Helen Parkhurst

When Helen C. Parkhurst graduated in 1907 from the two-year elementary course, her professors might have predicted an unusual career for her. Her thesis was titled "Child Heart," and she had written below her picture in the yearbook: "Here buds the promise of celestial worth." It took only a short time for this young woman from Durand to bloom. After teaching two years in Hudson, she took a position in Tacoma, Wash., and in 1910 founded the laboratory plan for elementary school individualized instruction. 

For this, she received her first award, the "Distinguished Gold Medal," given by the Board of Education, and was named "First Citizen of Tacoma."

Parkhurst returned to Wisconsin in 1912 to become the director of the Primary Department at UW-Stevens Point. Three years later she spent a year in Italy studying with the education pioneer, Maria Montessori. When Montessori came to the United States to lecture, Parkhurst joined her and for a time administered the Montessori schools across the nation. It was in New York, however, where she spent most of her distinguished career. Known as the originator of the Dalton Plan of Education, which became a model for countless schools throughout the world, she earned a place in the directory, 100 Educators of All Time.

This distinguished alumna, who was one of the most influential educators of her era, expressed her philosophy through television and radio programs and in numerous articles and books. Her first books,Education on the Dalton Plan (1922) and Exploring the Child’s World (1936), became standard references for this system of elementary education. Before her death in 1973, she also wrote Growing Pains (1962) and Undertow (1963), and had been decorated by the Queen of Italy, Empress of Japan, and the Queen of the Netherlands. There is a Parkhurst Lecture Hall at UW-Stevens Point. Many schools in the Netherlands have her name "Helen Parkhurst School".

Truly, her educational philosophy is an extension of her senior thesis "Child Heart." Montessori best summarized her career: 
"Her intelligent activity is truly rare and precious."

From: University of Wisconsin

The Polish Dalton Association invited me to give a training to a group of Dalton co-ordinators, three lectures to students and a presentation of all Dalton aspects during a conference.

Reaktionen nach :
r.kistermann@albrecht-duerer-gymnasium.de

Dalton training in Poland

On Saturday November 16th I worked with a group of 45 teachers from
all over Poland to give a training.

The Polish Dalton Association is selecting Dalton co-ordinators to assist with the Dalton implementation in Kindergarten and other schools.

After a presentation about the task of a Dalton co-ordinator, the colleagues worked in small groups and got much information from the
side of some Polish Dalton consultants.

Workshops and seminars in Poland

The coming days I am in Poland for several Dalton activities.
The Polish Dalton Association invited me to give a training for Dalton
co-ordinators. The number of schools who have started with the first implementation of Dalton education is still growing in this country.

Some of these new Dalton co-ordinators participated in the International Dalton Meeting at KPZ University last May.

In Warszawa I will work with three different groups of students at the APS University. This University is specialized in the training of teachers for special education. Dalton is a new element in their programm.
Finally I will give an introduction of Dalton education during a conference for teachers in 'Sroda Wielkopolska.

Reflection is an important topic that has to be integrated in all activities.

Message from Facebook

Dalton Teachers From Tokyo and Nagoya Visit Dalton NYC - First Program students and teachers said "Sayonara" to four Japanese teachers visiting us.

Our visitors spent two weeks visiting classrooms, museums, special events taking place at Dalton, and a variety of NYC landmarks.

The Golden Circle.

Simon Sinek has a simple but powerful model  how to come to an inspiring leadership. 

It starts with the question "Why?"

. 

See his very interesting presentation HERE

Development of a logo

The first logo was a design of  Nol Manten, famous painter in Utrecht.
It was made to symbolise the integration of the Kindergarten 'De Merel' with the primary Dalton school "Juliana van Stolbergschool".
In 1985 the new fusion got the name "Dalton Basisschool Pieterskerkhof".

Later I suggested  the new founded Czech Dalton Association to use this logo.
Now the two birds were symbolising the co-operation between secondary and primary education.

When we founded  Dalton International we liked to use the freedom
of birds again. The birds are flying from the West to Europe and further.
From "The Dalton School" in New York,  the ideas of Helen Parkhurst were implemented in hundreds of schools all over Europe. But in other continents there are also important Dalton Schools such as "Ascham" in Sydney, famous Kindergarten in Tokio and Kobe.
The newest Dalton school can be found in Hongkong: "Little Dalton".

Dalton activities in Poland

Little Dalton Hongkong

Visit the website of this school.

This school is Member of Dalton International.

New Dalton initiative in Poland

Yesterday I've got this message from Dorota Olejnik, Śmigiel - Poland

We catched up the concept of the Dalton Plan after a visit in the ABIS school in Łódź. Since two years in our State Primary School in Śmigiel. Four classes have worked according to the Dalton Plan. We are satisfied because our pupils want to learn. They do their duties with big responsibility; they also choose tasks on their own. They plan their job and can cooperate with other pupils. For us teachers also it’s big pleasure and satisfaction. We will participate in conference in WWSSE in Środa Wielkopolska in two weeks.

We hope that someday there will be an opportunity to meet in Śmigiel.

Dorota Olejnik

Material for roles in a team

This morning from the website of Kagan.

I produced these 'buttons' for the different roles in a cooperative team.
These buttons are available for you. Just write me an email:
RL.Rohner@kpnmail.nl
Ask for the English or Dutch version.

Learn how to improve student engagement and build a positive climate for learning and discipline for grades K-12.

We've all heard this about students: "If they are engaged, they are managed." And this is absolutely the truth. But we still need rules, routines, trust, and student ownership to make a classroom run smoothly and effectively. 



This guide will address those practical aspects of managing a classroom, with suggestions and resources appropriate for 
grades K-12.

What's Inside ?

  1.       Design a Safe, Friendly, and Well-Managed Classroom 

         Environment

  2.       Include Students in Creating Rules, Norms, Routines, 

         and Consequences

  3.       Create a Variety of Communication Channels

  4.       Always Be Calm, Fair, and Consistent

  5.       Know the Students You Teach

  6.       Address Conflict Quickly and Wisely

  7.       Integrate Positive Classroom Rituals

  8.       Keep It Real

  9.       Partner with Parents and Guardians

  10.       Partner with Parents and Guardians

Find it on EDUTOPIA

The new Dalton school in Austria

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