-PDBM/FXT
An Independent K-8 Non profit School
MATH CAMP
Individualized, Self-Directed Learning
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“Follow the child”
Essential Qualities: Respect, Responsibility, Independence
Multi-Age Classrooms “Continuity is key to learning”
“Children thrive on trust”
(650) 813-9131 State–of–the–art facility located at 4000 Terman Rd (cross street Arastradero) in Palo Alto
The Bowman faculty includes trained Montessori teachers, interns and teaching specialists who teach cultural, music and after–school enrichment programs. During the core school day our low student– to–faculty ratio enables us to place a strong focus on the child and deliver individualized teaching to each students.
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overhead projecting document camera to work on a problem along with the students. She asks the kids questions and tosses them a candy when they get the right answer. Incoming Crittenden eighthgrader Anthony Hansen — who only moments before caught a Jolly Rancher pitched to him by Lewis — says he definitely feels more confident in his understanding of ratios than he used to. Hansen’s friend, Kevin Esteban says he understands math better now that the program is almost over. “She shows it to us part by part,” says Esteban, an incoming eighth grader from Graham. Lewis says she can take much more time to explain each component of the a given math problem in her Stepping up to Algebra class. After all, she does have almost four hours each day with the kids. It’s just “little things” that are holding the students back in most cases, she explains. And with the extra time, Lewis can find what is tripping up each student and help them grasp the concept. But there’s more to it than just time, Lewis says. This year, the Stepping up to Algebra coursework is designed to prepare students and teachers for the Common Core curriculum — new nationwide public education standards, which have been adopted by most states. In preparing for the new Common Core standards, the curriculum of Stepping up to Algebra employs a method of teaching known as “blended learning.” It’s a system of instruction that uses a mix of direct instruction, project-based learning, educational technology and group work. Students in the Stepping up to Algebra camp have their own laptops, which they use to access online education tools, such TICKETS ON SALE NOW! TRIO DA PAZ with MAÚCHA ADNET Saturday, July 13 “Fleet-fingered music that connects jazz with Brazilian rhythms.” – The New York Times
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She said the blood center has no current plans to host a blood drive to help plane-crash survivors and other patients in need, but were waiting to see how much of response they got this week. Donors should be in good health with no cold or flu symptoms. They must eat well prior to donation, drink fluids and present a photo identification. The process takes about an hour. There are donor centers in Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Mountain View. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 888-723-7831 or visit bloodcenter.stanford.edu. —Elena Kadvany
COUNTY BUSY ISSUING MARRIAGE LICENSES Santa Clara County was gearing up for another week of samesex marriages days after what is believed to be the county’s busiest day ever for issuing marriage licenses, officials said. On Friday, July 5, the county issued marriage licenses to nearly 150 couples, including 27 gay or lesbian couples, according to County Supervisor Ken Yeager. On a typical day, the county issues about 35 marriage licenses, county officials said. “It has been my honor to perform marriages for so many loving couples this week,” Yeager said. “Many of them have waited years for the opportunity to be married.” Yeager married 41 same-sex couples last week, with many opting for express marriage ceremonies, allowing them to marry the same day they received their marriage licenses, county officials said. The quicker marriage option launched last Monday, following the June 28 decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to dissolve a stay on U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker’s injunction against enforcing Proposition 8, an initiative passed by California voters in 2008 that banned same-sex marriages. The county Clerk Recorder’s Office set up the express marriage option in anticipation of the rising demand for marriage licenses. With express marriages, couples can walk in, purchase a marriage license and have their ceremony performed at a service window for a $110 fee, plus an additional $10 witness fee. Couples can also opt for the standard marriage license and civil ceremony for $79. County officials say they are working to accommodate the high demand for marriages by opening the express window early at the clerk recorder’s office and opening two additional chapel facilities. —Bay City News Service as Mountain View-based Khan Academy — where students can watch lessons on YouTube. Jazlyn Mejia, an incoming eighth-grader at Graham, says she likes Khan Academy, because it allows her to learn concepts that Lewis may have glossed over in class. “Some things she won’t get to,” Mejia says. “So, I go on (Khan Academy).” The students also use an online math program called Sumdog, which pits the students against one another in a math-based competition. All of this adds up to a math class that the kids actually seem to enjoy. Lewis says they are having fun, “because they’re actually having success. It’s hard when you’re in a classroom and you’re almost getting something but you’re not quite there.” This class gives the kids the time and space and tools to make sure they get there. As a result they are proud of themselves and their performance, she says.
Goldman says he has been enthusiastic about the practice of blended learning for some time. He has given multiple presentations to the district’s board of trustees advocating the approach to education. The way Goldman sees it, the Stepping up to Algebra camp isn’t just a learning experience for the children, it is also a bit like a training seminar for Lewis. “This gives us the opportunity to see how blended learning could work in a classroom environment,” he says. At Crittenden and Graham middle schools, the teaching staff has not had much of a chance to work with blended learning, but Lewis says she is already a fan and planning on bringing much of what she has learned teaching Stepping up to Algebra back to her colleagues at Graham. “I’ve already talked with some of the other teachers about some of the methods we’re going to steal,” Lewis says. V