Minecraft Camp Invites “Struggling” Students into School-Based Literacy Activities

Program Designed to Help Struggling Students with Literacy What:  This activity took place in a Title I school in which over 90% of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch and about 25% are identified as English learners. Because we receive federal and state money, we also have numerous government mandates to fulfill. Some […]

Use of “The Recovery Process” for Disruptive Classroom Students

The “Recovery Process” Allows the Teacher to Preserve the Classroom Learning Environment The “Recovery Process” is one of the nine-skills found in the multimedia training program, 9 Essential Skills for the Love and Logic Classroom. This process allows the teacher to preserve the learning environment when nothing seems to be working with the student. We […]

Student Led

Students Transform Into Leaders of Their Own Learning Through a Variety of Student Led Activities and Student Engaged Assessments As an EL Education school, we are constantly looking for ways to better serve our students and to learn and grow as educators just as we would ask our students to do.  One way to create […]

PBIS Initiatives

Students Rewarded for Doing the Right Thing Our PBIS team has created a positive set of school wide expectations for all areas of the school.  We have put into place many incentives for students who do the right thing.  We have a student of the month breakfast for those students selected in the different curriculum […]

S.W.A.G.G.E.R. Wall

Students Rewarded for Good Grades The goal at Southside Middle School is to promote responsibility and a strong work ethic with students.  In order to achieve a positive academic atmosphere, we reward students for good grades.  Students who receive a good grade on an assignment, test, or project are identified by their teacher.  The teacher […]

Learning Centers: Not Just for Elementary Students

Learning Centers Enable Teachers to Cover More Content and Increase Student Participation When secondary teachers struggle to keep students engaged learning decreases. The use of active learning centers increases student engagement, participation, and therefore learning. There are some tangible advantages to including learning centers in the classroom. Experience has shown that students actually tend to be […]

Co-Teaching

Implementation of a Co-teaching Model Enhances Small Group and Individualized Instruction for Students From 2013-2015 the first grade team at Burris Laboratory School implemented a co-teaching model. All first grade students are taught together using differentiated teaching methods. Teachers use whole group, flexible small group, and one-on-one instruction. Groups are identified through the use of […]

Study Buddy Time

Older Students Help Younger Students Succeed in a Dual Credit Math Class This is a technique that we used in a dual credit math class that had 4 eighth grade students. It was used to ensure that the underclassmen enrolled in this Dual credit College Algebra class would succeed. Each eighth grader was assigned to […]

Best “Cs” in the Classroom

Use of the 5 C’s in the Classroom Helps to Engage Students Project Based Learning:  In choosing rubric design and criteria to guide students as they research, analyze, and present topics, remembering the best “Cs” in the classroom leads to learning, interesting discussion, and creative and affective product development.  The Best “Cs”:  Choice; Collaboration; Communication; […]

The Heart of Alternative Education: Understanding the Individualized Service Plan

Ways to Help Students Who Have an Individualized Service Plan (ISP) Options Charter Schools currently run two full-school alternative programs in Hamilton County. In order for our schools to qualify for alternative education funding we must service students that fall under one of the five categories of eligible students: (1) Intend to withdraw or have withdrawn from […]

Results with Readers Workshop in First Grade

Reading Workshop Helps Develop Life-Long Passionate Readers Readers Workshop in our classroom is an extended period of time during our Language Arts Block devoted to reading and responding to literature.  A mini lesson begins the workshop everyday. Children are then released to their “book nook” to read literary and informational text at their level and […]

Use of Quarter Courses to Increase Curriculum Diversity for High Ability High School Students

Quarter Length Courses Allow Students the Choice Between Multiple Narrowly Focused Subject Matters Throughout the Semester Quarter courses were developed to increase the diversity of courses available to high ability students.  Courses last for half a semester and are usually developed in pairs taught by the same instructor.  Topics for quarter courses are usually more narrowly […]

The 10 Day Push

Last Minute Review Helps More Students Pass the English 10 ECA Kay Winter, former AHS instructional/ data coach, heard about The 10 Day Push used at another high school with incredible results.  They reported that 60% of their students who participated in The Push passed the English 10 ECA.  Kay brought the idea to AHS, […]

Responsive Instruction Plan

Changing School Diversity Creates a Need for Change At Orchard Park Elementary School in Carmel, Indiana, we are seeing increasing diversity in our school population. As the population changes, we are seeing more need for student services that help with academics, behavioral issues, social skills, and other areas related to issues of poverty, English as a […]

Practice Leading to Student Achievement

Individualized Service Plan Helps Students Students who attend schools today are facing an array of challenges unlike any we have seen in previous generations. When they attend school many of these challenges significantly impact their ability to perform civically, socially, and academically. Students who enroll at Options Charter Schools enter the enrollment phase by filling […]

Success Academy

Instructional Coaching Benefits Students in an Alternative Program The Success Academy is a new alternative program at Anderson High School. The 75+ students are educated by seven teachers throughout the day (focusing on core subjects and freshmen appropriate electives). All classrooms and lockers are located within the same hallway, to ensure maximum support.  Research-based strategies […]

Discipline Pyramid

Tiered Discipline Plan Pyramid Helps to Decrease Negative Behaviors This is a tiered discipline plan that has been proven through data to decrease negative behaviors and increase student time in the classroom. This additional time in the classroom has led to little to no instructional time being lost. Issues this Best Practice Addresses: The number […]