This document outlines strategies for creating a college-prep culture at an elementary school. It discusses defining the school's values and expectations, signs that a school culture is or is not college-prep, and best practices from other college-prep K-8 schools including student profiles, college trips, and parent preparation. Teachers then brainstorm ways to implement these strategies and develop an action plan to establish a college-prep culture at their school.
1. Creating a college-prep elementary school culture Prepared for LEARN South Chicago | Summer 2010 Induction
2. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS Your Name Your role at LEARN South Chicago Favorite thing to do in Chicago during the summer!
3. OVERVIEW What creates school culture? Defining LEARN South Chicago’s Culture BREAK Snapshots of Best Practices Defining LEARN’s College-Prep Values Action Planning
6. BRAINSTORM Signs that an elementary school IS college-prep: Signs that an elementary school IS NOT college-prep:
7. BRAINSTORM (continued) Signs that an elementary school IS college-prep, specifically: Student behavior Staff behavior Parent behavior Signs that an elementary school IS NOT college-prep, specifically: Student behavior Staff behavior Parent behavior
10. CULTURE FRAMEWORK VALUES & BELIEFS UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS VISIBLE INDICATORS Daily Rituals (School Creed, Hall Passing Procedure) Traditions (School Uniforms, Take Your Parent to School Day) Symbols (Posting College Pennants in the Halls, Displaying “A” work on bulletin boards) Ceremonies (ACT Pep Rally, Perfect Attendance Pizza Party)
13. BRAINSTORM (continued) What qualities made you successful in college? What might those qualities look like at the K-3 level? What school policies might help cultivate those qualities?
14. THINK ABOUT IT…. Student Culture How will students interact with each other? How will students respond to teachers? How will students be celebrated? How will students describe the school to others? How will students treat school property? Professional Culture How will teachers interact with each other? How will teachers work together? How will teacher successes be celebrated? How will teachers talk about their school and their students? How will teachers treat school property?
15. VALUES ACTION Because LEARN South Chicago values _________, our students______________________________ Because LEARN South Chicago values _________, our teachers_____________________________ Because LEARN South Chicago values _________, our parents______________________________
17. Student Profiles Public Displays College Trips 100 Million Words College Events College Tutors Career Day Adopt a Classroom Undergrad Interview/ Alumni Panel College-Themed Exercises/Chants Parent Prep School Creed
18. REFLECTION What stood out? Which would you want to adopt? Were any core values represented that we haven’t yet touched on? What other college-prep activities would you suggest?
19. IMPLEMENTATION WILL IMPLEMENT SCHOOLWIDE MIGHT IMPLEMENT SCHOOLWIDE WILL IMPLEMENT IN MY CLASSROOM
21. CLOSING “Students’ confidence that they can control their destiny has a stronger relationship to achievement than all school-related factors put together…”
