Mr. Sonntag's Blog

Building Learning Environments: We will provide flexible learning environments that promote purposeful collaboration and a balanced educational approach to create inspired 21st century learners. Schools all over the world look eerily (or interestingly or even sadly) similar.  In October 2015, the Guardian posted an article entitled, "Schools Around the World in Pictures" found here .  Take a moment to open the link and scroll through the photographs.  They say that a picture says a thousand words and I agree, which is why I will let you draw your own conclusions about the similarities that you see. In addition, schools in America look very, very similar to what they generally look like today: 1800's 1916 Today This is not a knock on the classrooms of today, but it does show clearly that schools, and especially learning spaces, haven't changed with the times. We should all be asking the question of whether the environments, furniture, lighting, etc.

Building Human Capital--Institute Day Happenings Building Human Capital is one of the three goals of District 107's Strategic Blueprint.   One of the ways schools and districts grow their employees is through targeted training on Institute Days during the school year. As you know, we had one of these days this past Tuesday   and in this week’s blog, I wanted to share a little bit about what we learned that will impact how we teach the students in our classes.  The bulk of the middle school staff had a full-day of learning with an outside consultant named Jessica Hockett ( http://www.jessicahockett.com/ ) about differentiation. Differentiation is not a new concept in education, but with the infusion of technology and the shifts in what we want students to know and be able to do, it was a great day to refine the knowledge and practices for some staff members while laying a foundation for others. Differentiation has many definitions, but I think the following is a good one: An int

Belief 5: Students have dynamic teachers who utilize various teaching styles and have fun learning together.  Staff serves as an advocate for ALL children. Middle school should be fun for students and staff alike. When people enjoy what they are doing, they are much more willing to put the time and effort into it.  I love that this belief says, "fun learning together."  This continues the shift in education that I have been blogging about over the past few weeks. Teachers are no longer standing in front of the class giving out all of the information that students should know.  Teachers are setting up learning experiences for the kids that are open-ended and ripe for continuation and extension beyond what can be accomplished in class.  This can cause the student (and the teacher) to have to continue to their learning outside of the walls of the school.  And with the Internet and access to it, this is now a newer way people are learning about any topic of their choice. Ther

Belief #4: Students receive effective feedback that fuels their natural desire to do better in a try, fail, and try again, growth mindset environment. Feedback.  Feedback is essential to supporting the growth and development of all people, including students in school.  We all receive feedback each and every day.  In fact, feedback comes to us in so many ways and often, we don't even realize we're receiving it.  Feedback can come in the form of praise, criticism, advice, a disapproving look, or a pat on the back.  The key to this belief in our district is the word "effective" placed before the feedback. When we think about effective feedback in a school setting, many people will immediately think about grades.  Grades are a form of feedback, but is it effective?  What does a letter A, B, C, D, or F really mean when you are talking about math?  Or science?  Is an A the same in 4th grade as it is in 8th grade?  My contention is that letter grades are not effective f

Belief #3: Students feel physically, socially, and emotionally safe, their sense of control is high and judgement from others is low.  Students are fearless with the right support. This belief corresponds very well to my own personal beliefs about the schools our children deserve. "All students must feel safe (physically, socially, and emotionally) before they can effectively learn in our schools."  These are our basic human needs and without these being met, moving to more advanced skills like learning will not occur easily. So what does this environment look like in our schools?  First and foremost, students need to have a "trusted adult" (or more than one) in their lives at school.  I use the term "trusted adult" because this can truly be any adult that interacts with kids at school.  This can be, and often times is, one of the student's teachers.  It makes sense since the child spends at least 44 minutes per day with each of his/her teachers.  

Belief 2: Students have voice/choice and work alongside peers and teachers in collaborative environments Providing students a voice promotes creating a community of inspired learners. Schools are really all about the students, and it is interesting when they don't have a voice in what is happening there. Yesterday, I spoke with all of the students in the cafeteria and I asked them one question. I asked them by showing me using a thumb up, thumb to the side, or thumb down to describe how the beginning of this school year has gone for them. After seeing many thumbs up, some thumbs to the side, and a few thumbs down in each grade level, I followed up with them by saying, "I f you didn't have your thumb straight up, please tell me something that could make the start of your year better." It was so empowering for the students to be able to share. It was enlightening for me, and the lunchroom supervisors, to hear what the students need and want, in their own voices.