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Teaching and Learning Strategies for the High School Renewal and Small School Development Initiative |
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The High School Renewal and Small School Development initiative is creating small school environments in which innovative teaching and learning strategies can flourish. High School Renewal creates personalized learning environments that help students to be engaged in learning. Some of the ways that high school classrooms are changing include the following. |
| Advisory |
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Advisory programs, which bring students together in small advising groups, are a key ingredient of a supportive, personalized small learning environment. Read about "Why Create Advisory Programs" by Rachel Poliner for an overview of the goals of Advisories.
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| Humanities |
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In many schools, students are taking new Humanities courses that bring together History, English Language Arts and other humanities to create an enriched learning experience. |
| Collaborative Coaching and Learning |
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Collaborative Coaching and Learning (CCL) supports teachers in implementing the "Workshop" approach to teaching. Building literacy skills through CCL is key to high school renewal.
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| Readers' and Writers' Workshop |
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Readers' and Writers' Workshop ... ("Workshop") ... presents a student-centered approach to student learning. Workshop starts with TIME: time for students to read, write, talk, and think in class, independently or in small-group sessions. The structure also offers teachers time to observe, take notes, and confer with students. Because students often choose what they read and write, they develop OWNERSHIP of their learning. As they begin to use newly taught strategies that make them more skilled readers, writers, and learners, they are able to access more and a greater variety of materials, increasing their confidence and sense of ownership. RESPONSE is built into workshop instruction. During the mini-lesson, students have the opportunity to
question and clarify strategies before they adapt them to their own learning. The teacher-student
conferences, small-group work, notebooks, and sharing sessions all offer opportunities for students to explore
and respond to content with their teachers and others. By experiencing genuine discourse, considering and
building on the ideas of others, finding evidence in what they read, and sharing their work, students develop
as a COMMUNITY of learners.
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| Signature Courses |
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Signature Courses provide students with an interdisciplinary learning experience focused on a career theme. The courses feature community connections, such as signature projects, community service learning, and shadowships/internships. The courses are structured around Boston's citywide learning standards, with students gaining skills in literacy, mathematics, science, social studies and economics.
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| Signature Projects |
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Signature Projects are academically rigorous applied learning projects that are a hallmark of School to Career practice in Boston. Signature Projects are characterized by the six A's: Authenticity, Academic Rigor, Applied Learning, Active Exploration, Adult Connections and Assessment. Boston Teachnet's Learn and Serve Project Page presents standards based projects by teachers/for teachers, addressing School to Career Competencies & Service Learning Priorities.
The online showcase of signature projects presents a selection of projects from different high schools and industry clusters. Browse through these projects by PROJECT or by CHARACTERISTICS to get ideas and materials for your own work.
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