Welcome to the home of Logan High School's action team. We are a group of parents, teachers and students who are working toward providing every student with the support they need to succeed. The face of public education is changing, and our students and teachers are being held to higher standards than ever before. Logan High has a history of academic excellence, and we hope to build on that success by using data and research to make informed decisions about what can be done to further address the needs of all students.
Schedule Update
We've always said we were in this for the intervention and not the schedule. With that in mind, the number of concerns we're working at resolving on the schedule approved by the board (see this page) has led us to consider another option. The option found below was discussed during the original round of schedule debates, but several barriers have been lifted and it is now a more viable option that we originally thought.
We are still working things out, and this schedule is not final.
Unlike the current schedule, there will only be one lunch. Students will be assigned to attend our intervention period during either the beginning or end of that period. The possibility of some students having an extended lunch would be contingent on their performance.
The next step is to gather input from parents, teachers and students - we're posting it here so that we can start gathering that feedback. We are also calling parents, announcing it on the news, sending emails out to faculty, and placing tables in the lobby where students can voice concerns, give suggestions and have questions answered. This page also has a place to ask questions and give feedback.
Here are two links to presentations about the new schedule. The first one is longer and more boring with my voice :), the second one is content from the students perspective. Please feel free to share either or both of them.
Why do we need an intervention?
To understand where we are coming from, you need to be familiar with the three questions guide any educator:
- What do I want students to learn?
- How will I know when they've learned it?
- What can I do if they don't?
These questions form the philosophical core of our work as a team, and have led us over the past several years to conclude that an intervention period built into the school day offers the best means of addressing those questions. We need to identify our core skills and content, develop assessments that quickly and accurately identify students who haven't learned, and have a structure in place to get those students back with the teacher to figure it out.
We're tentatively calling our intervention RE3, which is explained here.
We have a lot of work to do, and we'd love the help of anyone who is willing to give it. This website offers information on what's been done so far, where we're headed, and what we still need to do. Like weeding the garden or doing the dishes, it's definitely a messy process - but it's a rewarding one. The calendar on the right lists when and where we meet, and every page on the site has a place for comments and suggestions. Our only request is that you focus on solutions instead of problems. Anyone can say what's wrong, but it takes someone committed to doing what's best for students to come up with solutions.
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteHave you ever thought of having trimesters instead of semesters? I know your science and math departments are whining about it but it obviously works for Sky View and Mtn. Crest so there must be something good about it. Have you ever thought that maybe the reason for the students lacking is because of the class load rather than needing the intervention period?
I can guarantee the students hate the idea of coming to school earlier and staying later. Who blames them? It's a really stupid idea. Why don't you have an "A-B" block schedule? This way the students get quality learning time rather than the rush of the class.
Oh and another thing being sneaky and having a survey asking whether or not if students will actually be staying on campus is ridiculous. You know you need a new lunch room or you at least need to expand it. Don't try to get around it just so your schedule will be approved.
- A concerned student
We did look at the Trimester and the Roll-Over Block extensively. We even looked at passing rates on CRT scores from both Sky View and Mountain Crest. We visited these and other schools as well as held discussions with administration at the various schools. Each schedule has strengths and weaknesses. We included these discussions in our minutes from previous action team meetings if you would like to review those discussions in detail.
ReplyDeleteWe know that there is a great need to increase capacity in our lunchroom. We have been working with architects to discuss our current options and to start planning for construction within the cafeteria. We even have a set of architects coming in on Friday to discuss options.