Slice session #2: Determining the level of rigor reflected in student work

Last night, Replications hosted our second Leadership Institute (RLI) of this year. The focus of this year’s RLI series is improving instructional leadership. Replications is working with the Coalition of Essential Schools (CES) to implement the Slice program, which uses process data to determine the level of rigor in classroom instruction.

Our second meeting focused on determining the level of rigor reflected in student work. Pam Ayers, the Associate Director of the Chesapeake CES, presented techniques for looking closely at the interactions taking place within the classroom in order to determine and categorize the level of questions being asked.

Earlier in the week, Replications staff spent two days conducting a Slice visit at the High School of World Cultures, a dual-language program in the Bronx and one of the schools in Replications’ network. Ramon Namnun, the school’s principal, was kind of enough to speak about his recent experience with the Slice program and encourage network principals to try the process at their schools, the ultimate goal being to improve teaching and therefore student outcomes.

Thank you to everyone who participated including Pam Ayres and principal Namnun, the faculty of High School of World Cultures for allowing us to conduct a Slice visit in their school, and Goodwin Proctor for providing space for our meeting.

Our next Leadership Institute on May 20^th, “Assessing lessons and student work to improve student outcomes using Slice,” will wrap up our introduction to the program but signal the beginning of implementing Slice in our schools.

We look forward to our next RLI.

Replications is pleased to announce that after recommending several schools involved in unique initiatives to The Charles Hayden Foundation for monetary support, High School of World Cultures (HSWC) has been awarded $25,000 to expand the after-school component of its dual language program. The grant will allow the school to grow the after-school dual language program to twice the number of students and employ more staff.

Congratulations to the school for its hard work in gaining this opportunity.

On Monday, January 25^th, The New York Times published an article on the benefits of scheduling recess before lunch. The report cites a number of schools that made the scheduling change and recognized a decrease in behavioral issues. Follow the link to read the article.

Well: Play, Then Eat: Shift May Bring Gains at School
By TARA PARKER-POPE
A simple scheduling switch -- moving recess before lunch -- may improve children's eating habits and behavior in school.

We are delighted to launch the new Replications-Global LAB International Leadership Program! This cultural immersion and service learning program will provide 18 students from public high schools in the Replications PSO Network a hands-on learning and leadership experience in Dharamsala, India this summer.

For most of these students, it will be their first time out of the country.

Follow our students’ and teachers’ experiences on their blog:
http://global-lab.org/mt/ILPSummer10/

Learning how to turn dreams into reality through fundraising and community support is a key part of the program. As such, students have committed to raising $1,000 each towards their travel costs. However, to cover the remaining student and program costs--approximately $50,000--we need your help.

Please consider supporting our students as they participate in this transformative immersion experience. You can donate online through our website and designate the gift for “International Leadership Program”.



Congratulations to the students and teachers recently chosen to participate in the Replications Global LAB International Leadership Program. The International Leadership Program is an opportunity for students to learn about, travel to, and experience life in Dharamsala, India. 18 students have been selected representing 5 different high schools from the Bronx, Manhattan, and Brooklyn. For many of these students this will be their first trip out of the U.S. and for some even out of New York State.

Here is what Adam Branson, a Special Education teacher from The Henry Street School for International Studies and an Assistant Program Leader, noted upon giving his students the good news:

“You should see their faces! They are still going up and down the hallway telling all of their teachers and their classmates are excited about it too. This feels great.”

As part of the program, participants will begin a blog dedicated to their experience leading up to and during the trip. We will be sure to provide a link to the site and check it periodically when it goes live.