HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS WEEK AS A WHOLE?

WORTHWHILE: 124 NOT WORTHWHILE: 0

WHY?

• Completed all of our goals and worked with a great group.
• It was a great experience. I learned a lot about communication, teamwork and innovations in the field of education.
• A great opportunity to get school work started/done.
• We needed to be ‘offsite’ to regroup and we needed to be re-energized and inspired. This conference did that and we came together with a ‘product’
• Completed a great deal of work.
• I learned more than I ever imagined I would and feel proud of my work, and had fun.
• The team work of our group.
• A great team to work with.
• I enjoyed the week very much.
• It was fun and I had a good time.
• Because I have learned so much, I’ve been so constructive and it was fun. I’ve learned how to learn/teach and what it is to be a constructivist.
• Good presentations. Very interesting process.
• Productive as always – constant interaction to gain information as needed – networking positive – ‘flowing’
• Free food, expenses paid and interesting presentations.
• Such a great meeting of great minds.
• I have learned so much from so many. Morning presentations were excellent-4 out of 5. I loved talking and getting ideas from other schools. Increased my knowledge of technology.
• Learned a new process, met with folks; got some answers to two staff issues.
• Getting to work as a team and network.
• We accomplished our task with wonderful guidance.
• It was really organized and the food was great.
• Steeping oneself in the constructivist approach is a valuable experience to being into the classroom.
• We came here with an uncertainty and a heavy heart and hearing other schools’ obstacles made me feel we are not alone. Everyone was very encouraging and supportive.
• I continue to learn and grow as an educator and mother.
• Able to focus on task w/o constant interruptions – resource people helped tremendously. New ideas are always beneficial. Constructivism creates synergy.
• We had an excellent facilitator and group – the work did flow.
• We were able to plan and assess and make sure our work was worthwhile. We got so much done.
• The structure of the conference is so helpful.
• The people, the interactions, the task, everything was amazing.
• Accomplished goal – creating draft of proposal.
• We had wonderful opportunities to network and a great effort was made to provide us with any and all resources needed.
• We had a good place to work, network with others and get lots of ideas.
• The networking with other groups was very valuable. The constructivist process is helpful to be productive.
• We accomplished so many things – made many plans, completed a graphic organizer and rubric, created a brochure and parent info packet and timeline for our project.
• Our task was completed.
• We set our task, worked together to go great things.
• I was in a unique position during the conference in that I only was able to attend the ‘work’ portion of the seminar. If I am lucky to come back next year, I would love the opportunity to attend the seminars.
• Lots of work accomplished – tons of new ideas.
• I got a lot done! We got more than a preliminary document made. Hooray! Also, it is refreshing to be at a conference where just about everyone is excited about what they are doing. Teacher of the year events are like that – it is so re-affirming.
• It was great to get together with co-workers to work on a goal without interruptions (students, other teachers, administration). Elaine Rice our facilitator was wonderful and did a fantastic job of keeping us focused yet she gave us enough room to really develop our thoughts and ideas – it was really nice not to have to meet after school on weekends or during short planning periods.
• Networking, lots of idea and energy.
• Enormous task completed well and with much joy.
• We accomplished a great deal – I worked with a great group.
• Hard work in a constructivist setting with a great group = learning/fun/process/product!
• The team was able to put the goal into an action plan to use when they return to school.
• Helped our team develop a plan to implement in our school.
• Excellent blend of learning and task work.
• Our goal was mostly met.
• Great network of resources, presenters and professionals – plenty of time to really work on the task.
• Great working time – great resources – great philosophy.
• I learned so much and started a task I think is important and will make a difference. Also meeting so many different people and the resources we got about our task.
• My group made progress that I never even expected us to achieve. I was passionate about our topic from the beginning but I would be lying if I said that I knew or even expected us to do as well as we have.
• I got to work with many people – I met many new friends and got an inside look on what teachers do to improve their methods.

• We got a lot of work done and if we put out all the questions of the survey with all the answers and what we think than it will really help teachers, parents, student to connect.
• This conference confirmed my dreams and my goals. I learned so much and now I feel that I am well on my way to becoming a teacher. I also met many people I will keep in contact with.
• The team created a good proposal – hopefully we can get it implemented.
• We achieved our goal

AT WHAT MOMENT DURING THIS WEEK DID YOU FEEL MOST ENGAGED IN WHAT WAS HAPPENING?

• When everyone had a specific project.
• Throughout – we all work very well together.
• When our team was together working on a task.
• Productive discussions of our group.
• When we weren’t being interrupted.
• Thursday.
• Monday.
• Tuesday thru Friday with my team working on our goal.
• The critical friends meeting.
• The initiation activity with the jigsaw table setup at the field house.
• During the free work time. Every free minute we had we immersed ourselves in our work and became very productive.
• All the time.
• Working with Pat, Gail and Don – what a great team.
• When we did critical friends.
• Wednesday, a whole set of moments
• Thursday when everything seemed to come together.
• All week.
• When Larry Byrd spoke to our group we were very attentive because he was speaking to our needs this year.
• Critical friends – it was a moment of clarity and focus.
• Critical friends, but I wish instead of only 1 word answers and the time frame like it is that perhaps maybe giving each team 40-45 mins to talk about what they are doing and answering questions would be more effective and let the team facilitators say when the time is up and keep us focused instead of having them stay quiet.
• Mr. Abelson’s workshop and during critical friends.
• Tuesday our team hit its stride and we weren’t interrupted by valuable but disruptive distractions like preparing for critical friends, videotaping etc…
• On Wednesday – steam came out and we rolled on the track and the station was in view with where we were headed.
• Wednesday. We were on a roll and got so much done.
• When we were working with the leadership team.
• Tuesday after meeting with our leadership team and we had positive feed back.
• I don’t feel that there was any one time that sticks out. We were engaged in what was happening all week.
• Tuesday when groups got together to discuss the task and rubric. Also during the critical friends session.
• Critical friends.
• Wednesday – wow! Thursday and Friday – I can’t believe how much we got done.
• Wednesday when we realized all we had gotten done.
• Monday afternoon brainstorming, Tuesday refine, Wed and Thurs work, work, work and Friday – WOW!
• Wednesday was the turning point – all started to come together.
• Tuesday morning – still fresh from the weekend and clarity of task.
• Tuesday when all the ideas really took form.
• When I was working on our task.
• When we first got started with our task – also critical friends.
• Thursday – team time – our book was taking shape and filling up. Ideas were realities! (I’m concrete and linear!)
• Things finally clicked for me on Wednesday. That was the day we started to take all the of the brainstorming, ideas, possibilities and ‘dreams’ and make some sense of them.
• Tuesday afternoon thru Friday morning.
• Presentation to Ron.
• Days 3 and 4 getting things in a more finalized format.
• Several times as we worked together on our task NOT paying attention to the clock.
• On Tuesday the group pulled together and finalized their goal.
• Day 3 when things came together.
• During work time with my team.
• Day 2 when we actually started our specific work on our task.
• Can’t pinpoint a moment – usually most engaged just before lunch.
• Gerry Peters talking with us privately.
• Our group evolving thru the task.
• Wednesday.
• Tuesday when we really started to come up with things – also during critical friends.
• Wednesday because it was the mid-point and we had made a lot of progress and even though we have a lot more to do – we made it somewhere. I was also getting a lot of great info from the presentations.
• When we were all busy either typing, brainstorming, planning, copying etc…
• When we were putting what we thought in response to all the Q & A.
• I felt the most engaged when our team compiled our work and had it ready to distribute. It was a great accomplishment and a verification of our hard work.
• Various points while composing our proposal.
• Wednesday everything started to come together.

WHAT ACTION THAT ANYONE TOOK DURING THE WEEK DID YOU FIND MOST AFFIRMING AND HELPFUL?

• Just the wonderful help and guidance we received from our facilitator.
• Our team works well in a cooperative manner.
• On Friday when there was not sufficient time for breakfast, our facilitator bought food and drinks for us.
• The support and comradery of our team.
• Work of our facilitators.
• When the end product looked like it would be completed.
• Critical friends.
• Marshall, when he is doing the website.
• Not sure.
• Everyone was so cooperative – it really helped a lot.
• Critical friends meeting.
• I think the most affirming action that was taken was the critical friends’ activity. It answered all the questions that we had about our task.
• My group was very welcoming. I learned a lot by being included in the process.
• The validation from Pat that we are on the right path.
• Our facilitator kept us on track-kept us focused- had something to add to many of our discussions. It was a perfect fit.
• Charla’s redirection and support.
• Superintendent visit.
• The actions of my team members.
• Networking with the diversity contingent from SLU was affirming and helpful – this is a connection I will use next year and it was affirming to see young people so enthusiastic about working in our area.
• Speaking with Larry Byrd.
• Having Larry Byrd come and speak to us. He was the shot in the arm that we needed to raise our spirits.
• Support from Dick H. and Roberta.
• Morning presentations.
• I feel that everyone was supportive and that one action would not stand out more than others.
• Volunteering to take charge on one project or idea.
• When our new Principal supported our ideas.
• When we met with the leadership team – they were totally supportive of all of our ideas.
• The critical friends’ session.
• Random participants offering encouragement.
• ‘good ideas’, ‘have you ever thought of…’ positive helpers.
• many words of encouragement from our facilitator.
• the informal ‘constructive friends forum’ networking with the Malone group – lots of great ideas exchanged – so helpful.
• critical friends’ feedback.
• critical friends reinforced that our direction was positive.
• Paul Vermette appreciating my questions and comments.
• Some of Sonia’s workshop ideas were good as were Jack D’s. I realized I used some of these ideas anyway.
• There was actually 3 times when this happened – 1) critical friends for obvious reasons, 2) our facilitator’s encouragement and her own experiences – she was a perfect fit for our team, 3) when we used the dance card to have speakers (i.e. Sonia) come talk to us – there encouragement was helpful.
• Feedback from teammates.
• When Blanche (facilitator) let us know we were ‘soloing’.
• Lots of positive feedback that we were on the right track.
• Our cooperative collaboration.
• Critical friends.
• None in particular.
• A member of our team really took on a facilitator role and that was great.
• Throughout the week our facilitator shared information that assisted us in our task. He was very knowledgeable in our task area.
• Critical friends reaffirmed that our goal/task was clear and worthwhile.
• Gerry Peter’s information.
• Diane was great and Gerry Peters helping with data.
• Critical friends and talking with Don and Larry Byrd.
• Talking to Larry Byrd and the critical friends’ process.
• Chelsea talked to me about high school and all the AP courses – especially what it took to succeed academically wise.
• I don’t know.
• The action of adults speaking with me and being both exciting and encouraging about me and my future. It helped me realize I can live up to my potential.
• The suggestions my team received during the conference with individuals encouraging our progress and especially during the ‘critical friends’ session was amazing.
• Critical friends – very supportive.

WHAT ABOUT THIS WEEK SURPRISED YOU THE MOST?

• All went well and how fast it went by.
• We are floored by how much work we got done.
• How much we truly accomplished.
• How together we are. How well we work together.
• Positive support.
• So much positive support.
• People’s reactions to our task. The useful feedback we received.
• Amount of things accomplished.
• We gave a lot of fun!
• That we were able to finish our project.
• Not much changed. As far as food, our facilitator bought food for us.
• So much about the conference remains the same from one year to the next.
• How much fun I had.
• The lesson plans.
• The amount of group collaboration in decision making towards their rubrics and plans and such.
• How crazy everyone became and how helpful it was.
• I was not treated with less respect because I am a student, in fact I got a lot of respect for it.
• How much I learned and how much work this really is. It was amazing.
• There is so much going on!
• The house party – what an inspiring home.
• That I do constructivist teaching already but how much I still have to learn.
• How tired I am
• The opportunity to network
• The great information that was provided by Gerry Peters and Cathy Washabaugh- they were excellent.
• That our team was back in our same location after requesting to be in a QUIETER location.
• How good Dick Horwitz’s brownies were!
• Our superintendent came.
• The blooming ‘noise’ and the enthusiasm of everyone continues to amaze me!
• The lack of singing talent among the participants.
• We have really had a great time!
• How hurtful ‘critical friends’ can be! Not a very good vehicle for help – format too tight.
• The critical friends’ process – it didn’t surprise me exactly but I hadn’t known about the process – it was effective.
• How many people were repeaters.
• The enthusiasm and productivity of all conference members….the collective buzz of educators meaningfully at work.
• The # of teams, variability of task and quality of work.
• How many groups could work in one spot and still be focused.
• We accomplished an amazing amount in a relatively short period of time.
• Completing our task.
• How well the group pulled together.
• The interactions with my colleagues.
• That we were able to discuss and come to agreement on various issues that effect our staff.
• Lack of attendance at the banquet.
• Our group dynamics.
• How open to sharing everyone was.
• Everything. I didn’t think that I would enjoy it but I have learned a lot.
• The great feedback from everyone and the amount of progress we made in such a short period of time.
• I was surprised by how many people there were and the number of groups.
• I don’t know.
• The food was not as good as anticipated considering complaints of past years.
• The food was not very good.
• The food was not as good as anticipated (at hotel).
• The biggest surprise was how well our group bonded. These 2 girls are just great and it was amazing how much 13 and 18 year olds can relate. I was also very surprised that they sought my advice and listened.
• The significance of the project we came up with.
• The exhaustion.

WHAT, IF ANY, CHANGES WILL YOU MAKE IN YOUR OWN DAY TO DAY WORK AS A RESULT OF WHAT OCCURRED THIS WEEK?

• More thought into arranging my classroom.
• Many changes – incorporating some of the strategies I learned.
• I am planning to adjust my approach to several members of my staff.
• I will implement at least 5 strategies that I learned at the conference. These include pair/share, movement, learner centered strategies, 2 week testing and not give tests on Mondays or Fridays.
• I’ll use the principles and theories as I always have but I will be vigilant about supporting my peers and working together – ‘ at all costs’ this year.
• Freeing up my teaching style.
• Listen more, ask more questions, patience.
• Take little victories as big successes.
• I’ll look at chaos as an opportunity to learn.
• Our work, from here we’ll change the way we teach certain academic areas.
• More unified approach to our curriculum.
• We need to meet as a group throughout the year to get our things done.
• I would learn to laugh more.
• The way I take in knowledge at school and other lessons.
• Become more focused and understand the task earlier.
• I need more time to reflect before I can answer this question.
• I make changes as the situation requires – I never know before I get there.
• Using constructivism more on a daily basis.
• We will be using our action plan to make sure our goals are accomplished.
• That everyone gets their share of the work done.
• An awareness and hopefully better application of engaging students.
• I will extend even more constructivist activities into my own classroom.
• Most of the changes will come about from our product. I will also put many of the strategies I learned from others to use.
• Develop more constructivist activities and think constructively.
• Try different, more hands on approaches.
• More aware of process vs. product.
• I am always ready to try new strategies that will enhance learning in my classroom.
• Try to implement more distributed practice over time in my classroom.
• Step up my level/degree or monitoring the progress towards a goal – be more directive and challenge staff to improve.
• More constructivist activities in my classroom.
• Continuous improvement.
• I will try and include the strategies I have learned here in the classroom and when I tutor.
• Use the model more.
• The materials in the binder are awesome – I am sure I will use them when I teach.
• Have a printer available to us.
• No changes.
• This does not apply directly to what I do day to day
• Not really any.
• Nothing, we have done everything already.
• Start earlier, quit earlier.
• Change critical friends to constructivist friends.
• Be aware of constructivist (hate that word) ideas.
• Critical friends was not a good expression – it seemed negative – maybe ‘constructivist friends’?
• When I start on my homework or do study plans, I will be able to understand my teachers more.
• In school I will try to get to know the teachers on a personal level.
• I would like to go to bed earlier so I can wake up earlier so then I am on time for my team and I’ll get breakfast.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AS OF THE NEXT STEPS TO ENSURE FOLLOW THROUGH ON THIS WEEK’S WORK?

• Continued support from administration and staff.
• We need to have additional release time to complete our project.
• We have scheduled monthly meetings to continue our work.
• We need to meet regularly and have some release time to complete our project.
• Meetings on accomplishments of our team.
• Our district needs to give us time to meet.
• I would like the opportunity for more updates to be made on the Jackie Robinson and Peter Seeger websites.
• That it gets done.
• A continuation on developing constructivist education techniques.
• Keep up our Robinson and Seeger websites.
• Administrator support will be needed.
• A specific date set by each team to review progress made from September to January/February and fill out a questionnaire to be generated by L.C.R.C and returned either via email/snail mail. Another questionnaire for year and summary of progress.
• Meet with our Principal and have everything issue and validated.
• Continued interaction with team members.
• We need at least one more meeting to finalize our product, if not two.
• Successful presentation to the faculty.
• Implementation of our work at the building level.
• I hope that our facilitator is able to visit us at least once during the year to give us input on our progress and direction.
• Frequent and regular communications with all parties involved.
• Having a family night for parents and more support from board and the other ½ of the administration.
• We need to rely on each other for support for praise. This year is going to be tough – I am depressed before I begin – the kids will be my primary support.
• A presentation on avenues for alternative funding for teams whose schools no longer will or can pay for conferences an continuing professional development and training.
• To continue w/ our facilitator during the year to help.
• I would like to make sure that even without the grant next year that our group has sustainability and that our work will continue.
• Just consistency.
• We have already scheduled future meetings.
• Follow up with facilitators and groups with same.
• Follow up from our facilitators, meetings or talks with our ‘critical’ friends.
• Continue meeting w/ team – follow a timeline and have faculty input and buy-in.
• Our team will meet further to see and clarify the task further.
• Meeting with entire staff to clarify materials.
• Attending meeting with stuff to ‘sell’.
• Meet together to clean up our work, do some accomplished tasks and decide what to do before school starts and how to keep updating through the year.
• Next year I would like to revisit the handbook and assess what we did and its impact on students.
• 1) continued communication w/ team members 2) put the product to use and not forget about it 3) a brief survey from the institute to check on our progress. Since it would come during the school year – a quick, short, easy survey would be good. It would serve as a reminder of all of the hard work we did this week and encourage us to continue what we developed.
• Implementation of tasks.
• Follow up letters on email might work.
• It was great to work on this project – I would welcome the opportunity to do it again as a follow-up.
• Follow-up workshops.
• We are doing that as a team without ‘project’ back at school.
• Contact with our designated ‘contact person’.
• Our group furthering our work.
• We have a follow-up plan.
• Individual from the group work on goal.
• Release time and time to continue the team’s work – uninterrupted.
• Email addresses.
• Getting our school to fund our proposed program.
• The institute keeping in touch with groups periodically to see what kind of progress the groups have made instead of waiting until the next conference to see what happened.
• I would like to continue every year so we can gather more information.
• Teachers, parents and students connecting better.
• I would like to see that teachers who didn’t use these teaching tools prior to this conference, find its meaning and begin to apply it in their own classrooms. I would also like to re-survey teachers and see how their answers have changed since this amazing conference.
• Meetings, meetings, meetings.
• Hope the students will follow through on their timeline (I am a facilitator).

HAS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE TERM ‘STANDARDS’ CHANGED AS A RESULT OF YOUR WORK THIS WEEK?

PLEASE AMPLIFY:

• I understand the NYS standards more now but the term ‘standards’ means exactly what it always has.
• Yes, we used them the constructivist way.
• Yes, the NYS standards are much more rigid and closed off than I would have imagined.
• Yes, I understand the NYS standards when before I knew nothing about them.
• Yes, it has changed because this week has helped my to more clearly define standards of learning.
• No, we address standards each time we teach in some way, shape or form.
• Yes, had to see them through 4^th grade eyes too!
• No, everything I do revolves around standards so I am quite familiar.
• Yes, we used them.
• Yes, make standards general to encompass many things

HAS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORD ‘CONSTRUCTIVISIM’ CHANGED AS A RESULT OF YOUR WORK THIS WEEK?

YES: 47 NO: 23

PLEASE AMPLIFY:

• I got it before.
• No, I was here last year and already knew about it.
• Yes, I learned what constructivism is by seeing it in action.
• Yes, I had never heard of this before and now I am a strong follower.
• Yes, it’s led me to believe that constructivism is more like ‘thinking out of the box’ thinking and extremely different from traditional learning, thinking and teaching techniques.
• No, this conference confirmed my current understanding.
• Yes, I am a lot more confident but need to come again to reinforce knowledge.
• Yes, I didn’t know what it meant before I came.
• Yes, I had no former knowledge.
• No, my first conference and dealings with our facilitator over the year clarifies the meaning for me.
• It has freed my understanding of the process, allowing me to understand to employment of chaos in the process.
• We work well together, we support each other, we listen to each other, we learn from each other.
• No, this is scary. I may finally have most of this stuff ingrained. I do feel as if I bring it to my classroom.
• Yes, each year I learn more through the ‘immersion’ method.
• No, b/c it is the 3^rd year in a row being here plus a year several years ago.
• Yes, I get it now!
• Yes, but it really needs a new word.
• Yes, since we have practiced it, we have learned it.
• Yes, I understand it to be (very simply stated) a method of teaching where students are guided in a task, enabling them to self teach, discover, and learn the time, resources and material to help them accomplish that task – it started to click for me on Wednesday and became more clear on Thursday afternoon.
• No, I’ve always tried to think ‘student centered’ I would like more teachers to think that way!
• Yes, loved to see the working models like Paul and Beth.
• Yes, it has shown me the importance of making sure things have a meaning for kids.
• Yes, Paul’s 2 step – explore and discover.
• Yes, this conference just reaffirms my belief that having people engaged brings results.
• Yes, previously I had no clue.
• Yes, we were practicing constructivism rather than analyzing it.
• I feel like I have a good basic understanding of it and continue to look at instructional strategies in terms of constructivist principles.
• Yes, I understand much more what is meant by it now.
• Yes, by ‘living’ it all week – I better understand and can use it in my teaching.
• Yes, being present and really engaged in the work and task you are doing. “long live constructivism.”
• I’ve taken classes that stressed a lot of the characteristics but this week has definitely stressed these points and given examples of their success as well as numerous ways to.
• Institute them.
• Yes, I got to see first hand how teachers come up with ideas and methods that will benefit all children.
• No, I have been to every conference, I think that over the years I have learned the same stuff over and over.
• Constructivism does NOT mean criticism – it means building understand and reaching out to students in a positive, caring way. It also challenges students to think and find solutions.
• Yes, go big! Be active! Interact! Structural change.
• Yes, every time I become more knowledgeable – I get more ideas.

Additional Comments:

• Next year we need more computers available to participants – thank you!
• Really did not have a good experience with ‘critical friends’. Format way too inhibiting!
• The conference – many of the workshops were not handicapped accessible – 3^rd floor of Richardson was quite a hike up flights of stairs. Too many people missed out on excellent workshops. Please consider this next year. Workshops were not long enough – need to be at least 11/2 hours – excellent workers!