Perspectives in Education
AI in the Classroom: A Teacher’s Guide
Faculty and staff of Jackson Academy heard a fascinating presentation about artificial intelligence in education on Professional Development Day in March. Literature teacher Alesha Cary led a session that she has presented at professional conferences in Mississippi on what educators should understand about AI, both the positive and the cautionary.
Seniors Hear Words of Wisdom from Recent JA Graduates
Twelve Jackson Academy alumni returned to campus on Monday to share what they have learned during their first semester of college. Sponsored by the JA College Counseling Office, this event helps upcoming graduates prepare for their next steps after graduation.
READ MORE ▸ Seniors Hear Words of Wisdom from Recent JA Graduates
Developing Wise Social Media Consumers
As adults, when we see children misbehave or act out, we often view these situations as opportunities to teach them about different ways to handle conflict or manage crises. In doing so, they learn that although some circumstances may be beyond their control, their reactions and subsequent behavior are not. The overuse of technology by school-aged students is a concern many parents share.
Digital Safety Important During School and Summer Months
As access to and reliance on the internet grows, it is, now more than ever, important to teach students about the right ways to use this powerful tool.
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Tech Team Experience Yields Students Ready for Next Steps
In this blog post, we learn how Jackson Academy works to develop future leaders and prepare students for careers through student Tech Teams. Teen Tech Week is March 5-11.
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Art Instruction Throughout School Years Builds Better Thinkers
Pablo Picasso famously said: “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” I agree with Picasso. In their formative years, young children love to create art. Just provide the materials, and each child will create multiple works of art without hesitation. It is documented that we go through the same basic stages of developmental art as children.
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Mindset Matters, Part II: Director of Choral Music Amy Whittenton Shares Insights from Mindset Theory
There are two mindsets within Carol D. Dweck, Ph.D.’s mindset theory: fixed and growth. At its most basic level, a fixed mindset means that a person believes that people’s qualities are unchangeable or “fixed.” The growth mindset opposes this view, stating that time and effort can cultivate people’s qualities. These mindsets impact every person daily and influence how they view themselves, others, and their activities.
STEM Education: 4 C’ing the Future, Today
Defining STEM is a simple task. It is an acronym that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. But its simplicity ends there. STEM is much more than a catchy buzzword that seeks to combine the four subjects under a single umbrella.
Director of Learning Diversity Shares Memorable Insights into Memorization
Memory is likely one of the most important but misunderstood functions of the brain. To understand memory and its strengths and weaknesses, you need to understand the variety of types and the influence the brain’s natural processes have on learning.
READ MORE ▸ Director of Learning Diversity Shares Memorable Insights into Memorization
Mindset Matters, Part I: Director of Choral Music Amy Whittenton Shares Insights from Mindset Theory
Jackson Academy partners with parents to raise up the men and women who you’ll want as neighbors and co-workers someday – good people with kind hearts and bright minds.
The Importance of Play in School
Play break at school might just be the most exciting part of a child’s day. Not only is it a time for imaginations to run wild, friendships to form, and laughter to abound, but it is also a crucial time for social development, physical development, and cognitive development in growing children.
Efforts of ARC Teachers and Students Lead to Lasting Benefits
As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow so eloquently wrote in his poem “A Psalm of Life,” human beings can lead lives of greatness that will “leave footprints on the sands of time.” Longfellow was calling his readers to live life to the fullest and set an everlasting and inspiring example for others. Longfellow’s call is evident in the actions of Jackson Academy teachers, particularly those in the Academic Resource Center (ARC) who help students live more fully by understanding how they learn best, managing learning differences, developing confidence, and sharpening time management skills.
READ MORE ▸ Efforts of ARC Teachers and Students Lead to Lasting Benefits
‘Goal Digger’ Jen Henson Offers Parents ACT-Prep Advice
November 9 through 13, Jen Henson led an intense, five-day ACT preparation boot camp for Jackson Academy’s junior class. With 22 years of experience as a high school English teacher and nearly ten years owning her ACT coaching company Goal Digger, Henson’s work equipped students with a detailed map to increasing their scores and potentially locking in more competitive scholarships. During a break in her day, we sat down with Henson and asked for her top three tips on how parents can help their children prepare to perform their best on the test.
READ MORE ▸ ‘Goal Digger’ Jen Henson Offers Parents ACT-Prep Advice
Respect and Reciprocity
Upper School American English teacher Sandra McKay works to make respect reciprocal. She wants students to feel respected, to respect one another, and to respect their teachers and the educational experience.
Cultivating Resilient Learners
Jan Sojourner and CJ Stewart foster a common trait in students at Jackson Academy: resilience. Each believes resilience is a characteristic that can be developed and will be useful throughout life.
Choose Kind
Experienced public relations professionals at a communications conference I recently attended wrestled with the topic of incivility. Their task was to determine what they could do as communicators about the rise of incivility, which is often at the forefront of daily experiences on social media.
Building Confidence in their Competence
Chris Tucker, a veteran teacher at Jackson Academy with 35 years of service, believes teaching more than the subject matter is part of his role. He calls it “developing confidence in their competence.”
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