Partner School Exchanges: Encouraging Interdisciplinary Collaboration, School Involvement and...

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Partner School Exchanges: Encouraging Interdisciplinary

Collaboration, School Involvement and Community Engagement

Deborah Johnson-Bousquet, French teacher

Lynn Frick, English teacher

Sauk Prairie High School

Establish Rapport with the Partner School’s Teachers

• Share information about your school, community and Wisconsin

• Discuss your plans and dreams • Respond to interests of partner school

teachers• Provide resources and helpful information• Understand that both sides want what is best

for their students

Find a Colleague within your School who shares an interest in your project

Someone who is willing to:• Brainstorm ideas• work directly with French team• alter curriculum• make a time commitment• invest in the project for the long term

Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The Project

• Begin dialogue with exchange teacher• Consider curriculum• Exchange ideas• Allow at least a year for planning• Apply for funding• Face-to-face tweaking

What’s a book club without food?

Discussion circles

Introducing Larry Watson, author of Montana 1948

…in his own words

Reflection

• Art• Music• Government• Advanced Communications• Family and Consumer Economics• Sociology• Environmental science

School on Board:Involving as many as possible is some small way

Be flexible

Expect a variety of levels of commitment

Some plans may not work out as intended

…or may not materialize

The Hosting Experience: Planning for Success

• Encourage student participation-generate enthusiasm through letter exchanges, webcam sessions and sharing pictures ahead of time

• Letter to family detailing how this experience relates to the MOU and interdisciplinary projects

• Host Family Application-have families commit in writing

• Schedule of Activities to parents ahead of time-reassures host family is not responsible for total entertainment

• Parent meeting-expectations for hosts and guests

Hosting: An Entire School’s Experience

• Have planned activities but respect family time

• Welcome spontaneity and suggestions

• Seek help when needed

• Plan a school event-everyone’s welcome

Thansgiving Welcome Dinner

Mashed potatoes for fifty

The interdisciplinary culinary team

Dinner in the River Arts Gallery

Attending sporting events

Involving the electives: Choir

Band

Sharing music in French class

Carving pumpkins

The School Dance

The American Experience

Chicago

Boat ride down the Chicago River

Friends

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Parent involvement

• The potluck and bonfire• The Dells water park• UW Men’s hockey game• Fundraising

Community Resources-What can others contribute?

• William Jaquish-the Jaquish Dairy Farm• Catherine Sullivan-Art historian• Jeb Barzen- The International Crane Foundation• Retired teachers Wayne and Kathy Bruno• Larry Schroeder - Sauk Prairie Memorial hospital• Gilles Bousquet - The University of Wisconsin-

Madison

The Jaquish Dairy Farm

Jeb Barzen-The International Crane Foundation

Boatride down the Wisconsin River

Lasting Friendships