Camille McCue's Blog

December 29, 2023

Teamwork and Trophies: The Evergreen Value of Student Competitions

In guiding students to become both constructive collaborators and resilient competitors, we help them build powerful skills to t...

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Published on December 29, 2023 16:32

June 6, 2021

COVID-Era Graduates Learned Big Life Lessons

In a year when most schools were closed, our seniors — and our entire school community — worked together to live our school values: in spite of challenges, we supported one another to teach and learn in-person, pivoting in rational, informed ways, one day at a time.

In a year when most schools were closed, our seniors — and our entire school community — worked together to live our school values: in spite of challenges, we supported one another to teach and learn in-person, pivoting in rational, informed ways, one day at a time.

Wh...

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Published on June 06, 2021 15:52

February 11, 2021

Masked Instruments Still Make Sweet Music

This school year is about can, not can’t. Though instruments are masked, our students still make music!

This school year is about can, not can’t. Though instruments are masked, our students still make music!

How do you maintain COVID-19 mitigation protocols when making music — an art form that requires exhaling breath forcefully to play wind instruments? You get creativ...

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Published on February 11, 2021 21:12

January 2, 2020

Alternative History as a Route to History

Diplomacy, policy, and governance today requires understanding the intricacies of national origins.

Diplomacy, policy, and governance today requires understanding the intricacies of national origins.

What would a nation look like if the relative influence of its founders — or the actions of pivotal leaders along the way — varied from the course of events we recognize as history? High school students tackle a PBL addressing this theme applied to Modern Israel.

One Teacher’s PBL Approach in a Modern Israel Course

History is a tricky subject to teach. Looking backward is taught with the...

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Published on January 02, 2020 20:45

August 21, 2019

Silence the Volcano this Science Fair

Get kids investigating real questions that arise day-to-day — that’s authentic science in action!

Get kids investigating real questions that arise day-to-day — that’s authentic science in action!

No more volcano.jpg

No activity strikes more anxiety -- or Nobel-caliber competitiveness -- into your household than your kid’s annual school science fair. Stop recycling the same old “Model Volcano” project. Follow these tips to power up your kid’s science fair project by helping her get started the right way . Steer your kid towards something personally meaningful this year!

Jot Down “Why?” Questions Daily (Start...
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Published on August 21, 2019 12:48

July 26, 2019

Four, Free, Fabulous, Fun Ways to Get Kids Coding

Few high schools, and even fewer middle and elementary schools, are teaching the coding courses families want.

Few high schools, and even fewer middle and elementary schools, are teaching the coding courses families want.

No coding classes at your kid’s school? More than 90% of parents want their child to take a computer science course, but only 35% of high schools in the United States offer one -- and the middle and lower school numbers are far lower. So how can families expose kids to coding, and do it without breaking the bank on pricey summer camps?

Several free, easy-to-use, beginner computer pro...

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Published on July 26, 2019 19:55

July 19, 2019

Seven Personalities of Young Coders - And How to Teach Them

Chuteless Skydiver? Artist? Tech Guru? Kid personalities inform how to best teach them coding.

Chuteless Skydiver? Artist? Tech Guru? Kid personalities inform how to best teach them coding.

There is a wide range of dispositions when it comes to getting kids of all ages started in coding. Whether you’re a parent or a teacher, knowing your audience is the first step towards creating positive computer science experiences. Here are a few of the (many!) personality types you may encounter -- and how to best help them learn to code:

The chuteless skydiver

This kid dives right in, trying ever...

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Published on July 19, 2019 13:08

7 Personalities of Young Coders - And How to Teach Them

There is a wide range of dispositions when it comes to getting kids of all ages started in coding. Whether you’re a parent or a teacher, knowing your audience is the first step towards creating positive computer science experiences. Here are a few of the (many!) personality types you may encounter -- and how to best help them learn to code:

The chuteless skydiver. This kid dives right in, trying every command, without any specific plan of action. Celebrate his confidence at the keyboard while...

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Published on July 19, 2019 13:08

May 26, 2019

Egg-Citing Crash Helmet Design

 “Learning to apply theoretical principles is much better done when given real problems and hands-on activities in projects” [Shekar, 2014]. As part of a schoolwide evolution towards authentic, project based learning, teaching teams at our school — the Adelson Educational Campus — are reimagining traditionally-taught content in the context of engaging and rigorous projects to be executed over several weeks. The Crash Helmet Design project, in which students create a device for protecting an “...

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Published on May 26, 2019 10:14

May 22, 2019

Is Java a World Language?

Most high schools require that students take two to three years of a world language for the purposes of expanding their cultural and communications skills, and being competitive when applying to universities. But what constitutes a world language? Must it be a spoken language, or can it be something else, say, American Sign Language, or a computer programming language? Who decides what counts?

As schools work to evolve curriculum and employ technology in ever more meaningful ways, I mulled ove...

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Published on May 22, 2019 13:45