Brain Training: Moving beyond Fact Storage to Critical Thinking

By: Kyle Christmas, Upper School English

Let’s go back in time for a moment. When I was in school—not too terribly long ago, I might add—there was tremendous value in fact gathering and memorization. We memorized all sorts of things, from poetry and historical dates to geometric proofs and chemical equations. (I can still recite the first few lines of Chaucer’s The Canterbury Talesin Middle English if ever you catch me in the halls of CA!) Of course, this rote memorization is still important today in education, and our brightest and most successful students tend to have a mental catalogue of useful material from which they can draw on call. However, in the age of Google, iPhones, and smart homes, a major question regarding the fundamentals of education has emerged: Should fact storage still be our prime focus in the classroom when just about any fact necessary is a few keystrokes away?

If we as teachers are honest, we’ve seen this coming for a while. Fifty years ago, I’d be a “sage on the stage” with a corduroy coat, spewing a mindful of material that students would frantically scratch down into their Cornell Notes. That role, however, simply cannot exist anymore, for our students have no desire—and frankly, no true need—to sit in a chair and be pelted with facts. The “sage on the stage” has been replaced, and Google is a far more accessible schoolmaster.

Not everything found in a simple Google search is useful, though, and therein lies our new challenge. The role of the teacher in education today has less to do with fact mongering and so much more to do with mind training. Too many students leave K-12 education with heads full of great information (that which they could find on Wikipedia within thirty seconds), yet they lack some of the fundamental problem solving, analysis, and logical reasoning skills that are truly necessary in a 21^stcentury workforce. If we’re honest, we all know that a 2019 company will be more apt to hire candidates with the skills above rather than someone who can recite pi to the twentieth digit. Thus, whether I teach science, literature, algebra, or history, what my students need most from me is training in how to think critically about the information and concepts presented.

We’ve all heard it a million times, but what is critical thinking? If you ask a dozen teachers, you may just get a dozen different answers, all within the same vein, but slightly idiosyncratic nonetheless. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy puts it in this nutshell: “careful thinking directed toward a goal.” This definition seems less than useful, but ultimately, this is a formula for exactly what we must train our students to do. When presented with any problem, scenario, or opportunity for analysis, they are essentially given a goal in the form of a solution, viable action, or plausible idea. To achieve this desired end, they must carefully consider not just the outcome, but also all of the information and variables that are at play. Thus, “careful thinking directed toward a goal” is simply a paradigm that can be applied in any academic situation.

Pushing our students to think carefully, to consider information deeply, and to come to certain conclusions on their own is nowhere near as simple as the definition above. A teacher’s job could be simplified by providing step-by-step instructions with minimal margin for error, requiring little more than the application of a target skill from the student. For example, instead of asking my students to consider the symbolic value of a character’s ultimate decision in a novel, I may instead simply ask them to point to the climax of the story. Instead of analyzing what the author may be trying to communicate with a certain relationship between characters, I might ask them to identify a protagonist and antagonist. There is a place for this in education, but only in the rudimentary phase of skill-mastery. Removing the scaffolding requires extra effort on behalf of both the teacher and student, which may account for the staggering fact that higher-order critical thinking is only specifically included in the curricula of about 5% of US schools (Bouyges). Nevertheless, 100% of students will be far more successful with stronger critical thinking skills. Training them to think on this level, regardless of our content area or curricula, is our task as teachers in the 21^stcentury. When we succeed, we lead our students to be more creative, more empathetic, and more productive in all aspects of their lives.

Works Cited

Bouyges, Helen Lee. “How Critical Thinking Improves Life Outcomes.” Forbes, Nov. 2018, https://www.forbes.com/sites/helenleebouygues/2018/11/21/how-critical-thinking-improves-life-outcomes/#10e3a1348117.

Hitchcock, David. “Critical Thinking.” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2018, https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/critical-thinking/#DefiCritThin

A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words

By: Cindy Williams, Third Grade Teacher, Reading Specialist

We all remember some of our very first picture books that were read to us at an early age. One of my favorite books from my childhood is, Are You My Mother? By P. D. Eastman. Following the little bird on the journey to find his mother was captivating and the line drawings depicting the story demanded my attention.

Do we abandon the joy of reading picture books too early in our children’s lives? Could they help our children develop a love for reading? Are picture books a beneficial tool for students in the middle and upper school grades to promote a deeper understanding of complex ideas?

There is research that suggests we are pushing some of our elementary students into chapter books before they are ready. Picture books have language that is often more sophisticated than some of the first chapter books that children read. Children can enhance their vocabulary, imagery, and increase their comprehension of the text by reading illustrated books. Those who read illustrated stories may be more motivated to develop stronger reading skills faster than when a child is only reading chapter books. Picture books are more interesting and exciting to children. The pictures add a better understanding of the action and a better sense of the plot. Even before children begin to read, the picture books allow them to decode the meaning of words as they listen to the story. Picture books appeal to children’s curiosity and sense of wonder, motivating them to read independently.

When students are encouraged to read text-only stories or chapter books prematurely, we may be limiting their joy of reading and slowing their growth as independent readers.

A ”text only” story cannot use the rich vocabulary choices that illustrated stories use due to the fact that some students are still developing their basic vocabulary.

Many middle, upper school, and even college instructors have recognized the importance of using picture books in their lessons. Reading a picture book does more than any other literary format for connecting people with one another. If you have a difficult idea to express, a picture book is the perfect place to start. The Butterfly, by Patricia Polacco demonstrates the hardships endured during Word War II and Goin’Someplace Special, by Patricia C. McKissack gives a glimpse of bigotry in the 1950’s. Both are difficult topics to discuss, but are easily approached through these picture books.

The Caldecott Medal, awarded each year for outstanding children’s book illustrations, “defines the picture book audience as birth to age 14” (Fingerson & Killeen 32). Many topics tackled by picture book authors are more appropriate for middle school students and are created with the adolescent reader in mind. Their topics are sophisticated, inviting in-depth discussion. Issues that are important and very real to young adolescents—homelessness, crime, environmental problems (Beane 1993)—are easily explored through picture books. The mature content of these books, written specifically for middle school readers, lends itself to opportunities for thoughtful analysis and critical thinking.

It seems that picture books are worth a thousand words and offer a positive reading experience for everyone.

Weekly News: March 4 – March 8, 2019

Youth in Government

This past weekend we had 35 upper school students travel to Nashville to participate in Youth in Government. Our group saw much success at this conference—some of it even school record breaking! We are so proud of all our Youth In Government participants. Below are a few highlights:

Congratulations to Cheyenne Deibert, Will Mabry, and Shaan Patel for earning one of the outstanding bill awards
Haley Shannon for earning an outstanding delegate award from the Blue House of Representatives
Hailey Ray and Selby Shipley – the CA lawyer team who made it to the final case of the Supreme Court – first in CA history!
Governor Endorsed the bill of Elvis, Griffin, and Jeremiah – as well as – the bill of Molly Clark, Jiya Patel, and Katie Thrash
The conference lobbyists endorsed the bill of Caroline Pennington, Caroline Giles, and Josh Wendell
From the Blue House – congratulations to Nikki Harnage and Kaylea Roberts who had their bill pass the house and the senate!
Special shout out to our awesome officers at the conference – Cheyenne Deibert, Maggie Clark, and Ben Truex! They were exceptional in their leadership roles at the conference.

Marketing

Instagram
CA’s Instagram is now live! Follow us on Instagram at CACougarsTN.

Video
Have you seen our new video? We’d love you to share it on social media or with friends or neighbors you think would be interested in CA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O6sx–YQUs&feature=youtu.be

Engage, Embrace, Empower

Clarksville Academy is blogging! Our new blog launched the week of Thanksgiving and will post twice weekly. The hope of this blog is to offer insights for parents. We will discuss a variety of topics from technology, to parenting ideas, ways to prepare your child for testing, long breaks, etc. We hope you will choose to subscribe and to encourage your friends to do so as well. These blogs will not be CA centered, but will offer insights for any parent at any school. Subscribe at: https://clarksvilleacademy.com/category/engage-embrace-empower/

Cougar Store

All Items in the Cougar Store are 50% off! If you say you saw this in the newsletter, you will get an extra discount at check out. Go Cougars!!!!

Giving

Over the past few months our teachers have been hard at work raising funds for the Africa Teacher In Residence program. This summer, May25-June 6 thirteen Clarksville Academy teachers will travel to South Africa. The UK International Tours partnered with Clarksville Academy to offer a once in a lifetime opportunity to share their expertise with township schools to support the educational mission by co-teaching in classrooms, modeling best practices, mentoring teachers, offering professional development by building a bridge to connect purposeful and progressive curriculum. They will collaborate with South African peers as they celebrate their values, strengthen their teaching practices, and connect creatively and culturally. To help teachers participate in this wonderful trip, a variety of fundraising has taken place. In the fall the teachers sponsored a bake sale, the upcoming spring IS dance and Friday’s Sock Hop are just a few of the ways the teachers have worked to raise funds. Friday’s Sock Hop raised over $1500! If you are interested in supporting this trip, please contact Sally Allen at sallen@clarksvilleacademy.com.

Important Dates

March 20-22 – Lower School Grandparent’s Day Celebrations
March 25-29 – Spring Break – No School
April 6 – Prom
April 13 – Steak Dinner
April 19-22 – Easter Break

Homework–Do we need it?

By: Patrick Miller, Intermediate Math Teacher

Why is Homework Important? What does my child gain from doing work outside the classroom? These are questions parents often ask when it comes to assignments outside the classroom. Homework should be positive in the eyes of the children. It should be short and to the point. The goal is to practice on the concept that was just taught in class and to be a review of previous concepts. Also, if a student feels confident about the homework assignment, it will translate in the test scores on the particular concept. If a student struggles on the concept, it gives the student a wonderful opportunity to reach out and ask for help. Homework teaches children major life skills they will need for the rest of their life. Three major life skills are time management, problem solving, and self-discipline.

The time management piece is one of the most difficult for children. If a student learns about time management and how to prioritize all of their tasks, deadlines will be met on time. Learning to complete assignments on time and prioritizing assignments based on length of assignment and due date will help them in the future. Time management has a real-world connection, such as, paying bills as an adult.

The problem-solving piece is a wonderful way for students to overcome challenges at an early age. Having students think through a problem to reach a solution is valuable and beneficial in the childhood development. Every challenge is not going to be a one-step process. Challenges in life often require multi-step problem solving. Also, another valuable life lesson in problem solving is every challenge is not going to be solved the same way. For example, 2 x 1 = 2 and 4 x ½ = 2. One person might have said that the correct way to solve the problem was 2 x1 while another person may have said 4 x ½. If students get the correct answer and justify how they arrived at their answer that is most important. If there was a minor mistake, a student can learn from their mistake if work is shown.

The self-discipline is another challenge that students face each day. Do I want to go to the movie with my friends or stay at home and finish my homework? We all know what is probably the most fun choice. However, if we teach self-discipline at an early age it makes all the outside distractions easier to work though. This will be very beneficial for students later on in high school and college. Also, this self-discipline will equip everyone to being a life long learner.

Homework isn’t something teachers take lightly. The goal isn’t to punish the students or to give busy work. Homework serves a purpose in your child’s education and one that will help them throughout their life.

Fitness & Weight Training

By: John Crosby, Fitness Instructor

At the high school level, the importance of fitness training through use of the weight room should be strongly emphasized. Fitness classes offered to students in grades 8-12 is a strong trend in education today. Many classes are in session 5 days a week, with an emphasis on weight training 4 of those days, separated by an active recovery day in the middle. Several scientific studies in recent years support the idea that fitness groups during the school day can greatly enhance the learning abilities of a student in the classroom. Alongside this, athletes see great improvement on a weekly basis for their respective sports.

The first thing that is emphasized in weight training classes is safety. Students are taught the importance of correct exercise form, as well as weight room etiquette. Once these practices are effectively managed, students will demonstrate the ability to warm-up the body through pre-workout exercises. These exercises are done for both short term and long term injury prevention. For example, rotator cuff strengthening is a point of emphasis for upper body days that involve pressing from the chest and shoulders. Active dynamic warmup exercises are done at the beginning of each workout as a way to prepare the body to be at its best for the workout to come.

Once the workout is in session, a goal should be to improve several aspects of the student’s performance. These include, muscular strength, muscular endurance, explosion, mobility and flexibility. Some workouts are more focused on a strength building/ low repetition approach, while others are primarily focused on a high repetition/ endurance approach. There is an equal amount of targeting the anterior chain, as well as the posterior chain of the body. Each student should be pushed to reach their full physical potential regardless of the focal point on a given day.

The end goal of a fitness department at any academic institution is to teach and promote how to live a healthy/active lifestyle after high school. If a student can take any of the ideas that are taught during their time in a fitness class and apply them to their life outside of school, then the instructor’s goal has been accomplished.

Weekly News: February 25 – March 1, 2019

Athletics

Basketball
We are so proud of both of our Basketball teams for all their successes this season! Both fought hard all season long and were able to compete in the State Tournament. Our girls team made school history and we are so proud of all their firsts this season!

Tuition Assistance-Reminder

All Tuition Assistance applications must be filed by Friday, March 1. If you have questions regarding the application please contact the Business office at 647-6311.

Dr. Seuss Week

This week our Lower School is celebrating Dr. Seuss Week! There are lots of fun days planned! See a list below!

Monday 2/25
Mixed Up Monday – wear your polka dot leopard with your Zisser-Zazzer-Zuzz, stripes, plaids, or checkers with fuzz.
Tuesday 2/26
Top Hat Tuesday – Wear something silly on top of your head “Wear a crazy hat or wig,” the cat said.
Wednesday 2/27
Wacky Wednesday – wear your clothes backwards, inside out, or mismatched. Wild hair and mustaches are encouraged!
Thursday 2/28
Snoozy Thurzzzzzday – Some days it is hard to get out of bed. No need to get dressed. Wear pajamas instead.
Friday 3/1
Fox in Socks Day – wear crazy socks!!Also on Friday, there will be a Sock Hop after school for our Lower School Students. This will take place from 3-5PM and you should RSVP to your child’s teacher. Cost is $10 and money raised will go to support our Teacher in Residence Program in Africa this summer.

Marketing

Have you seen our new video? We’d love you to share it on social media or with friends or neighbors you think would be interested in CA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O6sx–YQUs&feature=youtu.be

Engage, Embrace, Empower

Cougar Store

All Items in the Cougar Store are 50% off! Lots of Adult Small and Mediums left. If you say you saw this in the newsletter, you will get an extra discount at check out. Go Cougars!!!!

Annual Giving

Our Annual Fund giving has increased this year, but we still haven’t met our goal. In order to cover the needs of our school, we continue to need annual funds. This year annual funds are being directed to Security upgrades, Staff Professional Development, and facility improvements to name just a few. As we continue to look ahead, we have a few projects on the horizon. Our goal is to replace the metal doors at the entrances to our main building and Activities Center. These new doors would include a automated locking system and card swipe entrances. This comes at a cost over $200,000. We would also like to add additional parking to the front of campus, which will require major dirt work and a retaining wall. This would add approximately 20-30 much-needed parking spaces and come at a cost of $25,000. If you are interested in supporting either of these projects or would like to contribute to annual giving, please contact Sally Allen at sallen@clarksvilleacademy.com.

Important Dates

March 1 – Tuition Assitance Deadline
March 20-22 – Lower School Grandparent’s Day Celebrations
March 25-29 – Spring Break – No School
April 6 – Prom
April 13 – Steak Dinner
April 19-22 – Easter Break

Weekly News: February 19 – February 22, 2019

Athletics

Basketball
Both girls and boys Basketball advance to the State Tournament this week! Congratulations to our girls team for winning in the first round of the state tournament on Tuesday! They play Harding Academy in the semi-finals in Memphis on Friday.

Wednesday the boys team will travel to Memphis to take on Harding in the first round of the tournament. We are so proud of both teams and wish them continued success! Stay tuned to our social media for updates on where they play next! Congratulations to our All Region Team winners—Sydneey Boykin and Daniel Loos. We are proud of everyone on both teams for such fantastic seasons!

Wrestling
CA’s wrestling team is back for the 2018-2019 season and got off to a great start! Freshman Miller Barnett placed in the top 8 at the State Tournament in Franklin this weekend! Way to go Miller!

Book Drive

Our student representatives of the Mayor’s Youth Council will be hosting a Book Drive Feb. 19th – 28th to campaign for Child Literacy. Tennessee has one of the lowest adult literacy rates in the nation, and studies have shown that extensive attention to literacy in children has led to a decrease in adult illiteracy rates. The goal of this drive is to collect children’s books from grade levels 1-5 that will be donated to Elementary Schools around Clarksville. Please consider contributing to this campaign, and send in as many books as possible. There will be collections boxes located in the library and with Mrs. Turnage.

Marketing

Have you seen our new video? We’d love you to share it on social media or with friends or neighbors you think would be interested in CA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O6sx–YQUs&feature=youtu.be

Engage, Embrace, Empower

Cougar Store

All Items in the Cougar Store are 50% off! Lots of Adult Small and Mediums left. If you say you saw this in the newsletter, you will get an extra discount at check out. Go Cougars!!!!

Annual Giving

Important Dates

March 1 – Tuition Assistance Deadline
March 20-22 – Lower School Grandparent’s Day Celebrations
March 25-29 – Spring Break – No School
April 6 – Prom
April 13 – Steak Dinner
April 19-22 – Easter Break

Collegiate Funding

By: Denise Walker, College Counseling

Kindergarten to college, it happens in the blink of an eye. Therefore, it is importantto start saving for college early. Speak with your financial advisor about retirement, college savings, and investments early in the planning process. There are many ways to fund college, and there isn’t one clear path. Let’s discuss some of these options….

The cost of college tuition continues to increase each year, but college costs are much more than tuition. College costs can also include: orientation fees, freshman fees, campus fees, room and board, books, a meal plan, lab fees, transportation fees, athletic fees, tech fees, and commencement fees. These fees don’t even include the cost of visiting colleges throughout the college search process. Needless to say, college is expensive. However, there are things that can be done to relieve some of the financial burden with early planning.

Students can increase their chances of receiving tuition assistance, scholarships, merit aid, and grants by earning good grades in high school. Most colleges set grade point average (GPA) minimums for students to obtain, or keep, tuition assistance. Encouraging strong study skills and attention to strong academic performance is key.

What is tuition assistance? There are several types of tuition assistance, including grants, merit based aid, scholarships, work-study, and loans. Tuition assistance can consist of any combination of these. Scholarships and grants do not need to be repaid. Work-study programs enable students to work part-time at the college. Loans should be a last resort and MUST be repaid, usually with interest.

How can you help? Work with your child to help him or her develop good study habits. Stress the importance of studying and taking courses that will set them up for success. Encourage them to compete in local essay contests in high school, as many award cash prizes. The scholarship process should never hinder a student’s academic success; rather it should be an ongoing process.

We all know procrastination is every teenager’s middle name. This is where the parent’s encouragement and attentiveness to what their child is doing is imperative. There are scholarships for every student; they just require time and attention to detail. Every child’s maturity level and drive is different. However, as a general rule, junior and senior year seem to be the best time to start looking at scholarships.

The cost of college depends on choices you and your family make. Become familiar with terms like FAFSA and the CSS Profile. It is also important to know if there are in-state benefits such as the HOPE Scholarship or the Tennessee Promise Scholarship. Tennessee residents can earn the HOPE Scholarship, a scholarship worth $16,000 over four years, if they graduate with a 3.0 (GPA) or score a 21 on the ACT. The Tennessee Promise will pay for a community college or trade school if the student satisfies the requirements and meets the deadlines.

Remember, it is important for families to discuss the cost of college, and to consider and plan what works for your individual family.

Inquiry Based Learning

By: Carol King, FUSE Instructor

As the world that our children are growing up in is changing, the way they view and learn about it needs to change as well. Schools are tasked with continually adapting to best meet the needs of students. There are several modern ways to approach teaching and learning that help children become 21st century learners who collaborateand problem-solve, are digitally literate, and can think critically. One effective method used in many classrooms today is called Inquiry Based Learning.

What Is Inquiry Based Learning?

Inquiry Based Learning (IBL) is a way for students to learn through exploration and investigation. Students are presented with a question or problem,then are allowed the time and freedom to discuss with their peers, research information, and engage in hands-on activities. Students are required to base their discoveries on evidence and often delve into data to support their investigations. Communication of their findings is also an important part of the process. Whether by writing or presentation, students share what they’ve learned with their peers.

What Does It Look Like In The Classroom?

There are many ways to use IBL across all subject areas. In a science classroom, this might come in the form of creating a water filter out of recyclable materials or determining a correlation between genetics and certain diseases. Social Studies students may determine alternate ways that the American Revolution could have been handled or plan and design a functioning community. In reading class, students could explore characters in a novel, participate in in-depth character study discussion groups, determine how a character’s decision in a novel could have changed the outcome, and then justify a character’s choices. These are just a few of the many applications of IBL in the classroom. By allowing students to investigate and collaborate, what they learn has depth and meaning.

The Benefits

There are several benefits to teaching students through inquiry based learning methods. Students are at the center of this process, therefore are often more engaged due to feeling ownership of their learning. This investigative approach challenges students’ thinking and places a priority on evidence, logic, and imagination. By sharing their outcome, students practice communicating using appropriate vocabulary and learning to justify their conclusions.

Why Is It Important?

Inquiry Based Learning is an engaging approach that keeps students excited and accountable for their academic experiences. This teaching style forces them to be creative thinkers and explorers who can support and justify their findings. It provides opportunities for students to gain 21st century skills and thought processes needed to be valuable members of our community and future workforce, as well as lifelong learners.

For more information about the Clarksville Academy FUSE program visit: https://clarksvilleacademy.com/academics/lower-school/fuse/

Why STEM?

By: Paul Mittura, Upper School Science

You get up on cold winter morning and the sparse clouds are beautiful reds, pinks, and oranges. Why? You are trying to head a soccer ball and can’t quite find the right place to be. Why? The breaker keeps tripping when you use your curling iron. Why? You are cleaning your bathroom and the new cleaner is making your eyes water and your throat scratchy. Why?

As a science teacher, people are constantly asking me why.

Most behaviorists would agree infants are born with innate reflexes like grasping, sucking, and blinking,but most behaviors are learned through exploration and experience. Most children will look at, pick up,and taste everything they can reach in their environment. As adults, we discourage the touching for fear of embarrassment and the tasting for obvious reasons. We encourage our children to explore in our predetermined “safety” filtered environment. This environment is usually inundated with the interests of the parents. For example if the parents are sports enthusiasts the toddler will be dressed in team apparel and every type of ball known will be in the playpen. We expose our children to what we know and like.

This behavior is both normal and expected.

As educators, it is incumbent upon us to introduce children to all disciplines. With STEM education, students are encouraged to explore the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Quality STEM educators can produce environments with “safety” parameters that allow each individual to experiment with disciplines they may not have had the opportunity to explore in a home environment. Early introduction is important for the formation of accurate concepts in a controlled environment with respect to the 4 disciplines. Continued exposure (grades 1-12) to these types of explorations is an important part of STEM instruction. One of the biggest obstacles for any educator is the dispelling of a misconception caused by misinformation or misinterpretation. Continually introducing STEM activities hopefully prevents these misconceptions from developing.

Now here comes the tough part. It is impossible for teachers to become “experts” in all areas of the educational process. Only through collaboration and pooling of resources to include expertise can pure STEM education be achieved. Vertical teaming (elementary and secondary teachers) and cross curricular teaming (science, math, English, social studies, fine arts, etc. teachers) is a good start. Ideally this would occur with each new unit,but as little as once each semester can capture a student for future studies in a discipline. This concept looks good on paper,but the logistics of moving teachers around and finding time for collaboration is a potential nightmare. Large group presentation is an option but is far less effective than single class presentations and hands on exploration. Regardless of the obstacles, STEM is a worthwhile endeavor. Capturing the interest of students is every educator’s goal and a school dynamic rich with STEM opportunities should be every institution’s goal.

To learn more about CA’s STEM program visit: https://clarksvilleacademy.com/stem/