7th+Grade+2011-12

==

**Mineola Middle School** **7th Grade 2011-2012** ==

__**PROGRAM OBJECTIVE:**__ ** Focus on the learner as an individual in order to develop self motivated, successful, independent citizens through Constructivist, process oriented, and targeted learning objectives. **

**__PROGRAM OVERVIEW:__** Students come into school with all different learning potentials,and learning styles. A learning environment such as this will be able to motivate and encourage students to reach their potential, as it will enable each student to focus on the process of learning specific to their unique learning styles and needs. Through process oriented, goal based learning objectives, students will take charge of their learning and reflect on the learning process. Through the use of individual I-pads (that they will be responsible for throughout the entire year, both at school and at home), and other technologies such as in class Promethean Boards, students will become proficient in the technologies that will allow them to become successful in the 21st Century.

This is a two person team that will be the only team in the 7th grade using this model. This will also be the only team this year in 7th grade having access to IPads. This class will use the latest research in education to create a student-centered classroom where the teachers role will be to facilitate learning.

Students will be able to progress at their own pace in two academic blocks


 * __PROFILE OF A CANDIDATE__ **

Candidates for this 7th grade class have been individually selected and recommended through a team approach based on their academic potential and learning styles. These students are believed to be ones who have the ability to make excellent progress within this unique environment.

**__SPECIFIC STUDENT GOALS and OBJECTIVES__**

**In connection with the 7th Grade NYS Learning Standards for Math, ELA, Social Studies and Science, the students will:**
 * Aquire and apply the skills necessary to successfully contribute and participate in the social and academic environment, both within the school setting and beyond.
 * Recognize personal learning strengths and obstacles in order to develop and apply learned strategies in a risk tolerant environment.
 * Set independent learning targets
 * Think critically and problem solve by following trails of interests, making connections, and reformulating ideas
 * Draw individual conclusions while focusing on the process of learning. Specifically:
 * Students will research, learn, apply and evaluate self monitoring strategies such as
 * reflecting on work
 * changing his/her mind and making mid-course corrections while thinking, reading, and writing
 * asking for help
 * seeking more information when necessary
 * meaningfully including past knowledge in discussions
 * engaging in group activities
 * evaluating ideas
 * Students will learn, apply and evaluate various ways to brainstorm, plan, organize, and manage personal and structured time and space such as
 * long term assignments
 * collaborative projects
 * independent activities (homework, classwork)
 * personal and collaborative work spaces
 * multi-tasking in the real world

__**FOUR LEVELS OF PROCESS and PRODUCT**__ ** I .THE BASICS ** Students will: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">** I. ** Understand the Learning Process <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> a. How does the brain learn? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> b. How does this knowledge of how the brain learns help me? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> II. Understanding my personal learning <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> a. How do I learn? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> b. What are my personal strengths? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> c. What are my personal weaknesses? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> d. How can I use these strengths to develop and strengthen my weaknesses? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> III. How do I know when I have actually learned? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> a. What is a learning target? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> b. How do I create a learning target? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> c. What will I be able to say/do when I have reached that target? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> IV. Growth Mindset <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> a. What is the difference between a Growth and a Fixed Mindset? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> i. Ability vs. Effort <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> b. What is my current mindset? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> i. What do I do when I face a challenge? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> ii. What do I do when I hit a setback? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> iii. What do I do when I hear criticism? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> c. Understanding Choice <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> i. How can I use my knowledge of the Growth Mindset to <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> 1. look forward to challenge <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> 2. persevere in the face of setbacks <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> 3. use constructive criticism <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> 4. perceive mistakes as necessary pathways for learning <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> 5. take risks

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">** II. THE PROCESS: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Once I understand the Basics, I will learn: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">** o ** How to create a learning target <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">o What it looks like when I have reached that target
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How am I going to reach that target?
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How do I break this up into managable steps?
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How much time might I need to complete each step?
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What will I do when I hit a setback?
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What will I do if I get off task?
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What do I do if I get a different idea?
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What will I do when I take more time than I thought I would?
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What skills will I need to use?
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If I do not have these necessary skills yet, how do I go about developing them?
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What materials do I need to access? How do I access them?

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">** III. THE PRODUCT ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Students will exhibit that they have reached their learning goals through a variety of products:
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Traditional Summative Assessments:
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">State and Standardized Tests
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Grade level Assessments
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Classroom Assessments
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Project based products
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Development of individual and collaborative Wikispaces
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I Pad Applications and Programs
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On-line Portfolios

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**IV. INDEPENDENT AND GROUP REFLECTION** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Students will reflect daily on their progress toward learning goals**
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Weekly collaborative meetings (Using the Consultancy Protocol)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Individual e-journals or blogs
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Student/Teacher Conferences
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences

POSSIBLE I PAD APPLICATIONS

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">__**RESEARCH AND RESOURCES:**__ GROWTH MINDSET THEORY: Dr. Carol Dweck 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teenagers Math Common Core Standards ---Skype in the classroom ---**National School Reform Faculty:**
 * Brainology
 * Consultancy Protocol
 * Chalk Talk
 * Text Based Discussion
 * __The Case For Constructivist Classrooms__by Jacqueline Grennon Brooks and Martin G. Brooks
 * "Scitable"--- online science social networking site to connect with researchers
 * NYC School of One;
 * Florida Virtual School;
 * North Carolina Project K-Nect;
 * I-LEAP (Vermont)
 * Let the Kids Rule the School
 * Students determine how to progress through a course and whether they want to use text, video, audio, or simulation
 * P21 Framework for 21st Century Learning
 * Personal Learning Networks!

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">__**BRAINSTORM FOR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE:**__ STUDENT WORKSPACES with chairs (multifunctional): Stand up desks (give students the opportunity to stand and move around while reducing distraction to others) two person individual learning desks option #1 (can serve as lab tables as well) two person individual learning desks option #2 Panels to create small learning environments as necessary
 * these will be moved around the classroom as needed, ie. large group conferencing, individual/paired/small groups, science/lab tables, etc.

Independent Organization/Storage Area (60 shelve unit)

Comfortable learning environment for collaboration (couches,comfortable chairs,low "coffee" tables) pdf examples seating examples

Small group direct instruction -paint/Idea Paint (Works like a Dry Erase Whiteboard on flat surfaces)