Building Update/Choice Is Important

Building Update

The 5-12 addition, new gym and Ag/IT building have walls up and are within days of having roofs.  That makes it incredibly difficult to see what is happening inside.  I assure, you neat stuff is happening behind these walls. I was able to walk through the inside with Mr. Jurrens and Mr. Manson this week to see the work in progress.  Please check my twitter and/or the High School Facebook page for videos.  Excuse the audio as I get really excited when I see what is happening.  Aside from rooms getting wall upstairs, the Commons and gym are taking form very quickly.  I am amazed at how large the Commons is--- probably twice the size of our current high school cafeteria and the natural light that will fill that room will be a great highlight for a space used both by students and the community.

Choice Is Important

An important part of student-centered classroom is the use of choice for students to guide their own learning. The easiest place to see this in during hands on courses.  This week Ms. Nelson and Ms. Voigt from Luther College are working with Art 1 students on being comfortable with choice. 

Students were given instruction on a pinch pot and then given freedom to make a crazy critter out of that pinch pot using clay materials.  One of the aspect of this project that pushes students is the opportunity to fail forward regarding what will work and what will not work with clay.  Although students find this frustrating at times, it also leads to deeper learning. They figure out what works and the working memory holds this much longer that hearing or seeing information.