsletters, the student handbook, club and activity sign-up, the yearly school calendar, supply lists, staff directories, Homelogic registration steps, and other important information. If you have yet to visit our website please do so; it is a great way to learn more about our school and help open up lines of communication.
Give these suggestions a chance, they will prove effective! Our primary goal at OLHMS is to provide the best possible educational experience for our students and help each child become successful in reaching their fullest potential. We are committed to helping our learning community “Create a Dream, Make it a Reality” everyday at school. Our door is always open and we look to hearing from you. We know that by working together we can make this a rewarding opportunity. If you have questions, concerns, or feedback, please feel free to call the school or contact us via email. We thank you in advance for making the interactive principal’s message a great success.
With Mustang Pride,
Paul J. Enderle
Principal OLHMS
