There are textbooks in every school.  There are computers in every school. But the two rarely meet in a third grade classroom. Thanks to a recent grant from the Duxbury Education Foundation, Alden School now has the ability to transform ordinary curriculum from a textbook into an interactive, engaging lesson that comes to life on a screen.   It’s a new technology called “Mimio”.   Similar to a “Smart board”, the “Mimio” system uses software, a graphic tablet, a projector and a converter that allows a traditional white board to become interactive. Teachers can create their own lessons or use lessons already developed.  It could be a piece of literature out of a Scott Foresman English Language Arts book that comes to life; or a math geometry problem that the students can now visualize on different levels. 

Beyond making textbook material live, Mimio can also tap into real time websites appropriate for 3rd through 5th graders. The tablet gives the teacher the freedom to walk about the room and facilitate learning. For harder to understand lessons and practice, animation and applications can also be used by children working independently.

Assistant  Principal Karen Fruzzetti is very enthusiastic about the grant.  “This system is fabulous.  It brings curriculum to life for our elementary students and creates wonderful synergy between our computers and textbooks. The possibilities are endless. We are very excited.” Students will be able to access lessons to review in the classroom and computer labs.  Teachers will be able to create their own interactive lessons and environments, and then share them with other faculty through a system that can be accessed by all teachers in the district and beyond. 

“We’re grateful to DEF for awarding us this grant,” said Christopher Trombly, Alden School principal. “Our staff was trained in January on how to maximize usage of the ‘Mimio’ and we’re now rotating the system among all teachers at the third grade level. The kids think it’s amazing.”

NOW VOYAGER GEOGRAPHY

Where is Duxbury?  Cape Cod?  Can you locate the Charles River?  Merrimack River?  How about locating the Berkshire Hills?  These are just a few of the questions our 3rd graders will investigate and answer when they participate in an in-school interactive, hands-on geography program with an emphasis on Massachusetts.  This grant funds the “in school field trip” offered by Now Voyager Educational Programs and introduces the students to maps and globes, using the map key, basic introduction to earth’s physical features, and Massachusetts’ geography and culture.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE – ENHANCED TECHNOLOGY TOOLS

How do you enhance the hands-on lab experience for students or demonstrate the ability to use technology for research, problem solving and communication?  Incorporate the students’ world of digital tools!  This grant provides the funds to purchase a class laptop, LCD projector and KaleidaGraph graphing and data software.  The equipment will be used for the 8th grade Physical Science class where 38 out of 60 classes per semester are labs!  Students will collect their data, input it, and then create their own charts and graphs to analyze and interpret.  The laptop and projector will be used to display student histograms in addition to allowing the teacher to demonstrate materials and assignments to the students.  These tools will help the teacher provide a more comprehensive experience in this lab-based class.

5th GRADE WRITING INITIATIVE – NEO 2 (Alphasmarts)

This grant provides funds for the initial purchase of three NEO 2 carts (with 30 NEO’s on each cart), to be shared by all fifth grade teachers and their students.  Designed specifically for classroom use, the NEO 2’s provide students with independent writing support through the use of hundreds of built-in writing lessons that can jump start students’ imaginations and fuel their writing.  Having NEO’s in the classroom will create a one-on-one environment where students can continue to develop their writing skills while at the same time help them with communication, collaboration, and critical thinking, all identified as important skills for the 21st century.

DUXBURY CONTINUES THE FIGHT AGAINST BULLYING

Have you ever been bullied?  Do you know someone who has?  Chances are you answered “Yes” to one of these questions.  The schools confirm that bullying is still an issue today, in some cases more than ever, as cyber bullying is now an additional concern.  So, in a continuous effort to reach more students and to better educate students about the dangers of bullying, including cyber bullying, the community welcomed Rosalind Wiseman as a guest speaker.  The DEF was one of several contributors who joined together to bring this nationally known author and educator to Duxbury.  Ms. Wiseman presented to students from Alden and DMS and shared with them strategies to solve their own problems with their peers.  Strategies that work.  She empowers students and educates them.  Ms. Wiseman also addressed parents of the community to help them understand how cliques, bullying and social hierarchies play a significant role in our schools and ways they can help their child navigate these situations.  

DIGITAL LEARNING CART

7th and 8th grade ELA/Reading teachers and students will benefit from the funding of this grant.  The purchase of laptops and digital tools will allow instruction to be delivered using a variety of styles – auditory, visual, animation, etc.  This will aid teachers in tailoring instruction to accommodate all learners.  The Apple Mobile Lab includes multimedia programs that most students are familiar with and have access to outside the classroom.  The use of images to communicate ideas is just one way students and teachers will share information, generate discussion, promote creative thinking abilities and demonstrate one’s knowledge.  Teaching Teams at DMS will also share best practices during planning times as well as professional development days further advancing the focus on the teaching of content enhanced with educational technology.

MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION 2008

With the funding of this grant, the three librarians of the Duxbury Public Schools attended a conference titled, Survive and Thrive with New Strategies and Tools for 21st Century Learning.  In order to facilitate the development of these skills by our students, it is critical that our library media specialists are proficient in navigating the new world of information and media literacy and the technologies used to create, analyze and evaluate information.  The International Society for Technology in Education along with the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, has developed a framework that outlines what proficiencies students need to be successful citizens in this age of communication.  Massachusetts has adopted this framework and this year Duxbury has developed a Century 21 Task Force to address the key skills identified by these organizations for our students to master.  Critical thinking, creativity and innovation, communication and information skills, collaboration skills, contextual learning, media literacy skills, leadership, ethics, adaptability, people skills, and social responsibility are some of the identified items.  As a result of attending this conference, our librarians are in a better position to help our students succeed in the 21st Century.

IT’S ALIVE!

Wood turtles, snakes, salamanders and a barred owl are just a few of the live animals who came to visit our 2nd grade Chandler students.  This grant allowed for a naturalist from the South Shore Natural Science Center to present a live “Animal Characteristics” program for the students. 

With the aid of the naturalist, the students discussed each animal’s characteristics, how they share them with others in their animal groups, and how each of the characteristics of the animals helps them survive in the wild.  This live program reinforced the animal unit presented to all 2nd graders in a fun, engaging way.

BRIDGING THE GAP WITH TECHNOLOGY

The funding of this grant allowed two of our Alden teachers to attend a workshop called, The Best of the Best: Web Sites that Enhance Instruction and Enrich Student Learning (Grades K-6).  The goal of this workshop, hosted by the Bureau of Education and Research (BER), was to show teachers how to use technology to help bridge the gap between concrete learning and abstract concepts.  The skills learned will be shared with colleagues to enhance grade level curriculum and to help students further their understanding of various topics.

SEVENTH GRADE
LIFE SCIENCE

Our 7th grade Life Science classrooms will each receive a new Celestron microscope with the funds from this grant.  The Life Science curriculum is designed to be hands on and lab based.  These high-resolution microscopes allow students to access the labs more effectively and teachers can demonstrate exactly what students should be seeing in their own microscopes during the lab.  The image on the LCD screen facilitates group work and discussions for students as they all view the same specimen together.

CHECKMATE!

The funding of this grant provides for Alden and Chandler students to take their chess games to the next level.  Students participating in these existing Chess Clubs will now have the opportunity to learn the art of tournament play!  They will learn how to use a clock, record their games, improve their games by reviewing famous chess matches, and develop opening and closing strategies.  These same skills can be applied in their daily lives, leading to improved learning and academic accomplishments, a win for all!

SECOND STEP PROGRAM

This grant allows for the funding of a proven program, Second Step Violence Prevention, to our Alden 4th and 5th graders.  Designed to promote social competence and reduce children’s social and emotional issues, students will learn several skills central to healthy social and emotional development, ie, empathy, impulse control and problem solving, and anger management.  It is the hope of the Alden Guidance area that the skills learned through this program will carry over into all areas of learning and become more of a philosophy than just a social skills program.

SOCIAL-COGNITIVE SEMINAR

The Duxbury Special Education Parents Advisory Council (SEPAC), with funding support from this grant, is hosting a Social-Cognitive seminar presented by Pamela Ely, MS CCC-SLP.  The information presented will focus on the impact of social cognitive deficits and weaknesses on individuals with a variety of diagnoses.  A brief overview of those factors which affect a student’s academic and social performance, such as sensory needs, executive function skills and language processing abilities will also be included.  The seminar topics will also include treatment strategies and techniques to improve an individual’s management of the social world in all settings.  The targeted outcome for participants of this seminar is to develop the ability to use the presented concepts to enhance the social and academic success of our students, so each individual has the necessary tools available to reach his/her potential.

"GO TALK DEVICES" FOR CHANDLER PRESCHOOL

The "Go Talk Devices" provide visual and voice output for targeted instructional topics in the preschool. These devices enhance our students’ abilities to learn through multiple sensory channels. The devices are also very motivating and reinforcing.  Instructional areas to be targeted using the devices include, but are not limited to:  literacy, social, auditory, and receptive/expressive language.  The devices are intended to be used to augment teacher instruction as a technology tool to enhance auditory, tactile, and visual learning.

CALCULUS AND ALGEBRA II TEXT PACKAGES AND SMARTBOARD TECHNOLOGY

This cutting edge technology math program will affect all students at DHS. This interactive approach to teaching algebra and calculus will engage the students while improving comprehension of difficult concepts and allows teachers to accommodate many different learning styles.  All DHS students take Algebra II and approximately 72% of DHS seniors take Calculus.  This program provides an opportunity for students to interactively learn algebra and calculus via innovative math technology software and textbook packages in combination with Smartboard interactive whiteboards.  Students will be able to access their textbooks online at school and at home. The textbook technology and math software packages help students understand complex math by displaying step-by step math problems, graphical animation, and allowing for the creation of custom-designed and interactive worksheets.  Instruction becomes visual, exploratory and discovery-oriented, resulting in students that are highly motivated, actively engaged, and performing at a deeper understanding of mathematics.  The technology package also includes “MathSpeak” for visually impaired learners.  This grant funds three Smartboard interactive whiteboards, Calculus and Algebra II textbook and technology supplement packages, and LiveMath and Sketchpad math software programs. 

SIMPLE MACHINE UNIT SCIENCE MATERIALS

5th graders love to see how things work!  This grant funds the purchase of science materials for a Grade 5 science unit on the study of Simple Machines.  The materials include Lego manipulatives, the use of inclined planes, pulley sets, and gears sets. Teaching science with hands-on investigations and labs is a proven approach to help students gain a better understanding of content material. The support of these enrichment materials helps students become more confident in their science reasoning and thinking skills.

5th graders pictured here enjoy hands-on learning using the Simple Machines Kits that include inclined planes, pulley sets, and gears sets.

INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMMING DEVELOPMENT FOR THE HIGH-END LEARNERS

The Duxbury School District has been exploring instructional programming opportunities for students who are high-end learners (formerly gifted and talented students).  Research has shown that an instructional approach that utilizes lesson extension in the classroom is the best way to challenge advanced learners and to close the achievement gap for at-risk learners.  This grant covers the cost for five Duxbury educators to participate in a week-long professional development conference at the 31st CONFRATUTE Summer Institute on Enrichment Learning and Teaching at the University of Connecticut.  CONFRATUTE coordinators, Joseph Renzulli and Sally Reis, are the leaders in the talented and gifted instructional movement.  The focus of the CONFRATUTE is program development that addresses differentiated instruction, high-end learning and enrichment teaching.  This grant also covers the fees for a consultant in the field of talented and gifted education to then assist the Duxbury faculty as they pilot differentiated instructional programming to small groups of high-end learners clustered together within regular classrooms this fall at the Alden School.  The transition to Duxbury Middle School will be developed during the 2008-2009 school year.  The ultimate goal is to develop a District capacity as this programming becomes part of the school culture.

HIGH SCHOOL ADVISORY PROGRAM

The new advisory program at Duxbury High School will start in the fall of 2008.  This advisory program is designed to facilitate improved student achievement and behavior for every high school student.  Each student will meet regularly in a small group setting with a staff member advisor.  Each grade level advisory group will remain together meeting every two weeks for 30 minutes throughout their high school career.  High school advisory programs are known for enriching the lives of students and staff through personalization of the learning process.  A Youth Risk Survey indicated that 35% of DHS students felt that they did not have an adult at the high school that they could go to for help, and only 51% felt that DHS staff cared about them. The students will be able to develop a connection with an advisor, provide support and be supported by fellow advisory group members, improve problem-solving and decision-making skills, and gain an appreciation for individuality of fellow advisory group members.  This grant funds the costs for a program coordinator and start-up materials.

WHERE EVERYBODY BELONGS (WEB) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING

The DEF-funded Where Everybody Belongs (WEB) program was first implemented in the 2007-2008 school year at DMS.  Now in its second year, the WEB program is a peer-leader middle school transition program that welcomes sixth graders to the school by eighth grade WEB leaders.  Last year this well-received program involved training for 60 eighth grade WEB Leaders who welcomed 230 incoming sixth grade students.  Sixth grade students were surveyed about the WEB experience and 97% agree that WEB will benefit them as a DMS student.  Built on the belief that students want to and can help other students succeed, the WEB middle school transition program trains members of the eighth grade class to be WEB leaders, who as positive role models act as motivators, leaders and teachers.  Web leaders guide sixth graders to discover what it takes to be successful in middle school. This DEF grant funds the training for one additional DMS staff member to attend a three-day professional development WEB training program conducted by “The Boomerang Project.”

The 2008 WEB leaders pictured here are leading an activity with the incoming 6th graders in the DMS gymnasium.

ADVANCED MICROSCOPES

Between 350 and 400 students at DHS take a Biology course each year.  This grant provides for the purchase of ten new advanced microscopes (magnification @ 1000X).  The study of the structure of bacteria, its role in the environment and affect on human life is possible when students are able to examine the cells using a microscope that magnifies 1000 times. The microscopes will be used by students in all Introductory Biology, AP Biology, Biology II, and Biotechnology courses at DHS. 

LIGHTING BOARD FOR GOODKNIGHT THEATER

After 20 years, the lighting board, which controls the lighting at each performance in the DHS Goodknight Theater and auditorium stopped working.  The lighting board is used during performances by many students who take acting classes and participate in the Drama Club, which is the largest co-curricular group at DHS with over 100 students currently enrolled. Students gain first-hand experience by being involved in all aspects of a production, including acting, directing, and supporting a performance, which includes operating the lighting board.  This grant supplements funds already raised by family members of students involved in the program. 

COLONIAL SCHOOL HOUSE PROGRAM FOR ALDEN STUDENTS

This Colonial School House program for all Alden third graders allows students to see what it was like to be educated in early America.  This in-school field trip program ties in directly with the third grade Social Studies unit on both the Pilgrims and Massachusetts.  The students participate in daily lessons using era appropriate tools such as horn books and slates.  This grant supplements funds already contributed by the Alden PTA.

RON CLARK ACADEMY EDUCATOR'S PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

This weekend conference in Georgia includes workshops on how to have a creative classroom in a time of increased accountability, vocabulary and reading, hands-on science, math methods for raising test scores, innovative strategies for connecting with parents and the community, and setting student expectations to foster excellence.  This grant provided funding for one Alden 5th grade teacher to attend the conference.

ANNUAL INSTITUTE FOR EXPERIENCED AP TEACHERS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This two-day workshop, designed for teachers with experience teaching AP language, provides instruction on developing innovative AP assignments, revitalizing the AP course and gathering updated AP test information to enhance existing AP language programs.  The grant provided funding for the DHS Spanish and French AP teachers to attend the workshop.

B-INFORMED DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM

The B-Informed data collection system allows families to easily and efficiently stay informed of what is going on in their school community.  Duxbury High School and Duxbury Middle School currently send newsletters home via email, while Alden and Chandler families receive paper newsletters.  Family registration is done on paper and the data is manually entered into the email system employed by the Duxbury Public Schools.  This system will enable all schools to send email newsletters, allowing for easy and accurate online registration and updates.  To register visit the Duxbury Public Schools website B-Informed page.