Focusing on Reading

Mrs. Damon talks with her 4th grade students today about the skills good readers use to make meaning?

What kind of questions do good readers ask?

How does the reader's prior knowledge help?

How do readers get involved as they read?

These are the skills good readers use to create meaning and understand a text.

Exploring Numbers at Novi Woods

3rd grade students try to figure out all the ways to calculate a number today at Novi Woods. How many different ways can you write a number?

Meadows Science

Mr. Cosman's class uses a variety of artifacts to discuss scientific classification. How do scientists organize the world?

Fanfare at Novi High School

The Novi High School Marching Band performs at the 2011 Fanfare. The band was the final band to take the field at tonight's marching band competition.

Fanfare

Students Help Superintendents Learn Technology

Kindergarten and 2nd grade students from Ludington attended the Superintendents Conference to share how they are using iPads in their classrooms to learn. Young students help us understand the power of technology to change and shape how we learn.

TJ Duckett Talks to Superintendents

TJ Duckett spoke to Michigan superintendents about flooding the world with caring and service. He said that everyone is a raindrop and together we can become a flood to change the world.

Music at Village Oaks

Mrs. Hurley prepares her kindergarten students to practice with the xylophone at Village Oaks.

Math at Village Oaks

Mrs. Siarto takes her first grade students through a math lesson this afternoon at Village Oaks.

Technology in Classrooms

Two articles caught my eye recently.  One in the Detroit Free Press and one in the New York Times both highlight the use of technology in schools.  The articles get at the promise and the perils of technology.  In Arizona, a district that has spent millions on technology admits that its test scores show little improvement.  In Michigan, a district opts to use technology because it believes that it is a "game changer."

There is no doubt that technology has become almost ubiquitous.  Walk around any high school and you will see students with phones, ipods, and earbuds.  Yet, does technology help students learn?

Technology is a tool.  But is technology like other tools?  Does technology depend on teachers for it to be effective or can students use it to change how and what they learn?

The New York Times article quotes Bryan Goodwin who says, "Good teachers can make good use of computers while bad teachers won't."

It appears that technology has the potential to be a game changer but the real game changer in education has been and probably always will be teachers.

Math at Parkview

Ms. Dye's class uses the Smart Board to separate polygons from non-polygons. Straight lines, no curves, no crossed lined, closed.

Novi's Equestrian Team Competes in Milford

Novi's Equestrian Team competed at Milford today. The Western Riding competition focuses on the rider - I think.

Village Oaks - Assembly

Village Oaks held an "I Love This School" assembly this afternoon. A great start to the school year.

Novi Woods Celebrates Reading and Writing

Today at Novi Woods 2nd and 3rd grade students who met a summer reading or writing goal were rewarded with ice cream. Thanks to the PTO who supplied the ice cream.

Mrs. Stewart Gets Math Started

At Deerfield math is not a quiet activity. Here Mrs. Stewart gets her students active counting by twos.

Mrs. Griesinger's Deerfield Group

Students in Mrs. Griesinger's class get ready to read their Scholastic News.

Varsity Men's Choir

Ms. Gibbons takes time to warm up the Varsity Men's Choir before starting class.

High School Geometry

Mr. O'Donnel works on "clock problems" in Geometry. Calculating angles by using times on a clock.

8th Grade History

Do you remember the Quartering Act? You would if you were in Mr. Fenchel's 8th grade history class today.

Honors Geometry at Novi Middle School

Ms. Halvorsen reviews homework with her students in Honors Geometry today. Boy am I lost!

Personal Property Tax Revenue

Part of our school aid revenue comes from a personal property tax on business. The Governor has proposed eliminating this tax. This chart shows the revenue Oakland County school districts receive from this tax. Novi's revenue is $1,141,673 or $184 per student. At this point the Governor has not identified any replacement. This is a great concern to me. This potential revenue decrease follows a $300 decrease that we absorbed this year. Please stay informed about this proposal.

Let's Hear It For The Band!

The Novi High School band plays in the rain before tonight's football game. What great spirit!

Middle School Starts

7th grade students start the new school year in the MS auditorium. Lots of laughs and hellos.

First Day - High School

Students wait in the high school atrium for the start of the first day of high school.

First Bus Runs of the New Year

Drivers arrived early this morning to get ready for the first bus runs of the 2011-2012 school year.

Novi Home Football

The Novi Wildcats started their home football season tonight against Walled Lake Western. A beautiful albeit warm evening for a game.

Seven Habits Training

Staff from Novi Meadows and Novi Woods met today in 7 Habits training. This is a K-6 district initiative that will have a profound impact on our staff and students.