Principal’s Blog
MasteryConnect in Elementary School Reporting 小學部評量系統—MasteryConnect
As was mentioned in the Elementary School Teas earlier this quarter, our elementary school assessment practice, in addition to that of our middle school, will also be changing at the end of the first quarter. At our coming Parent-Teacher-Student conferences, parents will receive both a more traditional report card (for all classes) and a MasteryConnect report…
Read MoreWhat It’s All For: ‘Success’ at MAK 在MAK,「成功」是什麼？
Two summers ago our MAK faculty read the book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol Dweck, and since then some of the precepts espoused in that text have seeped into our school’s language. The premise of the book, which can be seen visually here, is that we should have a growth mindset rather…
Read MoreThe Process of Learning: Defining Engagement 學習歷程：學習投入的定義
In Separating Product from Process we looked at the value, for students, teachers, and parents, of more explicitly communicating both the what and the how of learning. Regarding the latter, I explained how MAK will be communicating process through scores in three areas: Respect, Responsibility, and Engagement. The former two categories are more familiar to us…
Read MoreGetting Rid of the Singular Grade in Middle School: Separating Product from Process 在中學脫離單一分數：由學習過程中區分出學習成果
For decades, schools have been giving out singular grades for student performance in a course. “How did you do in geometry this year?” “A-.” “Are you good at English?” “Well, I got a B in LA this year. “ 幾十年來，學校一直依學生的表現提供每個課程的單獨分數。 甲∶「今年的幾何你學得怎麼樣？」 乙∶「我得了A-。」 甲∶「你的英文很好嗎？」 乙：「嗯……今年的語言藝術課，我只得到B。」 But often these scores aren’t truly reflective of what’s going on…
Read MoreFostering Inspired Thinking 培育激發思考
This summer I read a great book by George Couros that I particularly enjoyed because it resonates with a number of the thoughts I’ve shared in this space. In the opening pages of The Innovator’s Mindset he writes: 今年夏天我讀了一本讓我特別享受在其中的好書，這本是喬治庫羅斯（George Couros）的著作。因為它與我先前在這裡分享過的文章有許多共鳴之處。在《創新者的心態》一書的前幾頁中寫道： “Inspiration is one of the chief needs of today’s students. Kids walk into schools full…
Read MoreIt is Good to Follow Jesus 跟隨耶穌真好
It brings me tremendous pleasure to welcome you, our MAK community, to the 2017-2018 school year. Two weeks ago our new staff began their orientation to Taiwan, to our Morrison community, and to our way of teaching and learning at MAK. We have a fantastic new crew joining our staff, full of energy and creative…
Read MoreCreating Takes Collaboration, Risk-Taking, and Passion 創作需要協同合作、冒險進取與熱情
At MAK we believe that doing is a crucial component of true learning. Last month I touched on the action involved in our Christmas project and the audience afforded by our secondary research projects as part of doing at MAK. Another way we have being incorporating the doing component of learning this year is through our…
Read MoreWhen Learning is Doing
Earlier this year I described the three-pronged approach that MAK has toward education: Know, Be, and Do. In the first semester this space was largely dedicated to Being at MAK; namely kindness, decision-making, and the Three Bs. For the next few entries, I’d like to focus on Doing. Action is a crucial component of learning.…
Read MoreDefining Bullying, Inspiring Kindness
“You’re being such a bully!” These are familiar words to any parent, and they are more familiar words to any parent with more than one child. If your kids are like mine, calling a sibling, or anyone else for that matter, a bully is a way to get an immediate response out of an adult. But…
Read MoreWe Have a Choice
Last week in this space I discussed the 3 Bs of behavior for elementary kids at MAK: Be Respectful. Be Responsible. Be Safe. This week, our CommUNITY Week content takes us to conflict resolution. How to respond to conflict is something that adults regularly struggle with, and as such it is a major life skill.…
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