Walton Middle School teachers started the new year with a new professional learning experience--Edcamp.

Edcamp is an organic, teacher-driven model that is fairly new to the professional learning scene and a paradigm shift from the traditional, sit-and-get conference style.  On the day of Edcamp, teachers propose discussion topics pertinent to their day-to-day experiences in the classroom, and breakout sessions are created accordingly, evolving as the event progresses.  These personalized topics yield rich, realistic, and problem-solution centered conversations among teachers.

At WMS' Edcamp, teacher-driven discussions included topics like differentiation, strategies for challenging advanced learners, parent communication, intrinsic motivation, and digital technology, among others--all relevant issues that impact classroom instruction and student learning.  Throughout the day, teachers engaged in insightful, collegial conversations that helped re-ignite their passion for their profession--a great start to the new year.

Submitted by Kristen Rhodes.

Teachers from Maude Saunders Elementary and Freeport Elementary participated in a differentiated instruction training at the WISE Center. Author and educator, Jodi O'Meara, provided teachers with strategies and suggestions for differentiating instruction in their classrooms to best meet the learning needs of the students. Submitted by Brianna Leavins.

Mrs. Mills’ and Mrs. Carroll’s fourth grade classes at West DeFuniak Elementary raised money for the Walton County Animal Shelter. Students earned $0.25 for an A, $0.20 for a B and $0.10 for a C. They earned the money for math and science grades taught by Mrs. Mills. They also earned money for behavior grades. “E” or Excellent conduct earned $2.00 and “S” or Satisfactory earned $1.00. In addition, students who had straight A’s in all 4 subjects earned an extra $5.00 for the project. The students earned a total of $91.05 and one student donated $5.00 of her own money, so we ended up with $96.05 to buy items for the shelter.

With that we were able to purchase the following:

30 pound bag of dry cat food, 50 pound bag of dry dog food, a case of wet cat food (24) & a case of wet dog food (12), a 25 pound case of cat litter, a container of treats for the dogs and one for cats, cleaning supplies for the shelter, including paper towels, disinfecting wipes and magic erasers.

The students were very excited to get to do a good deed for the shelter and hope their hard work helps the animals in need this holiday season.

Submitted by Jessica Dawkins.