Small Learning Communities
Download
Report
Transcript Small Learning Communities
International Center
for
Leadership in
Education
Creating
Small Learning
Communities
“Learning is about
constructing relationships in
which students connect with
teachers or subjects. Small
schools foster the
personalization strategies to
support those relationships. ”
Tom VanderArk
SMALL LEARNING
COMMUNITIES
Bigger isn’t always better!
Components of Successful
School Reform
6.
Create multiple pathways
to rigor and relevance
Parent Survey
Focusing on
Characteristics of
Successful Schools
Small Learning Communities
What
• School within a School
• Clusters of Students
• Organized around Areas of
Interest
• Students with Same Group
of Teachers
Small Learning Communities
Types
•
•
•
•
•
School-within-A School
House Plans
Freshman Academy
Magnet Schools
Academies
Small Learning Communities
Structure
• School-Within-A School
Small, Autonomous Program
Groups Students & Teachers
Increases Student Support
Self-governing
Own Physical Space
Curricular Theme/Set
Combination of Courses
Small Learning Communities
Structure
• House Plans
Groups Students Across Grade Levels
or by Grade Levels
Students Stay w/House Members and
Teachers
Personalized School Experience
Limited Effect on Curriculum and
Instruction
Governed by School Principal
May/May Not Have Own Space
Small Learning Communities
Structure
• Freshman Academy
Eases Transition
Own Academy/House Setting
Same Staff
Team Teaching—Core Areas
Extra Support Services
Mentoring
Career Exploration
Small Learning Communities
Structure
• Magnet School
Public Choice—Encourages Cultural Diversity
Separate Location
Transition Activities
Additional Admission Requirements
Focus—Students’ Interests and Academic
Strengths
Governance…Autonomous or Larger School
Leadership
Small Learning Communities
Structure
• Career Academies
Broadly Defined Career Themes
Integrated Learning
Work-based Learning
Real-world Applications
High Academic Standards with Career
Applications
Business Partnerships
Governance—Overseen by Larger School’s
Principal
CAREER ACADEMIES
Typical Themes
• Business & Finance
• Information
Technology
• Health Services
• Construction,
Engineering & Design
• Environmental
Technology
• Arts &
Communication
• Law, Government and
Public Service
• Media, Design and
Production
• Travel, Tourism and
Hospitality
• Human Services
• Math, Science,
Technology
• Biotechnology
CAREER ACADEMIES
Four- Year Typical
Sequences
• Arts Academy
• Information Technology Academy
• Health Science Academy
School
Characte ristics
Small School Options
School
Within a
School
House
Changes Affects Entire
No
Yes
School
Scheduling Changes
Significant Significant
Creates Autonomous
Yes
No
School
Requires Change in
No
No
Curriculum
Curriculum Taugh t in
Optional
Optional
Context
Advisor /Advisee
Optional
Optional
Program
Internships/Job
Shadowing/Community
No
No
Experience
Increases Number of
Yes
No
Administrators
Freshman
Academy
Magnet
Schools
Career
Academies
No
No
Optional
Minor
Minor
Significant
No
Optional
Optional
No
Yes
Yes
Optional
Yes
Yes
Yes
Optional
Optional
No
Optional
Yes
No
No
No
Readiness Survey
Need for Small
Learning Communities
Checklist
Small Learning Communities
Research
•
•
•
•
•
•
Increased attendance
Increased student achievement
Increased student participation
Increased student and parent satisfaction
Increased positive student behavior
Greater focus on student interests and
aptitudes
• Relevancy leads to high achievement
Small Learning Communities
Unsolved Opportunities
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Lack of specific goals
Failure to address literacy
Unchanged curriculum and instruction
Too much emphasis on belonging
Ignoring staff concerns
Uninformed student assignment
Timing
Focusing only on teachers
Small Learning Communities
Issues
• People
• Teaching and Learning
• Campus-Wide
Small Learning Communities
Key Elements
• Autonomy
• Identify
• Personalization
Small Learning Communities
Key Elements
• Autonomy
Space…Separateness
Schedule…Flexible
Budget
Curriculum/Instruction
Personnel
Small Learning Communities
Key Elements
• Identity
Vision/Mission
Thematic Focus
Self-selection of Teachers &
Students
Small Learning Communities
Key Elements
• Personalization
Student Involvement--Opportunity
for All
Teacher Involvement/Continuity
Parent and Community
Involvement
Support through Student-Teacher
Relationships
Small Learning Communities
Key Elements
• Instructional Focus
Focus on Student Learning, “Academic Press”
Heterogeneous Grouping
Professional Development & Collaboration
Integrated Curriculum/Teaching Teams,
No Subject Area Boundaries, Thematic
Focus, Aligned across Grade Levels
Large Repertoire of Instructional Strategies
Curriculum
• Create a school focus
• Strive for higher levels of
Rigor and Relevance
• Interdisciplinary
• Differentiation
Integration
Interdisciplinary
Interdisciplinary Instruction
Performances
• Work-based
• Knowledge-based
• Literacy-based
• Inquiry-based
• Project-based
Interdisciplinary Instruction
Work-based Units
• Food preparation
• Construction
• Human services
• Equipment operation
• Plant production
Interdisciplinary Instruction
Knowledge-based Units
•Economic Cycles
•Ecology Issue
•History of Technology
•Industrial Revolution
Interdisciplinary Instruction
Literacy-based Projects
• Literature Depicting
Work/Economy
• Exploring Life’s Work:
Specific Careers
• Biographies of
Industrial Leaders
Interdisciplinary Instruction
Inquiry-based Units
• Best Products Analysis
• Community of the Future
• Genetic Code
• Local Ecology Issue
Interdisciplinary Instruction
Projects-based Units
• Construction
• Models
• Robotics
• Industrial Design
• Plant or Animal Projects
Instructional Planning
Planning Steps
Definition of Theme
Brainstorm Possible Performance
Student Work
Standards and Priority
Levels of Expected Knowledge and
Performance
Content Knowledge
Assessment and Instruction
Theme-based Planning Tool
Student Work
Student Work
Student Work
Student Work
Theme
Student Work
Student Work
Theme-based Planning Tool
Standards
Standards
Student Work
Student Work
Student Work
Student Work
Theme
Student Work
Standards
Student Work
Curriculum
Readiness for
Interdisciplinary
Instruction Checklist
Curriculum
Interdisciplinary
Worksheets
Activity—Designing
Interdisciplinary Instruction
Interdisciplinary
Planning Wheel
Small Learning Communities
Key Elements
• Accountability
Detailed Planning
Multiple Forms of Assessment
Total Implementation of Key Small Learning
Community Elements
Networking with Other Small Learning
Communities
Small Learning Communities
Common Strategies
•
•
•
•
•
•
Alternative Scheduling
Freshman Transition Activities
Student/Teacher Advisory System
Adult Advocacy System
Parent Outreach
Academic Teaming
Small Learning Communities
Development Steps
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Goal Setting
Parent/ Community Discussion
Selection of Structure
Staffing
Facility Changes
Student Selection
Curriculum
Schedule
Budgeting
Implementation Timeline
Implementation Teams
Small Learning Communities
From Successful Practices Study
•
•
•
•
•
•
Personalized Learning
Organized around Student
Teacher with Students—4 Years
Time to Talk
Time to Integrate
Types: Career Academies, Houses,
9th Grade, Magnet Schools
Small Learning Communities
From Successful Practices Study
• Found in Nearly All the Schools
• Provides the Platform to Focus Instruction
around Student’s Interests, Learning Style,
and Aptitude
• Permits Educators to Develop a Personal
Relationship over Time with Students
• Personal Relations Prove to Be Essential in
Motivating and Nurturing Students
• 27 of 30—Career Academies—Primary
Delivery System
Small Learning Communities
From Successful Practices Study
• Informal—Band, Student Leadership,
Arts, Hip Hop University
• Other—World Languages, Finance,
Technology, SCOPE (Student-Centered
Opportunity for Personalized Education
• Great Networks and Resources
Small Learning Communities
From Successful Practices Study
• 9th Grade
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Looks Different
Not Remediation—Enrichment
Catch Up—Collapse Soph., Jr. Years
No Credit
Train Staff—Reading, Math, Science
Believe in Themselves—Learn Culture of the School
Study Skills Course
Advisement Period
Upperclassmen—Mentors
Separate Location
Small Learning Communities
From Successful Practices Study—9th Gr.
• Great Attention and Resources are Focused
on 9th graders
• Many Have a 9th Grade Academy or Freshmen
House
• Students Lacking Adequate Academic Skills
are Enrolled in Enrichment Courses Designed
Around Student’s Interest Rather Than
Remediation
• Dramatic Improvement by End of 9th Grade
• Students Indoctrinated into the Culture of High
Expectations and Caring Adults
Small Learning Communities
From Successful Practices Study
• 12th Grade
– Motivation Same—Poor/Performing
Students
– Transition 9th– Out, 12th
– Senior Projects
– Community Service Programs
– Work-based Programs
– Articulation Programs with Postsecondary
Small Learning Communities
From Successful Practices Study—12th Gr.
–12th Graders Receive Special
Attention
–Students Who Are Adequately
Prepared May Collapse Four-year
Program into Three Years
–Strong Articulation with Higher
Education Allows Students to
Earn up to 30 College Credits
–Senior Projects
PLANNING
Planning Checklist
SLC Resource Kit
Table of Contents
Aspirations, Issues and Opportunities
Staff, Students and Stakeholders
Teaching and Learning
Logistics
Learning from Others
SLC Resource Kit
Checklists
Forms
Handouts
Q’s and A’s
Resources/Networks
“Experience and research
make it very clear that
school size does matter-but they also make it clear
that ‘small’ is no silver
bullet.”
Michelle Fine and Janice Somerville