This school year, ELA teachers at Walton Middle School have committed to turning the heavy lifting of learning over to their students, intentionally designing lessons that provide students opportunities to deeply think, write, and discuss their ideas.
This week, sixth grade ELA teachers Rachel Jones and Brendon Murphy, with the support of instructional coach, Kristen Nelson, joined forces and introduced the fishbowl strategy to their students—a collaborative discussion protocol that allows students to meaningfully discuss texts they’ve been reading and studying. Combining classes, the team first introduced the strategy’s steps to students, modeling how to have an interactive student-led discussion. In the classroom fishbowl, students formed two circles. Students in the center circle were in the fishbowl, leading and carrying on a text-dependent conversation about Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech, a novel they’ve been reading. These students were provided sample question stems to help them consider appropriate ways to voice their analysis, opinions, and questions about the text. While the inner circle students conversed with each other, students in the outer circle observed the process, taking notes about insightful comments heard, text evidence offered, and personal connections made.
At the end of the student-led conversation, each class debriefed about the process itself, considering “glows” (strengths of the activity) and “grows” (opportunities for improvement next time). WMS teachers are committed to working together to help students become independent learners, thoughtfully providing them with opportunities to develop their own unique voices. Yet again, the “we, not me” spirit thrives in classrooms at WMS.
What an EPIC way to spread the holiday spirit! Walton High had a surprise visit from Santa (aka Byron Lane) yesterday! He was working hard to spread holiday cheer while making his (courier) deliveries.
Congratulations to the Paxton Middle School FFA Sub-District competitors. The results were as follows:
Opening and Closing Team - 1st place
Makalynn Cassady
Addison Cook
Kiley Edwards
Madison Falk
Clara Martin
Colten Phillips
Hydie Varnum
Extemporaneous Speaking - 1st place
Colten Phillips
Prepared Public Speaking - 1st place
Clara Martin
Creed Speaking - 3rd place
Hydie Varnum
Pictured: Front Row (L to R): Makalynn Cassady, Clara Martin, Haylee Hayes, Kiley Edwards, Macie Dell, Addie Cook, and Hydie Varnum. Back Row (L to R): Madison Falk, Rylee Sormrude, Colten Phillips, Cassie Varnum, Jordyn Bradley, Hailey Sexton, and Ashlyn Hall.
Walton High School’s culinary arts students prepared a holiday brunch on December 13 to show their appreciation for our outstanding faculty and staff members and the hard work they do every day to help students build their legacies and succeed. The delicious meal served by students with smiling faces started our day off right!
We would like to thank Ms. Spice and her culinary students for all THEY do to make Walton High such a special place for our students, staff, and community members!
