Jones Elementary Students Featured in International Publication

Children's Mathematics: Cognitively Guided Instruction has been a useful resource at Jones Elementary for the past ten years. Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) has been monumental to the shifts in mathematics that are expected for students to be successful with the Common Core State Standards. This research allows teachers to gain a deeper understanding about students' intuitive knowledge of  mathematics and how they can foster this development in ways that honor children's thinking while still making connections to deep mathematical content.

A second edition of the book was released in October 2014. Highlights include:

• how children solve problems using addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and base-ten
• the development of children's mathematical thinking
• instruction that encourages engagement in deep mathematical concepts
• connections between children's strategies and properties of operations

Also included in the second edition are online videos that capture children's thinking about mathematics and student to teacher interactions. Students from Jones Elementary are featured in the videos to illustrate and support teaching practices that honor the intentions of the Common Core State Standards.

Two Jones Elementary Teachers Recognized As Finalists For Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

Jones Elementary is first school to have 2 teachers selected as finalists for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Third grade teacher, Mindy Epp, and fifth grade teacher, Ashley Kasnicka, were acknowledged at the November district school board meeting for such an amazing achievement.

 

Jones Principal Receives National Recognition

Jones Principal Receives National Recognition

posted Oct 28, 2014, 12:29 PM by Lauren Taylor   [ updated Nov 3, 2014, 9:22 AM ]

Written by: Rick Schaeffer

Melissa Fink directs her staff daily to teach students whose background is high poverty. All but a very few of Jones Elementary students are on free or reduced lunch. As principal at Jones, Fink has earned several awards but she may be about to receive her highest recognition.

Laurie Calvert, Teacher Liason in the Office of Communications and Outreach at the United States Department of Education was in town Tuesday to observe Melissa for most of the day. She spent time in several classrooms in trying to determine the angle she would take in producing a video that will be made available to every teacher in the country. That’s right. EVERY teacher in the entire country.

Only four principals and/or teachers in the U.S. were selected. Why Melissa Fink?

“We have six categories we are trying to cover and the more we looked at her work, we discovered Melissa Fink could serve as an example in any of the six,” Calvert said while visiting Justin Minkel’s classroom at Jones.

How did she know about Melissa in the first place?

“I have had several opportunities to communicate with Justin Minkel and have a great deal of respect for his insights,” said Calvert. Minkel was one of four finalists for national teacher of the year a few years ago and is highly connected. “I was asking Justin for a teacher who would be good for this video and he kept coming back to his principal. We realized she was a perfect candidate.”

Candidate for what? What is the video about?

“It’s a video to encourage teachers to know that the changes being made in education are meaningful and progress is being made,” Calvert said. “We are reaching kids we never would have reached before and Jones is a perfect example. At Jones they believe that every child will succeed and they are doing what it takes to make sure that happens. They have high expectations for their students. It’s exciting to hear what some of these kids want to do.”

Calvert and her crew will return some time during the next two weeks to begin work on the video. Melissa and her staff will be ready.

“This is a great honor,” Fink said. “We are thrilled they chose Jones.”

https://sites.google.com/a/sdale.org/springdale-schools/home/-springdalestories-blog/jonesprincipalreceivesnationalrecognition

Anna Dellinger Shaw Recognized as Jones Elementary Teacher of the Year

Anna Dellinger Shaw was recognized at the October Springdale school board meeting as Jones Elementary teacher of the year.


TubeChop - Springdale School Board: October Meeting (00:28)

Principal Melissa Fink Goes Above and Beyond

Jones Elementary Principal Melissa Fink received a service award for going above and beyond. 

Although teachers and staff observe her daily dedication to go above and beyond in making Jones Elementary a place that supports students to live the life they dream, it is wonderful to see her recognized. She leads by example and inspires us all to do the same.