Thursday, September 1, 2016

Community Connections

A Springfield teacher is reaching out to local businesses and organizations for a new project that will invite local people to speak with young students in an effort to connect the classroom with the community.

ww.eagletimes.com    

11 comments :

  1. chuck gregory9/2/16, 12:05 PM

    Excellent idea? Anybody have any tips on how to pitch community issues to ten-year-olds?

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    Replies
    1. It shouldn't have to be about community issues. But exposure to careers. Some of these kids don't know that there is a world beyond the minimum wage job. Get them to observe their world, the people doing good work for profit or not for profit. And others are right...this should be done at all levels. I have spoken to various classes over the years about engineering (usually during a bridge building unit). I haven't met a class yet that wasn't engaged with me during these events. Have I inspired any to take up engineering as a career? I don't know. But I know it was a couple of folks from Dufresne Henry doing the same thing when I was in school, combined with my drafting teacher who got me thinking about engineering. It was a completely new direction to think about for me, and has been a very enjoyable career so far.

      Delete
    2. chuck gregory9/6/16, 2:50 PM

      8:13, no reason why careers and civic input can't both be done at the same time. It is truly a disservice to kids to let them grow up thinking good government of the town they live in is something somebody else takes care of.

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    3. I'm not saying it shouldn't/couldn't include community issues. But it also shouldn't focus on community issues alone.

      Delete
  2. Great idea, one that should trickle up to other grades. Call it the Elizabeth project. Maybe even go further and have town select board meetings where only a younger (16 to 20 age) group attends.

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  3. chuck gregory9/3/16, 6:53 PM

    Last year, Mr. Coen's class did individual and team reports on how to improve Springfield. Several of them were VERY substantial. We should be listening to them.

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  4. I would also like to note that will Elizabeth Harty lunched the Community Connections piece of the third grade unit on Springfield Becca Merrow, Leslie Bassette Fry, Christina McCutcheon, Lyndsie Hamond Perkins, and Arielle Leddy spent many, many hours this summer developing an amazing year long curriculum that all third graders at Union Street School are participating in.

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  5. Right. Springfield has become so bereft of competent adult leadership and constructive ideas to reinvigorate the town that the usual Pollyannas are calling for third graders to help restore it.

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    Replies
    1. Philip Caron9/4/16, 9:38 PM

      Can't have a story reported here, no matter how positive it is, without some kind of negative, anonymous, worse-than-useless reply.

      Congratulations to Ms. Harty and the others working on this educational project, and good luck with Community Connections.

      Delete
  6. just because she came up with an idea doesn't mean she's a good teacher

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  7. So, 1:05, in your opinion, what are the characteristics of a good teacher?

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