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The Teaching Gap: Looking Outside the U.S.
More than 10 years ago, an interesting book came out in the education field that I would recommend to anyone with school-age children. Called The Teaching Gap: Best Ideas from the World’s Teachers for Improving Education in the Classroom (Stigler and Hiebert), it clearly marks an important shift in the world of mathematics education.
The Teaching Gap draws conclusions from a very comprehensive international study, called the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), which methodically investigated mathematics and science achievement among 4th-, 8th-, and 12th-grade students in 41 nations. The results were dramatic and paint a picture of an American education system in need of change.
Fortunately, the study also collected a
wealth of information about educational factors that might help us
understand why we see different levels of performance in different countries.
Research shows that there are more effective ways to learn and
retain mathematics; Trinity incorporates those techniques into its curriculum.
| MLK Celebration Strengthens Trinity's Community
by Viji Panda, Coordinator of Multicultural Programs
It’s not easy for me to summarize Trinity’s month-long celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. First of all, the lessons and activities varied from class to class, so any true recap would be impossibly long. Second, I am usually overwhelmed with emotion when I think about our students’ incredible capacity to understand and overcome some very ugly truths about our nation’s history. Students sign the "No Place for Hate" pledge
The month began with a few goals: chapel each day would be based on a larger idea or theme from Dr. King’s life; teachers would look for ways to connect their curricula with the larger messages of the civil rights movement and the life of Dr. King; we would offer a strong service component to reinforce the idea of connection to our larger community; and we would try to bring in some guest speakers who could add their personal experience and stories to our lessons.
Read More | Faculty Profile: 1st grade Teacher Cindee McMahon Cindee McMahon joined the Trinity faculty this year after two years teaching at the Town School for Boys in San Francisco. But her roots have always been in Texas. She grew up in Texarkana and Marshall, hoping to become a cowgirl, a baseball player, or an artist when she grew up.
Once she got to college at Stephen F. Austin State University, though, some “incredibly inspiring” education classes turned her thoughts toward being a teacher.
Ms. McMahon in action!
| Spelling, and Spelling, and s-p-e-l- …
Tanner and Spelling Bee Coordinator Shanna Weiss
The Trinity Spelling Bee was scheduled to last for one hour, sandwiched in between 2nd and 3rd period. It wound up lasting 16 rounds, with a feature-film length running time of one hour and 50 minutes. Seventh grader Tanner Svanas won and will now advance to the District X spelling bee next week.
Congratulations and good luck, Tanner!
Middle School Geography Bee Showcases Students' Skills
The study of geography is woven throughout the Trinity curriculum, from mapping the U.S. from memory in 3rd grade through Global Studies in 5th grade and Ancient and Modern History in later grades.
“Our students must have geography knowledge in order to be able to fully understand the dynamics at play in world history,” says 6th grade History teacher Beverly Kesslar. “They must know not only the names of places, but also their locations and interrelationships, population distribution, and physical characteristics. They must read maps, charts, and graphs, and be able to use that data to support their comprehension of history.”
All Middle School students have the opportunity to compete in the annual  National Geographic GeoBee Challenge. Students compete in seven preliminary rounds, and then each class sends a finalist to compete in the Trinity Middle School Geography Bee, in which students are asked oral and written questions about U.S., world, and cultural geography.
The winner of the 2010 Middle School Geography Bee was 6th grader Joey Belisle. He’ll now advance to the next level of competition, completing a written examination to quality for the Texas Geography Bee. Winners of that Bee compete for the national championship and its first prize, a $25,000 college scholarship.
Congratulations and good luck, Joey!
Joey Belisle and Geography Bee Coordinator
Beverly Kesslar
| Spotlight on a Special: Art Education at Trinity
When our students begin and end the day in the same classroom, it can be easy to forget all the different rooms and lessons they move through in the course of a day.
Trinity’s visual arts teachers work to make connections between their classroom activities and other subjects, and they work hard to engage every student in the thought processes necessary to make actual art.
A Middle School student works on her Magen David project - symbolism and meaning make the difference between art and craft
| BABIES!
A very warm welcome to all the babies who have been born to Trinity families recently!
Click here to see photos ... (password-protected)
Congratulations, Amanda! 
Congratulations to 6th grader Amanda Roche, who had quite a year on the pony hunter and jumper circuit! She won the state of Texas championship and then finished 5th in the nation in the Small Pony Hunter division. Here she is on her winning pony, "Just the Fax," known around the barn as Teddy.
| Events Make Night to Shine Fun Last All Year
by Xio Goss, Special Events Coordinator Sure, A Night to Shine is a great place to find a spectacular vacation home or splurge on a premier parking spot. But it’s also the source of a lot of great parties that happen throughout the year!
Can you make better chili than this man?
This year's Chili Cookoff winner John Donovan and his wife Jacy
Through the “Sensational Sign-Ups” category of auction items, Night to Shine organizers offer fixed-price experiences that are unique and affordable. Past events have included a private tour of the Blanton museum, quilting and knitting parties, and a men-only evening featuring clay shooting and poker.
A few of these evenings have even become perennial favorites, including the Texas Hold ‘Em tournament and the Dad’s Chili Cookoff. Read More |
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