virtual southside - moving benton high school towards a 21st century constructivist community

moving benton high school towards a 21st century constructivist community

About this site

Virtual Southside is an online network of educators at Benton High School in St. Joseph, MO who are exploring learner-centered education as it is facilitated by free, online technologies.

Events

Normal Day Lunch Schedule

August 24, 2009 at 6pm to May 20, 2010 at 7pm – Cafeteria

Birthdays

There are no birthdays today

Forum

Accessing and Building Schema on the Way to Visual Literacy 2 Replies

Started by Sean Nash. Last reply by jennifer halter Nov 12.

Google Apps by Department/CC 30 Replies

Started by Jeanette Westfall. Last reply by Erin Nash Nov 6.

Tech Cohort Assignment 2 (due Aug 10th) 266 Replies

Started by Jeanette Westfall. Last reply by Tim Gach Oct 12.

Fish in the Ocean Problem . . . 4 Replies

Started by Israel Elder. Last reply by Sean Nash Oct 10.

Matt Ziesel on Good Morning America 4 Replies

Started by Ky Turner. Last reply by Mike Ziesel Oct 5.

CAMP Success 10 Replies

Started by Brian Stackhouse. Last reply by Erin Nash Oct 2.

Ethical use of notes 4 Replies

Started by Israel Elder. Last reply by Israel Elder Sep 20.

SJSD EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK REVIEW 18 Replies

Started by Jeff Modis. Last reply by Jeff Modis Sep 8.

Eyes Past Prints 6 Replies

Started by Michael Gier. Last reply by Melissa Corey Sep 5.

Senior Meeting During CAMP--September 3

Started by Tamara Talbot Aug 31.

QUOTE COLLECTION 29 Replies

Started by Sean Nash. Last reply by jennifer halter Aug 31.

CAMP Activities for August-September 11 Replies

Started by Tamara Talbot. Last reply by Brian Stackhouse Aug 25.

Class Sponsor Tees! 16 Replies

Started by Andrea Snapp. Last reply by K'Lea Aug 25.

LINKING PRACTICE 39 Replies

Started by Sean Nash. Last reply by Sean Nash Aug 25.

What is your TRUTH to Writing? 7 Replies

Started by Barbara Lafasciano. Last reply by Barbara Lafasciano Aug 21.

Welcome to PowerSchool and PowerTeacher 19 Replies

Started by Roxanne Fisher. Last reply by Jeff Siasoco Aug 21.

Videos

DIIGO - Highlight and Share The Web!

Added by Sean Nash
Marine Biology Class of 2008

Added by Sean Nash
Yummm... DEL.ICIO.US in plain English

Added by Sean Nash
SOCIAL MEDIA... in plain English

Added by Sean Nash
A Vision of K-12 Students Today

Added by Sean Nash
Plan First, Technology Second

Added by Sean Nash
Generation We, The Movement Begins...

Added by Sean Nash
Learn to Change, Change to Learn

Added by Erin Nash
Joe's Non-Netbook

Added by Sean Nash
The Networked Student

Added by Kerry Shepherd
PowerSchool Attendance

Added by Sean Nash

Members

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Groups

Communication Arts

15 members
Business

10 members
SJSD HIGH SCHOOL VISU...

3 members
Junior Sponsors

16 members
MATH

12 members

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Blog Posts

Thanking with the Power of Three

BEGINNING… I thought about it morning, noon, and night. We need help. It’s been a rough THREE months with expectations, deadlines, and accountability. The economy is rough. The war is still going. Students seem more apathetic than ever. As a principal, I want to run around and tell everyone they are doi… Continue

Posted by Jeanette Westfall on November 22, 2009 at 9:32pm — 1 Comment

Data Analysis in Professional Development: 11.19.2009

Professional Development Feedback: 11.19.2009

What a great PD afternoon we had Wednesday. As you all read through, analyzed, and discussed the MSIP 5 Advanced Questionnaire, it was a powerful to watch you tackle the tough truths presented in the data. The conversations in your group… Continue

Posted by Jeanette Westfall on November 22, 2009 at 7:55pm — 6 Comments

Tinkering: A "Boys Only" Club?

Boys only?

According to the NCES, since 2004, girls have -in general- been shown to outdo boys in nearly every measure of academic success. Girls outpace boys on nearly every one of our… Continue

Posted by Sean Nash on November 15, 2009 at 11:13pm

Transforming School Culture - A Book Study Club

We know that to improve our school, the change has to come from us, and it has to be an ongoing and integral part of the climate and culture of our school.

One of the downfalls with many waves of educational reform seems to deal with the "sticking-to-it" aspect. A school or district tries a… Continue

Posted by Erin Nash on November 8, 2009 at 2:16pm — 19 Comments

The Great Cell Phone Debate

I grew up watching a lot of Saturday Night Live, especially when they had the all-star cast with Chris Farley, Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, and Adam Sandler. One sketch in particular has been coming to my mind lately as I try to frame this whole cell phone debate for myself, and how best to present the case both for and against this issue. The sketch in particular was performed by Mike Myers and was his impersonation of his own mother in law, Linda Richman, who hosted a talk show called… Continue

Posted by Jeff Carter on November 8, 2009 at 1:01pm — 18 Comments

Sign Sends Loud and Clear Message

Steve Moore from SW Missouri pointed to… Continue

Posted by Sean Nash on November 5, 2009 at 8:30am — 4 Comments

Prior Knowledge and The Flow of Learning

Engagement
A friend gives you free tickets to an upcoming concert. Although the group is fairly popular, you are not familiar with the artist’s body of work. Assuming you elect to go, what do you do next?

Between now and the day of the concert, here’s betting tha… Continue

Posted by Sean Nash on October 18, 2009 at 10:00pm

Utilizing Cell Phones in the Classroom!

I believe that it is necessary to include cell phones in the everyday classroom. I am researching the idea and trying to find the "correct" solution. If we as teachers don't allow the students to utilize technology, then how are we going to utilize technology ourselves. Students bring hundreds of dollars worth of equipment to school every day and this equipment should be used daily.

I understand the Benton High School policy, but I am willing to search for an alternative pol… Continue

Posted by Ronald Knight on October 15, 2009 at 8:57am — 17 Comments

Overt or Covert Conduct: Challenging Change in our School

We live in an era of change. President Obama won his leadership with it. Our city council was reinvented for lack of it. Our School Board and Superintendent are attacked because they dare speak of it. Our country is in a medical outrage considering it. No matter where you look –change happens and reactions t… Continue

Posted by Jeanette Westfall on October 11, 2009 at 9:30pm

Using our new learning

I just created a presentation via google.docs, which I will share with students. We have discussed all aspects of the definition of a tragic hero and we have read the book Things Fall Apart. We have practiced analyzing, too, but we have not practiced analyzing if the protagonist, Okonkwo, is a tragic hero or not. Students are in the midst of writing an essay analyzing the suffering in the novel, and next week they will be writing about their own books and deciding if the protagonist of their own… Continue

Posted by Kelly Lock on October 11, 2009 at 1:34pm — 2 Comments

Library is blowing its top with activity.

We've been busy! Check out our September usage stats.

Posted by jennifer halter on October 4, 2009 at 2:00pm — 2 Comments

The End of The Line

The problem
According to… Continue

Posted by Sean Nash on October 2, 2009 at 12:00pm

Career Ladder for Quiz Bowl!

The Benton Quiz Bowl Team will be hosting a Varsity Quiz Bowl Tournament on Saturday November 21, (the weekend before Thanksgiving). In order to pull this off, we need about 30 volunteers to help run the tournament. Job responsibilities would include: moderating matches (reading questions), score keeper, time keeper, and a caller to recognize participants when they buzz in. The most difficult job is reading questions, you will have to pronounce biology terms, french names, and read math equation… Continue

Posted by Jeff Carter on September 30, 2009 at 7:30pm — 6 Comments

How's it going?

Wow, there hasn't been a single blog post in several days. I can't let that happen! So, "How is it going?" That's my standard line with the kids. How is your year? Have you had any successes? Let's take a minute and reflect--yes, I know, what an English teacher thing to say! :)

Posted by Kelly Lock on September 23, 2009 at 8:23pm — 10 Comments

Getting feedback from the kids

I'm seriously considering giving the kids the following questions to contemplate, respond to and return to me. Before I do that, I'm asking you to look at them and see if they are okay or if there are better questions.

With last year's seniors returning to visit the past few weeks and then watching this year's seniors and their misconceptions about college, I really would like to have the kids take a more active role in their education. They may show up in my classes, but they aren't ATTENDING.… Continue

Posted by Kelly Lock on September 20, 2009 at 10:34am — 4 Comments

The Unheard Story

Tonight I spent almost three hours at the Board of Education meeting, along with several other dedicated Cardinals, and watched as a consulting team (the levy committee is considering hiring) tried to put what we educators do in a "sales pitch" in order to sell ownership to the community in our district's long… Continue

Posted by Jeanette Westfall on September 14, 2009 at 9:30pm — 4 Comments

But Math Is HARD

Forgive me in advance for the not-so-touchy-feely words regarding our beloved Mother Goose, but this one gave me pause...
multiplication is vexation2

My two-year-old daughter drug over The Real Mother Goose yesterday as we were playing. I knew we had the book. It was a gift at some po… Continue

Posted by Sean Nash on September 14, 2009 at 9:41am

Texting and driving

I was just looking for an EPP on the new texting and driving law and found a video that is the most troubling I've ever seen. I can't show it to kids, but I know that we have a live event each spring for sophomores that shows them an accident. This video is much more powerful, I think, than that.

If you've ever texted while driving, you should watch the video. Click… Continue

Posted by Kelly Lock on September 12, 2009 at 4:48pm — 8 Comments

President Obama's speech

Thank you BHS Admin for airing this important event! I thought it sent a very powerful message to the students in the nation. Continue

Posted by jennifer halter on September 8, 2009 at 11:50am

Customizing Learning: Professional Development @ BHS

This week begins our school’s first session of job-embedded professional development (PD JobEmbed Dates 0910.doc) in year two of our technology integration and constructivist classroom instruction pilot. I am as excited about the learning possibilities as I am about the idea of growing the most highly educated staff of… Continue

Posted by Jeanette Westfall on September 7, 2009 at 9:00pm — 6 Comments

Staff login for SJSD GOOGLE APPS:

Staff login is HERE for the SJSD installation of Google Apps for Education.

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Latest Activity

Regan Chamberlain ready for Thanksgiving.

yesterday

Jeanette Westfall commented on Jeanette Westfall's blog post 'Data Analysis in Professional Development: 11.19.2009'

@Kelly Lock: I think it's a huge celebration for us to see how many students were able to enter college. It's a testimony to our staff and their parents that they all had such great ambition and fortitude to get it done. Now we must figure out a w...

yesterday

Jeanette Westfall commented on Jeanette Westfall's blog post 'Data Analysis in Professional Development: 11.19.2009'

@Melissa Corey Yes, there is a process, but we haven't really shaken out the bugs. We need to examine the process and see how we can make it work.

yesterday

Jeanette Westfall commented on Jeanette Westfall's blog post 'Data Analysis in Professional Development: 11.19.2009'

@Michael Gier: Yes, I think we need to do a better job of profiling. Right now, we just need a process to get what is probably WAAAY out of control in hand. I think we are on the right track to limiting how long absent/late work is accepted. I thi...

yesterday

Kelly Lock commented on Jeanette Westfall's blog post 'Data Analysis in Professional Development: 11.19.2009'

I knew the numbers of students enrolled in college would be higher this year, and I think it will go up. I've talked to five kids in the last week who said they took this semester off and are planning on enrolling this spring or in the fall; I sup...

yesterday

Kelly Lock commented on Jeanette Westfall's blog post 'Thanking with the Power of Three'

I like this very much, Jeanette.

yesterday

Michael Gier commented on Ronald Knight's blog post 'Utilizing Cell Phones in the Classroom!'

Late to the party, but... I'm glad Ronnie's taking a lead on trying to find uses for mobile phones in the math classroom. I've racked my brains repeatedly and come up with nothing. Often, I have students ask me if they can use their phone as a cal...

on Monday

Melissa Corey commented on Jeanette Westfall's blog post 'Data Analysis in Professional Development: 11.19.2009'

I know at one point toward the beginning of the year there was an idea put forth about an intervention committee meant to address issues with students who may eventually drop out, go to Learning Academy, go to MO Option, etc. I am not sure if this...

on Monday

Michael Gier commented on Jeanette Westfall's blog post 'Data Analysis in Professional Development: 11.19.2009'

I would be happy to be involved in helping with this. I have felt strongly for a long time (ask any of the math teachers) that one of our biggest problems is that "problem" students are ruining the school experience for the remaining students. We ...

on Monday

Jeanette Westfall added 2 blog posts

on Monday

Jeanette Westfall commented on Erin Nash's blog post 'Transforming School Culture - A Book Study Club'

I'm in. Let's try to meet at least once before Christmas break. We can set a reading schedule, and maybe even start a discussion thread to continue over the break for anyone who can share some of their time. I will purchase the books for anyone wh...

on Monday

Kelly Lock replied to Kelly Lock's discussion 'Workshop model' in the group Communication Arts

Let me begin with the good stuff. My kids are reading, and they are reading a lot! I've set the goal of 800 pages (for an A) for 2nd quarter. I've been rather excited to see the kids serious about reaching that goal. Some of my most at risk reader...

on Saturday

Melissa Corey commented on Sean Nash's blog post 'Sign Sends Loud and Clear Message'

Thank you! I am not very good at freehand drawing in Photoshop. :S

on Saturday

Kelly Lock replied to Kelly Lock's discussion 'Eyes Past Print' in the group Communication Arts

The one thing that has been the most engaging for my seniors in Com Arts has been news articles. After reading Reaicicde, I realized my kids don't know enough about what's happening in the world. We followed the balloon boy incident over several d...

on Saturday

Kelly Lock replied to Kelly Lock's discussion 'Student Data' in the group Communication Arts

I have to admit that I was so happy that Jeanette decided to have CAMP teachers put the data in the hands of the kids! I have a great data collection tool, but I haven't used it hardly at all this year like I have in previous years. So what I hav...

on Saturday

Kelly Lock replied to Kelly Lock's discussion 'ACT Plan' in the group Communication Arts

Yeah, I'm wondering about breaking up the rules. I wonder how Central does it. I need to check with Dawn...I'll do that in a minute.

on Saturday

Mike Ziesel commented on Sean Nash's blog post 'Sign Sends Loud and Clear Message'

Melissa, I have all four of our Cardinal logos that I would let you look at and see if they may work and look a little better than the one displayed. I will send them to you.

on Friday

Amy Miller replied to Kelly Lock's discussion 'ACT Plan' in the group Communication Arts

I really like the idea of ensuring vertical alignment, and I think that Strunk & White rules might be a great way to go. They give teachers and students a common language and reference point, one that can follow students from year to year, which i...

on Friday

Amy Miller replied to Kelly Lock's discussion 'Student Data' in the group Communication Arts

I really feel like I have not done an adequate job of examining student work and assessment data with my grade-level teams this year. I feel like at 11th, I've focused more on lesson plans but haven't done enough of that sort of collaboration even...

on Friday

Amy Miller replied to Kelly Lock's discussion 'Workshop model' in the group Communication Arts

Well, the last time we reflected on this, I ended up in the hospital and never got mine posted, so hopefully, this will make it through! :) Over the last two months, I've begun to do a better job of conferencing. I was conferencing before, but th...

on Friday

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