COMMUNICATION

1. CRITICAL THINKING COMMUNICATION COLLABORATION

2. Our mission statement • Our mission is to prepare students to be: • Academically Successful • Capable of transferring their knowledge and skills to new challenges • Confident in their ability to succeed

3. Teaching and Learning Transformed

4. Great schools know what matters most CHILDREN

5. Teaching Today’s Children “In the new global economy, with many jobs being either automated or "off-shored," what skills will students need to build successful careers? What skills will they need to be good citizens? Are these two education goals in conflict? There are three basic skills that students need if they want to thrive in a knowledge economy: the ability to do critical thinking and problem-solving; the ability to communicate effectively; and the ability to collaborate.” --- Dr. Tony Wagner Founder & Co-Director Change Leadership Group, Harvard Graduate School of Education

6. Teaching Today’s Children • Reason effectively • Use systems thinking • Examine evidence • Focus on process rather than product • Solve problems Skill #1: Critical Thinking & Problem Solving Learning opportunities that allow students to:

7. Teaching Today’s Children Skill #2: Effective Communication Learning opportunities that allow students to: Articulate using oral, written and nonverbal communication skills Listen effectively to decipher meaning Use communication to inform, instruct, motivate and persuade Utilize multiple media and communication technologies Communicate effectively in diverse environments

8. Teaching Today’s Children • Demonstrate ability to work effectively and respectfully with diverse teams • Exercise flexibility and willingness to be helpful in making necessary compromises to accomplish a common goal • Assume shared responsibility for collaborative work, and value the individual contributions made by each team member Skill #3: Collaboration Learning opportunities that allow students to:

9. K-8 educational platform

10. Foundation • Language Arts • Math • Science • Social Studies • Foreign Language • Art • Music • Technology • Health & Physical Education www.nobellearning.com/curriculum

11. Themes and Skills • Themes • Environmental Studies • Global Awareness • Systems • Leadership • Skills • Life and Career • Learning & Innovation • Information, Media & Technology www.p21.org

12. Gifted education principles • Project Enrichment Activities • Advanced and deeper content acquisition • Advanced understanding of methodologies for problem-solving • Advanced self-directed learning skills: Planning, organization, time management, decision-making • Advanced levels of task commitment and self-confidence www.gifted.uconn.edu.nrgt

13. Personalized Learning • Smaller class sizes • Personalized Learning Plans (PLPs) • Learning Styles Inventory • Online supplemental reading & mathematics

14. Project Based Learning • Learning Without Walls • Giving Without Walls • Intrigue Teams

15. 5th- Fresh Water A Drop In The Bucket 6th - Trading Spaces Creating the Ultimate Learning Environment 4th – Global Warming We’re All In This Together NATIONALLEARNING WITHOUTWALLS PROJECTS National School-to-School Collaboration Projects Learning Without Walls 7th - Europe From Past to Present

16. 2nd Grade Animal Welfare 3rd Grade Protecting the Environment 4th Grade Community Health 1st Grade Needs of the School Community GIVING WITHOUTWALLS Service Learning Giving Without Walls 8th Grade Entrepreneurship 5th Grade Service to Veterans 6th Grade Disaster Relief 7th Grade Literacy in the Community

17. Every Student Succeeds!

18. Merryhill School 21st Century Education in a Personalized Learning Environment