Rigor, Relevance and Relationships

1. Rigor, Relevance and Relationships Hawaii Department of Education Honolulu, HI January 22-23, 2007

2. Dr. Mimi Dyer Academy of Math, Science & Technology

3. Cobb County Schools • Just north of Atlanta, GA • 2nd largest school district in state • 30th largest in nation • 106,000 students (+2,500/yr) • 16 high schools • 23 middle schools • 68 elementary schools

4. KMHS Profile • Opened in 2000 with 1250 students • 2006-7 population – 3,100 • 319,000 sq. ft. instructional space on 79 acres • 118 core and 165 elective courses on 4x4 block schedule • 23 AP courses – 340 students/505 tests

5. Extracurricular Activities • 90% of students involved • 22 athletic teams • Drama – 225 students • Marching Band – 340 students • 51 clubs • Robotics International • Recreation Yugiyo • Philosophy Equestrian • Men of Distinction

6. 21st Century Skills • Communication and Information skills • Thinking and Problem Solving skills • Interpersonal and Self-Directional skills • Collaboration skills

7. Relationships Rigor Relevance

8. Building a Learning Community “…where collective aspiration is set free and where people are continually learning how to learn together.” Peter Senge

9. Relationships Students: Empowerment and service learning Teachers: Rigorous and relevant curriculum Community: Engagement

10. 103745

11. Andrew J. Carter • Average kid in middle school • Outside looking in at robotics • Tried out for lacrosse • Loving technical theater this year • Now taking one honors class, hoping to go on to AP “A. J.”

12. Everybody Counts or Nobody Counts

13. Student Empowerment How can we show responsibility if no one gives us a chance to be responsible?

14. Service Learning • Mustangs with a Heart • Shop with a Mustang • Relay for Life • R.I.S.E. and M.I.S.E. • Kennesaw Youth Council • Care-o-Therapy • Tutoring • Class of 2006 logged over 10,000 hours

15. Educators Students Character Education Businesses Parents

16. “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. . . Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

17. Once a Month Special Activity • 110 community leaders teach lessons • 99 KMHS seniors teach freshman classes • 66 KMHS seniors teach elementary and middle feeder school classes • Bullard Elementary students followed their leaders

18. Lessons Learned Successful schools do not sidestep the issue of character education; rather, they embrace it. They acknowledge that their success is due, in large measure, to their attention to guiding principles, through which they create a supportive learning environment.

19. Teachers Rigorous and Relevant Instruction

20. Student focused Engaging project-based activities Integrated curriculum Multiple resources Problem solving Interaction with experts Performance-based assessment Virtual Labs Writing workshops Primary resources Tomorrow’s Classroom Today’s

21. Do you recognize this teacher?

22. Changing the Paradigm of Teaching and Learning • Active engagement in learning • Primary and dynamic resources • Application of knowledge • Performance-based assessment

24. Vision and Implementation “There are no teachers with correct answers, only guides with different areas of expertise and experience that may help along the way.” ~ Peter Senge and Fred Kofman, 1995 Flip the funnel

27. How do we get R/R framework into our classrooms? • Professional collaborative conversations • Common vocabulary used consistently • Professional Development Groups • Faculty meetings • Snack ‘n Shares • Subject-specific collaborative groups • Core teachers within each dept. as mentors • Nurture relationships with teachers who show potential • Share philosophy with kids • Make them part of expectations and celebrations

29. Community Engagement

30. Building Stakeholder Commitment “Leaders must envision the future and then create the conditions for others to build a common vision together—one based on ideal and unique images of a common future.” ~Kouzes & Posner, 2002 “When people truly share a vision, they are connected, bound together by a common aspiration.” ~ Peter Senge, 1990

31. Community Partners • 250 total for school • Local churches, businesses, colleges/universities, technical schools, governments • Advisory committees for departments, academies, athletics, extracurriculars • Financial and in-kind donations and contributions • Assist in curriculum development • Mentor students throughout school

32. Kennesaw Business Association • PTSA • Golden Kiwanis • Local churches • City government • Parents – open communication

33. Rigor and Relevance “Individuals learn best when the content is meaningful to them and they have opportunities for social interaction and the environment supports the learning.” ~Ron Brandt, 2003

34. Conceptual Physics

35. Vision Quest: Personal Achievement

36. Celebration of PersonalAcademic Excellence • Process that encourages academic excellence, improvement, citizenship • Goal: To increase student performance and teacher enthusiasm • Recognizes, rewards, and reinforces good grades and good character for each and every student

37. Recognition • Most Wanted (top 10 seniors) • Classroom medals • Academic pep rally • Academic scholar tee shirts (FBI) • Honor Cards

38. Honor Cards

39. Honor Cards • Gold: 4.0 GPA, 3 absences and 3 tardies • Silver: 3.5 GPA, 3 absences and 3 tardies • Green: 3.0 GPA, 3 absences and 3 tardies • No discipline records

40. High Five Club • Recognizes students, regardless of GPA, for improving academic record • Students who increase their GPA between semesters by .5 • Tee shirt and various business discounts

42. Lessons Learned • Increased student attendance • Improved overall academic performance • Kids believe that it’s cool to be smart!

43. Student Recognition • Fall 2005, 1256 students recognized • Fall 2006, 2240 students recognized

44. Putting it all Together • Students + • Teachers + • Community members = Lessons in the D Quadrant: Rigor, Relevance and Relationships

45. ???

46. Email Dr. Mimi Dyer mimi.dyer@cobbk12.org