Differentiation
Ahead of the Curve
It has been interesting to see how closely the recommendations two recent extensive educational features in The Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail align with our program here at Greenwood.
The Toronto Star series focused on the connection between neuroscience and education. Through advances in technology, we now know so much more about the development of the human brain. One of the key findings of this research is that each brain is different and consequently, develops at different rates. Experts in this area advise educators to leverage this knowledge by customizing the delivery of their program to match the needs of individual learners. In many ways, this is precisely what we have been doing at Greenwood through the use of differentiated instruction. Is there room to grow? Absolutely. But, it is good to know that an emerging body of scientific research supports the general principles that have grounded our educational program for the past eight years.
The second series, from The Globe and Mail, focused on the debate around homework which has been played out in the media for the past several years, and may have even found its way into your home. In working with our teachers over the past years, I have emphasized that homework should be purposeful and designed to extend or support classroom learning. Deliberately, we have tried to ensure that students are not loaded down with homework. Instead, they should have some time outside of school to pursue areas of interest, socialize or simply reflect. This is in keeping with Greenwood’s belief in the education of the whole child. Based on this series, it is reassuring to know that there are other voices out there in the educational landscape that hold the same belief.
End of a Busy Week!
This has a been a busy week here at Greenwood. Final Board of Directors meeting for this year on Monday. Athletic Banquet on Tuesday. Alumni Golf Tournament on Wednesday (in the rain no less!). Music Night on Thursday. Summer Book Sale on Thursday and Friday. Despite the long days for yours truly, I can’t help but admire the high level of engagement throughout our community.
Our student-athletes and coaches had a chance to reflect on what has been a terrific season at Tuesday’s athletic banquet. The theme for this year’s banquet was disco. Influence of the Friday dance party? Possibly. The musical theme continued in a more formal manner on Thursday evening. Our second annual music night provided music students in Grades 7 through 10 the opportunity to present all they had learned this year, and they did so in fine style. The growth in skill from last year to this year was really evident.
Hosting the book sale at Greenwood was a slightly different direction for us. Rather than send out a summer reading list for students (as we typically do), we had representatives from Mabel’s Fables bring the books from the reading list to Greenwood. Sales were brisk, especially at the Grade 7 and 8 level. Using some of the summer months to read is important and it was great to see our parents supporting this belief by shopping for books with their children. We also had award-winning author Tim Wynne-Jones here reading from his new book, which was also featured at the sale. A busy week, but also a really positive one on a number of fronts.
Student Election Week
This year’s student elections got off to a great start this morning. Sixteen Grade 11 students declared their candidacy for Head Boy and Head Girl (this post is only open to students currently in Grade 11) and delivered outstanding speeches in this morning’s election assembly. Remarkably, over 25% of the Grade 11 class is running for Head Boy and Head Girl.
The approaches adopted by the speakers were varied, which is reflective of our school’s approach to individual learning needs. The trend among a few of this year’s speakers seemed to be abandoning your prepared text prior to speaking with some dramatic flourish (crumpling the speech up, tearing it in half, etc.). The theme that ran through all the speeches was the great commitment the students feel towards their school. It was extremely gratifying to hear many of the candidates describe how Greenwood has been a transformative experience for them, and as a result, their goal as a student leader was to give something back to Greenwood. We are so fortunate to have such a deep reserve of student leaders in our school. This bodes well for next year, and in the years to come, as these students will be wonderful role models for our younger students.
Our First Music Festival
I spent part of yesterday at Roy Thomson Hall witnessing the 25th Annual CIS Music Festival. As a first-time audience member of this musical celebration, I was overwhelmed by the breadth of musical ability on display. I now realize that the old joke about how do you get to Carnegie Hall (practice! practice! practice!) is pretty close to the truth. Clearly, a great deal of individual and group practice went into preparing for this show. Kudos to the dedicated teachers and guest instructors who helped students prepare for the show!
Seeing as this is Greenwood’s second year as a member of CIS, it was our first opportunity to have students participate. Three of our students–Jessica, Mason and Anne–sang in the Intermediate choir. No doubt the opportunity to be part of this musical celebration will inspire them to greater heights in their future musical endeavours. Hopefully, we will have some students participate in the musical ensembles in next year’s festival.
We often challenge our students to be at their best when their best is needed, regardless of the task or activity. Watching the performers yesterday, it was clear that many, many CIS schools have outstanding music programmes, which is a credit to the fine teaching that goes on in music classrooms throughout CIS schools.
A Night at the Theatre
Watching “7 Stories” last night at the George Ignatieff Theatre, I couldn’t help but marvel at the wonderful journey our drama program has taken over the past seven years. This point became clear to me as I climbed the steps to the George Ignatieff Theatre and there in front of me in bright lights was the poster advertising “7 Stories.” Ellen Langille, one of our Grade 10 students, did a great job designing it. Everything else about the production of the play was first-rate, from the cast photos in the lobby and the impressive set, to the promotional campaign the students staged in an effort to drum up enthusiasm for “7 Stories.” I was blown away by Dan Blumberg’s video about the making of the production.
The play itself was superb. It always amazes me how some of our quieter students find their voices through participation in a dramatic production. To me, this is one of the key reasons for having a vital school drama program. Dramatic productions are also a great way to build community. The bond that the cast and crew (membership ranged from Grade 7 through 12) developed during the production was evident to all during the curtain call. I was really pleased to see the warm thank yous from the cast to the teachers who participated in the staging of “7 Stories.” We are fortunate at Greenwood to have a number of teachers with a strong background in the arts. It certainly was evident last night.
The Importance of the Arts
The last few weeks here at Greenwood have provided a tremendous showcase for our arts program. I left yesterday’s assembly jazzed (pun intended!) about the quality of the student performances. Our senior music class, five guitars strong, dusted off an old ZZ Top classic and thrilled the audience with their rendition of it. Later, Nick Toyne and Raleigh Seldon delighted us with a moving performance of the duet from the film “Once.” This performance served as a prelude to the upcoming student coffee house.
Our drama group has also been busy. Last week, they entertained us with their presentation of the Roald Dahl story, “James and the Giant Peach.” The play featured great teamwork by students in Grades 7, 8 and 9, and several of our teachers, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make the production possible. The staging of the play was also a step forward, as this was our first use of multimedia. Rather than use conventional 3-D props, our media arts team deployed rear-projected, animated images as the scenery for the play.
Prior to the play, the school also hosted its annual Arts Day. This day is a great opportunity for students to participate in workshops hosted by professional artists (including members of our parent community!) Each student participated in four different workshops, and the day concluded with a musical performance by our private music lesson teachers. This day is a terrific way for students to experience the breadth of opportunities available in the arts.
As I have told the students in assembly, the arts inspire the imagination. Certainly, this has been the case over the last few weeks here at Greenwood.