Forum Question

Based on your experience with BPS, and especially this past year, we are looking for your ideas for reimagining what school could be. If there were no bounds, what would the ideal learning experience be like for our students?

Submit a Response

You’ll need to log in before submitting a response.

Responses

Filter by DATE

Technology Integration: Blended Learning AND Keep Funding Tech!!!

My ideas are twofold, but both based around technology.

1. All classrooms should be given TVs and AirTames so that information can be clearly presented without all kinds of wires around the room. Our presentation technology is SO behind other urban school districts that I have worked in and our students simply deserve better.

2. Please take this opportunity to require teachers to use technology on a regular basis. Computers should be part of everyday instruction and data collection. One of the paraprofessionals at our school, who is a BPS graduate, said…

(1) |

(0)

Simplify Elementary Report Cards

We should just be giving simple grades. What parent wants to read a 40 item report card? Reading, Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies, Art, Phys Ed, etc. Conduct, Effort. Boom. Done. Then improve the comment area so that we can more skillfully thread together actual narrative comments to help families understand what we are seeing in school

(0) |

(0)

Keep and Toss

Throughout this school year and the end of last, we have learned so much about how to better leverage technology in the classrooms and at home! We are able to reach more families/guardians to get feedback, make connections, and provide more opportunities to have an active role in teacher/parent/guardian/school communication and involvement. It would be a great benefit to continue and increase funding to keep these tools viable. As one example (of many), I have had a much higher turn out for my virtual open houses than my in person open houses. Because I am able to offer a Zoom…

Tags: Classroom, Community, Online learning

(1) |

(0)

We missed some big opportunities for restructuring this year

Age-group teaching would be reconfigured into "developmental band" teaching - Some students are ready for skills earlier/later than others and I certainly don't work with adults that were only born in the same year as I was. Let kids who are chomping at the bit move forward, and let kids who need more time take it, and use special education and language learning levels continue for students who need them. Make bands that make sense (3-5, 4-6, 6-8, 8-10, etc.) and then teach content curriculum (science, social studies) on a 2-3 year cycle and teach skills (math, reading, writing) in…

(0) |

(1)

Opportunities and Access

I feel that in times such as these, where its so easy to feel emotionally disconnected in a vastly connected world, it is more important that ever to allow for perspective and choice, especially in the classroom. Since day one, I made it a mission to understand what made students go, and who they were as individuals. It has been a long and difficult journey, one that included lots of silent Zoom rooms, names on a black background, and very little personal interaction. Nevertheless, I kept on with asking students what they needed and how I could help them achieve…

(1) |

(0)

Viewing 5 of 115

1 2 3 … 23 |

Welcome Message

Hello Team BPS,

Our recently released budget framework outlines our plan to Return, Recover, and Reimagine. The goal is to focus investments to return to our school buildings for learning and social emotional development, recover what we’ve lost since the start of the global pandemic, and reimagine what education should look like to ensure every single student accesses the instruction and support needed to graduate from Boston Public Schools ready for success.

While we continue to gather feedback on the budget via our public forums hosted by the School Committee, we are launching this WikiWisdom Forum in partnership with the Boston Teachers Union to elevate the voices of our teachers, educators, applied behavior specialists, paraprofessionals, substitute teachers, related service providers, nurses, secretaries, custodians, nutrition staff, central office staff and all BPS staff.

This format has been used successfully in other school districts and other sectors of public service. In California the platform was used to better define and ramp up supports for Social Emotional Learning. At the Library of Congress, they created a forum on disinformation, social media, and “alternative facts,” to learn best practices on how to help the public identify and vet credible information sources. In December the American Journal of Nursing published a WikiWisdom report titled “Wisdom from Nurses So We Never Again Mishandle a National Healthcare Crisis” with ideas on addressing the pandemic by nurses on the frontlines.

Our conversation will be live through March 21, 2021. After this extensive on-line discussion, a diverse group of contributors whose ideas generated engagement will be chosen and work with the external moderator to prepare a report of actionable ideas to BPS and BTU leadership.

We are so excited to learn from you and see what new wisdom we discover, together.

Thanks for your valued collaboration and for sharing your important ideas,

Brenda & Jessica

Moderator Message

Kelly Eisner Moderator

Welcome to this WikiWisdom Forum. I’m Kelly Eisner and I will be your moderator.
How the WikiWisdom Forum Works:

Step One:
BPS teachers, specialists, school leaders and administrators are invited to share their ideas in response to the questions posed on this platform.

Step Two:
At the end of this online conversation, a small group of thought leaders will be chosen to work with the moderator to create a report showcasing your experience.

Step Three:
Later in March the thought leaders will present their report, with your ideas, to Superintendent Brenda Cassellius in a virtual meeting. Your report will be used to “re-imagine” Boston’s schools before Fall 2021.

[Engaging in this on-line discussion does not constitute bargaining, does not result in a waiver by BTU of any of its collective bargaining rights, does not take the place of successor negotiations, and is not binding on the BTU nor its members nor on the Boston Public Schools.]