Category Archives: Article/Blog Spotlight

Are Teachers Distracting Students With Bad Interior Design?

Posted on by

Busy Classroom DisplayFew environments feature such a cacophony of decor as the elementary school classroom. Colorful bulletin boards, scientific posters, state maps, and student artwork tend to cover nearly every inch of wall space. Yet a new study on classroom design from researchers at Carnegie Mellon University suggests that all that educational flair may not be all that great for getting kids to learn. Read more in this Co.Design feature from Fast Company »

Superintendent Pam Moran encourages educators to consider replacing commercial products with student-made work that adds value and ownership for learners and their learning. Continue reading →

Teach On, Warriors

Posted on by

Momastery“Every Friday afternoon Chase’s teacher asks her students to take out a piece of paper and write down the names of four children with whom they’d like to sit the following week. The children know that these requests may or may not be honored. She also asks the students to nominate one student whom they believe has been an exceptional classroom citizen that week. All ballots are privately submitted to her. And every single Friday afternoon, after the students go home, Chase’s teacher takes out those slips of paper, places them in front of her and studies them. She looks for patterns.”

But, “Chase’s teacher is not looking for a new seating chart or ‘exceptional citizens.’ Chase’s teacher is looking for lonely children.” Read more on Momastery »

Just Around the Corner: A New School Year Begins

Posted on by

ACPS Supt's BlogAll of a sudden, it’s time to begin school again. Our schools are almost ready. Floors shine. Open Houses are planned. Renovations and modernization work are coming to closure. Buses are washed, gassed and ready to roll. New teachers began last week and experienced teachers return this week. Athletes and band students have begun to practice for fall activities. Read more of the Superintendent’s August 10 blog post »

Edutopia Spotlights ACPS – Flexible Classrooms: Providing the Learning Environment That Kids Need

Posted on by

At Albemarle County Public Schools, flexible classrooms empower student choice, increase student engagement, and improve student participation. Watch Edutopia’s spotlight on ACPS in their “schools that work” series, which highlights practices and case studies from K-12 schools and districts that are improving the way students learn.

To Over 1000 Graduates: A Graduation Note of Reflection

Posted on by

ACPS Supt's BlogTo the Class of 2015: I am convinced that you can and will define the future of our communities, nation, and world as you bend new technologies for good through your creative, innovative thinking—and by using your emotional intelligence together as collaborative solution-finders. It will not always be easy, but I have confidence you will accomplish great work regardless of the paths you pursue. Read the Superintendent’s June 6 blog post »

Using Stand Up Tables in the Classroom

Posted on by

Stand Up DeskModernization of furniture in our schools offers more to young people than seating flexibility, easier collaborative access, or physical comfort. Furniture also makes a difference in a person’s physical health and capability to sustain attention. This Edutopia post was written by students to share their R&D regarding standing desks as an alternative to sitting.

9 Essentials of Crowdfunding for the Classroom

Posted on by

CrowdfundingWhat is crowdfunding and why might a teacher be interested? In the classroom, crowdfunding—using the collective power of individual donors who are united in support of a common cause—can be used to fund exciting projects, purchase technology, or supplement resources. It might sound work-intensive, but an article in eSchool News ensures that it’s actually quite easy to get started and successfully fund your own projects. Find out more »

Monticello’s Learning Commons Receives National Coverage

Posted on by

Earlier this year, when Monticello High School’s Learning Commons won the 2015 Magna Award, Albemarle County Public Schools became the first school division in the country to twice be honored by the National School Boards Association (NSBA) as a national leader in innovative school programming. In its June 2015 issue of American School Board Journal, NSBA highlights the Learning Commons as an example of our division’s emphasis on project-based learning and on developing greater creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration among all students. Read the cover story, Making It Real: The Maker movement spurs students to rediscover the joy of creating.

Also, check out NSBA’s YouTube feature:

Ways of Making Thinking & Learning Visible

Posted on by

Math Student ThinkingSo much of students’ learning happens within the privacy of their own minds, at one specific moment in time. What are some ways of making that thinking and learning visible, both in the immediate and over time?

Check out this “tip sheet” from Brilliant or Insane that highlights six ways to make student learning visible, including the use of photos, audio, video, and sketchbooks to document moments of learning. Additionally, the site Show What You Know with Media highlights 12 different media resources that students could use as products of their learning, including definitions, workflows and examples.