PISA - Edition 5 (01/09/24)

Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is the most prominent global assessment to compare primarily Math, Science and Reading scores across nations. Academically speaking it is a clear indicator to whether children are being prepared for the 21st century.

The latest results show globally that Math and Reading scores are  declining. This is mirrored in the USA, albeit not as dramatically as the global pattern. The obvious answer here is the impact of COVID-19 on education but on the whole scores have been declining for two decades.

What is more key here is that the Math scores were among the lowest ever recorded by PISA for the USA (launched in 1997). Against comparable nations the Math results look equally poor even when compared on a socio-economic level.

However, what I can report from an ADS perspective is that our Math scores have seen year on year growth since we started collecting data and continue to be on an upward trajectory as we come to the end of our second standardized testing cycle of the year. Those of you at the open house event in November will remember the gasps in the room when I announced “a private education here will give you two years of advancement versus the public sector.” The data certainly shows that to be true.

Reading scores across the USA also declined but not as sevely as Math. One hypothesis for this is that technology use at home is distracting students. A total of 45% of students said they feel anxious if their phone is not near them and 65% of students said they use their phone in class. Hence, we do not allow the use of phones in school without specific permission, and even this is rare. Again, ADS bucks this trend with year-on-year growth. Our emphasis on reading is only growing as we continue to strongly promote reading.

Perhaps starker than all of this is that 13% of children in the USA were reported as food insecure (compared to an OECD average of 8%), 22% reported being lonely (OECD average 16%) and 13% reported feeling unsafe at school (OECD average 10%). I am proud that our small school community allows for an intimate community where every student is known and can flourish within their friendship groups. At the same time our added security provision this year can only be seen as essential (yet another school shooting in Iowa in the past week).

As a school focused on Christ, Children and Community this all  highlights the need to continue to develop and grow our support in the local community. Hence, we have launched monthly action projects this year to raise money or collect items for charity, for example our book drive, the socktober event and Toys for Tots.

If you’d like to look into PISA in more detail check out the link here.

Oracy - Edition 4 (11/13/23)

AI will change many things in education, but one thing I strongly believe is that it will emphasize the importance of oracy skills – the development of proficiency in using spoken language.

We are all familiar with the nerve-racking experience of standing in front of a large group and speaking. However, we also know that with practice, one can improve. Oracy is a life skill that provides our young Spartans with a solid foundation for their journey through high school and beyond. In a world where AI can mimic academic writing, envisioning a scenario where universities shift towards verbal justifications of written theses and research is not difficult. In fact, many are already doing this and we must ensure our student are ready!

A recent survey revealed that almost half of students lack the confidence or skills to effectively share their ideas in public. This could be in front of their class or in a much larger setting such as a whole school assembly.

Oracy skills go beyond public speaking; they empower students to overcome disaffection, anxiety, and personal doubt. These skills also enable young people to engage comfortably with adults on challenging topics.

Just as we intentionally teach students to read, write, and do math, we must purposefully instill oracy skills in them. Beyond cultivating a rich vocabulary, it involves ensuring confident self-expression and delivery. Students need opportunities to develop their own speaking style and flow, preparing them for future challenges. While most students may not find themselves in jobs requiring essay writing, they will undoubtedly encounter situations demanding confident verbal communication, such as job interviews, meetings, or sales pitches.

What is ADS doing? In March, we are hosting our inaugural public speaking competition, involving all students from K-8. They will have class level heats before a whole school final with a representative from each class. Beyond this, our Middle schoolers have the chance to run for the student council and become house leaders. Across all grades, we encourage students to present to the entire class, starting with show and tell in Kindergarten and progressing to events like the spelling bee and reading during school liturgy. In fact, one of my favorite events last year was the 2nd grade author party where the student presented their work to a whole room of parents.

As a school we are committed to consciously incorporating more opportunities for our students to enhance their oracy skills. Our goal at ADS is to empower all children to find and express their unique voice, both now and in the future!

The Hidden Power of LEGO - Edition 3 (10/16/23)

I was struck this week when watching the widely popular “Beckham” documentary on Netflix that he stated his main hobbies as bee keeping and LEGO.

Gone are the days of LEGO being reserved for young children with a large box in the corner of the house. Today LEGO is a serious pursuit for all age groups, from the casual builder to the avid collector or competitive builder. I would certainly count myself as a LEGO enthusiast, starting as a small child collecting pirate and space sets to today where I have a number of collectables in my office.

So what is it about LEGO that captures generation after generation? Far from it being the character-based LEGO and the endless collectables, I think we can break it down into 8 core areas for children and adults alike!

1 - Creativity and Imagination: LEGO sets provide a blank canvas for us to create anything we can imagine. This freeform play encourages creativity and innovation as we design and construct.

2 - Problem-Solving Skills: Building with LEGO challenges us to think critically and solve problems. Using LEGO we must figure out how to assemble complex structures and this can be very cathartic.

3 - Persistence and Patience: Building with LEGO can be a test of patience for all. We may need to disassemble and rebuild our creations to achieve the desired outcome. This teaches perseverance and the value of learning from mistakes. I know the 1500-piece F1 car I built this summer certainly tested my resolve at times!

4 - Reduces Stress: Playing with LEGO can be a soothing and meditative experience. It helps us relax, focus, and switch off from the outside world.

For our younger students:

5 - Fine Motor Skills: Manipulating LEGO bricks demands precise hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. This can be especially beneficial for younger children who are developing these essential abilities.

6 - Math and Science Concepts: LEGO introduces basic math and science concepts as children count and group pieces, create patterns, and experiment with principles like balance and stability.

7 - Teamwork and Social Skills: LEGO can be a collaborative activity. When children work together to build, they develop teamwork, communication, and negotiation skills as they share ideas and resources.

8 - Self-Esteem and Confidence: Completing a challenging LEGO project can boost a child's self-esteem and confidence. It shows them that with effort and determination, they can achieve their goals.

Ultimately, many skills acquired through LEGO play, such as creativity, problem-solving, and spatial reasoning, are valuable throughout life and can even support careers in engineering, architecture, and design.

So what are you waiting for! Play with some LEGO, build, spend some time with your children or some time alone. If you have not touched any LEGO for a long time I would encourage you to jump back in and enjoy building!

The Era of Mass Distraction - Edition 2 (9/13/23)

We are in an era of mass distraction. I see it more and more each year in our students. Their ability to focus seems to reduce with every passing year and the age children get cell phones appears to be younger and younger.

By the age of 10, 25% of Americans have a cell phone and this is as high as 75% by the age of 12. As we all know these are not just phones anymore but powerful computers in the palm of your hand. 

However, let’s not put all of this on our young people. It is similarly impacting adults. How many of us can now watch a whole movie or even a tv episode without checking our phone? How often do you check your phone each day? The average American checks their phone 96 times per day. 

Much like the impact of AI on education, this is not going away. With wearable technology becoming more and more prevalent in our lives it might not be too long before we see technology like the Apple Vision Pro in classrooms. In fact, access to the internet is arguably now as essential as electricity in the modern world. 

However, this is not to say boundaries should not be in place. Over 20% of American teenagers now spend over 5 hours per day on their phone or tablet and over 30% spend 3 hours per day on their device. The dopamine hit the brain gets from, for example, positive comments, is a real addiction and we need to teach our children to manage themselves. Without self-management students are losing sleep, becoming more anxious and increasingly unable to focus for long periods of time. 

At school, we do not allow students to use their phones. Yet as many as 1 in 4 schools allow open phone use throughout the day. This is despite excess phone use being linked to declining academic results and increased bullying. By putting this boundary in place at school, as well as instilling focus, motivation and self-efficacy in students we have a strong foundation to start building lifelong habits for our young people. 

These boundaries can be supported at home through simple strategies such as firm cut-off times for phone use each day, only allowing devices to be charged in the kitchen so sleep is not impacted and encouraging at least an hour per day without a device, a day per week and a week per year. A digital detox so to speak! 

We have technology that saps our attention, but it is also fully ingrained in our lives and has hugely positive benefits. Can you imagine going back to a world without online banking, or Google Maps? The best thing we can do is set a good example for our children with our own technology use, modelling how we want them to behave and focus.