Giant Chicken Dance/Critical Thinking Skills in Process

Giant Chicken Dance

School is fun! On Friday morning, the entire HS student body had the opportunity to participate in a Giant Chicken Dance with 95.1 The Bull and our friend Bob Svec.  Bob organized this event to kick off the Motorcycle Rally in town and it grew very quickly.  Not only did we get to join, so did many community groups, businesses, along with the elementary and middle school.

Students, staff, and community members gathered in the parking lot downtown and not only danced once, but demanded to do the dance twice. The capacity built with the community and the positive vibes carried through out the day, on the bus back, in classrooms upon return and in the cafeteria during lunch.

High School students scrambled to have a picture taken with the giant chicken and led elementary students, mixing among them to help them participate in the dance.

Critical Thinking Skills in Process

Gathering information and evaluating data are important components in critical thinking.  Teachers and students are pushing to develop and use critical thinking skills throughout the day, from PE to science, from English to professional development.

One of the components of critical thinking also includes justify choices and explaining the process of thinking. Algebra students this week worked on buying a car and explaining the reasoning behind those choices. The transfer of the problem solving to word challenged student to use the math skills in a practical way which they could transfer to life outside high school and as they transition to the age in which they may need to buy their own cars.

Teachers modeled critical thinking during a staff meeting this week where they analyzed attendance data of students from the first few weeks of school.  They also set a driving question to answer as they reviewed data-- "How can we improve student attendance through building and maintaining relationships?"

Students in Strength and Conditioning with Mr. Ciavarelli are beginning to work through the standards for building their own work outs.  By working in partners, they are using critical thinking skills to make choices for their own needs and explain those to a partner.

Ms. Macon is leading Spanish 1 students through story telling to embed vocabulary.  Students are going deeper with critical thinking by making choices for their characters and explaining how a plot line makes sense in as much Spanish as they can while acquiring new vocabulary.

Being intentionally about modeling, discussing and fostering critical thinking is at the forefront as NHHS staff and students continue to work through the process of engaging student more fully in student-centered classrooms and the addition of Project Based Learning district-wide.

Hands On Learning Helps Building Understanding

Hands on learning meets the needs of multiple learner who are kinesthetic learners as well as solidifying knowledge at a deeper level.  This week hands on learning was evident in many classes, including Manufacturing, Chemistry, and Physics.  Continue to watch NHHS social media (https://www.facebook.com/NewHamptonHighSchool/, @sarah_updegraff, s_updegraff) to see on-going learning in our classrooms.