As part of understanding the student experience within the Indian Hill School District, each building principal received an assignment at the start of the 2019-2020 school year – to be a student for two days. The first shadow experience is with a student in the building they serve; the second is spent with a student at another building within the Indian Hill School District. This series captures the learning that resulted from the shadowing.
STUDENT FOR A DAY
By Principal Whitney Buell
Snapshot of activities:
Our very own third-grade student Elle Mikula allowed me to tag along with her as a student at Indian Hill Elementary School (IHES). Together we attended morning meeting, English/language arts, math, science, PE, Spanish, RECESS, lunch and GO! Time. It was one action-packed day! For my shadow experience outside of IHES, sixth-grade student Kayla Love helped me to navigate my way around Indian Hill Middle School (IHMS) through English/language arts, social studies, science, math, orchestra, Spanish, and Learning Lab.
Impact:
As an educator, I will look to ensure that all students have movement throughout the day. At the third-fifth grade level, their attention spans require that they are active and engaged in diverse learning experiences.
Learning:
Our students participate in amazing learning experiences every day. They are engaged, and lessons are designed to meet them at their level. They are happy and feel cared about. They are also very busy!
Summary:
I had the best day with both students, and I am so fortunate that our District supports this type of professional learning.
What did the students think?
Elle Mikula/Third Grade, IHES: “The experience was awesome! I hope you do this with other kids.”
Kayla Love/Sixth Grade, IHMS: “The experience was fun. Also that many other teachers get to do shadowing with other students and know what it is like for the students.”
Photo caption: Indian Hill Elementary School Principal Whitney Buell shadowed two students as part of a professional development exercise to better understand the student experience.