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Hi!  Welcome to my Wiki 

     Stemmers Run Middle School is now fully into the second academic quarter!  At a faculty meeting we talked about  technology and engaging instruction.  For many of us, the leap into Web 2.0 resources for the classroom is a bit out of our comfort zone.  One of my objectives  this school year is to encourage us to be brave and work through the slight discomfort we may feel so that our students benefit.  Check out the video at the top of this page for an illustration of someone overcoming the fear of technology with a little help! 

Wikis like this one are great teaching tools.  Students typically write only for their teachers.  A wiki enables the teacher to create more realistic writing experiences for kids because they are writing for each other.  A recent article in the Boston Globe describes a Massachussetts middle schoollteacher who does just that.  To read the article, Click here:

     I've included an interview of Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach For America.  In this interview in the New York Times,she talks about those personal qualities that good teachers possess.  In particular, she mentions an "internal locus of control." She talks about the number one characteristic of an effective teacher being perseverance.  She notes that people who, in the context of a challenge, have an instinct to figure out what they can control, own it rather than blaming everyone else in the system, are the most successful teachers. I also love what she says about goal setting and finding the intersection between "the ambitious and the feasible."  The link to this article is here: Interview Wendy Kopp.doc  Enjoy! 

     Here is another article, courtesy of ABC News about the use of iPods instead of textbooks: Schools Dump Textbooks for iPods.doc

     You can see some pictures of  a great and highly educational trip I took to Alaska by clicking here.

        The leadership team (department chairs, grade level c oordinators and administrators) recently met in the school library.  We discussed our MSA scores and considered some areas to focus on for the coming school year.  We also talked a lot about technology. We participated in a great overview of Web 2.0 applications that was presented by Jeff Flynn. Together, we fashioned an Instructional Technology Vision Statement to guide us through this year.  It is my firm belief that school improvement begins with a shared vision. I want each of our stake holders to have input into what we do.  Some of the best ideas come from our students, parents, teachers and staff.  For this reason, I am posting our Instructional Technology Vision Statement on this page.  Please let us know what you think!

          At Stemmers Run Middle School we will use technology to engage and motivate our learning community to enhance instruction and increase achievement.  We will find funding and provide the professional development and communication to make this happen.