Motawi Tileworks field trip combines lessons in art, economics

Posted on May 1, 2013 by AAPS News Editor

By Tara Cavanaugh

Crafting a beautiful Motawi Tileworks tile is a painstaking process, with each step demanding perfection. Crafting an economic model that supports the nationally-known business is just as tricky.

A class of Lakewood third graders learned about both the art and economics of the Ann Arbor-based company on a field trip earlier this week.

The field trip is just one example of how the Ann Arbor Public Schools’ humanities curriculum for elementary students works. Art teachers plan with classroom teachers to create lessons that combine art with social studies, writing and science. The result is curriculum that leaves a lasting impression on students, showing them that the world is an interconnected and interdisciplinary place. Continue reading →

PHOTOS: Bryant International Night dazzles with culture

Posted on April 24, 2013 by AAPS News Editor

Bryant Elementary’s International Night on April 18 had it all. A fashion show featured dozens of students in traditional clothing that represented their cultures. Classrooms became interactive museums, with information and cultural artifacts filling the rooms from floor to ceiling. Most students were in some kind of costume, and many parents were too. All enjoyed an evening filled with art, music, fun and food. Continue reading →

VIDEO: Haisley Heritage Festival celebrates culture, community

Posted on February 6, 2013 by AAPS News Editor

By Tara Cavanaugh

At the Haisley Heritage Festival, you can feel like you’re a world away –– and right at home.

The annual festival highlights students’ families and cultures with booths, foods and dances. It also creates a sense of community within the school itself.

“It’s an amazing event because it brings all of our families together,” said Haisley Principal Kathy Scarnecchia at the Jan. 31 event. Continue reading →

Starting over: Ann Arbor Adult Ed offers second chance at success

Posted on January 25, 2013 by AAPS News Editor

Adult Ed. Director Sharman Speiser congratulates a GED graduate in June 2012.

By Tara Cavanaugh

Starting over: the idea carries a certain romantic stigma. It’s the idea of moving someplace new, of beginning a more satisfying career, of being fresh and full of promise and hope.

It’s easy to forget that starting over is a process of re-construction, requiring resources, confidence and a lot of work.

The Ann Arbor Public Schools Adult Education program is a place for re-construction, providing the resources and confidence to the adults who need to finish their high school education. The self-funded, multi-layered program provides hundreds of area adults each year with the chance to create the educational foundation they’ll need for the rest of their lives. Continue reading →

Beloved teacher’s memorial service draws huge crowd

Posted on January 24, 2013 by AAPS News Editor

Scott Turner, a longtime math teacher at Scarlett Middle School, passed away from esophageal cancer last week at the age of 42.

By Tara Cavanaugh

The Scarlett Middle School cafeteria was overflowing for Scott Turner.

It overflowed with Turner’s middle school students, returning college and high school students, parents of those students, and his current and former colleagues.

It overflowed with memories of Turner and his ripped jeans, his brightly colored notes, his math equation sing-a-longs, his wicked skateboard tricks, his fierce and quiet dedication to his students, his humility toward his unmistakable gift.

The Tuesday night memorial took place a week after Turner passed away from a battle with esophageal cancer. The 42-year-old is survived by his wife Kelli, his son Austin, his mother Sharon and his siblings.

He is also survived by 18 years’ worth of adoring students and colleagues who hugged one another, laughed and cried as they shared their memories of the math teacher. Continue reading →

Learning centers meet kindergarteners’ individual learning needs

Posted on January 8, 2013 by AAPS News Editor

By Tara Cavanaugh

Peek inside any kindergarten classroom in the Ann Arbor Public Schools, and you’ll likely see small groups of students working intensely at different tables. Whether they’re arranging letters or patterns of blocks, the 5-year-olds are clearly focused on their learning.

It’s called “center time,” and due to its wide variety of benefits, it’s one of the most popular learning strategies in kindergarten. Continue reading →

Magic of Christmas Adopt a Family Foundation reaches 350 AAPS students

Posted on December 19, 2012 by AAPS News Editor

Magic of Christmas Adopt a Family Foundation gift drop-off at Tappan

Plenty of hands were involved in distributing the Magic of Christmas Adopt a Family Foundation’s gifts before custodian Gennifer Mason unloaded them at Tappan Middle School Monday morning. Principals and social workers identified families in need; volunteers donated money, shopped and wrapped; district officials helped sort and distribute the gifts.

By Tara Cavanaugh

In a season full of gift-giving, it’s easy to forget that not everyone gets what he or she wants –– or needs.

The Magic of Christmas Adopt a Family Foundation, founded by former University of Michigan All-American track athlete and former LPGA tour player Debbie Williams-Hoak, has provided hundreds of children and their families with gifts during the holidays since 1996.

This week the foundation is giving 350 Ann Arbor Public School students gifts of clothes, winter coats and boots, toys and gift cards.

The AAPS families are selected by school principals and social workers, said Liz Margolis, AAPS communications director. “They know which ones are in need.”

Parents fill out “wish lists” of wants and needs for their children, and the foundation assigns those lists out to individuals, businesses or organizations that shop for the gifts (or donate money so volunteers can do the shopping). Continue reading →

Google Career Day inspires AAPS juniors, seniors

Posted on December 17, 2012 by AAPS News Editor

By Tara Cavanaugh

When you think of Google, you think of Google Docs, Gmail and its all-knowing search engine. Its creative and innovative products stem from a deliberately unique and inspiring work environment –– and last month the company shared its inspiration with AAPS students.

Google’s Ann Arbor office hosted 43 Ann Arbor Public Schools juniors and seniors at its Career Day event on Nov. 29. The high schoolers took a tour of Google’s eclectic offices and talked one-on-one with employees, taking away lessons and tips for their future college and career experiences.

Continue reading →

Dicken fourth graders perform ‘Let’s Hear it for America’ by Carmino Rovosa

Posted on December 7, 2012 by AAPS News Editor

Fourth graders from Ms. Thomas, Mrs. Bankey, Mr. Michelson and Mr. Klein’s fourth grade classes performed a rousing tribute to America this week.

Carmino Rovosa’s half hour musical “Let’s Hear it for America,” which celebrates America’s history and diversity, was performed Tuesday and Wednesday at Dicken Elementary.

“What we have to understand is that America is made up of different ethnicities and different backgrounds, so we all contribute,” said music teacher John Hudson. “We all add something very important to this country, and that’s what really makes this country great.” Continue reading →

Student growth through a social curriculum: Responsive Classroom and Developmental Designs approaches provide early promise to Mitchell and Scarlett

Posted on November 28, 2012 by AAPS News Editor

Mitchell third grade teacher Beth McCready leads her students through a morning meeting, one of the many components of the Responsive Classroom approach.

By Tara Cavanaugh

Sometimes, a few small changes can make a big difference.

That’s what Mitchell Elementary and Scarlett Middle schools are showing as they implement new school-wide approaches that improve teacher instruction, student behavior and social skills.

At Mitchell, the approach is called Responsive Classroom. At Scarlett, it’s Developmental Designs. The sister programs, developed by the nonprofits Origins and the Northeast Foundation for Children, foster social and emotional learning by empowering students, developing student responsibility, and giving teachers new classroom management tools.

“It’s connected to Superintendent Dr. Patricia Green’s plans for the district,” said Mitchell Principal Kevin Karr. “As we go through the next few years, understanding how to address the discipline gap, we think that the Responsive Classroom approach is going to be a big part of that.”

“If we take seriously the idea that schooling is about both social and academic development, then we need to figure out what we are teaching about social development,” said Dr. Cathy Reischl, a clinical associate professor of education at the University of Michigan. Continue reading →

AAPS graduate begins career in human rights work

Posted on November 27, 2012 by AAPS News Editor

By Tara Cavanaugh

A year ago, Tao Li was in Battambang, Cambodia, one of the country’s most impoverished areas, teaching 50 children in a small concrete classroom with one window and no electricity.

She returned to Ann Arbor in May, but the AAPS graduate won’t forget about her students, whom she still calls “her kids.” They’re the subject –– and artists –– of a photo exhibition that opens this coming Monday, Dec. 3 in the gallery of the University of Michigan International Institute. Continue reading →

Clague Middle School celebrates 40th anniversary

Posted on November 20, 2012 by AAPS News Editor

By Tara Cavanaugh

A school is never just a school. It’s a second home. It’s a place to grow up. It’s a family all its own.

That familiar feeling was unavoidable at Clague Middle School’s 40th anniversary celebration Sunday, Nov. 18. Teachers, staff and students came back to their old stomping grounds to reconnect with their middle school family. Continue reading →

WCC teachers-in-training make math fun at Burns Park

Posted on November 15, 2012 by AAPS News Editor

Washtenaw Community College students teach Burns Park fifth graders about ratios Wednesday at the Math Carnival.

By Tara Cavanaugh

At the Burns Park annual Math Carnival, everyone’s a winner.

Washtenaw Community College education students practice giving math lessons. Burns Park students learn new concepts and practice old ones. And everyone gets candy.

Forty WCC students created math-centric carnival games for a first and fifth grade class at Burns Park Wednesday morning.

The games were made by Nichole Klemmer’s Elementary Math I and II students and based the elementary teachers’ math curriculum.

“Some of the concepts here, for example prime and composite numbers and different angles, we’ve already done,” said fifth grade teacher Sandra Kreger, pointing around the room at various tables. “Ratios over there, we haven’t done yet. So we can refer back to it when we do learn it. It’s really terrific.” Continue reading →

AAPS graduate Judge Tim Connors visits Forsythe for Career Day

Posted on November 13, 2012 by AAPS News Editor

Judge Tim Connors visits Jill Castillo’s sixth grade advisory for Career Awareness Day at Forsythe.

By Tara Cavanaugh

As he stood in Mrs. Jill Castillo’s sixth grade classroom, Washtenaw County Circuit Court Judge Tim Connors looked stately, his long black robes brushing the floor.

“Some think you wear this robe because it makes you important,” Judge Connors said. “Or it makes you powerful. Or that we need courts because some people do bad things and it’s the hammer.

“Let me share with you: I think it’s a lot more than that.”

Judge Connors visited Mrs. Castillo’s advisory class for Forsythe Middle School’s Career Awareness Day. The event, which takes place twice a year, brings working professionals into sixth grade advisory classes. Continue reading →

Ann Arbor Open fifth, sixth graders have a passion for politics

Posted on November 7, 2012 by AAPS News Editor

Ann Arbor Open fifth and sixth graders color in an electoral map Tuesday night.

By Tara Cavanaugh

On election night, Mike Derhammer’s class at Ann Arbor Open was full of fifth and sixth grade political pundits. Ethan Seelig thought Mitt Romney would win. Sam Bailey predicted Romney would win the popular vote, but Barack Obama would take the electoral college. And Eva Roth just wasn’t sure about Ohio.

Derhammer’s political junkies have been studying the presidential election for weeks and they were eager to see the results. His class held a watch party and school sleepover to watch the political process in action.

“I’m very impressed by the commentary I’ve heard tonight,” said parent Kristin Blackburn. “I’m not surprised, but it’s still really amazing to think these are fifth and sixth graders. A lot of them could probably have more sophisticated conversations than a lot of adults.” Continue reading →