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Exploring the Possibilities!

The purpose of the blog is to provide additional support to educators as well as parents and community members who wish to create schools which will provide children with the experiences needed to flourish!

​Anne Shaw, Director, 21st Century Schools

United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps

8/13/2014

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Totally amazing!  George Washington, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams would love it!   Enjoy it, and make sure your students have an opportunity to enjoy it as well.     Constitution Day is September 17.  This performance will inspire patriotism, a love of history and perhaps even inspire some young people to study music!  Also see - who is Yankee Doodle?




These uniforms are what the musicians in George Washington's army wore.  The soldiers wore blue coats with red trim, and the musicians - fife, drum and bugle - wore the opposite, red coats with blue trim.  They played a very important role on the battlefield and in camp.  You can bring them to your classroom!  

The following is from their web site, which also has many resources for the classroom.

The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps is the only unit of its kind in the armed forces, and is part of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard). The Fife and Drum Corps is stationed at Fort Myer, VA.

The musicians of this unit recall the days of the American Revolution as they perform in uniforms patterned after those worn by the musicians of General George Washington's Continental Army. Military musicians of the period wore the reverse colors of the regiments to which they were assigned. The uniforms worn by the members of the Corps are dated circa 1784, and consist of black tricorn hats, white wigs, waistcoats, colonial coveralls, and distinct red regimental coats.

The drum major of the unit is distinguished from the other musicians by his headgear, the light-infantry Cap. In contrast to modern Army bands, and as an indication of prominence, he carries an espontoon instead of the standard mace. The espontoon is an 18th century weapon carried by officers. However, it is used by the drum major to issue silent commands to the Corps.

The 69-member Corps uses 10-hole fifes, handmade rope-tensioned drums and single-valve bugles, that bring to life the exciting sounds of the continental army. While traveling, the marching strength of the unit is normally 22 musicians and support personnel.

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Designing learning spaces for the 21st century . . . lose the "cells and bells"

8/12/2014

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Are you considering new construction or renovations? Let this book be your guide to planning truly 21st century learning environments.  

21st century schools and classrooms must be intentionally designed.  The physical learning environment is just as important as the emotional and academic environment.  

The author, Prakash Nair, is the  President and Founding Partner of Fielding Nair International.  He is the recipient of several international awards including the prestigious CEFPI MacDonnell Award, the top honor worldwide for school design.

Click the image of the book to find out how you can create student-centered learning spaces that are simple, affordable, versatile and beautiful!

This book is available from Harvard Educational Press on October 7, 2014.  Pre-order now.  

See my blog post about Fielding Nair schools, and be inspired by examples of the incredible learning environments they have designed - in over 45 countries!

If your district is considering new construction or renovations to existing school facilities, please contact us!   We will introduce you to FNI!  Director@21stCenturySchools.com


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After School Programs - not a luxury, but a critical need.  Here's how . . . . . 

8/12/2014

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The United States ranks first among industrialized countries in the number of persons incarcerated - the result of what the Children's Defense Fund calls the "cradle to prison pipeline."  In California, we spend $8,486 a year educating a high school student, while we spend $234,029 a year incarcerating one inmate in the state's youth prison system.1

*     *    *     *     *     *

After School programs are very much needed - 18 million children in the United States do not have access to these programs, many of whom are "latch-key kids".  After School programs are of great value to the student, parents/caregivers, the community and the school.

These programs offer you the opportunity to create spectacular learning and life experiences for your students that just cannot be fitted into the regular school day! Read more here . . .  and register a team today!  It's easy - just send us an email or call us to register your After School Team for this online course.


While our online courses are meant to be self-directed and independent, we do offer up to 3 hours (per team) of support via email, phone, Skype to Google Hangouts.  We can also review your progress by viewing your assignment/plans on Google Docs and offer feedback.  Additional virtual support is available at a rate of $250/hour.  Session minimum is one hour.  

1.   From A New Day for Learning, a report from the Time, Learning and Afterschool Task Force, and funded by the C. S. Mott Foundation

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Ecoliteracy project?  The Seattle Food Forest

8/12/2014

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This is excellent "food for thought" if you need ideas for a Service Learning project, an Edible Schoolyard or an Environmental Studies project!

Johnny Appleseed had the same idea long ago.  His goal was to plant so many apple trees that no one would ever have to go hungry!  Learn about the Seattle Food Forest.

For resources and ideas related to this topic please see our page on Ecoliteracy.  It has many resources!  This blog post on "necessary reading" for teachers - tons of ideas in these books as well as vital information.  Please get the book, Last Child in the Woods.  

Frog Jumping Day - many connections and resources, from Mark Twain to biochemistry.   More soon - this is one of my favorite themes!



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Learning worth crying about!

8/12/2014

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Read Michael Wesch's incredible blog post, "Learning Worth Crying About".  And you will be inspired by the accompanying TED-style talk, "Learning as Soul-making".

Dr. Wesch is a brilliant and caring professor of anthropology at Kansas State University. He was named Professor of the Year in 2008 following his groundbreaking presentation to the American Library of Congress - An Anthropological Introduction to YouTube. 

His passion and creativity have resulted in incredible learning experiences for his students. Although his stories are about his students at the university level, the human value applies to students and teachers at all levels of education.  His message is universally relevant!


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Back to School: A Surefire Strategy for Building Classroom Community

8/12/2014

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It is an honor to know that my article, originally entitled "Take What You Need!", has been republished on Edutopia!
This is the best back to school, community-building strategy for your classroom!


Read it here on Edutopia.

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Constitution Day is  September 17

8/10/2014

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It has been the will of Heaven that we should be thrown into existence at a period when the greatest philosophers and law-givers of antiquity would have wished to live . . . a period when a coincidence of circumstances without example has afforded to thirteen colonies at once an opportunity of beginning government anew from the foundation and building as they choose.  How few of the human race have ever had an opportunity of choosing a system of government for themselves and their children? 

                                                      from John Adams' essay, Thoughts on Government, April 1776

Please find resources to help you and your students get the most out of Constitution Day at our 21st Century Curriculum site.  Click the image below - after you turn your speakers on.
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Defining PBL21

8/7/2014

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Online you will find a wide array of curriculum units purported to be "PBL".  Few are 21st century, some are not really PBL, and many are nothing more than traditional curriculum units with new labels - "21st century" and "PBL".  We have analyzed a variety of these PBL units;  some are very low level, and frankly, should not be endorsed or supported by any quality educational organizations.  Others, however, are truly high quality and 21st century! We will be sharing the results of this analysis with you in our new report, Defining PBL21.  Coming soon!

Request a copy of our PBL21 Evaluation Tool.  
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"Will the real 21st century school please stand up?"

8/5/2014

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Introduction 

On a daily basis my email inbox receives a growing number of articles, reports, announcements and notices from schools, in the United States and around the world, breaking the news that they have become "21st century".   The term "21st century schools" has become ubiquitous;  and because it has been co-opted by so many educational programs and organizations, it has been rendered virtually meaningless.  Ask 100 people what a "21st century school" is, and you will probably get 100 different answers.  Does anyone know, really?  


We have a pretty good idea, and we would like to share it with you in our upcoming article, "Will the real 21st century school please stand up?"

Watch for our article, "Will the real 21st century school please stand up?" - coming soon!


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  • Blog
    • 21st Century Schools site
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  • 21st Century Schools
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  • Subscribe eNews