September 29, 2009 – Students of the Week
Congratulations to our first students of the week! These students consistently give their best efforts, demonstrate a positive attitude, and are assets to our school community.
Congratulations to Tailor from Middle School, Year 2 and Zachery from Middle School, Year 1!
 
September 23, 2009 – Integration of Technology into the Classroom
In seeking to prepare our students for the 21st Century, we recognize that technological fluency is of upmost importance. Additionally, we recognize that our students benefit from multisensory teaching methodologies, and there are many tools of technology that are helpful in supporting our adolescent learners in this manner.
Illustrated here is one example of such integration:
Middle School, Year 1 students were assigned a “textbook walk” in order to learn (or review) the different elements of their Social Studies, Science, and Math textbooks. Teachers recorded verbal directions on each iPod Touch, and the students navigated their way through the table of contents, chapter headings, chapter contents, glossary, appendices, and index. They filled out a worksheet with a list of questions to demonstrate their learning. The Year 1 students found this lesson presentation to be highly interesting and engaging. Teachers know that this early investment will pay off later as the students use their textbooks to work efficiently, both collaboratively and independently.
Ms. Thompson checks in with Murel
Textbooks open, hard at work.
Zachery and Jack in foreground, Myles and Sarah in background.
September 22, 2009 – Academy Night
We were so pleased to see so many of our parents tonight at Academy Night.
Parents attended Academy Night to learn about the topics that their child will be engaged in this year and to gain a greater understanding of how Arts and Technology are integrated into the curriculum by participating as students in the classroom.
In Middle School Year 1, parents toured the classroom using the iPods and were given lessons in listening and following directions. They engaged in a Humanities activity that introduced the SmartBoard technology through vocabulary study in the topic of Archaeology. A few intrepid parents even volunteered to work “hands-on” with the SmartBoard. In Math, Science, and Technology, parents engaged in lessons about patterns in nature, shapes and numbers. Finally, everyone participated in a lesson to introduce Reader’s Theater, a program that will be widely used to address literacy and reading comprehension. Parents were asked to say the same line of text, emoting in different ways: excited, anxious, angry, and so on.
In Middle School Year 2, parents were oriented to the features of the classroom by listening to an auditory tour on the iPods. Then, they were introduced to SmartBoard technology through a lesson in mapping and globalization, which integrated math, science, critical thinking and problem solving skills. The assignments they completed were carefully checked by their children the following day.
Teachers showed parents the classroom blog that they have set up, and parents had an opportunity to add their own thoughts about Aaron Academy and the Year 2 class to the classroom blog.
Here is a link to the Aaron Academy, Year 2 classroom blog: http://aaronacademyyear2.blogspot.com/
In CORE Arts, Year 1 parents learned cuneiform, an early system of writing used in Mesopotamia. Following this introduction, the CORE Arts teachers asked parents to write their names and birthdates using the newly learned written form.
In CORE Arts, Year 2 parents were asked to choose an animal to illustrate related to the Year 2 Native American curriculum. They also were asked to find the Native American name for the animal, and write it phonetically. The following day, students were able to compare their parents’ illustration to their own, completed earlier in the week.Academy Night provided parents with hands on experiences in the types of curricular integration and 21st Century skills that their students experience daily at Aaron Academy. It was great to see how enthusiastically parents engaged in all of the activities.
Middle School, Year 1 parents engaged in classroom activities
Middle School, Year 2 parents completing the iPod supported classroom tour
Year 2 parents checking out the classroom blog and adding their own thoughts
Year 2 parents illustrating animals and learning Native American language
September 14, 2009 - Good News to Share!
Aaron Academy Director, Barbara McKeon, and Curriculum & Instruction Coordinator, Jill Hodge, will be presenting at the upcoming ASCD (formerly the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development; http://www.ascd.org/ ) annual conference on March 6-8, 2010 in San Antonio, TX. The conference, “Critical Transformations” will focus on changes in learning and teaching approaches that demonstrate innovative leadership and educational responsiveness to diverse student populations. Ms. McKeon and Ms. Hodge will present a talk entitled, “Empowering Students with Special Needs: Technology & Arts Integration Strategies” focusing on using the Academy’s strengths-based model. At the conference, they will present ideas for tapping into student strengths and improving access to learning through the curricular integration of technology and the Arts.
September 11, 2009 – Reflection
Middle School, Year 2 reflects on September 11th:
“Today is the anniversary of 9/11, and with our class questioning what we could do to remember it, we gave them an opportunity for reflection. Together we explored the Memorial website on our SmartBoard and discussed the importance of honoring those affected by the day. Many of our students chose to draw pictures depicting several different thoughts and feelings about the day. Others wrote descriptive poems about what it means to them. And some wrote narratives about where they and their loved ones were when it happened. We hope to post our reflections on the website. One thing was clear-- no matter how we expressed it, it was meaningful to everyone. Another concept that was stressed by our class was that we all thought and cared about others.
What a wonderful quality to demonstrate in the very first week of class.”
September 9, 2009 – First Day of School
Introduction to Physical Arts with Mr. Bracchi
Middle School, Year 1 eats lunch together
Middle School, Year 2 eats lunch together
September 8, 2009 – Family Orientation
Today, Aaron Academy welcomed students and families to our interim location on the third floor of 40 East 30th Street. It was a thrill to show off our new space to all of our new and returning students and families.
The students met their teachers and integrated service providers, located their lockers, received their Trapper Keeper binders, and engaged in a few “get to know you” activities during time in their new classrooms. Our returning students did a wonderful job making the students who are new to Aaron Academy feel welcome and comfortable.
Parents were kept busy touring the school and filling out surveys about technology use at home and social skills. These surveys provided staff with important information that will help us to collaborate effectively with families and make sure that the work we accomplish in school is carried over easily to the students’ lives outside of school.
Overall, the Family Orientation activities were a huge success. This was a great opportunity for students and families to become familiar with each other and the routines of Aaron Academy.
We are ready for the first day of school tomorrow!
September 1, 2009 – Summer Institute Comes to an End
Aaron Academy is ready to welcome our new and returning students next week to our beautiful, new space (40 East 30th Street, 3rd floor). The school year was ushered in with the unveiling of new technology, new teaching staff, and new perspectives on integration as teachers participated in our Summer Institute workshops. Teachers from many disciplines immersed themselves in discussions about our dual core curriculum with break-out sessions on 21st Century learning, art and technology integration, and creative methods for building on student strengths.
Paul Yellin, from the Yellin Center for Student Success, spoke on authentic assessment and the ways in which we can continue to build on student strengths using Universal Design for Learning principles. (link: http://www.yellincenter.com/ )
Dr. Yellin later reflected on his experience with Aaron Academy staff:
"Thanks for the opportunity to meet and work with your wonderful staff. I think you are on the threshold of making a major contribution to the educational landscape. I am excited for you and will do whatever I can to support you."
Thank you Dr. Yellin!
The CORE Arts Team (L to R): Ryan McCarthy, John Bracchi, Andrew Hoxter, Renee Bareno
Integrated Service Providers Tracey Fisher, Martine Soren, and Marisa Picheny (L to R) reviewing files
 
CORE Art teacher Ryan McCarthy hard at work on our BIG Aaron Academy logo mural
CORE Art teacher Renee Bareno creating the sign for Crystal’s reception area.
August 24, 2009
Welcome to the Aaron Academy BLOG!
Summer Institute for staff began today, and we welcomed 16 new staff members. Although we all continue to "wash dishes" in the proverbial manner, it's so nice to know that there are many more enthusiastic and talented teachers, integrated service providers and support staff to help.
New and returning staff got right down to business, led by Curriculum Coordinator Jill Hodge and Education Supervisor Hilary Gomez. Workshop sessions included Curricular Integration and 21st Century Learning skills. Teaching staff were encouraged to collaborate and began planning the integration of all disciplines into the big topics that each class will address this year.
Some pictures of our team hard at work:
Teaching staff and MacBooks
Ms. Fisher, Ms. Gomez, and Mr. Hoxter working on a blog. They found this amazing video on YouTube that beautifully illustrates the importance of viewing instruction through a lens to the 21st Century.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A-ZVCjfWf8
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