Making the Learning Connection 2004

Ron Mersch, Ed.D., Associate Principal for Curriculum & Instruction

• $3,837 — Purchase Learning Packets, cover afterschool stipend for selected staff and clerical personnel, and support further staff development options for teachers. This amount was adjusted to allow evening parental sessions to provide $16.25 per student program fees. This program would require future funding to be continued, none was identified.
• All students in grades 9 and 10, ranging from at-risk to Honors students.
• Core academic disciplines and select elective areas based upon teacher interest.

This program uses the research-based learning model developed through Learning Connections. This model has shown great promise in a number of areas, and staff who has used elements of the Learning Connections model have noted a real insight into the learning processes of individual students.

For the previous two academic years, individualized learning profiles have been created for current freshman and sophomore students. District grant funding has restricted the application of this important information to select freshman classes at the information exposure level only to those teachers desiring this information. Further resource funding will enable additional staff and parents an opportunity to partner with students to create an even more supportive educational base for every student at these grade levels.

SME is one of the schools in the nation that has staff interested in pursuing more training on this educational model. Quality work at SME has already begun and with additional funding this work can both grow in its application within our school and also serve as a model for feeder schools into SME and set an example framework for replication to our sister schools and perhaps to additional secondary schools across the nation.

Current freshman and sophomore students - District grant funding has restricted the application of this important information to select freshman classes at the information exposure level only to those teachers desiring this information. Further resource funding will enable additional staff and parents an opportunity to partner with students to create an even more supportive educational base for every student at these grade levels. SME is one of the schools in the nation that has staff interested in pursuing more training on this educational model. Quality work at SME has already begun and with additional funding this work can both grow in its application within our school and also serve as a model for feeder schools into SME and set an example framework for replication to our sister schools and perhaps to additional secondary schools across the nation.

Grant awarded September 2004