Written by Coach Chamberlain, Physical Education and Sports Coordinator As I read different articles on the internet about cutting back Physical Education in schools across the country, it only motivates me to do more as a Physical Education Teacher. Some schools are deciding it is best to eliminate PE from a student’s schedule, yet I believe it is one of the most important parts of a student’s school day. Many kids are asked to sit in a classroom for 8 hours a day with very little movement, yet as adolescents, movement is key to learning. Make that movement fun and we…

Written by Ms. Doetzer, Elementary Teacher   The Orton-Gillingham Approach is designed to help students with Dyslexia, which affects 1 in 5 children. Once you’ve been through the Orton-Gillingham training, there are a lot of fun ways to incorporate it into your classroom! These activities won’t just help those affected by Dyslexia, but will help every child in your classroom become more successful readers and spellers. Here are a few ideas that I’ve used in my own classroom!   Display resources on the walls and make Orton-Gillingham based bulletin boards for students to refer to when they struggle recalling a…

Board Test

Written by Mr. McConnell, Upper Team Instructor Horizon Academy was lucky to be near the path of a total solar eclipse this August. As a science teacher, I have been looking forward to this educational opportunity for a long time. Our earth science textbook, published in 2008, even mentions the 2017 total solar eclipse.   Early in the day, it was raining heavily and I was ready to accept that all our preparation had been for nothing. Then around 11:00, when I was due to give our introductory presentation the sky began to clear. All the students gathered in the black…

Written by Ms. Guillory, Upper Team Teacher The opportunity to witness the solar eclipse last week allowed me to reflect for a moment on awe (a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder). It isn’t often that we get to experience something sublime in nature, but it is even less often that we get to share such an experience with people we love.   [caption id="attachment_4541" align="alignright" width="393"] Horizon Academy students take in the solar eclipse.[/caption] Being surrounded by my high school students as well as the younger, more excitable students warmed my heart in a way I…

Written by Mrs. Semro, Middle Team Teacher The very word summer brings to my mind mental images of swimming pools, lightning bugs, baseball, and ice cream cones.  The smells of suntan lotion and outdoor grills being fired up are almost tangible and are what dreams are made of during the cold months of winter.  Schools and academic work are not traditionally what come to mind as one thinks of June and July. Slides should only refer to water parks and backyards.   However, increasingly, current and even older, established research, demonstrate what is commonly referred to as the "summer slide".  "Summer…

Written by Judy Cowin, Tutoring Coordinator   I am often asked, “What is Orton-Gillingham?”  Parents may have come across the name in their research, heard of a “multi-sensory method”, or received a referral from a psychologist recommending a program such as Orton-Gillingham.   This past year we have embarked on the opening of the Tutoring Center to support students who struggle in reading, math, and executive function skills.  Many of our students come to the center with a diagnosis of dyslexia or a language based disability. Studies have shown the Orton-Gillingham Approach to be effective with these students and others who…

Written by Mr. McFarland, Middle Team Teacher Each year kids (and teachers) count down the last 20 some days of the school year and look forward to summer break. It means something different probably to each person, but it’s important in some ways to everyone. It feels like a finish line has been crossed. Remember how that feels? It feels great! My writing class was writing persuasive paragraphs recently and one of the topic choices was, “Should schools be year-round?”  I went to some length to explain how the writer, like a debater, needs to be able to reason from…

Written by Mrs. Denning, Upper Team Teacher "The greatest individuals who attain the highest forms of achievement in life don’t sprint toward success, but significance. They don’t run races, build businesses, raise kids, and live lives for themselves; they do these things to make a difference for others. They hold hands, move hearts, give love, and impact lives." -John O'Leary I love this quote, and I'd like to think that I'm living the life of a "great" individual. Since childhood I envisioned myself as a supportive and encouraging wife and mother. Then I began working at Horizon in 2004 as…

Written by Ms. Olinger, Middle Team Teacher Learning strategies work well with our students as it gives them a concrete way to move through a specific skill. Traditional classrooms often use textbooks, and students must be familiar with the organization and the tools contained in the text.  A strategy that I teach in my Content class, HOVER, gives students a preview of a chapter or reading selection. After mastering the strategy, the student will be able to use the learning aids provided in the textbook and its features to both gain information and facilitate further study of the chapter content.…