November 26, 2007

CES Elementary Coalition

Notes from Denver Meeting
Saturday, November 12, 2007

Roc gave overview of history of CES and elementary education and the current desire to make preK-8 more of a presence in the organization.

Proposed National Elementary Slice Day
We decided to choose the CES principle of "Less is More" and concentrate on it for a while and see what it means in the elementary setting. We choose the last week in March to try to document at least one way we used the principle "Less is More" in our own setting and send it to Roc. This would give a collective "slice" of the principle. This could be a video (be sure to get releases from students if you use this medium), photographs, student work, assignments, etc. along with our reflections on the document(s) we send. If we are not teachers, reflect on how "Less is More" effects the role that you play. We're not looking for scientific validity, or showcasing. This is a way to share our initial thoughts and ideas. Eventually we would like to create a portfolio of the CES principles as they apply to elementary school, but this slice is not meant for that. During that week we should feel the energy of all of us thinking about this principle in our areas of work across the country. We can call each other for advice.

We shared our views of how we thought about the principle "Less is More":

• Depth over Breadth

• Conscious decision

• Using the habits of inquiry necessitates depth

• Using kids' interests necessitates depth

• Leaves room for real world connections

• Breeds confidence to tackle the unknown

• Transferable knowledge and skills

• Focuses on what's important for whole child

• Often requires integration of curriculum

• Demands clarity of purpose

• Clearing agenda for what's most important

• Requires decision making be in hands of teachers

• Learning more meaningful, better retention

• Many opportunities for instruction, using different modalities, more access points for learners.

In the future we hope to establish a way to dialogue through the CES web page.

We met in regional groups to discuss future contact. The following loose regional groups gathered:

California/Hawaii
Colorado
New England
Mid Atlantic
Midwest

Below is the contact information for the people who attended this meeting. Feel free to send additional information to fill in any gaps.

Harmony Education Center
PO Box 1787
Bloomington, IN 47401
Attn: Roc
harmony@indiana.edu

Nancy Fenton
nancyfenton@comcast.net
Michigan

Tarrey Banks bankst54@mac.com
Indianapolis, IN
The Indianapolis Project School – Principal Teacher
317-331-1954
www.theprojectschool.org

Mary Helen Spiri
mhspiri@ChesapeakeCES.org

Teri Williamson
willithe@wcboe.k12.md.us
Chesapeake CES, Baltimore, MD
410 287 2720

Karen Dresden kdresden@ccpcs.org
Head of School
Capital City Public Charter School
3047 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 387-0309 (o)
(202) 302-4178 (c)
www.ccpcs.org

John Thatcher
thatche@aloha.net
808-935-2395 or message at 866-961-3664

William Thorpe, teacher,
Connections Public Charter School
Hilo, Hawaii
808-640-5295
bill_thorpe@hawaii.rr.com

Jennifer Groves jengroves89@hotmail.com
Educational Consultant
P. O. Box 4193
Telluride, CO 81435

Kathi McLaughlin kathi@odysseydenver.org
The Odyssey School
8750 e. 28th Ave
Denver, CO 80238

Melissa Linehan Marsh mlinehan@wildwood.org
Wildwood School –Director of Curriculum
310 3973134

Sue Schwartz suecenterschool@yahoo.com
Terry Kayne terrykayne@wildblue.net
Laura Baker, laura@centerschool.net
Greenfield Center School
71 Montague City Rd.
Greenfield, MA 01301
413-773-1700

Judy Coven judy_coven@antiochne.edu
Antioch University New England,
40 Avon St.
Keene, New Hampshire 03431

Irene Canaris irenecan@svcable.net
Westminster Center School,
301 School St.
Westminster, VT. 05158

Francie Marbury fmarbury@fc.wcsu.k12.vt.us
Marlboro School,
Box D,
Marlboro, VT 05344

Becky Meier, bmeier@taconic.net
1409 Route Five
Canaan, NY 12029
518-781-4686
Williamstown Elementary School
115 Church Street
Williamstown, MA 01267
413-458-5707 x 230
bmeier@mail.williamstown.net

Deborah Meier
Deborah.Meier@gmail.com

Jane Andrias
JaneAndrias@aol.com

*Nakia Keizer
kia.keizer@gmail.com

Shug Brandell,
smbrandell@comcast.net
617.276.5396

*Amina Michel-Lord Jaminaya@aol.com
*Jenerra Williams jenerrawilliams@yahoo.com
*Laurel McConville   Lmcconville@boston.k12.ma.us
*Jada Brown c4eva1@hotmail.com
*Ayla Gavins agavins@boston.k12.ma.us
617-635-6384
Mission Hill School
67 Alleghany Street
Roxbury, MA 02120

Eleanor Wechsler RMW@aol.com
11550 SW 21ST. CT.
Davie, Florida 33325
(954)474-3094

Lisa Hirsch Hirsch@sedona.k12.az.us
West Sedona k-8 Elementary School.
Posse Ground Road
Sedona AZ 86336

Juanita Brown jbrown@essentialschools.org
Oakland National Office
510 433 1841

Amanda Westman Amanda.westman@gmail.com
Renaissance Academy,
San Jose, CA
408-928-1950 (School)

Amy Berfield
Executive Director
4126 S. Arlington Ave.
LA, CA 90008
323-508-0155
aberfield@yahoo.com

New England subgroup:

Mission Hill
Westminster
Marlboro
Center School
Becky Meier
Judy Coven

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March 5, 2007

Dear Colleagues,
This is the time to gather, organize and make our stories heard. Please join us on Saturday, May 12, 2007 in Greenfield, MA, to meet with our emerging regional group to advance progressive practices that expand democratic ideals. Together we will strengthen ways to support each other and deepen our connections through sharing our stories and networking. We invite you to join us in this endeavor and add your voice to this growing movement.

We would like you to join us on Saturday, May 12, 2007. We will:

• Examine samples of our work that illustrate progressive elementary education practices based on the Coalition of Essential School's (CES) 10 principles and our "Statement of Values" (Oct. '06) for the purpose of reviewing our own work and making sense of these principles.
• We will continue to share our stories with each other in order to build community, find commonalities, learn from our differences, and build a collection of our experiences.
• Use protocols as tools for facilitating our work.
• Reconnect and expand our network to include more members and strengthen our diversity.

Last October, a group of 25 people convened for a gathering of elementary educators at the Greenfield Center School in western Massachusetts. We created a "Statement of Values" affirming key elements of progressive practice, shared our stories, organized into working committees, and pledged to gather again this spring. In the interim, we began coordinating our work with the Coalition of Essential Schools by re-visiting their 10 Common Principles crafted for elementary education and through our establishment as a CES-endorsed regional center. CES is planning to videotape and write about portions of this gathering to promote elementary progressive education. [Their website http://www.essentialschools.org. provides more information about CES.] This vital connection will help us build our own network as well as contribute to a wider agenda in support of progressive education. We will not be made invisible.

Please see the enclosed information sheet regarding the schedule of events, location, cost, directions and logistics. Fill out the Registration Form to let us know that you will be attending. Registration is capped at 100 participants. If you have any questions, call the Greenfield Center School at (413) 773-1700.

We look forward to gathering with you for this exciting gathering.
Sincerely,
Jane Andrias, Laura Baker, Francie Marbury, Deborah Meier, Becky Meier, and Sue Schwartz
Planning Committee Members

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SCHEDULE

Saturday May 12, 2007
Regional Gathering

8:00–9:00
Registration and Refreshments

9:00–9:30
Opening Remarks

9:30–11:15
Principles and Protocols I:
Elementary Student/Teacher Work and Progressive Education

Presenters will examine teacher and/or student work as it reflects CES elementary school principles and our "Statement of Values."

Protocols modified from the National School Reform Faculty will guide the presentations and discussions. Concurrent sessions include:

• "Less is More" – Depth over Coverage
• Knowing Children Well
• Keeping Decisions Local: Who Makes Decisions?
• Construction of Meaning: Active Engagement
• Assessment Using Multiple Formats
• Generalists: Commitment to the Entire Community
• Schools Practice/Model Democracy and Equity

11:15-11:45
Walk and Talk

11:45–12:00
Break

12:00–1:30
Lunch: Focus Groups:

• Early Childhood (pre-K – 2)
• Primary (gr.1-3)
• Intermediate (gr. 3-6)
• Middle School (gr. 6-8)
• Administrators
• Political Activists
• Parent Activists
• Researchers/College/University faculty

1:30-3:30
Principles and Protocols II:
Telling our Stories/ Sharing work samples. Participants rejoin their morning group. Story-telling and/or sharing artifacts and examples of classroom work will re-focus us on the principles.

3:30–3:45
Break

3:45–4:45
Town Meeting: Organizational Matters
We will discuss:

• Structure
• Finances
• Membership
• Formalizing a name
• Next Steps

4:45–6:00
Reception

REGISTRATION FORM
May 12, 2007 Gathering

Return form and payment by April 15, 2007 to:
Greenfield Center School
71 Montague City Road, Greenfield, MA 01301
(413) 773-1700

Name _____________________________________________________________

Mailing Address: ___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

Phone: (______)________________ (______)____________________(cell)

e-mail address: __________________________

_ Yes, I am planning to attend*

_ I will be attending with _______________________

_ Please send registration information to him/her at:

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

_ Fee: $50/person. Enclosed is payment of $________ for _______attendee(s)

_ Donation: Enclosed is my donation of $________ to support the work of the organization.

_ No, I am unable to attend this meeting; please keep me informed and on the mailing list.

_ No, I am unable to attend; please take me off your contact list.

Please indicate your 1st, 2nd, 3rd workshop choice

• _"Less is More" – Depth over Coverage
• _Knowing Children Well
• _Keeping Decisions Local: Who Makes Decisions?
• _Construction of Meaning: Active Engagement
• _Assessment Using Multiple Formats
• _Generalists: Commitment to the Entire Community
• _Schools Practice/Model Democracy and Equity

Return form and payment by April 15, 2007 to:

Greenfield Center School, 71 Montague City Road, Greenfield, MA 01301
(Registration is capped at 100 participants)

* Registration acknowledges that proceedings will be documented in writing and videography.

DIRECTIONS:
From North or South:

• Take I-91 to Exit 26 – Greenfield MA/Rte 2.
• Enter rotary, exit East to downtown Greenfield/Rte 2A. Go to center of town on 2A, 1.1 miles.
• Turn RIGHT onto Bank Row [US-5/MA-10], bear left after the underpass (Deerfield St) 1.2 miles
• Go straight onto Cheapside Street as US-5/MA-10 curves right toward the bridge to Deerfield.
• Go under 2 underpasses(Cheapside becomes Montague City Road) turn left- mosaic sign 0.2 mile
• Enter driveway and follow parking signs.

From East – MA RT 2:

• Follow RT 2W to I-91 South
• Exit 26
• Follow directions "From North or South"

From West – MA Rt 2:

• Follow Mohawk Trail RT 2E to Greenfield Rotary
• Follow directions "From North or South"

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LODGING AND ACCOMMODATIONS:

●Brandt House Inn
29 Highland Ave, Greenfield
(413) 774-3329

●Howard Johnson
125 Mohawk Trail, Greenfield
(413) 774-2211

●Fox Inn
71 Northfield Road, Bernardston
(413) 648-9131

●Deerfield Inn
81 Old Main St, Deerfield
(413) 774-5587

●Red Roof Inn
9 Greenfield Road, South Deerfield
(413) 665-7161

●Black Walnut Inn
1184 N. Pleasant St, Amherst
(413) 549-5649

●Lord Jeffery Inn
30 Boltwood Ave, Amherst
(413) 253-2576

●The Hampton Inn
24 Bay Road, Hadley
(413) 586-4851

●Holiday Inn Express
400 Russell St, Hadley (413) 582-0002

Page last updated: November 26, 2007