What is HSRD?
- Flexible learning environment (FLEX PERIOD) & Flexible Schedule
- Teacher Advisory groups (TAG)
- student successes
- access to staff
- access to different curriculums
- quality student centered learning
- it is about the individual
- credit recovery
- staff that are willing to try new things
- more value in the process of learning as compared to the results
- students having a voice (Student Voice Committee)
- more students taking responsibility for their learning
- culture shift in regards to how students view education
- culture shift in that they are ALL our students – not just who teaches them
- technology – increased use of by teachers and students (hidden curriculum)
- dynamic strategies
Why is HSRD important at BMC?
- trying to improve our school
- students learn at different paces
- makes our jobs easier – more satisfying and successful
- time is built in the day
- improves connections with students (relationships)
- alternative – life-long learning
- collaboration between staff for how students learn
- shared responsibility for students (we are ALL responsible for ALL of the students in our school)
- students and staff do not come from the same background, so we utilize staff strengths – building capacity
- CONNECTIONS
- may not be successful in some areas but they are attending every day – that says something
- more welcoming environment
- pushes staff to try new things and work harder, to be innovative, go past our comfort zones
- pushes staff to not give up – we CAN’T give up - harder to give up (keep trying)
- students are not falling through the cracks as easily as in the past
- accountability for staff and students for learning
- we don’t just “move on”
- we don’t “take away” the fun stuff when a student didn’t learn
- taking student backgrounds/experiences/life into account
What is the Core focusses of HSRD at BMC?
- Mastery Learning
- Rigorous and Relevant Curriculum
- Flexibility
- Personalization
- Professional Development
- personalization and flexibility have been our main focus
- next focus is rigor and relevance
What has changed at BMC?
- Flex block every day (30 Minutes)
- opportunities for learning outside of the “regular classroom”
- attitudes towards homework and formative assessment has become work completion
- physical make up of rooms, galleria, learning areas
- classrooms are more open – we let anyone in
- offering courses outside of our schedule – students taking different classes at different times than the school offering of the courses
- integrated into classrooms for support
- attitudes have changed
- being flexible to the needs of our students
- classrooms look different
- it may look like chaos at times but it really is organized chaos receptive to individual student needs
- we don’t “dump” student anymore into classrooms (gone are the days of SNAP or “your problem”)
- we have a genuine believe that students are capable; will vs. skill
- it is about the learning experience: pass or fail, as compared to the final mark
- we have stopped limiting the course options – instead of you CAN’T take this course, we talk about the challenge
Student expectations?
- Flex block is a class
- Students working towards greater academic excellence (focus groups, tutoring, finishing tests / course work, study groups)
- completion of work
- increased responsibility for their own learning
- respect, responsibility, results – school motto
- more accountability
- less stress of exams/homework completion
- they know that we won’t give up – we will find someone who can help them if we don’t need the answer
- parents are more involved – they realize that flex, etc.. is their child’s opportunity