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Spotlight on
Tate Woods Elementary School
Pre-Kindergarten, First & Second Grades
Spotlight on
Schiesher Elementary School
Kindergarten, Third, Fourth, Fifth Grades
Schiesher
Looks to
the Future. . .
Did you know that the current
Kindergarteners were born the same year
that the iPad was first released? Or, that
the current junior class was born the same year
Google began?
The students of today have literally grown up with
technology in their hands and information
at a swipe
. Schiesher
Elementary School recognizes that students need to be prepared
in different ways to confidently engage in the use of technology in
their daily lives.
An exciting newopportunity for developing technology literacy skills was offered
to all third through fifth grade students during the 2014-2015 school year. An after-
school computer coding club was created to allow students to explore the world of
computing through interactive activities offered by the non-profit organization
code.org.
Participating students self-direct their learning by completing lessons that incorporate skills
such as problem solving, computer science skills, and digital citizenship. By the completion
of the eight-week session, students created an interactive game or story that could be shared
with anyone.
Through the creative integration of digital learning opportunities, Schiesher students
continue to develop their capacity to become global information seekers and learners
arming them with the confidence and skills for future success.
Tate Woods Students Learn Beyond the Textbooks...
As students grow and develop, they often encounter new social situations and need to
learn how to navigate through troubled waters. At Tate Woods, students are learning
the skills necessary to effectively communicate with others and solve problems
together through the school’s Social Emotional Learning curriculum, Second Step.
How does this program work?
In first grade, students visit the “Solution Center” when they need to talk with a peer to solve a
problem. Students invite each other to the Solution Center independently, decide together
how big the problem is, say how they feel and work together to reach a solution. If they
aren’t able to accomplish the task alone, they are then able to ask a teacher for help.
Second graders continue to build and apply these types of strategies when there
are disagreements or hurt feelings by visiting the “Problem Solving Center”
in their classrooms. Students again work together to determine how
big their problem is, talk to one another using “I” statements and use
problem solving steps to improve what has hurt their relationship.
These classroom opportunities have allowed students to use
the social emotional skills they are learning to solve real
problems with other classmates in safe and supportive
environments. This independent application of
problem solving strategies by students is what
makes the social emotional learning taking
place at Tate Woods a powerful and
positive piece of the school culture.
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