Discovery Schools To Watch National Forum, Washington DC, June 2010 Eric Newell and Bryce Passey...

DiscoverySchools To Watch National Forum, Washington DC, June 2010

Eric Newell and Bryce PasseyLogan, Utah

Dr. Michael Monson, PrincipalDr. Douglas Beach, Dr. Jim Peacock, Assistant Principals

Mount Logan Middle School

Extending learning beyond the walls!

www.MountLoganDiscovery.org

Discovery




QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Discovery




Schools to Watch Criteria:Schools to Watch Criteria:

High-performing schools are sensitive to unique developmentalHigh-performing schools are sensitive to unique developmentalchallenges of early adolescencechallenges of early adolescence The staff creates a personalized environment that supports each The staff creates a personalized environment that supports each student's intellectual, ethical,social, and physical development.student's intellectual, ethical,social, and physical development. Adults and students are grouped into smaller communities for Adults and students are grouped into smaller communities for enhanced teaching and learning.enhanced teaching and learning. These small learning communities are characterized by stable, These small learning communities are characterized by stable, close, and mutually respectful relationships.close, and mutually respectful relationships. Every student has a mentor, advisor, advocate, or other adult Every student has a mentor, advisor, advocate, or other adult he/she trusts and stays in relationship with throughout the middle he/she trusts and stays in relationship with throughout the middle school experience.school experience. Teachers use an interdisciplinary approach to reinforce Teachers use an interdisciplinary approach to reinforce important concepts, skills, and address real-world problems.important concepts, skills, and address real-world problems.

Discovery




Lawns vs Meadows

Discovery Mount Logan Middle School



““I don’t I don’t want want to know all to know all kids can learn. kids can learn.

I want to know what you do when I want to know what you do when they don’t.”they don’t.” -Richard DuFour-Richard DuFour

Discovery




BackgroundBackground

Bringing Literature to Life (Bryce Passey and Dave Bringing Literature to Life (Bryce Passey and Dave Anderson)Anderson)

Kids we struggled with all year--motivated, on task, Kids we struggled with all year--motivated, on task, teachableteachable

Mini field trips on school grounds--burning ants, waves, Mini field trips on school grounds--burning ants, waves, properties of sound, classification, solar calendar, sundialproperties of sound, classification, solar calendar, sundial

Brainstorms--there has to be a way to reach these kidsBrainstorms--there has to be a way to reach these kids

““No” - “Not yet” - “Maybe next year” - “Write a proposal”No” - “Not yet” - “Maybe next year” - “Write a proposal”

Discovery




STW Criteria: Students are grouped into smaller STW Criteria: Students are grouped into smaller communities for enhanced teaching and learning.communities for enhanced teaching and learning.

STW Criteria: High-performing schools are sensitive to STW Criteria: High-performing schools are sensitive to unique developmentalchallenges of early adolescenceunique developmentalchallenges of early adolescence

Saw a need, started schemingSaw a need, started scheming

Mined district data: 15% of kids slipping through cracks Mined district data: 15% of kids slipping through cracks

What can we do to target this group of reluctant What can we do to target this group of reluctant learners?learners?

Discovery




STW Criteria: The staff creates a personalized STW Criteria: The staff creates a personalized environment that supports each student's intellectual, environment that supports each student's intellectual, ethical,social, and physical development.ethical,social, and physical development.

Team teach, knock the wall down.Team teach, knock the wall down.

Each student participates in one mini field Each student participates in one mini field experience per weekexperience per week

Small groups, effective use of timeSmall groups, effective use of time

Risk management, transportationRisk management, transportation

Discovery




STW Criteria: Teachers use an interdisciplinary approach to STW Criteria: Teachers use an interdisciplinary approach to reinforce important concepts, skills, and address real-world reinforce important concepts, skills, and address real-world problems.problems.

Three hour block of time: science, social studies, Three hour block of time: science, social studies, and language arts together (two groups a day)and language arts together (two groups a day)

Bringing Literature to Life model Bringing Literature to Life model ((Building Background KnowledgeBuilding Background Knowledge, Robert Marzano), Robert Marzano)

Transferable: science, art, technology, or any subject Transferable: science, art, technology, or any subject

Discovery




STW Criteria: STW Criteria: These small learning communities are These small learning communities are characterized by stable, close, and mutually respectful characterized by stable, close, and mutually respectful relationships.relationships.

STW Criteria: Every student has a mentor, advisor, STW Criteria: Every student has a mentor, advisor, advocate, or other adult he/she trusts and stays in advocate, or other adult he/she trusts and stays in relationship with throughout the middle school experience.relationship with throughout the middle school experience.

Field component (outdoor based for us), writer of the day Field component (outdoor based for us), writer of the day circlecircle

Creed, Community ConcernsCreed, Community Concerns

Building relationships of trust takes time and requires Building relationships of trust takes time and requires small group interactionsmall group interaction

Discovery




We are We are DiscoveryDiscovery

We are committed to success We are committed to success throughthrough

persistence, practice, and patience.persistence, practice, and patience.

We listen for understanding.We listen for understanding.

We respect differences.We respect differences.

We speak carefully.We speak carefully.

We are united in friendship.We are united in friendship.

Discovery




FundingFunding

Large and small grants from $15 to $32,000Large and small grants from $15 to $32,000

From small individuals to the EPAFrom small individuals to the EPA

$148,000 over last two years$148,000 over last two years

Acknowledge generosityAcknowledge generosity

Discovery




Growth and DevelopmentGrowth and Development

Summer program “River Rats” serves half our Summer program “River Rats” serves half our incoming students (three sessions this summer)incoming students (three sessions this summer)

Outdoor Language Adventures, summer programOutdoor Language Adventures, summer program ESL DiscoveryESL Discovery

Global Village Stream ConnectionsGlobal Village Stream Connections

Field opportunities for 7th and 8th grade teamsField opportunities for 7th and 8th grade teams

Discovery




““I believe brick walls are there for a I believe brick walls are there for a reason; they let us prove how badly reason; they let us prove how badly we want things.”we want things.”

- Randy Pausch, - Randy Pausch, The Last LectureThe Last Lecture

Discovery




Discovery




A winter glimpse of Discovery

Discovery Schools To Watch National Forum, Washington DC, June 2010 Eric Newell and Bryce Passey...

Documents

Transcript of Discovery Schools To Watch National Forum, Washington DC, June 2010 Eric Newell and Bryce Passey...