Carol W. PaolaTeacher of the GiftedT.L. Reeves Elementary SchoolLong Beach School District

Meeting the Expectations for 21st Century Skills

Carol W. Paola

Teacher of the Gifted

T.L. Reeves Elementary School

Long Beach School District

Gifted PLC Presentation April 2014

What Are 21st-Century Skills?Learning to collaborate with others and connect through technology are

essential skills in a knowledge-based economy.

ATC21S started with a group of more than 250 researchers across 60 institutions worldwide who categorized 21st-century skills internationally into four broad categories:

Ways of thinking. Creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making and learning

Ways of working. Communication and collaboration Tools for working. Information and communications technology

(ICT) and information literacy Skills for living in the world. Citizenship, life and career, and

personal and social responsibility

The Mission Statement(MDE Website)

The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will be best positioned to compete successfully in the global economy.

Alignment with Gifted Process Skills

Common Core of Academic SkillsMaster core subjects

English, reading or language arts World languages Arts Mathematics Economics Science Geography History Government and Civics

21st Century Standards

Focus on 21st century skills, content knowledge and expertise.

Builds understanding across and among core subjects as well as 21st century interdisciplinary themes

Emphasizes deep understanding rather than shallow knowledge

Engages students with the real world data, tools, and experts they will encounter in college, on the job, and in life--students learn best when actively engaged in solving meaningful problems

Enables innovative learning methods that integrate the

use of supportive technologies, inquiry- and problem-based approaches and higher order thinking skills

Encourages the integration of community resources beyond school walls

21st Century Interdisciplinary Themes

In addition to these subjects, we believe schools must move beyond a focus on basic competency in core subjects to promoting understanding of academic content at much higher levels by weaving 21st century interdisciplinary themes into core subjects:

Global Literacy Civic Literacy Environmental Literacy Health Literacy Financial, economic, business and entrepreneurial literacy

Global Literacy

Using 21st century skills to understand and address global issues

Understanding the local and global implications of civic decisions

A Reflection on “Spying”

by Payton Hudson

One day we talked about spying. The United States has

been listening to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s

private calls, so Germany got mad with us. We have been

friends with Germany for years, so it probably wasn’t a good idea to spy on

them.

They found out because Edward Snowden told the United States’

secrets. We are sort of mad at Russia because they took him in for asylum.

He would get arrested and taken to court if he came back to the United States.

One of the countries we really don’t trust is North Korea. They probably

want to bomb us. Kim Jung Un is the First Secretary of North Korea.

(Long Beach 3rd Grader)

Civic Literacy Participating effectively in civic life through knowing how

to stay informed and understanding governmental processes

Exercising the rights and obligations of citizenship at local, state, national and global levels

Environmental LiteracyDemonstrate knowledge and understanding of the

environment and the circumstances and conditions

affecting it, particularly as relates to air, climate, land, food, energy, water and ecosystems

Long Beach Discovery Kids Develop PSA’s for the

“Clean Air Campaign”

Take individual and collective action towards addressing environmental challenges

(e.g., participating in global actions, designing solutions that inspire action on environmental issues)

Investigate and analyze environmental issues, and make accurate conclusions about effective solutions

Jean Gardner’s 5th Graders Addressing Use of Pesticides and Herbicides at East Hancock Elementary.

Project at MDE for State Showcase

Health Literacy Obtaining, interpreting and understanding basic health information

and services and using such information and services in ways that are health enhancing

Understanding preventive physical and mental health measures,

including proper diet, nutrition, exercise, risk avoidance and stress reduction

Using available information to make appropriate health-related decisions

Establishing and monitoring personal and family health goals

Understanding national and international public health and safety issues

Planning and conducting school-wide events to promote healthy initiatives …

Financial, economic, business and entrepreneurial literacy

Knowing how to make appropriate personal economic choices

Using entrepreneurial skills to enhance workplace productivity and career options

Hot Cocoa Powder $1.25

Decorated Pinecones $2.00

Mugs $2.00

Stuffed Animals $1.00

Christmas Items $.75

School Supplies $.50-$1.00

Candy $.75 for 2

Baked Goods $1.00-$4.00

21st Century Learning Environments

Creates learning practices, human support and physical environments that will support the teaching and learning of 21st century skill outcomes

Supports professional learning communities that enable educators to collaborate, share best practices and integrate 21st century skills into classroom practice

Enables students to learn in relevant, real world 21st century contexts (e.g., through project-based or other applied work)

Allows equitable access to quality learning tools, technologies and resources

Provides 21st century architectural and interior designs for group, team and individual learning.

Supports expanded community and international involvement in learning, both face-to-face and online

“Transforming education for the 21st-century is a global issue that requires a worldwide partnership among governments, educators, academics and industries to make a real and sustainable difference.”

The Partnership for the 21st Century Skills

Sources Assessment and Teaching for the 21st

Century Skills. Atc21s.org. Center for 21st Century Skills at Education

Connection. www.skills21.org. Mississippi Department of Education. Partnership for the 21st Century Skills.

www.p21.org.