Every now and then, I get asked why we have a gaming group at a school. If you ask early education teachers, they would readily tell you that playing is learning. Yet, somewhere along the way, we lose that mentality, as parents and as educators, by the time our students reach middle and high school. … Continue reading Game On: Playing is Learning at BFA Fairfax
GEMS First Graders Set Goals, Make Resolutions for New Year
Many times throughout the academic year students take time to reflect on their studies, participation, and overall efforts. At the start of each school year children create goals to share with their teachers who assist them with developing a plan for individual growth and success. Teachers meet with students often and discuss with them their thoughts on … Continue reading GEMS First Graders Set Goals, Make Resolutions for New Year
BFA Fairfax Middle School Launches Coding Club!
On Monday after school, twenty middle school students began a new club designed to allow students to further learn about coding. The club will teach students how to create games, design animation, and other interactive applications. Students will use design thinking and logic to translate ideas into working applications. The Coding Club will allow students … Continue reading BFA Fairfax Middle School Launches Coding Club!
The Grand Slam: An Interview with Grade 8 BFA Language Arts Teacher, Emily Wills
On December 22, I was fortunate to attend the BFA Middle School Poetry Slam organized by writing consultant and Vermont poet, Geof Hewitt and teacher Emily Wills. According to the Urban Dictionary, "a Poetry Slam is a competitive event in which poets perform their work and are judged by members of the audience. Everyone who … Continue reading The Grand Slam: An Interview with Grade 8 BFA Language Arts Teacher, Emily Wills
BFA Goes to Montreal
Last week, students in Fred Griffin’s classes embarked on a “Cross Cultural Adventure in Montreal”. Students used their iPads to digitally document their day with the goal of creating a short film about their experience when they returned. Upon arrival in Montreal, students explored the city in groups of 4 or 5 students with one chaperone. … Continue reading BFA Goes to Montreal
A Year in Review at Fletcher: Eight Pictures, One Action Plan
The Fletcher Elementary School brought an exciting calendar year to a close before the holiday break. Below, are eight photographs that represent just a few of the exciting ways in which the Fletcher School community worked toward meeting the FWSU Action Plan during 2015. There are a total of eight pictures, two for each of … Continue reading A Year in Review at Fletcher: Eight Pictures, One Action Plan
Light a Fire and Keep the Embers Burning: Revisiting the Ignite Sessions, Part 1
It has been a month since FWSU held their first annual Ignite Session to kick off the November inservice. The theme of inservice was Igniting Innovation, and the first “spark” of the day featured 4 Ignite sessions. Ignite is a style of presentation in which the presenter uses 20 slides in five minutes to share … Continue reading Light a Fire and Keep the Embers Burning: Revisiting the Ignite Sessions, Part 1
Math Daily Special: Personalizing Instruction with Math Menu
In collaboration with their principal, Steve Emery, Grade 1 teachers at GEMS have been engaging in a “lesson study model” in math. Lesson study is a model of embedded professional development that allows teachers to look at their practices and student learning results in a particular area. As a team, the teachers determine their “study … Continue reading Math Daily Special: Personalizing Instruction with Math Menu
The FWSU Story 
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