21A Celebrates School and Personal Transfer and Growth

The BES 21A cohort is one Growth Minded Group! These dedicated teachers spent Tuesday morning observing in 12 classrooms spanning K-5 looking for evidence of the Pillars of 21A (Community, Workshop, Thinking Strategies, and Student Discourse). Some of the most exciting observations included evidence noted on the wedges of the Synthesis Wheel. Together our teachers combined their thinking to come to a greater understanding about the Pillars: Teachers and Students intentionally making connections to create a comfortable community to share their ideas an thinking.  

Evidence of 21A Pillars to celebrate at Buckner:

• Teachers develop a strong sense of COMMUNITY in their classrooms. Students were very comfortable sharing their thoughts with one another and worked well together 
• All classrooms taught through the WORKSHOP approach. Intentional use of the the FLEXIBLE workshop structure (collaborative inquiry through YOU Do Together proceeding I DO instruction) moved thinking and engaged learners in some classrooms in various subjects. 
• Students and teachers using language of THINKING STRATEGIES during mini-lessons, on Slides, during worktime and conferring.
• Students using a variety of share and STUDENT DISCOURSE strategies: Hot Potato, Mix & Mingle, Jingle Mingle, Give one, Get one, PB& J Partners, Turn and Talk, Elbow Partners, Share Square
• Student engaged in a variety of meaningful discussions about various subjects. Students were engaged and comfortable enough to question each other's thinking. 

It was definitely a day of CELEBRATION, LEARNING, and GOAL SETTING!

Here is a link for anyone who is interested in being intentional with using thinking.