"Personal Learning Plans" is a national trend and a proven technique to get middle school and early HS students thinking about possible careers, and what it is required to get from (a) where they are now to (b) a successful career. PLPs don't have to be complicated or expensive. Career Days for 8th graders is a related tool for motivating students and making them consider alternatives. This session will also mention "Career Academies" and related ideas for making successful transitions from school to college and career.
Problem-based Learning Units, differentiated learning, interdisciplinary connections and 21st Century Skills: A model for grades 1-8.
LEGO Designs is a robotics program aimed at hands-on technology, engineering, and mathematics and designed to have students working in pairs. Our top seniors are paired with our top seventh-graders and they work together on high-interest activities/challenges in the high school's new, cutting-edge computer lab after school and on Saturdays. The students who we are at risk of losing to one of the magnet high schools come to our high school and get to see one of our top-shelf, brand new facilities. They also develop mentoring-type relationships with seniors who tell them about all that our high school has to offer. Students enrolled, for example, in Advanced Placement mathematics classes serve as the senior mentors since engineering has a direct link to many of the concepts that are studied in such courses; the seventh-graders are selected via an application and accompanying rubric.
LEGO Designs is a robotics program aimed at hands-on technology, engineering, and mathematics and designed to have students working in pairs. Our top seniors are paired with our top seventh-graders and they work together on high-interest activities/challenges in the high school's new, cutting-edge computer lab after school and on Saturdays. The students who we are at risk of losing to one of the magnet high schools come to our high school and get to see one of our top-shelf, brand new facilities. They also develop mentoring-type relationships with seniors who tell them about all that our high school has to offer. Students enrolled, for example, in Advanced Placement mathematics classes serve as the senior mentors since engineering has a direct link to many of the concepts that are studied in such courses; the seventh-graders are selected via an application and accompanying rubric.
The Oxford Central School has participated in the National Archery in the Schools Program since 2006. The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) is a joint venture between state departments of Education and Wildlife. The program promotes student education, physical education and participation in the life long sport of Archery. The program’s focus is to provide International Style Target Archery training in physical education classes grades 4 - 12. NASP is a program designed for students that promotes the valuable lessons presented by the sport of archery. Students learn many skills that carry-over into their academic classes: patience, cooperation, dedication, team work and integrity.
The objective of the program is to provide another sport that students can participate in everyday. The NASP program allows studnets from grades 4-12 to compete against each other without advantage of size, athleticism or many other physical attributes that might accompany other more traditional sports. This program allows students of all abilites to particpate.
In Puppetry Workshop students develop their skills in language through their investigation of the art and craft of puppetry. Students construct and manipulate shadow puppets, marionettes, and hand puppets and around stories that have been created by students. Students learn to work cooperatively through a sequence that culminate in a production. The production instills a sense of commitment and responsibility. This course includes presentations at local schools, hospitals, and township events.
Puppetry Workshop provides a voice for all students. Through the puppets, students are able to express their ideas through written and oral means. They build confidence while developing performance skills. Puppetry workshop has been especially beneficial to our special education students who do not always meet with academic success. In addition to servicing these students, the program also lends itself to the district's character education program. Through their pupppets, students teach their peers about respect and responsibility through varied skits.
The Ad Agency introduces second and third-year graphic arts students to the real life experience of running an advertisement agency. Students create products such as logos, posters, playbills, ads, and web pages for the school community. As part of this experience, students work individually and in teams to generate ideas and develop concepts with real customers; focus on the aesthetic, structural, and functional aspects of advertising product design; compete for advertising opportunities; conduct meetings to discuss project timelines; and, ultimately, create a product for an authentic audience using 21st century skills.
