School to Community Connection
Dec. 1, 2005

Issue 101

Foss Creek Elementary School
Using Best in Class Teaching Methods


Ask Aracely Romo-Flores, principal of Foss Creek School (FCS), "What's new?" and be prepared for an enthusiastic download of a few of the new teaching methods being used at the site. One concept which has been embraced by the staff and students is an instructional tool called "Thinking Maps." Now bear with me as I provide a brief but really interesting summary of this concept. Did you know that there are only eight ways your brain organizes its thoughts? Thinking Maps are eight visual-verbal learning tools, each based on a fundamental thinking process and used together as a set of tools for showing relationships. Remember the challenges of "graphing" sentences back in the old days in grammar class? Thinking Maps take this idea and applies it not only to language but to math, science and all subjects that can be communicated. Every thinking process can be made into a "map" which helps a student organize and comprehend information. There are circle maps, bubble maps, double bubble maps, tree maps, brace maps, flow maps, multi-flow maps and bridge maps. (How can a teacher explain a double bubble map without first thinking of those days when Double Bubble wasn't mentioned, let alone allowed in school? How times have changed!) I asked my 10 year old to explain a double bubble map. His explanation was more like a science class but here it goes... A double bubble map is used for comparing and contrasting. It organizes the similar and different qualities of things. Picture this: two molecular structures with several of the molecules being shared. The two center molecules (bubbles) are the things that are to be compared. The shared molecules are what is similar to the "things". The remaining molecules are what is in contrast. Whew!-I wonder what to expect when he gets to chemistry in high school!

Thinking maps are used by the teachers throughout the day. Flow maps explain what the students need to do to prepare for leaving school at the end of the day. Tree maps show how many different combinations of coins can be used to make 78 cents. This nationally recognized and innovative teaching method is turning out to be a fun learning tool. Parents of Foss Creek students were invited to attend an evening session at the school where the concept was explained. Principal Aracely Romo-Flores felt it was important for parents to understand Thinking Maps so that when homework using this technique was assigned they could better help their children.

Another program currently underway at Foss Creek is the Academic Language Development (ALD) or "Switch-a-Room" block of instruction. The first 45 minutes of the school day Monday thru Thursday is dedicated to meeting the needs of all Foss Creek students through ALD. Students are grouped across grade levels to appropriately challenge students. ALD was initiated to support greater academic gains by each student. It is nationally recognized that an individual's IQ is synonymous with the extent of one's vocabulary. Grouping students allows the teachers to work at common learning level and enables them to address the specific needs of the group. Teachers and students find the program not only a new, fun way to learn but also a better way to learn.

Other positive events happening in the Healdsburg schools is the cooperative effort of the Communications Committee, AH!TV and students of the High School media class in creating a DVD highlighting each of the four school sites. Filming begins at Healdsburg Junior High (HJH) on November 30th. John Curry, principal of HJH has already been "on camera" discussing the AVID program, the academic awards program, advanced English/History classes, sports, academic pentathlon, and the school's science and computer labs. Once Karen Ricketts, principal of Healdsburg High heard about the project she enthusiastically called in members of the media class to participate. Students will be filming weekly. AH!TV will be filming at the High School on December 7th. The elementary schools including the construction at Fitch Mountain are currently scheduled to be filmed in January.
 

By Joyce Jensch, member of the Communications Committee