Sperreng Middle School Community Building by Lauren Boeger

Values.

2018-07-19 01:15:18 UTC

When are you like Augie?

Student Values

laurenboeger — 2018-07-19 01:20:23 UTC

How do our students find value at Sperreng?

Community Values

laurenboeger — 2018-07-19 01:20:52 UTC

Do our learning spaces reflect and respect our collective values?

What do you see that inspires you? How do these spaces connect to values?

laurenboeger — 2018-07-19 01:29:20 UTC

Preparing?

2018-07-19 19:15:54 UTC

Am I preparing students for a collaborative work space like this?

Failing

2018-07-19 19:21:03 UTC

Seeing failing as learning.

Collaborative work spaces

2018-07-19 19:46:34 UTC

Non-traditional work spaces

2018-07-19 20:06:02 UTC

Great for down time and collaborating on projects.

konder — 2018-07-19 20:07:54 UTC

Value fitness and the benefits it brings to thinking and creating.

konder — 2018-07-19 20:09:15 UTC

konder — 2018-07-19 20:10:17 UTC

Human instead of digital relationships

konder — 2018-07-19 20:10:53 UTC

konder — 2018-07-19 20:12:21 UTC

Old school can still work

konder — 2018-07-19 20:13:28 UTC

Love this

Non-traditional seating in the work world

2018-07-20 03:30:43 UTC

Inviting People In

2018-07-20 03:33:26 UTC

Glass walls everywhere seem to invite people in unlike solid walls and doors that close people out. This is a great way to create an open, collaborative environment.

Inclusive Events

2018-07-20 03:44:55 UTC

The Ventura Cafe Thursday Gatherings are open to all. People wear nametags Tand are encouraged to mingle and have discussions with a variety of people. People learn about common goals or how they can help one another. This is what the middle school philosophy is all about - being inclusive and building community.

John

2018-07-21 03:25:29 UTC

I found inspiration in our guide, John. He was passionate, happy, knowledgeable, and seemed genuinely excited to give us a tour and share his space with us. This inspires me to think of myself as more of a tour guide for my students. Showing them my excitement for my subject area, allowing them to explore and understand with my guidance, and being a genuine happy point in the days of my students is a new goal (or redefined) I aspire to reach. I am trying a lot of new things in my classroom this year and feel like using John as my spirit animal, I will be in a better position mentally to guide my students through the new school year and learning a new language!

Ps- I did not take this picture of John! I actually took the picture of Bob Ross in the background. That inspired me, 1. Happy trees, and 2. Bob Ross never let a mistake ruin his painting. Instead he used his mistakes to make a more beautiful painting.

What a beautiful idea to teach our students.

Games

2018-07-21 03:36:56 UTC

A properly placed game can increase productivity and community!

2018-07-21 18:26:43 UTC

Kim Onder Reflections

2018-07-23 15:14:08 UTC

I think what spoke to me the most after processing the experience over a few days are as follows:
* Morale is valued in the spaces... careful thought goes into each space based on the needs of the company/business but also the PEOPLE who are the creators, thinkers and masterminds behind the logo. It's almost as if the CIC treats the clients as children (I mean this in a good way)...by taking care of basic needs such as food and play opportunities and tools to work with, so that the "Genius Hour" can last ALL day!
* As a LLT member, I am constantly trying to connect the values of grading integrity and purposeful learning into experiences such as these. INNOVATION - What does that look like in the school setting and learning environments we're creating for kids. So I started thinking "WHAT IF?"...What if there were no rules or limits, and we could reinvent SCHOOL. What if teachers didn't teach subjects and instead standards. What if a classroom teacher focused on just a few standards, and kids transitioned from one classroom/standard to the next. What if grade levels became a thing of the past? What if kids didn't have the social pressure of being the best or worst in their class because school was a place where kids actually learned at their own pace. What if teachers didn't feel the pressure of "getting through the curriculum"....and when kids don't have the prerequisite skills to move on to the next, they could actually pause and get the time and help they need to master them. What if.... this could go on and on (I think it already did).
ROADBLOCKS - they are everywhere, and I realize the above WHAT IFs are more likely a dream than a reality, but the quote in the building said MAKE IDEAS. I love that - we shouldn't just HAVE ideas, we should MAKE them.