Rigor, Relevance and Relationships Hawaii Department of Education Honolulu, HI January 22-23, 2007
Mar 26, 2015
Rigor, Relevance and Relationships
Rigor, Relevance and Relationships
Hawaii Department of Education
Honolulu, HI
January 22-23, 2007
Dr. Mimi DyerDr. Mimi Dyer
Academy of Math, Academy of Math, Science & TechnologyScience & Technology
Cobb County SchoolsCobb County SchoolsCobb County SchoolsCobb County Schools
Just north of Atlanta, GA Just north of Atlanta, GA
22ndnd largest school district in largest school district in statestate
3030thth largest in nation largest in nation
106,000 students 106,000 students (+2,500/yr)(+2,500/yr)
16 high schools16 high schools
23 middle schools23 middle schools
68 elementary schools68 elementary schools
KMHS ProfileKMHS Profile
Opened in 2000 with 1250 studentsOpened in 2000 with 1250 students
2006-7 population – 3,1002006-7 population – 3,100
319,000 sq. ft. instructional space 319,000 sq. ft. instructional space on 79 acreson 79 acres
118 core and 165 elective courses on 118 core and 165 elective courses on 4x4 block schedule4x4 block schedule
23 AP courses – 340 students/505 23 AP courses – 340 students/505 teststests
Extracurricular ActivitiesExtracurricular ActivitiesExtracurricular ActivitiesExtracurricular Activities
90% of students involved90% of students involved
22 athletic teams22 athletic teams
Drama – 225 studentsDrama – 225 students
Marching Band – 340 studentsMarching Band – 340 students
51 clubs51 clubsRoboticsRobotics InternationalInternational
RecreationRecreation YugiyoYugiyo
PhilosophyPhilosophy EquestrianEquestrian
Men of DistinctionMen of Distinction
2121stst Century Skills Century Skills 2121stst Century Skills Century Skills
Communication and Communication and Information skillsInformation skills
Thinking and Problem Thinking and Problem Solving skillsSolving skills
Interpersonal and Interpersonal and Self-Directional skillsSelf-Directional skills
Collaboration skillsCollaboration skills
RelationshipsRelationships
RelevanceRelevance
RigorRigor
Building a Building a Learning Learning Community Community
Building a Building a Learning Learning Community Community
“…where collective aspiration is set free and where people are continually learning how to learn together.”
Peter Senge
RelationshipsRelationships
Students: Empowerment and service learningStudents: Empowerment and service learning
Teachers: Rigorous and relevant curriculumTeachers: Rigorous and relevant curriculum
Community: EngagementCommunity: Engagement
103745103745
Andrew J. CarterAndrew J. Carter
Average kid in middle Average kid in middle schoolschoolOutside looking in at Outside looking in at roboticsroboticsTried out for lacrosseTried out for lacrosseLoving technical Loving technical theater this yeartheater this yearNow taking one Now taking one honors class, hoping honors class, hoping to go on to APto go on to AP
“A. J.”
Everybody Counts Everybody Counts or or
Nobody CountsNobody Counts
Student EmpowermentStudent EmpowermentStudent EmpowermentStudent Empowerment
How can we show responsibility How can we show responsibility if no one gives us a chance to be if no one gives us a chance to be responsible?responsible?
Service LearningService LearningService LearningService Learning
Mustangs with a HeartMustangs with a Heart
Shop with a MustangShop with a Mustang
Relay for LifeRelay for Life
R.I.S.E. and M.I.S.E.R.I.S.E. and M.I.S.E.
Kennesaw Youth CouncilKennesaw Youth Council
Care-o-TherapyCare-o-Therapy
TutoringTutoring
Class of 2006 logged over 10,000 hoursClass of 2006 logged over 10,000 hours
Students Educators
Parents Businesses
Character EducationCharacter Education
““The function of education is to The function of education is to teach one to think intensively teach one to think intensively and to think critically. . . and to think critically. . . Intelligence plus character – Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true that is the goal of true education.”education.”
~Martin Luther King, Jr.~Martin Luther King, Jr.
Once a Month Once a Month Special ActivitySpecial ActivityOnce a Month Once a Month Special ActivitySpecial Activity
110 community leaders teach lessons110 community leaders teach lessons
99 KMHS seniors teach freshman 99 KMHS seniors teach freshman classesclasses
66 KMHS seniors teach elementary 66 KMHS seniors teach elementary and middle feeder school classesand middle feeder school classes
Bullard Elementary students followed Bullard Elementary students followed their leaderstheir leaders
Lessons LearnedLessons LearnedSuccessful schools do notSuccessful schools do notsidestep the issue of charactersidestep the issue of charactereducation; rather, they embrace it. education; rather, they embrace it.
They acknowledge that theirThey acknowledge that theirsuccess is due, in large measure,success is due, in large measure,to their attention to guidingto their attention to guidingprinciples, through which they create aprinciples, through which they create asupportive learning environment.supportive learning environment.
TeachersTeachersTeachersTeachers
Rigorous and Relevant InstructionRigorous and Relevant Instruction
Tomorrow’s Tomorrow’s ClassroomClassroom
Tomorrow’s Tomorrow’s ClassroomClassroom
Student focusedStudent focused
Engaging project-Engaging project-
based activitiesbased activities
Integrated curriculumIntegrated curriculum
Multiple resourcesMultiple resources
Problem solvingProblem solving
Interaction with Interaction with
expertsexperts
Performance-based Performance-based
assessmentassessment
Virtual LabsVirtual Labs
Writing workshopsWriting workshops
Primary resourcesPrimary resources
Today’sToday’s
Do you recognize this teacher?Do you recognize this teacher?
Changing the Paradigm of Changing the Paradigm of Teaching and LearningTeaching and Learning
Changing the Paradigm of Changing the Paradigm of Teaching and LearningTeaching and Learning
Active Active engagementengagement in learning in learning
Primary and dynamic Primary and dynamic resourcesresources
ApplicationApplication of knowledge of knowledge
PerformancePerformance-based assessment-based assessment
Vision and ImplementationVision and ImplementationVision and ImplementationVision and Implementation
“ “There are no teachers with correct answers, There are no teachers with correct answers, only guides with different areas of expertise and only guides with different areas of expertise and experience that may help along the way.” experience that may help along the way.”
~ Peter Senge and Fred Kofman, 1995~ Peter Senge and Fred Kofman, 1995
Flip the
funnel
How do we get R/R frameworkHow do we get R/R framework into our classrooms? into our classrooms?
Professional collaborative conversationsProfessional collaborative conversations Common vocabulary used consistentlyCommon vocabulary used consistently Professional Development GroupsProfessional Development Groups Faculty meetingsFaculty meetings Snack ‘n SharesSnack ‘n Shares Subject-specific collaborative groupsSubject-specific collaborative groups
Core teachers within each dept. as mentorsCore teachers within each dept. as mentorsNurture relationships with teachers who show Nurture relationships with teachers who show potentialpotentialShare philosophy with kids Share philosophy with kids
Make them part of expectations and celebrationsMake them part of expectations and celebrations
CommunityCommunityCommunityCommunity
EngagementEngagement
Building Stakeholder Building Stakeholder Commitment Commitment
Building Stakeholder Building Stakeholder Commitment Commitment
““Leaders must envision the future and then Leaders must envision the future and then create the conditions for others to build a create the conditions for others to build a common vision together—one based on common vision together—one based on ideal and unique images of a common ideal and unique images of a common future.”future.”
~Kouzes & Posner, 2002~Kouzes & Posner, 2002
““When people truly share a vision, they are When people truly share a vision, they are connected, bound together by a common connected, bound together by a common aspiration.”aspiration.”
~ Peter Senge, 1990~ Peter Senge, 1990
250 total for school250 total for school
Local churches, businesses, Local churches, businesses, colleges/universities, technical schools, colleges/universities, technical schools, governmentsgovernments
Advisory committees for departments, Advisory committees for departments, academies, athletics, extracurricularsacademies, athletics, extracurriculars
Financial and in-kind donations and Financial and in-kind donations and contributionscontributions
Assist in curriculum developmentAssist in curriculum development
Mentor students throughout schoolMentor students throughout school
Community PartnersCommunity PartnersCommunity PartnersCommunity Partners
Kennesaw Business AssociationKennesaw Business Association
PTSAPTSA
Golden KiwanisGolden Kiwanis
Local churchesLocal churches
City governmentCity government
Parents – open communicationParents – open communication
Rigor and RelevanceRigor and RelevanceRigor and RelevanceRigor and Relevance
““Individuals learn best when the content is meaningful to Individuals learn best when the content is meaningful to them and they have opportunities for social interaction them and they have opportunities for social interaction and the environment supports the learning.”and the environment supports the learning.”
~Ron Brandt, 2003~Ron Brandt, 2003
Conceptual PhysicsConceptual Physics
Vision Quest:Vision Quest:Personal AchievementPersonal Achievement
Vision Quest:Vision Quest:Personal AchievementPersonal Achievement
Celebration of PersonalCelebration of PersonalAcademic ExcellenceAcademic Excellence
Celebration of PersonalCelebration of PersonalAcademic ExcellenceAcademic Excellence
Process that encourages academic Process that encourages academic excellence, improvement, citizenshipexcellence, improvement, citizenship
Goal: To increase student performance Goal: To increase student performance and teacher enthusiasm and teacher enthusiasm
Recognizes, rewards, and reinforces Recognizes, rewards, and reinforces good grades and good character for each good grades and good character for each and every studentand every student
RecognitionRecognition
Most Wanted (top 10 seniors)Most Wanted (top 10 seniors)
Classroom medalsClassroom medals
Academic pep rallyAcademic pep rally
Academic scholar tee shirts (FBI)Academic scholar tee shirts (FBI)
Honor CardsHonor Cards
Honor CardsHonor Cards
Honor CardsHonor Cards
Gold: 4.0 GPA, 3 absences and 3 tardiesGold: 4.0 GPA, 3 absences and 3 tardies
Silver: 3.5 GPA, 3 absences and 3 tardiesSilver: 3.5 GPA, 3 absences and 3 tardies
Green: 3.0 GPA, 3 absences and 3 tardiesGreen: 3.0 GPA, 3 absences and 3 tardies
No discipline records No discipline records
High Five ClubHigh Five ClubHigh Five ClubHigh Five Club
Recognizes students, regardless of GPA, for Recognizes students, regardless of GPA, for improving academic recordimproving academic recordStudents who increase their GPA between Students who increase their GPA between semesters by .5semesters by .5Tee shirt and various business discountsTee shirt and various business discounts
Lessons LearnedLessons LearnedLessons LearnedLessons Learned
Increased student attendanceIncreased student attendance
Improved overall academic Improved overall academic performanceperformance
Kids believe that it’s cool to be Kids believe that it’s cool to be smart!smart!
Student RecognitionStudent Recognition
Fall 2005, 1256 students Fall 2005, 1256 students recognizedrecognized
Fall 2006, 2240 students Fall 2006, 2240 students recognizedrecognized
Putting it all TogetherPutting it all Together
Students +Students +
Teachers +Teachers +
Community members =Community members =
Lessons in the D Quadrant:Lessons in the D Quadrant:
Rigor, Relevance and RelationshipsRigor, Relevance and Relationships
??????