Who are your kids?

I am often asked, "What type of students are at Sheridan?" While I would like to say that they are sons/daughters of millionaire bankers, I refrain and describe them as follows:
Students at Sheridan Academy attend because they feel that our mission/purpose/environment are most effective for them. I describe our students as "not getting a meaningful education in a traditional school setting."
Often our students are the ones in the last row of a class of 36 students and they are drawing and not writing the history notes on the whiteboard. For some reason, they are not focused and learning. Maybe there is a mild learning disability present, maybe there are problems at home, maybe the work is not challenging. For whatever reason, they are not receiving a meaningful education. Many of our students come to us with "holes" in their learning. For example, they are in Algebra, but cannot perform simple operations with fractions. We fill these "holes" so that they can continue their knowledge building (scaffolding).
We work on a positive reinforcement system and the schools runs much like a job- if you perform, you get stuff- if you don't you don't...
Students tell me that we are strict. Yet they want to enroll again. Students want boundaries, they want parameters. We set the bar high and they perform- this allows them success at a university and in the workforce.
Who are my kids? They're our pride and joy.

Not a bad day...

Today, after a focused morning of current events, math, and history, we took a brisk walk, wolfed down lunch then went to BSU to see a student display of the Berlin Wall in the quad. We discussed the significance and Alexander (from Germany) translated the graffiti written on the Wall. The students got "some" sense of the impact that the Wall had on Germany, the people of Berlin, communism, and the world.

Then we parked near the capitol and read the names of the fallen soldiers on the flags.

We then went to the second floor courtroom of the Borah Building and sat with representatives from other nonprofits in the Treasure Valley.
The governor entered and read a proclamation recognizing the week of November 8-12 as "Non-Profit Awareness Week for the State of Idaho."
After the formalities, I lined up our students and the Governor posed for a photo with them. He shook each students' hand and encouraged them to continue their education.

THEN! We went to Fancy Freeze for ice cream and sat in the sun enjoying a beautiful Fall day.

Returning to the school, the students cleaned and then played basketball.

It was another awesome day at Sheridan.

"New Math"

As a child of the '70's I was taught the metric system and "new math." As a teacher, I was schooled to teach reading using "sight word" vocabulary (not phonics).
Yuri Gregarin (sp) orbited the earth in 1959. America needed more scientists- by 1969 school children were learning more about science to compete with the Soviets. America also toyed with going metric.
The "feel good" era of the '70's brought "new math" into our schools. Much of this consisted of estimation and proximity- exactness was not emphasized. Not good when balancing your checkbook!
At "teacher school" we were taught sight-word vocabulary. This method instructed the student to recognize a word based on the letter order- not the phonetical qualities.
All three of the above have shaped my knowledge and the skills/knowledge that I teach my students. I shy from fads, focus on the basics and knowns, and seek a common core of knowledge that should be universal.

Berlin Wall

Twenty years ago? Wow- I can remember when the Wall came down. You could buy a peice of the concrete wall (complete with spay paint graffiti) as a souvenir. I thought of purchasing a piece for my dad as it represents much for which he served- a fighter pilot in the Navy trained to deliver ordiance behind the Iron Curtain.

The German Club at Boise State is re-creating a portion of the Wall. Sheridan Academy's German international student participates in the univeristy's German club and he shared with me that the Berlin Wall may not be the best way to remember or recognize Germany...

Tomorrow we go to the State House to witness the Governor of Idaho sign a proclamation designating this week as "Nonprofit Awareness Week." As we are a nonprofit school, we will particpate in this ceremony...

there are no problems, just opportunities

OK........blog I will.
Our internatonal students (Thailand, Korea, Vietnam, Germany, Mexico) are doing well with our domestics. They all went to the corn maze/haunted world and had a great time!

Seventy wolves have been killed in Idaho- 130 more to go- our int'l students are amazed that you can buy handguns and rifles so easily (I sold my hunting rifles after I gutted my first deer- YUCK! I'm not THAT hungry...).

Over a Year?

Seems I need to delegate this blog to someone...
I hope this summer to upload pics and get current with our growing school!

12th Annual Graduation/Awards Ceremony...

It was the best time for graduates and students!
I must regroup to share with you the details!
Check back!

How quickly they grow...

He came to me for tutoring in the 5th grade- oh how I remember the "little wild one." He wanted to play, chat, distract, redirect- anything but the assignments due tomorrow... His goal was to not do the work...
Fast forward five years... He calls and says, "Do you remember me?" (OHHHHHH!!!! Yes I DO!!). Well, I want to go to Standford University! Ohhhhhkkkkkkkkkkkk.... So we begin the repair/preparation...
To summarize, he is today enjoying the Standford Summer Program for Prospective Students and experience college life!
Many hours have been spent on papers and assigments, but I am so proud of the opportunity that this lad from Idaho has in front of him! An experience at one of the finest learning insitutions on the planet!