building a freshman center from the ground up -traci hammes, principal thammes@usd345.com -emily...

Building a Freshman Center from the Ground

up

-Traci Hammes, Principalthammes@usd345.com

-Emily Stueve, Teacherestueve@usd345.com

Seaman Freshman CenterTopeka, Kansas

The way it used to be…

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Now…

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Research

Some high schools are failing 42% of ninth graders (nationwide average 25%)

Most high schools offer students little or no academic and social support

Ninth graders can feel that high school is “pointless and endless”

Even in well managed high schools, something was missing—connections between students and teachers

Before construction even started…

Teachers were selectedVision was createdSummer retreatsStaff development for new technology

SFC Framework

“They don’t care what you know until they know that you care…”

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Relationships

SeminarTransition ActivitiesCareersMentoringStucoASAPCircle of Friends/Friends of Rachael

Relationships

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How does seminar work?

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Seminar

Every teacher has a seminar - low numbers One at risk seminar per team - even lower

numbers 90 minutes twice a week 15 minutes SSR 35 minutes Seminar Lesson 40 minutes Academic time Mentoring program AIP - Academic Intervention Plan

AIP

Transition Activities

Curriculum FairPre-enrollment8th Grade graduation tourOrientationFreshmen teachers visit with 8th grade

teachers about student needs

Success 101

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Careers

Every student must take Success 101 Class

Community ServiceKansas Career Pipeline

10 year plan Interest Surveys Career Clusters

What students have said about community service…“What I learned while I was doing my

community service was that even the smallest of acts will make a difference in your community.”

“Volunteering makes you feel good inside, because you know you are doing something worthwhile in your community,”

What do students accomplish in Success 101?

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How did Success 101 help you?

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Stuco

Selected by students at the beginning of the year

Meet with principal every monthMeet with food service to decide on menu

itemPublic service announcementsServe treats to ASAP students during

finals week

Stuco Officers 2009 - 2010

Stuco Officers Visit Atria Hearthstone Nursing Home

Stuco Officers serve coffee before finals

ASAP

After School Academic ProgramTimes available with each core teacherMorning and afternoon times One on one time with teacher

Circle of Friends/Friends of Rachel

Counselor leads both groups Circle of Friends

Focus is on building relationships New students to the district Students who may need improvement with social skills

Friends of Rachel - anti-bullying group Mix-it-up days Community Service Game nights

Teaming

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How does teaming affect students?

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Teaming

NormsRolesSITSchedulePrincipal and Counselor meet with teams

once per week

Team Norms

Each team has different norms - team decides

Some examples: Start and end on time Don’t bring grading to team Focus on the solution, not the problem Talk about the same issue more than once -

solve it or move on Celebrate successes

What are the roles of the teachers on your team?

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Team Roles

LeaderSecretarySIT/Data personSeminar liaison

Why is teaming so important?

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SIT

Student Improvement TeamIdentify students who need additional

assistanceCome up with a plan to increase student

successWhatever it takes!

Schedule

Typical week - one Viking Day and 4 Block Days Viking Day - 7 period schedule Block Day - 4 period schedule Teacher teams have common plan time. Departments have common plan time for PLCs

Why is communication so important?

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Communication

Open HousePhone/email/textsWebpages/wikis/twitterNewsletterStudent team meetingsParent Teacher Conferences

Open House

Parents are encouraged to attendGo through student scheduleMeet teachersLearn about classroom expectationsIntroduced to school policies and

procedures

What are some ways you communicate with parents?

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Phone/email/texts

Seminar teachers are expected to contact the parents of their seminar students before the first month of school

Weekly emails about what is going on in class

Email to text to students’ and parents’ phones

What has the response been to your communication efforts?

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Webpages/wikis/twitter

Teacher webpages-informationalWikis used for in class activities as well as

resources for students outside of classhttp://stuevebiology.wikispaces.com/Students following teachers on twitter

Newsletter

Upcoming eventsSuggestions for parentsPictures/stories about classroom/seminar

activitiesSent out once a month

Parent Communication

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Student team meetings

Monthly meetingsAnnouncementsAdditional seminar lessons/activitiesTeam CompetitionsWear team colors

What technology was used at SFC?

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Technology

Interwrite boards - interactive white boards in each classroom

Mobile labs - 4 teachers share 25 computers

Dedicated computer technology labClickers - remote devicesBlackboard - Advanced EnglishDocument cameras

What are clickers?

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How do you use your interwrite board?

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Technology

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How has the technology affected your teaching?

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How much did the technology help you learn?

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Data

Suggested Reading/Bibliography www.ecs.org/clearinghouse/78/91/7891.pdf

www.ecs.org/clearinghouse/78/48/7848.pdf

www.ecs.org/clearinghouse/78/64/7864.pdf

www.betterhighschools.org

National Middle School Association Conzemius, Anne. Handbook for SMART School Teams. Bloomington, IN: National Educational Service, 2002. Print. Eaker, Robert E. Getting Started Reculturing Schools to Become Professional Learning Communities. Bloomington,

Ind: National Educational Service, 2002. Print. Forte, and Imogene Forte. Advisory Plus! Standards-Based Sessions with Character Education, Learning Styles, and

Assessment Components (Kids' Stuff). Minneapolis: Incentive Publications, 2004. Print. Jones, Laurie Beth. The Path; Creating your Mission Statement for Work and for Life. New York: Hyperion, 1998.

Print.Merenbloom, Elliot Y. The Team Process; A Handbook for Teachers. Washington D.C.: National Middle School Association, 1991.

Print. Queen, J. Allen. Student Transitions from Middle to High School; Improving Achievement and Creating a Safer

Environment. Upper Saddle River: Eye on Education,, 2002. Print. Rottier, Jerry. Implementing and Improving Teaming A Handbook for Middle Level Leaders. Washington D.C.:

National Middle School Association, 2001. Print. Stronge, James H. Qualities of Effective Teachers. Alexandria: Association for Supervision & Curriculum Deve, 2002.

Print. Thompson, Randy, and Dorothy Vander Jagt. Wow, What a Team! Essential Components for Successful Teaming.

Minneapolis: Incentive Publications, 2001. Print.