At the beginning of the century the term 21st Century Skills became one of the biggest drivers of change in education. This was fitting. The 21st century is very different from the 20th century in terms of society, industry, communications, and so many other areas.
“21st century skills” was used to denote needed changes in education to prepare students for the future. Unfortunately, as with many catch phrases, 21st century skills was widely adopted and applied to almost every product and practice used in education. The phrase is intended to elicit a feeling of forward thinking. News Flash: The 21st century isn’t coming, its been here quite a while.
Almost all of our K – 12 students were born in the 21st century. Most of our teachers and school administrators were hired in the 21st century. It almost seems that talking about 21st century skills as a catalyst for change is only admitting that we haven’t made the necessary changes in the first 17 years of the century. I propose changing our lexicon to refer to “current century skills.” This isn’t just semantics. Speaking of current century skills adds a sense of urgency. Our students don’t need these skills in the future, they need them now.
This isn’t a new idea. I’ve noticed an increase in the use of “current century” in articles and research. I will be using current century to describe the new skills that are identified as important and the old skills that have gained importance in the current century. What are those skills? I’ll talk about them in subsequent posts.

Much can, and has been said about the changing value of a college education. This post is not an attempt to answer the question of whether or not going to college is worthwhile. Rather, this post is intended to share some information that may help you answer the question for yourself.
A recent study has shown that the unemployment rate for 25 to 34 year-olds with a 4-year college degree is significantly different than most people think. The unemployment rate for non-college graduates between the ages of 25 and 34 is around 7.2 percent. Most survey respondents assumed very inaccurate rates for college graduates. Follow this link (The One Question Most Americans Get Wrong About College Graduates) to see how accurate your estimate is and to learn more about the potential value of a college education.
One thing to note: this article does not differentiate between types of jobs or levels of pay.

One of the great benefits of homeschooling is the ability to take advantage of learning opportunities presented by significant events as they happen. There are no artificially imposed calendar restraints. The upcoming August 21, 2017, total eclipse is a case in point. Just because the 2018 school year does not officially start for students until August 22nd does not mean students shouldn’t learn about the eclipse while it is in the news.
NASA has produced some nice instructional materials related to the upcoming (August 21, 2017) total eclipse.
https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/homeschool Included are ideas for family activities, lesson plans, and other resources. Interestingly, this is what appears to be a new NASA Homeschool web page available on their website. Also, be sure to read NASA’s safety page before you try to see the solar eclipse. https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety
Another recommended site deals specifically with the total eclipse in Alaska. https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/anchorage Spoiler alert, it will be a partial eclipse in Alaska.
I received these links from my friend, and former KPBSD science teacher, who currently works indirectly with NASA’s education wing.
Enjoy your learning.

Americans are not active enough. I don’t expect any pushback on that statement. Childhood and adult obesity have been in the headlines for quite some time. More exercise and a healthier diet are things most of us strive for.

Something many people might not realize is how important physical activity is for learning. Yes, physical activity can lead to improvements in reading and writing. A recent article I read describes a study in Finland that linked sedentary behaviors in 1st grade to fewer gains in reading in the 2nd and 3rd grade. (See: Boys Who Sit Still Have a Harder Time Learning to Read) Physical activity is important for all children, and it seems that boys benefit even more from such activity.
Much research supports the findings of this study. A Fit Body Means a Fit Mind details how some schools found increased gains with students struggling in language arts and math when those students were given PE immediately before their study sessions. Exercise before standardized tests also seem to correlate with better results.
In addition to academic gains, exercise can also lead to a happier life. Exercise lowers anxiety, reduces stress, and decreases your odds of getting sick. (Check out Being Active:  The Facts for more benefits of exercise.) With all these benefits, remember to build regular exercise into your children’s schedule. Also, remember to teach by example. By showing your kids that exercise is important to you, they are much more likely to adopt exercise as part of their healthy lifestyle.

If the winter weather is making it more difficult for the kids to get out and play, consider the home school open gym Tuesdays from 12 till 2.

Last Friday, we joined a group of students and parents on a tour of Alaska’s Institute of Technology (AVTEC) in Seward. (https://www.avtec.edu) Our tour guide, Rachel, gave us a whirlwind tour of most of AVTEC’s programs, showed us the dorms, the cafeteria, and student recreational facilities. One common message heard from all the AVTEC personnel was the importance of being on time, and showing up ready to work. I think everyone was impressed and most thought how nice it was to have a facility like AVTEC as close as Seward.
The AVTEC experience made me think of a series of articles/reports I recently read, “The Path Least Taken” from The Center For Public Education. Greatly simplified, the takeaway from the reports is that high school graduates who complete rigorous high school math and science classes, and obtain a career certification, earn higher wages than four year college graduates. Click this link to read The Path Least Taken.
None of this is to say that college is not a good option. For many people, college is an appropriate step toward success. Still, the idea of “college for everyone,” might lead some to pass up great opportunities. Many people are successful without going to college. Plumbers, electricians, welders, and other skilled professionals, are always in demand and provide well for their families.  Students should be encouraged to explore all their opportunities. Learning a skill, like the skills taught at AVTEC, can be a great path to success.

I just read an article about how “student-centered” learning is the future of education. Imagine that!
I prefer using the term “personalized learning,” but the idea is the same. Provide students with learning opportunities based on their interests and passions, at a time and place when and where the student is ready. Effective learning is not limited to classrooms, lectures, formal research projects, and other activities typically associated with “school.” Learning happens everywhere, all the time. This concept is gaining momentum among educational thinkers.
Homeschool parents are ahead of the trend. Many homeschool families have recognized the diverse learning opportunities avaialable to students. I often refer to an infographic from KnowledgeWorks’ Forecast 3.0:  A Glimpse into the Future of Learning. This glimpse of the future makes many predictions:

• “School” will take many forms.
• Learning will not be defined by time and space.
• Learners and families will create individualized learning playlists.
• Radical personalization will become the norm.
• Geographic and virtual communities will take ownership of learning in new ways.
• “As more people take it upon themselves to find solutions, a new wave of social innovation will help address resource constraints and other challenges.”

As an educator, I see these ideas coming to fruition. Working with homeschoolers, I see the incredible things students accomplish when the above ideas are put into action.
 
Here is a link  to the article that spurred this post:  Student-Centered Learning Can Modernize Schools:  Our education system isn’t broken; it’s outdated.

Yes, the new school year is nearly here for most students on the Kenai Peninsula. I hope everyone reading this had a great summer. While I don’t like the idea of losing the ability to go fishing anytime, or just sitting out and enjoying the sun, I am looking forward to the opportunities this new school year brings.
I’m a big believer in the continuous growth mindset. Essentially, this means we should always look for potential areas of growth (improvement), then actively seek out ways to improve.  This is a three step process. The first step is to identify an area for improvement. For me, one area identified for this year is communications between Connections and the families we work with. The second step is to identify action items that can lead to improvement. We will be trying a few different things at Connections this year to improve our communications. (Specifics will be forthcoming.) Of course, the third (and most difficult) step is actually performing the action items identified in step 2.  Part of the growth mindset is realizing that what we try might not work. If not, then we reevaluate and try again.
A student getting ready for the new school year can follow the same process. A high school student might identify staying current (not getting behind) in classes as a growth area in which they could improve. Many students start a new school year with such a thought. The next step, and the one often overlooked, is to identify an action item (or items) that can move the student in that direction. Perhaps scheduling specific times to work on different classes would help a student stay up-to-date. Parents can play a huge role in facilitating the development and adherence to a growth plan like this. The adherence to the plan, step 3, is the key to success.
Here’s to a new school year. May our growth efforts be successful.
 

I recently came across an article I found quite interesting.

Free-range kids: Nature-based preschools growing in the Duluth area

by:  Jana Hollingsworth
The article exposes the growing popularity of outdoor preschools in Duluth, MN. The premise of these programs is that young children learn best from unstructured, outdoor play. This is not a new concept. Homeschool/unschool author John Holt and others have bemoaned the loss of unstructured play for quite some time.
One of the things mentioned in the article is the value of children playing together in an unstructured way. The most difficult thing for adults can be to stay out of the kids way. Also interesting is that these programs don’t go indoors when the weather turns cold, although they do go in to avoid lightning. Their motto, when it comes to weather, is “no bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.”
As you consider preschool opportunities for your children you might want to think about building in plenty of time for unstructured, outdoor play.
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/education/4089434-free-range-kids-nature-based-preschools-growing-duluth-area

Graduation is a special time for students, families, and teachers. Last night, at the Soldotna High School Auditorium, we celebrated the completion of high school for some of our Connections’ students.
Connections’ graduation ceremony is a unique event. It is special, and fitting, that parents have the opportunity to share in the awarding of diplomas and congratulations. As principal, it is very rewarding to be able to say a little about each graduate. When you hear all those stories at one time it is hard not to be somewhat awed by the amazing young people graduating into the “real world.”
As Valedictorian, Autumn Baker, pointed out in her speech, commencement is a congratulatory celebration for graduates. However, commencement is also the beginning of something. As we congratulate our graduates for competing high school, we are really celebrating the potential they have to achieve success in the future. After hearing the graduates stories, I think it is safe to say that the future will be bright for the Connections’ Graduating Class of 2016.

Believe it or not, research shows some times of day are better than other to study certain subjects. You might be surprised by some of the findings.

According to the research, students who took math classes in the morning had higher grades and performed better on standardized tests than students in afternoon classes. Students taking English classes in the morning had higher grades, but did not show better results on standardized tests.
Click here to read the article.
We (the Connections team) always recommend setting a schedule for your home studies. Learning to follow a routine is an important skill for students to learn. Having a schedule is one of the common factors we recognize as a “key for success.” When you make your schedule consider what subjects will be studied first, and which will be last. The above mentioned research indicates that you might want to put math near the top of list. It is also a good idea to not schedule a “least favorite” subject as the last subject of the day. Scheduling something fun at the end of the day promotes finishing on a positive note. Now, if math happens to be your students favorite class, that leaves you with a bit of a quandary. I’d love to hear how you solve that one.

While getting sent to, or going to, the principal’s office might carry some negative memories for those of us who grew up in the brick-and-mortar school system, this principal’s office is different.
I’ve spent a good portion of this first  year as principal of the Connections Homeschool Program trying to figure out how to better communicate with our home school families. The first thing I wanted to do was find a way to share student achievements. We’ve got students doing amazing things. I want to focus a spotlight on those students. There have also been times I’ve wanted to reflect on an event, share and article, or review a book that home school families might find interesting and useful.
The Principal’s Office will be my attempt to share with the Connections’ homeschool community. I’m not a seasoned blogger. I will be learning as I go. I’m also not trying to become a blogger that will gain fame or fortune with my prose. My goal is to provide information for Connections’ families. I hope you find The Principal’s Office a useful, friendly place to go.
Rich Bartolowits
Principal, Connections