Professional Learning with a side of WONDER!

I've spent the last few days processing the week of shared experiences with my RPS colleagues.  While I don't know that I've had a chance to reflect on all aspects of our time, I will say that the underlying theme of my reflection is... Wonder!  

This past spring I wrote a blog post following a trip to the Museum of Science with my daughters (it can be seen here: https://readingstem.blogspot.com/2019/04/quality-science-instruction-realized.html)  Following that experience I couldn't get it out of my head that to do this work in our instruction, we had to experience that feeling of... you got it, wonder.  

I was lucky enough to get in touch with the Manager of Teacher Professional Development for the museum, Lesley Kennedy... now known as my "Thinking Partner."  We had a chance to virtually collaborate and she was able to share great ideas and contributions to the planning of our professional learning days - including planning engaging phenomena to engage our teachers.

What really impressed me is our our Reading teachers jumped right into this new thinking about the design of our science instruction - with a willingness and engagement to rethink HOW we do this work.  Our staff experienced that wonder with a facilitated phenomena, as well as in their exploration of the museum displays.  The best part was when our educators returned, they dug into their materials to find the phenomena embedded in our curriculum resources, and consider ways to highlight it - as well as explore other rich curated resources to support noticing and wondering about the world around us.  

My sincere appreciation to...

• RPS teachers in grades 3, 4, and 5 for deeply engaging in this new learning and experience.  I cannot wait to see the amazing lessons that come from your work.
• Lesley and Meredith of the Educator Resource Center at the museum for being my thinking partners and collaborators
• The Museum of Science for allowing us to utilize the beautiful learning space
• Assistant Superintendent Kelley for supporting this professional learning idea 

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Heather Leonard
STEM Curriculum Coordinator, Reading Public Schools

Twitter: @STEMReading

https://readingstem.blogspot.com/

Hour of Code

December 9-15 is the 2019 week of “Hour of Code.”  It takes place during Computer Science Education Week – a week held in recognition of the birthday of Grace Hopper (a pioneer in computing!)  

Teachers/Parents:  You don’t have to be an expert to allow your child opportunity to code. One of the best ways to get involved is to do it together!  Learn, explore, fail, adjust, try, revise, apply, analyze... the process is what builds the type of thinking we're supporting in our students as coders.  

Websites & Online Resources

• Hour of Code:  https://hourofcode.com/us
• Code.org: https://code.org/
• Code with Scratch: https://scratch.mit.edu/
• Scratch Jr: https://www.scratchjr.org/
• Computer Science Education Week:  https://csedweek.org/educate/hoc
• Check out these “unplugged” coding activities:  https://code.org/curriculum/unplugged 
• Resources hosted by Modular Robotics (makers of Cubelets): https://www.modrobotics.com/education/educator-resource-hub/
• iRobot STEM resources: https://www.irobot.com/about-irobot/stem/stem-resources
• Khan Academy Hour of Code: https://www.khanacademy.org/hourofcode
• Tynker Hour of Code: https://www.tynker.com/hour-of-code/
• Disney Hour of Code: https://partners.disney.com/hour-of-code
• Wonder Workshop resources: http://hourofcode.makewonder.com/

Hour of Code intro videos

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQilo5ecSX4
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ip051U7Rvds&list=PLzdnOPI1iJNcadqJAZnbDYShie4gLZQQJ
• "Code Stars" short film:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU1xS07N-FA

Historical Figures in Coding

• Dr. Grace Hopper:  http://www.women-inventors.com/Dr-Grace-Murray-Hopper.asp
• Hidden Figures –  http://www.hiddenfigures.com/
• Ada Lovelace – World’s First Computer Programmer (and ½ of the namesake of the character Ada Twist, Scientist!) – also the daughter of Poet Lord Byron!  https://kids.kiddle.co/Ada_Lovelace
• Charles Babbage (worked with Ada!):  https://kids.kiddle.co/Charles_Babbage
• Seymore Papert (creator of Lego Mindstorms Kits!):  http://www.papert.org/

Apple Stores have events to celebrate Hour of Code – check them out here:  https://www.apple.com/today/collection/hourofcode/

December Book of the Month - A Remainder of One!

Our Book of the Month for December is “A Remainder of One.” This book is an oldie-but-a-goodie!  Author Elinor J. Pinczes tells the story of a bug who wants to be included – but the Queen wants “even” lines.  They try lines of 2, 3, and 4 with no luck… until finally realizing that 5 lines will allow everybody to be included!  This is a great book to get children to think about equal groups – a prerequisite skill for division!

Go to Reading Public Library or Whitelam Books to check out this fun title!