Every week down is another big step towards the opening of Neil Armstrong Academy. And, every week I seem to get more and more excited. Last Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday I was in Denver, Colorado visiting a group of STEM schools. What impressed me most of all was the ownership students took of their own learning experience. As we entered the classrooms (unannounced in almost every case), we were consistently greeted by a "student ...
Adams 12 STEM Schools
This week, Mr. Howe and a number of district specialists had the opportunity to visit three STEM schools (one high school and two elementary schools) in Denver Colorado. STEM Lab, STEM Launch, and Northglenn High School were gracious hosts and shared lots of great ideas for the beginning of Neil Armstrong Academy. While visiting the schools, the Granite team had the opportunity to see various problem-based learning activities (PBLs). ...
Just a Reflection
We interviewed 67 teacher candidates during a three-day stint this week. What a marathon! Although many things must take place to get Neil Armstrong Academy up and running, I'm convinced nothing is more crucial than hiring the right teachers. After the week I just completed, I can tell you emphatically we're off to a great start! One candidate shared a thought with me I found rather significant. We were discussing the recent naming of the ...
Information Open House
On Thursday night, Neil Armstrong Academy had its first-ever parent meeting with a tremendous turnout. We met in one of the largest rooms available at the Granite Education Center, but we still had people standing around the perimeter of the room, sitting on the floor, or peering in from the hallway. The purpose of the meeting was to give an overview of the STEM approach to the Utah Core Standards, highlight plans and progress on Neil Armstrong ...
Neil Armstrong Academy
On Tuesday night, the Board of Education named our elementary STEM school Neil Armstrong Academy. I'm quite excited about the choice, and I think Neil Armstrong and those who were involved with the Apollo missions powerfully exemplify STEM or inquiry-based learning. Again and again they tackled authentic problems with no answer key to turn to. They were forced to be very patient with irresolution and to struggle long with how to put a man on the ...
We Have a Name!
The Granite Board of Education met last night and, among other things, officially named the new elementary STEM school. The name will be . . . drum roll, please . . . Neil Armstrong Academy. Thank you to everyone who helped in the somewhat-lengthy process to select a name. A naming committee consisting of parents, educators, and a board member met to generate a list of potential names, countless prospective patrons submitted their votes from ...
Colors, Colors, and More Colors
The STEM school is beginning an exciting phase. Specific color schemes, tiles, bricks, lockers, and more are being decided on. What makes this process a little unique to what you might expect in any other new school is the amount of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) you'll see right in the layout of the building. Don't be surprised to see binary code written into the margins of the staircase or a random-number-generating pattern ...
Can You Build This?
My wife and I found ourselves pouring over the instruction booklet for a small, 4-wheel drive ATV toy for our three boys during this holiday break. The instructions were painfully useless, and the diagrams were worse. We were left to our own intuition and problem-solving skills to figure out how to attach the wheels, steering wheel, and powerful 6-volt battery. Well, we were successful! The Howes are brilliant; what can I say? Or, at least, ...
Natural History Museum of Utah
We took a field trip yesterday to the Natural History Museum of Utah. We gained lots of great ideas about things to include in the building of the new STEM school. I really wanted to buy the woolly mammoth, but everyone else said it was probably too big for our school. It's just as well, I guess. I didn't see any for sale in the gift shop. ...
Look for the Helpers
Because of the tragic events in Connecticut this past weekend, I have a hard time looking at things the same way as I did before. As it did to so many, this tragedy struck a particularly close nerve for me because it was an elementary school affected. I’ve spent my career in elementary schools, and cherish the friendship of teachers, parents, and students I have forged there. Although I do not personally know anyone involved with the ...
