Mr. B's Blog

www.pentucketmusic.com The Pentucket Regional School District is now by definition, the most innovative public school system in the state of Massachusetts.  Innovation schools were originally designed for lower level school districts facing state takeover.  Pentucket, considered a higher achieving district, was able to capitalize on the opportunity to add innovation schools when the state department made it possible for any level district to apply. See the following Boston Globe articles: 1 2 What is the Pentucket Music Conservatory? This is an innovation school focused on the music education we provide for Pentucket students in grades 7-12.  Over the course of the 2014-2015 school year, a committee made up of faculty, administration, a school committee member, parents, and a student representative dedicated their time to answer the following two initiatives: 1. Create career pathways for music 2. Expand the music education opportunities for students not in our...

I remember back to when I was in the first grade at the Bagnall School in Groveland, Massachusetts.  Our teacher told us about an exciting new room that no other class had been in.  We would be the first group of students to try out the school's new computer lab!  I remember walking into the room, basically a converted storage room with no windows and about 15 huge Apple computers.  My fondest memories of using technology in elementary school included playing the games "Oregon Trail" and "Where in the World is Carmen San Diego."  As a reflective educator, I also recall learning how to type and having pen pals with dog sled racers in Alaska.  Fastforward to 2015.  I have been teaching for seven years and have already gone through a full "edtech trend."  I consider an edtech trend something that hits the market and every teacher wants, though they don't know how to use and are not sure on its success for integration into actual les...