FFA Food Drive - Happy Thanksgiving

Members of the SCHS FFA

As we celebrate our bountiful harvest this Thanksgiving, I want to thank all of the schools and organizations across America and the World that conduct food drives to help the less fortunate.  In our little part of the world, Scott County High School students and educators donated over 30,000 items to assist the food banks in our community.  Our food drive, like many, is led by the Scott County High School chapter of the Future Farmers of America.  The student's leadership along with their advisers have made such a profound difference in hundreds of lives throughout the year.

Choral Department preparing for assembly

 I am thankful that every day I get to work with students and educators that find ways to help others.  A simple thank you goes to the FFA advisers (Regina Fritsch, Nathan Sewell and Lindsay Wayne), the officers and members of the Scott County FFA that organized the drive.  The FFA have led this food drive for decades in Scott County and their work and generosity is well documented.  I would also like to thank  Mr. Nick Maxwell (counselor) and the students he organized  for  donating over 8,000 items.  

Members of Mr. Maxwell's students 

Donations from Ms. Sunda's class

Students delivering food before the assembly

ECS - The EVENT

This morning at 9:15 sirens went off at Elkhorn Crossing School.  "The Event" had started!!!

Local first responders set up a mock plane crash in which evidence was everywhere to be found.  The students worked collaboratively to assist the wounded, investigate the crash and document the disaster.  

The list below gives  examples of each village's role in the reenactment.  

Health Science - Assist the wounded 

Bio-Medical - Conduct autopsy and collect forensic evidence. 

Law and Justice - Collect evidence and prepare for a court case. 

Engineering - Determine the cause of the crash using physics. 

Media Arts - Document the disaster through video and photography.

Special thanks to all of Georgetown and Scott County EMS/Police/Sheriff and other first responders for making this happen!!

The Event has Started 

Thank you to EMS and other First Responders 

Evidence to be investigated

The Walking Wounded 

More walking wounded 

ECS students investigating 

Student collecting evidence 

Triage 

Special Investigator 

Growth Mindset from a Teacher's Perspective

Click on any picture to enlarge

At a recent Professional Development our teachers studied the book "Mindsets" by Carol Dweck.  The teachers jigsawed different sections of the book and as we discussed the different excerpts, the teachers  began to list ways they could demonstrate teaching methods to help students to develop a "growth mindset".

The five pictures depict teacher ideas of the five different groups.  There is some redundancy on the list as teachers came up with similar ideas.  The teachers were able to put a check mark besides three of the ideas they were willing to try in order to develop a growth mindset in his or her students.

The following are highlights from the list:

• Learn along with your students.  Admit you don't know everything.  ( I love this one. This teaches students that learning is a lifelong process.)
• Use think time to allow students to formulate his or her answer. This holds all students accountable.  
• Focus on rewarding student effort as much as intellect. 
• Consistent praise for effort. 
• Celebrate achievements.  Even small steps. 
• Give specific and honest feedback on student work.  
• Raise expectations and give students the tools to get there.  
• Incorporate Kagan teaching methods. 

During this process, teachers naturally apply the concepts of the growth mindsets not only to his or her students.  They also apply to his or her own children and personal lives.  Everytime I work with teachers on Carol Dweck's book, I learn more about myself.  I highly recommend taking time to find out more ways to create an attitude that you have control of your abilities. 

If you want more ideas on how to work with teachers on developing a growth minds, feel free contacting me at csworth@windstream.net or look at an earlier blog I wrote about the book Mindsets at http://teamcompetitions.blogspot.com/2013/01/mindsets-book-study.html