New Roots Charter School Faculty Begin Professional Development
June 29th, 2009
New Roots Charter School faculty begin working with Jayne Henn from the State Education and Environment Roundtable (SEER) at the Clinton House in downtown Ithaca today. SEER was formed as a collaborative effort of 16 state departments of education. As a result of this collaboration, SEER has developed a model of education called "Environment as Integrating Context for Education," which 10 years of research demonstrates increases engagement and academic achievement for students in all demographic groups.
"Schools like New Roots are part of a critical movement to transform secondary education in the U.S., providing the academic preparation mandated by the state in a context that is relevant and engaging, and ultimately that prepares students to enter the world of work with vision and initiative to meet the challenges of the 21st century," said Dr. Gerald Lieberman, Director of SEER.
During their workshop this week, teachers will develop standards-based curriculum that is place-based, exploring the relationship between the human and natural systems in Ithaca and its environs.
This week's workshops closely follow a weekend-long workshop lead by Expeditionary Learning school designers. This "learning expedition" took the New Roots faculty to places such as the History Center, the Juneteenth Celebration at the Southside Community Center, and to hear a panel of elders speak at the St. James AME Zion Church. The day culminated with faculty composing "poems in two voices" using words they heard during the day. Former IHS teacher and Expeditionary Learning School designer Jeff Spence modeled use of media technology by recording the panel and performances.
"The experience was designed to engage teachers in the same active learning experiences that we want to provide for students-and an opportunity to reflect on the planning and structure of these experiences together in ways that will allow them to replicate them with students," said Tina Nilsen-Hodges, principal and instructional leader.
Expeditionary Learning Schools is a national, non-profit organization that supports new elementary, middle and college-oriented secondary schools, and partners with existing schools, to improve student achievement; build student character; enhance teacher practices; and instill a positive school culture. The ELS approach promotes rigorous and engaging curriculum; active, inquiry-based pedagogy; and a school culture that demands and teaches compassion and good citizenship.
At the heart of ELS are learning expeditions, interdisciplinary units aligned with state and district standards. The ELS approach is experiential and project-based, involving students in original research -- with experts -- to create high-quality products for audiences beyond the classroom. The ELS approach to teaching has been proven effective by third-party research conducted by the Rand Corporation, the Academy for Educational Development, the American Institutes for Research and the National Staff Development Council.
"This kind of innovative school. . . is an example of how all of our schools should be," said President Barak Obama, upon visiting a public charter school using the Expeditionary Learning model in Washington, DC this spring.
At the end of the workshop, Expeditionary Learning School designer Marcy DeJesus commented that the New Roots faculty was one of the very best that she's ever worked with. DeJesus has worked with new and existing schools using the Expeditionary Learning model across the nation.
New Roots faculty bios can be found on the New Roots website at www.newrootsschool.org The faculty will continue their work at a national Expeditionary Learning School secondary institute being held in Massachussetts and at an Advanced Curriculum Design Studio with the Cloud Institute of Sustainability Education in Manhattan this summer.