Teach Like A Cavalier! Our Perspective Past: October

10/9/2017

October's work is going to be fun! There's a bit of reflection and (as promised) a new technology application that you can use with your students!

From our in-person September PD we looked at the foundations of the early college and then compared our school design to the five elements of the "ideal" early college. Although one would say there were differences, it is clear that Cross Creek can answer the five questions with an affirmative reply. We do provide a "package deal curriculum" that helps students become college ready; we do foster "motivation" by giving students opportunities to prove they can succeed; we do "keep students on track" by guiding and monitoring students' achievements; we do "manage the transition" with programs like AVID and use of our instructional strategies; and we do "teach "skills" to students for college, career, and life!

The last question I asked, in a variety of ways, Why does Cross Creek exist? I collected  all of your answers and they are tucked away for now. We will revisit them at a later date.

There are three parts to this assignment.

1. Watch the video by clicking on the button on the right, Start With Why. Keep this TEDTalk in mind when answering the questions.

2. Answer questions on the blog forum by clicking on comments below. Brevity is key and note that Newbies and Veterans have different questions.

Teachers/administrators with four years at early college or less (Newbies) will answer the following:

1. Why do you get out of bed every morning?

2. Do you feel a calling to do anything in particular? What?

3. What values, character qualities and priorities are important to you?

4. What legacy do you want to leave?

Teachers/administrators with five years or more (Veterans) at the early college will answer the following:

1. Why does Cross Creek exist?

2. What is the "core" offering of our school?

3. What are the extra "value-added" services we offer?

4. What makes students come to Cross Creek over other schools?

3. Go to https://info.flipgrid.com/, (or click on "Flipgrid GRID) enter c80c81, then unlock the grid by typing Cross Creek and in 90 seconds or less, answer, with using the video discussion board, one of the questions from your selections above. For clarity, please begin the video discussion board with the question first. You may answer word-for-word from your comments or extemporaneously.

This assignment is due November 7, 2017 by the end of the school day.

If you have questions, please contact me- alisonthetford@aol.com OR athetford@edumentality.com

14 Comments

Julia Little

10/14/2017 06:40:21 pm

EDUMENTALITY “TEACH LIKE A CAVALIER” for October 2017

There are three parts to this assignment.

1. Watch the video by clicking on the button on the right, Start With Why. Keep this TEDTalk in mind when answering the questions.
done

2. Answer questions on the blog forum by clicking on comments below. Brevity is key and note that Newbies and Veterans have different questions.

Teachers/administrators with four years at early college or less (Newbies) will answer the following:

1. Why do you get out of bed every morning?
I get out of bed every morning because I have other living creatures dependent on me, such as my three dogs, my seven + cats, my macaw, my four grown, school-attending daughters, and my forests.

2. Do you feel a calling to do anything in particular? What?
I would like to say that I have a calling to leave the Earth a better place than when I was born, but I think that is a delusional idea now. I used to have a calling to save lives through trauma and cancer surgery, but I question the way medicine works, or frequently does not work, anymore in the 21st century. I used to have a calling to work for Doctors without Borders, but then my own health forbids it. So, now I do feel a calling to help young people seize opportunities, earn scholarships, and attend college, particularly in STEAM fields, such that they can lead in stewardship of the Earth.

3. What values, character qualities and priorities are important to you?
In order, I would say: honesty, work ethic, self-motivation, independence, and common sense.

4. What legacy do you want to leave?
Honestly, I do not care to leave any legacy. My sister-in-law, Mary, who was like an only sister to me, told me on her death bed that she did not want to be forgotten. She has a nursing scholarship at the University of Virginia we set up in her name, designated for women who return to nursing school at an older age. That is a wonderful legacy for Mary. Perhaps I might consider something like this, but I will have to ponder it a bit more. We are in the Sixth Extinction, after all.

Alexis Howard

10/16/2017 10:43:31 am

1. Why do you get out of bed every morning?
I get out of bed every morning, because I enjoying coming to an environment, where I can help students gain knowledge and make real world connections in the science realm, as well as show them how to creatively integrate art into the content to make it more engaging and memorable.

2. Do you feel a calling to do anything in particular? What?
I feel a calling to show students that you do not have to paint yourself into one box, but let all of your passions shine through. That is why I incorporate so much of the A in STEAM into my lessons.

3. What values, character qualities and priorities are important to you?
Honesty, diligence, and lightheartedness are several qualities important to me in the classroom. There always needs to be a steady and open flow of communication, as well as communication where we can talk honestly with one another. We also need to be diligent to see long term goals through. Lastly, in education, we need to be able to both serious and lighthearted. It is okay to laugh at ourselves sometimes.

4. What legacy do you want to leave?
I want to leave a legacy where students and staff say that I did my best to bring a creative and different spin in my science teaching.

Patsy Patrick

10/16/2017 03:59:46 pm

1. Why does Cross Creek exist?
Cross Creek Early College exists because Cumberland County provides parents/students with a voice in their education. Cross Creek provides students with the opportunity to earn college credit while completing their high school education. We exist because we believe our students will succeed taking college classes because we provide them with support, innovative strategies, and hold high expectations for all. Our data supports of record of success.

2. What is the "core" offering of our school?
The core offering is an accelerated high school curriculum at honors level that allows students to take up 60 college credit hours “FREE”. In addition to the curriculum we offer our students get to experience campus life (with limits). The core of this is our preparation we provide for the students through AVID that helps them with organization skills, self-advocacy, Cornell Notes, how to use the agenda/planners, and having a smaller educational environments helps in building relationships.

3. What are the extra "value-added" services we offer?
Providing tutoring in all contents, AVID to monitor skills needed for success in both high school/college, social/emotional support, accountability, and opportunity for “FREE” college credit.

4. What makes students come to Cross Creek over other schools?
Often times it is a parent or guardian that wants this opportunity. I think there are many reasons a student wants to attend Cross Creek being a smaller environment so they think (3300 FSU students), sibling/family member or friend attended, free college, our track record, and then there are a couple who think they just want to try something different.

Kenny Huffman

10/19/2017 07:18:00 am

1. Why does Cross Creek exist? To offer children of "bubble" families the opportunity to successfully navigate the transition to a university.

2. What is the "core" offering of our school? Accelerated coursework that will enable students to begin college early.

3. What are the extra "value-added" services we offer? Professional academic culture.

4. What makes students come to Cross Creek over other schools? They and their families perceive this as a place that offers something they value, for free.

E. Matkins

10/31/2017 08:59:42 am

1. Why do you get out of bed every morning?

I have responsibilities that I choose to take care of. I have people depending on me to do what I am supposed to be doing.

2. Do you feel a calling to do anything in particular? What?

I feel a calling to help people in the ways I am best suited to contribute.

3. What values, character qualities and priorities are important to you?

Integrity, Empathy, and Resilience are qualities that I value. God and Family are my top two priorities, in that order.

4. What legacy do you want to leave?

I want to leave a legacy of strength, compassion, and endurance.

Jane Nicdao

11/5/2017 05:54:08 pm

1. Why do you get out of bed every morning?
I get out of bed every morning because I wan to share the knowledge and wisdom to my students and co-workers. These are all gifts from God that are meant to be shared.

2. Do you feel a calling to do anything in particular? What?
I believe teaching is more than a profession, it is a calling that requires passion, patience, and dedication.

3. What values, character qualities and priorities are important to you?
Integrity is the topmost quality for me as a teacher and individual. As a teacher, students look up unto me and follow my footsteps. I want to preserve my integrity and credibility for them. Having integrity requires all other attributes. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", the Golden Rule explains. Just be fair and honest when dealing with people, let no be no, and yes be yes, plain and simple whether you gain or lose a favor, as long as it is the truth.

4. What legacy do you want to leave?
The legacy that I want to leave is to have and always be remembered with a good name. "Better to choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold." - Proverbs 22:1

K. R. McGinnis

11/6/2017 08:10:20 pm

1. Why does Cross Creek exist?
Fundamentally, CC exists to provide opportunity and access to student populations who have been traditionally shut out of 4-year degree programs - 1st generation college attendees, low-socioeconomic backgrounds, etc.. Why? To provide these opportunities and potentially break the chains and cycles of poverty and educational neglect.

2. What is the "core" offering of our school?
The core offering of CC is college credit hours earned while simultaneously enrolled in high school

3. What are the extra "value-added" services we offer?
The value-added extra is offering a setting that is smaller and more individualized than the larger comprehensive schools; because of this smaller setting, it becomes possible to fill in the gaps and get students, universally, college-and-career ready.

4. What makes students come to Cross Creek over other schools?
Students come to CC as a place of refuge AND to put themselves on a pathway to a 4-year college degree. The students choose to come to CC because they would be the students who fall through the cracks in a large comprehensive school.

Tammy

11/7/2017 09:03:13 am

1. Why do you get out of bed every morning?
Before my feet hit the floor I think about what I most want to accomplish with my students that day. It is usually in the form of an activity that I think they will like and I look forward to observing them push the bounds of what limits them in communicating in their second language.

2. Do you feel a calling to do anything in particular? What?
To give students a sense of hope and to realize their potential. Also to guide students to make wise decisions that, in their future will render more doors opened to them than are closed. Finally, to discover what dream each student has in order to feed that dream.

3. What values, character qualities and priorities are important to you?
I expect from myself and value in others qualities such as hard work, self sacrifice, humility and honesty. I most thrive when there is team unity and collaboration toward the achievement of a challenging but noble goal.

4. What legacy do you want to leave?
I want to show gratitude and honor to the One who put me in this particular place at this particular time. In practical terms it is to serve those around me in any way that helps them in their life journey.

Gina Hickle

11/7/2017 09:37:01 am

I would like to think that I get out of bed each morning to have another chance to continue the work I’ve started and/or begin a new task that will improve some aspect of a student's life in a meaningful way. I thrive on knowing that what I am doing will impact students directly or even indirectly in a positive way. I am bothered if that is not the case.

My calling is to see what issues are plaguing our students and to find ways to help them learn to cope. Many of our young people under tremendous pressure for a wide variety of reasons and they typically try to relieve that pressure in maladaptive ways. I want to help them cope in a healthy and responsible manner.

I value open-mindedness and acceptance in people in regards to how we choose and/or learn to interact with the world around us. This is extremely important to me. I dislike it when people are so rigid in their beliefs to the point of being judgmental and incapable seeing a situation through another lens or trying to understand another person’s point-of-view. People are shaped by their experiences and it certainly will dictate their behavior and thought patterns. We need to be accepting of that and gently coach them when necessary.

I want to leave a legacy of being compassionate and always trying to understand the private battle(s) that people struggle with daily.

Rod Hosking

11/7/2017 10:13:18 am

1. Why does Cross Creek exist?
- To give an opportunity to Cumberland County students to gain college experience and credits who might not have had opportunities otherwise or whose family members might not have had like opportunities.

2. What is the "core" offering of our school?
- College readiness is the foundation of this program or any early college program for that matter.

3. What are the extra "value-added" services we offer?
- We offer academic enrichment via innovative lesson planning, instruction, and teaching. We also have things like SLICE, AVID, and comparatively smaller learning environments.

4. What makes students come to Cross Creek over other schools?
- For some the program draws some students as they want to work on college credits whilst in high school. Other reasons might be the small size of our school, the lack of chaos that one might find in a student's home school versus our school, and many other reasons abound.

Jennison Shields

11/7/2017 10:45:41 am

1. Why does CC exist? We exist to help first generation college students successfully begin their postsecondary education.

2. What is the "core" offering of our school? An accelerated curriculum built on college readiness.

3. What are the extra "value-added" services we offer? We offer a smaller environment, AVID, SLICE, and an academic culture.

4. What makes students come to Cross Creek over other schools? Free college courses, smaller classes, and less disciplinary issues are the most common reasons to choose CC.

Jane Merritt

11/7/2017 10:49:55 am

1. Why does Cross Creek exist?

Cross Creek exist to give first generation college students the opportunity to earn college credits while in high school for free.

2. What is the "core" offering of our school?

I think the core offering of our school is to provide students with college credit.

3. What are the extra "value-added" services we offer?

The extra "value-added" services that CCECHS offers is smaller class sizes. It is a lot easier to reach 20-24 students versus 35-40. CCECHS is also one of the few schools in CCS that offers AVID.

4. What makes students come to Cross Creek over other schools?

Some students come to CCCECHS because their parents force them to. Other students decide to come for the free college credit.

Milagros Rivera link

11/7/2017 12:36:21 pm

Why do I get out of bed every morning?
Honestly, at my age and time, I get out of bed because I know that school is operating at the regular time and my children at school are expecting me each and every day. In addition, I need to pay my bills.

Do you have a calling to do anything in particular? What?
I feel a calling to do exactly what I am doing... teaching. Since an early age I rejoiced in helping my teachers grade papers and tutoring my classmates who needed help. Little did I know that I was going to engage in grading papers for life!

What values, character qualities and priorities are important to you?
I value honesty, truthfulness and respect for people. I enjoy when a student have curiosity to learn, when he/she ask meaningful questions and above all, when I see them putting new knowledge to use.

What legacy do you want to leave?
I want to be remember as an honest person who worked very hard to achieve my goals in life. I want to leave a legacy of
the confirmation that if you want something in life you must work to achieve it.

Kelley Hasapis

11/9/2017 08:10:07 am

1. Why does Cross Creek exist?
Cross Creek exists because someone challenged the traditional ways that students learn and had the vision to start something "new."
2. What is the core offering of our school?
Our core offering is to prepare our students to be college ready.
3. What are the extra "value added" services we offer?
We offer a smaller, more nurtering environmnet for our students.
4. What makes students come to Cross Creek over other schools?
I think that students come here for two reasons: the college credit and the small setting. We actually care about our kids--they aren't simply a "number" here.

October 2017

Teach Like A Cavalier! Our Perspective Past: October

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