FREEDOM AREA HIGH SCHOOL CONNECTING Project 720

FREEDOM AREA HIGH SCHOOL CONNECTING Project 720 & Classrooms for the Future

FREEDOM AREA HIGH SCHOOL Beaver County n 1700 Students K-12 n 600 Students 9 -12 n 45 Faculty Members n “A Work In Progress” n

FREEDOM AREA HIGH SCHOOL 1 of 7 Districts in Pennsylvania to receive: Project 720 Grant n Classrooms for the Future Grant n College & Career Counseling Grant n

FREEDOM AREA HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT 720 Pennsylvania’s High School Reform Initiative

FREEDOM AREA HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT 720 Pennsylvania’s High School REFORM Initiative

FREEDOM AREA HIGH SCHOOL PROCESS n Partnered with Dr. Willard Daggett’s International Center for Leadership in Education

FREEDOM AREA HIGH SCHOOL Two Day Site Visit n Met with Administration, Faculty, Parents and Students n Surveyed Our: - Instructional Practices - Culture and Climate n

FREEDOM AREA HIGH SCHOOL GOOD n Traditional n Teacher Centered n Students Are Spectators n Lecture, Worksheets, Tests

FREEDOM AREA HIGH SCHOOL GREAT n Student Centered n Authentic Assessments n Technology & Literacy Focus n Innovative Teaching Methods n Preparing Students for Life in the 21 st Century

FREEDOM AREA HIGH SCHOOL PROCESS n Created a Project 720 Steering Committee composed of teachers, parents, students and administration

FREEDOM AREA HIGH SCHOOL PROCESS n Identified Strengths & Weaknesses Visited Successful Schools In California, Texas, Virginia and Western Pennsylvania To See Their Best Practices At Work n n Created a Priority List of Items Needed to REFORM Our High School

FREEDOM AREA HIGH SCHOOL Priority List 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Unity of Purpose Accountable Literacy Plan Improve Rigor & Relevance of Instruction Culture of High Expectations for All Improve 9 th Grade Success Adopt a New Daily Schedule Improve Core Learning (Test Scores) Improve Relationships at All Levels Focus on Student Goals – Life After High School Improve Academic Intervention

#1 – UNITY OF PURPOSE MISSION STATEMENT The mission of Freedom Area High School is to facilitate a collaborative learning environment for all students that will improve achievement in oral and written communication, core content and technology literacy, and also provide necessary interventions for students to ensure success in career and citizenship preparation.

#2 – ACCOUNTABLE LITERACY PLAN Literacy Is King! n n n Hired Part Time Literacy Coach Serves Faculty As In-House Support Reading & Writing Strategies Common Rubrics – Reading & Writing Presentation & Demonstration Rubrics Assist with Diagnostic Approach

#3 - IMPROVE RIGOR & RELEVANCE OF INSTRUCTION Get To “D” www. daggett. com/rigor. html

#4 – CULTURE OF HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL Adopted 8 Learning & Instructional Outcomes 1. Collaboration 2. Civility 3. Career Prep 4. Core Content Literacy 5. Critical Thinking 6. Written Communication 7. Oral Communication 8. Technology Literacy -Courtesy of “New Tech High School” – Napa, California

#4 – CULTURE OF HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL Differentiated Professional Development 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Rigor/Relevance Framework 8 Learning Outcomes Cooperative Learning TECHNOLOGY PROJECT BASED LEARNING MODIFIED BLOCK SCHEDULE

#5 – IMPROVE 9 TH GRADE SUCCESS Pyramid of Academic Intervention Alternative Placement Credit Recovery Contracts with Student Scheduled Mandatory Tutoring (Tutoring Center, After School) SAP Referral/Mentoring – Parent/Teacher Conference Teacher Assigned ISS/Lunch, Academic Mentoring Teacher Call Parents, Academic Detention/Tutoring, Study Groups Common Planning Periods, Regular 9 th Grade Team Meetings, Progress Report Cards, Planners/Agendas, Classroll. com Messaging System, Literacy Coach, Tech Coordinator, Career Connections Counselor

#6 – ADOPT A NEW DAILY SCHEDULE CHANGING TO AN “A Day/B Day” MODIFIED BLOCK FOR 2007 -08 n Allows for: n Student Centered Instruction n Content Deepening n Improved Comprehension n Infusion of Technology Use of Project Based/Cooperative Learning n Common Planning & Teaming (Departments, 9 th Grade) “Working Smarter, Not Harder”

#6 – ADOPT A NEW DAILY SCHEDULE MODIFIED BLOCK SCHEDULE Framework: 1. Warm-Up/Literacy 2. Establish Set/Tone 3. Active Learning 4. Guided/Independent Practice 5. Student Led Closure & Reflection

CLASSROOMS FOR THE FUTURE “The Smart Classroom” Laptop Cart for Each Core Classroom n 25 -30 Laptops Per Cart Interactive Whiteboard, Projector, Webcam, Digital Camera, Printer, Scanner Extensive Educational Software Package n Wireless Network Access n n n

CLASSROOMS FOR THE FUTURE Program Support “In-House” n Educational Technology Coach n Keystone Integrators n District Technology Director n Student Help Desk

CLASSROOMS FOR THE FUTURE Outside Professional Development n PDE supported Professional Development & Learning Opportunities n Futurekids n Webinars n Video Conferencing n Site Visits

Current Technology Applications Tools n n n n n Microsoft Office Suite Advanced Publishing & Graphics Video & Music Technologies Classroll. com CISCO Lab SIRS Researcher/Proquest United Video Streaming Power Library Windows Moviemaker Content n n n n Accelerated Reader Cognitive Tutor Geometer’s Sketch. Pad Choices Keys 2 Work Vernier Science Software Package GIS Environment & Ecology Software And Many, Many More!

Future Technology Applications Tools n n n n Inspiration Software Interactive Whiteboards TIGED Net. Trekker Webquests 4 Sight Testing Adobe Software Suite Satellite Learning Content n n n n Dual Enrollment Electives Thru Online Vendors Buck Institute for Education Edutopia Successful Practices Network Study Island PDE Ed. Hub Math Applets

CLASSROOMS FOR THE FUTURE n Technology…can transform the classroom experience from old school….

CLASSROOMS FOR THE FUTURE n Match the computer part on the right to its function on the left PART Hard drive Video Card RAM Power supply Heat Sink FUNCTION Temporary memory Draws heat from CPU Attach to Monitor Permanent file storage Supplies voltage to devices

CLASSROOMS FOR THE FUTURE n To Technology driven 21 st Century Learning Experiences… Use your digital camera to photograph the computer components, then upload them to your laptop, import them into Moviemaker Software and create a movie that identifies the component and explains its function for successful computer operation.

CLASSROOMS FOR THE FUTURE n Paul and Nikkos make a movie. .

CLASSROOMS FOR THE FUTURE n n n It’s not just about cool equipment and flashy software It’s about Transforming the Classroom Train Teachers Provide the Tools Engage Students

FREEDOM AREA HIGH SCHOOL CHALLENGES!!

FREEDOM AREA HIGH SCHOOL Contacts Dr. Ron Sofo Superintendent 724 -775 -5464 rsofo@freedom. k 12. pa. us Dr. Robert Staub High School Principal 724 -775 -7400 rstaub@freedom. k 12. pa. us Dan Lentz High School Assistant Principal 724 -775 -7400 dlentz@freedom. k 12. pa. us Tom Hickey Ed Technology Coach 724 -775 -7400 thickey@freedom. k 12. pa. us