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DEVELOPING SMALLER LEARNING COMMUNITIES AND
CAREER ACADEMIES
Objective:
To provide administrators and schools with
the information, research and facilitation
necessary to plan and implement smaller
learning communities and career academy
programs as a means of restructuring high
schools into more personalized environments.
Audience:
High school administrators, teachers,
parents, boards of education and central
office administrators
Method of Delivery:
WORKSHOP: This workshop will focus upon the
ideas brought forth by NASSP’s BREAKING
RANKS II to restructure high schools into
smaller units that meet the needs of
students through higher levels of
personalization. Participants will learn
about methods through which to develop
smaller learning communities and career
academy programs. In addition, other
personalization programs such as mentorship
programs can be built into the workshop.
The format is interactive goal setting,
followed by input and small group work to
develop a vision and mission for an SLC
program.
Length of Time
needed:
One day minimum; two days optimal with a two
day follow up within two months; long term
monthly meetings, if necessary.
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES AND HIGH
SCHOOL REFORM
Objective: Using data from the
school, the need for developing Professional
Learning Communities will be established in
order to increase teacher collaboration and
student achievement. The effort will be
framed in the context of whole school reform
efforts and activities that can be pursued
to change traditional elements of the high
school that will serve students better in a
more personalized environment.
Audience:
High school faculties, administrators and
central office personnel.
Method of
Delivery: WORKSHOP: This two
day workshop will focus upon developing an
understanding of the current school data,
along with the background research and
literature of Professional Learning
Communities. Participants will work
together to understand the data and develop
a PLC plan and structure that allows for
maximum collaboration for increased student
achievement.
Day 1:
Groups will work with the data and REVIEW
their current teaching methods that are
effective and not effective to come to a
consensus of what institutions in the school
need to be changed. The vision and mission
of the school will be examined and aligned
to the current data, along with development
of a long term plan for the school
Day 2:
Groups will work and come to consensus about
the ground rules and structure for the
school PLCs groups. Common agendas, meeting
times, topics of discussion and reading
groups will be set up during this time.
Schools will also develop unique plans and
structure for their school’s PLC based upon
the unique aspects and needs presented by
the data.
EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS AND SECONDARY SCHOOL
REFORM
Objective:
To dovetail and parallel effective schools
tenets with high school reform tenets to
help good schools become GREAT schools.
Participants will have a full understanding
of the tenets of effective schools research
and then apply it to their own buildings to
frame reform efforts to improve student
achievement.
Audience:
Secondary administrators, teachers, central
office personnel, boards of education and
parents.
Method of Delivery:
WORKSHOP
Day 1—The
first day will focus on the background
research of Effective Schools, Professional
Learning Communities and Breaking Ranks II.
Participants will apply these ideas to
activities and program in their own schools
through small group facilitations. Review
of the vision and mission of the school will
be framed through what we know makes a
school effective. Student data from the
school will be discussed to allow for
effective framing and discussion.
Day 2—This
day will focus upon review of the work from
the previous day, followed by further
facilitation to develop an improvement
reform plan for the school that will be
implemented through reform of the school
structures and programs. The planning for
this day will take place the evening before,
based upon the information gleaned from Day
1. The agenda for this day will be tailored
to the needs of the school as determined on
Day 1.
Follow Up: Monthly or bi-monthly follow up
sessions as a large group are recommended.
More frequent follow up should be
implemented through the PLC structure of the
school
DEVELOPING FRESHMAN TRANSITION/ACADEMY
PROGRAMS
Objective:
To provide school level administrators and
teachers with the research and planning
tools necessary to develop freshman
transition/academy programs tailored to the
“DNA” of their school environment to allow
freshman to effectively transition to high
school. The long-term objective of this
workshop is to decrease the failure and
absence rates during the freshman year,
thereby increasing the success of freshman
students
Method of Delivery:
WORKSHOP (2 days) Based upon one key element
of high school reform, this workshop will
facilitate a school community’s program to
provide for an adult contact with students
to help them succeed in high school. Using
a method of student SUCCESS, participants
will come away with curriculum maps and
activities to use in a freshman
academy/transition program. This will be
completed through a needs assessment, goals
setting, input and curriculum design group.
Day 1—The
focus of Day 1 will be freshman data from
across the country and from the school.
Breaking Ranks II research will also be
introduced and discussed. A needs
assessment for the school will be completed
as it relates to freshman success/failure
and transition. A vision and mission for
the freshman transition program will be
developed in facilitation groups.
Day 2—The
focus of Day 2 will be planning and
developing the freshman academy/transtion
program for the school. By the end of this
day, the facilitation groups will have
developed the curriculum design for this
program.
DEVELOPING MENTORSHIP/STUDENT ADVISORY
PROGRAMS
Objective: To provide school level
administrators and teachers with the
information and planning tools necessary to
develop a mentorship programs for students.
Audience:
Secondary school administrators and teachers
Method of Delivery:
WORKSHOP: Based upon one key element of
high school personalization, this workshop
will facilitate a school community’s program
to provide for an adult contact with
students to help them succeed in high
school. Using a method of student SUCCESS,
participants will come away with curriculum
maps and activities to use in a
mentorship/advisory program. This will be
completed through a needs assessment, goals
setting, input and curriculum design group.
Length of Time
Needed:
One Day followed by three (minimum)
bi-monthly (can be monthly) follows up with
planning committees
DEVELOPING AND SUSTAINING ARTS PROGRAMS
Objective:
To assist schools in developing or
restructuring their fine arts programs
Audience:
Secondary administrators, fine arts teacher;
central office arts administrators
Method of Delivery:
WORKSHOP: Research shows that student
involvement in the arts increases
achievement. Through a facilitation
process, a needs assessment is completed,
programs and curriculum are analyzed and
restructuring plans are developed. All arts
areas will be examined and the integration
of arts into the academic curriculum will be
planned and developed.
Length of Time
Needed:
Two days; follow up if necessary and
desired.
RESTRUCTURING HIGH SCHOOLS INTO MORE
PERSONALIZED ENVIRONMENTS
Objective:
To provide administrators and schools with
methods through which to break up the large
high school into smaller components and
offer programs that help students feel a
connection to the school through mentorship
programs.
Audience: High school administrators,
teachers, parents, boards of education and
central office administrators
Method of Delivery:
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: This presentation
provides the background research and
outlines of successful programs that help
all high schools restructure from the
industrial model of the early 1900’s into a
relevant program that focuses upon
student-centered, personalized instruction.
The presentation includes success stories of
students (Lupe, Luke and Lisa) who are
products of a personalized high school
program and have gone on to be successful.
PARTIICPANTS SHOULD LEAVE WITH THE HOPE AND
MOTIVATION TO START OR SUSTAIN THE HIGH
SCHOOL REFORM EFFORT.
Length of Time
needed:
Two hours; follow-up breakouts or sessions
would also be appropriate. |
