1 / 27

Welcome to

Welcome to. SOUNDINGS. What is Soundings???. SOUNDINGS:. Definition #1: To explore or measure the depth/height Definition #2: To make an intentional noise, so as to be heard. . SOUNDINGS “Specifics” & “Myths”. Soundings “Specific” #1:.

harper
Download Presentation

Welcome to

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Welcome to SOUNDINGS

  2. What is Soundings???

  3. SOUNDINGS: • Definition #1: To explore or measure the depth/height • Definition #2: To make an intentional noise, so as to be heard.

  4. SOUNDINGS “Specifics”& “Myths”

  5. Soundings “Specific” #1: • Students must elect to participate in the Soundings program with parent/guardian permission. • Lottery System

  6. Soundings Myth #1: • Soundings kids NEVER see their friends: • Students in Soundings can participate in the following 8th grade activities/classes: • Electives • Band, Jazz Band, Orchestra, Distaffs, Chorus • Sandy Hill • Dorney Park • Fall, Winter and Spring Sports

  7. 8th Grade Schedule: 2010-2011 • Traditional Team • Advisory • Pd 1: Core Class • Pd 2: Elective • Pd 3: Elective • Pd 4: Core Class • Pd 5: Core Class • LUNCH • Pd 7: Core Class • Pd 8: I/E • Soundings • Advisory • Pd 1: Math • Pd 2: Elective • Pd 3: Elective • Pd 4: Soundings • Pd 5: Soundings • LUNCH • Pd 7: Soundings • Pd 8: Math/Soundings

  8. Soundings “Specific” #2: • Soundings is a democratic classroom based on curriculum integration. • Consensus • English, Social Studies, Science

  9. Democratic Classroom: • Achieved through… • Community Building • Shared Experiences • Challenge Activities • Consensus: • Decisions that are made when everyone reaches an agreement.

  10. Curriculum Integration: • Traditional core subjects are addressed through units of study: • English • Social Studies • Science • Units of study are… • Significant to students. • Significant to the world around us.

  11. Soundings “Specific” #3: • Soundings students create their own units of study/curriculum. • Soundings students develop their own projects and presentations.

  12. Units of Study: • Unit Building Step #1: • Students write down questions that interest them. • Unit Building Step #2: • Analyze questions and develop possible themes. • Unit Building Step #3: • Incorporate Radnor and Pennsylvania State Standards.

  13. Soundings Units 2010-2011 • Unit 1: Culture • How and why have cultures changed over time? • Culture Project: • Italy Egypt • USA Japan • France Greece • Ireland Kenya

  14. Soundings Units 2010-2011 • Unit 2: Human Body/Brain • What is the relationship between the brain, body and the environment? • Memory • Evolution/Development • Stimuli/Responses • Emotions • Diseases/Disorders • Genetics • Technology • Perception

  15. Soundings “Specific” #4: • Soundings students do not receive grades. • Soundings students are assessed.

  16. Soundings Assessments: • All work is assessed through rubrics • Log Books • Reading Journals • Current Events • Lab Reports • Focus Papers • Projects/Presentations • Self Assessments • Feedback is detailed and personal. • More than just a letter grade or percent.

  17. Soundings Myth #2: • Since Soundings kids do not have grades, they do no work.

  18. Soundings Work: • Log Book • Daily Log Questions • Quote Responses • Reading Journal • 25 Book Goal/Validations • Literature Circles and Class Novels • Current Events • Lab Reports

  19. Soundings Work: • Individual Research Projects • Focus Papers • Word Study (a.k.a. – Spelling) • Coffeehouses • Student-Led Conferences • Unit Study Research, Presentations and Projects

  20. Soundings Myth #3: • Soundings students have no “structure” and the kids can do “whatever they want”.

  21. Soundings Structure: • Daily Log Questions • Daily Class Discussions • Weekly Quotes • Bi-weekly Current Events • Bi-weekly Self Assessments • Bi-weekly Word Study units • Log Book and Reading Journal checks • Individual Research Project checks

  22. Soundings Myth #4: • If you are in Soundings, you will not be prepared for high school.

  23. Soundings at RHS: • G.P.A. of 2010-2011 Ninth Graders: • Soundings Students vs. The rest of 9th Grade • First Semester GPA of former Soundings students: 3.56 • First Semester GPA of the rest of the 9th grade: 3.26

  24. What is Soundings, really???

  25. Soundings is… • A classroom where… • Students make their own decisions. • Students develop self-discipline and independence. • Students improve time management and organization. • Students focus on quality of their work. • Students connect their learning to the world around them.

  26. Soundings is… • A classroom where… • Students challenge themselves to step out of their “comfort zone” and try something new. • We learn how to learn! • We all become a “family”. • We have FUN! 

  27. Soundings XI:

More Related