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

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EmailEmail EmailEmail

Dr. Mimi DyerDr. Mimi Dyer

mimi.dyer@cobbk12.orgmimi.dyer@cobbk12.org