January 16, 2015

Continuing the 5 Questions

Question #3 of “5 Questions You Should Ask Your Principal”

What are you hoping teaching and learning looks like in your school and how do you communicate that vision?

In our recent newsletters--from me and the District--you have learned that we are continually trying to increase the importance of teaching our Critical Learning Standards (CLSs). As the name implies, these standards serve as the bedrock of every course. In theory, if a student earns a grade of “A,” he/she is able to demonstrate mastery of most/all of the CLSs.

It is my hope that teachers are focusing their instruction and assessments on the Critical Learning Standards. (Coincidentally, this was our professional development focus for today’s Institute Day sessions.) In other words, all assignments have meaning and relevance as students work toward mastering concepts and skills.

When instruction focuses on the CLSs, students know what they are supposed to learn and why they need to learn it. They are involved in monitoring their own learning progress and they are able to communicate where they stand relative to the standard.

We are not far off of this vision. In most departments, there are just a few minor adjustments that teachers can make to ensure that these elements are included in their instruction. Our teachers seem eager to implement some of their new learning because they see how this style of teaching can benefit our students. This certainly makes the change process much smoother.

iPad Pros and Cons

Last week, I discussed how iPads influenced students’ productivity on our snow/cold days. As promised, here is a more balanced perspective of the benefits and challenges of our 1:1 iPad Program. This information, gathered anecdotally from students, teachers, parents, is only meant to provide a snapshot of our experiences so far.

Benefits	Challenges
All course materials can be found in one place	Games/social media apps create potential for distracted learners
Schoology and Notability improve the organization of course materials	Completing homework electronically can be more cumbersome than paper/pencil
Information at your fingertips	Lesson success hinges on WiFi reliability
Multimedia tools provide for more instructional delivery options, more ways to demonstrate knowledge/proficiency	The devices create challenges for parents as they set boundaries for use at home
Communication with the teacher can happen 24/7	Some students have trouble reading for long periods on the iPad
Students/classes have access to experts in the field via social media	Not all teachers use the same technology
Reading, writing and collaboration have increased	Not all teachers use the technology. Period.
Assessment of student learning can happen: (1) more frequently, (2) more quickly, and (3) with higher engagement through gaming/quiz apps

If you have observed other benefits or challenges, I would love to hear about them!

Upcoming Home Activities and Varsity Events

January 16	Teacher Institute -  No School Boys Varsity Swimming and Diving vs. Schaumburg - 4:30 p.m. Girls Varsity Basketball vs. HEHS - 7:30 p.m. Wrestling @ HEHS - 6:00 p.m.
January 17	Varsity Cheer @ Grayslake North - 9:00 a.m. Wrestling @ Round Lake Triple Dual - 9:00 a.m. Boys Swimming & Diving Titan Relays @ Glenbrook South 12:00 p.m. Girls Varsity Gymnastics vs. Fremd Invite - 1:00 p.m. Boys Varsity Basketball vs.HEHS - 6:00 p.m.
January 19	Martin Luther King Day - No School
January 20	Opening Day 2nd Semester Floral Design Showcase - 7:00 p.m. Auditorium
January 21	Girls Bowling vs. Conant @ Arlington Lanes-4:45 p.m. Varsity Cheer MSL Championship @ Elk Grove-6:00 p.m.
January 22	Girls Bowling vs. Barrington @ Arlington Lanes- 4:30 p.m. Girls Gymnastics vs. CHS/Wheeling @ Conant-6:00 p.m. College Planning Seminar - 7:00 p.m. Auditorium
January 23	Varsity Wrestling Senior Night vs. Barrington - 6:00 p.m.
January 27	Late Start Day - 8:50 a.m.
January 30	Boys Swimming & Diving Senior Night vs. CHS - 4:30 p.m. Girls Basketball Senior Night vs. SHS - 7:30 p.m.

For a more complete list, please visit our Athletics Page.

Staff Spotlight

Name:

Craig Kersemeier

Position:

Assistant Principal

Years at Fremd:

This is my first!

Life Before Fremd:

I was across town at Palatine High School for the last 20 years (had to do some shopping to restock my wardrobe with green for this year . . .).  Over the years I taught English and Spanish, coached track, wrestling, and football, and served as dean, English department chair, and assistant principal.  Before starting at PHS I earned BAs in English and Spanish Literature at Stanford University and an MA in education.  I also ran track and spent a semester in Madrid, Spain. I grew up in Mt. Prospect and graduated from Hersey High School.

Hobbies/Interests:

I’ve got 4 kids (ages 12, 9, 6, and 3) so my hobbies the last few years have been watching Sesame Street, hanging out at local parks, coaching youth sports, going on family bike rides, and attending elementary school concerts and events.  When I get the chance, I love to read, play guitar, travel (we love camping), and take my wife out to dinner.

Insider Tip for Parents:

One of my favorite quotes about parenting is, “Before I got married, I had three theories about raising children and no children.  Now, I have three children and no theories.”  I’m continually humbled and amazed by students, and my own kids, and am right there with you doing my best to understand them, appreciate their individual strengths and weaknesses, and help them make it to adulthood in one piece.

Ask the Principal

Are you curious about something at Fremd but have never asked? Email me at ktenopir@d211.org. If your question is pertinent to a wider audience, I will include it in the next blog post.