Click Here To Take A Virtual Tour
Home
Blog
FAQs
Schedule your personal tour: 386-734-3005
St. Barnabas Episcopal School
  • Academics
    • K4 and Kindergarten
    • Elementary School
    • Middle School
  • Admissions
  • Who We Are
    • Faculty and Staff
  • Campus Life
  • Support Our School
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • FAQs

Categories

All
Campus Tour
Charter School
DeLand
Elementary
Kindergarten
Middle School
Parenting
Preschool
Private Education
Private School
Summer Fun
Volusia County
VPK

Archives

February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014

The Art & Science of Teaching in the 21st Century

1/14/2019

 
Picture
Christmas break is over and, as parents and educators in the 21st century, there was a lot to ponder during our time off. Just as we must be adaptable in our vacation plans over the break, we must also be adaptable as teachers. Effective teachers share the characteristic of “adaptive expertise, allowing for making judgments about what it is like to work in a given context in response to student needs” (Darling-Hammond, et. al, 2009). This is especially true for educators in the 21st century.
Much has changed since we were in school and since we became teachers. Having both grown up in the 20th century, we would characterize our schooling as teacher-dominated with whole group lessons and standardized assessments. Occasionally there were those teachers here and there who brought learning alive, but it was not the ordinary practice. Teacher education programs, and therefore classrooms, have changed for the better. Classrooms in the 21st century focus on inquiry and student choice, where the curriculum is centered on students and their individual needs. We want our students to think about and learn in multimodal environments. This means that instructional elements are presented in more than one sensory mode and includes experiences such as video and audio elements, recorded lecture presentations, interactive audio-enhanced diagrams and simulations, and interactive quizzes and graphics. Your child may come home and brag about winning the Kahoot! (https://kahoot.com/) review game for math or share that they listened to a podcast about Henry Flagler as research for their report in Social Studies. Even Kindergarten children want to know if you viewed their video of sight word reading (and reading fluency practice) on the Seesaw app (https://web.seesaw.me/). When teachers and students engage in such activities, everyone succeeds.      

Mrs. Kaidor: Professionally, as I develop my lesson plans each week, I make personalized instruction part of my day. This ranges from one-on-one math lessons, to small group comprehension checks, to after school writing labs. The students have diverse needs and my job is to meet those needs. My classroom is learner-centered, which means the students dictate the pace of the learning. Some days we cruise through the planned material and more; other days we dig deep into one idea or concept for a more meaningful understanding. The students leave my classroom as their own personal geniuses: they find their area of expertise or passion and share it. They also learn to take a lesson into the production phase, whether that be a poster, a google slide presentation, or an article published in the newspaper.

I impart the growth mindset in my classroom. Whatever you don’t know today, you can learn. Skills can be developed; knowledge is not fixed. We work towards mastery by challenging ourselves and being okay with failure.  Oftentimes I hear students not feeling safe to explore their interests or ask those tough questions in school. In my classroom, I assure it’s a safe place to push your boundaries and explore the unknown. Through hands-on experiences and collaboration, students develop expertise and leadership qualities that will stay with them throughout their futures.

Dr. Oslick: As a parent and a teacher educator, I choose to send my child to St. Barnabas where teachers like Mrs. Kaidor have “adaptive expertise.” Furthermore, I know that the administration supports their teachers and trusts them to develop curriculum that prepares our children for the 21st century. I am delighted when my Kindergarten son sends me a video or picture via Seesaw and then follows up with me at home to make sure I am appropriately impressed. I know that he is receiving instruction that builds on his strengths and challenges him to grow. These are important elements of a 21st century classroom.
Picture
Picture
Future teachers also need to see these ideals modeled and the St. Barnabas community (teachers, administration, and parents) has been gracious enough to allow my college students to work in their classrooms. This past fall semester, I had ten students work as writing buddies with fourth graders, where they planned interactive mini-lessons. Feedback from both parties was positive: college students gained practice in planning and implementing these writing lessons and fourth graders received extra, individualized support to improve their writing skills.

Although we all worry about our children’s futures at times, we have confidence in their education and in the expertise of the faculty, staff, and administration at St. Barnabas. With a focus on students and their individual learning, as well as preparing our students to succeed in a multimodal environment, the 21st century is a great time for educators and for students.

Written By:
Julie Kaidor, 4th grade teacher & middle school mother
Dr. Mary Ellen Oslick, Stetson University education professor & Kindergarten mother

Picture
Reference:
Darling-Hammond, L., Wei, R. C., Andree, A., Richardson, N., & Orphanos, S. (2009). Professional Learning in the Learning Profession: A Status Report on Teacher Development in the United States and Abroad. (https://learningforward.org/docs/default-source/pdf/nsdcstudy2009.pdf)
Visit our campus, meet our teachers, experience our culture.
Schedule a tour
Schedule your personal tour:
​386-734-3005
322 West Michigan Avenue
DeLand, FL 32720
Picture
Get parenting tips delivered to your inbox:
Subscribe
© St. Barnabas Episcopal School  | Privacy Policy |  Website Design by New York Ave.