Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
|
Edgar Padilla Escamilla, a Thomasville Primary second grade student, and Cameron Szaloky, a Liberty Drive third grade student, gave presentations on the Habits of Mind. receiving a standing ovation from the more than 300 in attendance. Habits of Mind is a core part of the primary and elementary curriculum. A habit of mind is the knowledge of how to behave intelligently when not knowing the answer.
The students, as well as the two teachers, made presentations in front of Habits of Mind authors Dr. Art Costa and Dr. Bena Kallick.
The theme of the conference was “Reinventing Schools: Courageous Leadership for Positive Change.” The event featured more than 500 sessions presented by nationally known education leaders on a wide variety of topics, including understanding the science of teaching, building professional learning communities, supporting English language learners, using formative assessments, educating the whole child and advocating for education.
Thomasville Primary teachers Mary Elizabeth Wright and Dawn Miller, along with the students grandmothers, went to the three-day conference. “The students were able to show how they use the ‘Habits of Mind’ in their daily life,” Wright said. “Dr. Kallick interviewed the two of them at the end of their presentation and asked them some general questions. They got up there and spoke like they were adults.”
When asked what is his dreams for when he grows up, Escamilla said, “I prefer to call them my goals, but my goal is to be the first Spanish president of the United States of America.”
Szaloky said he wanted to be a lawyer.
Miller said the student’s responses to the question made her tear up.
“Honestly and truly, he might be president of the United States,” Miller said. “Edgar could barely speak English when he started Kindergarten. Now he is speaking at a conference.”
The students were asked to speak at the convention because they had made a presentation last summer in the Chair City at a Project Bright Tomorrow kickoff, hosted by Thomasville City Schools. Project Bright Tomorrow is collaboration between area schools and local business and industry to prepare students for success in the 21st century workplace.
Thomasville City Schools is considered by other school systems as a leader for Habits of Mind.
“Our children can tell you if they are being persistent and using metacognition,” Miller said of Habits of Mind. “It has made the biggest impact on our classes.”
Wright and Miller were both impressed by the students presentations.
“It wasn’t staged,” Miller said of the presentations. “The kids showed the vocabulary to the people who have never seen them do that before. So many people say to us, ‘They can’t understand those words.’ It is part of their vocabulary. They are now sharing it with their parents.”
Staff Writer Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 231, or ignasiak@tvilletimes.com.