Interest-based Classrooms at Springbank Middle School May, 2015

 Students will be placed in interest-based classrooms based on their area of interest or passion  Teachers will be placed based on their identified areas of interest or passion  The curriculum will be taught through the ‘lens’ of that interest area, when and where possible Program Premise

 Allowance of parent and student choice in class placement  Opportunity for use of interest area to aid in student engagement  Potential of long-term issues for students who are not engaged in school, particularly in middle school  Opportunity for students to feel connected to a group  Student connection to each other and teacher Implementation Rationale

 Gr. 5 – Environmental Science (Mrs. Sue Williams)  Gr. 6 – Humanitarian (Mr. Bill Belsey)  Gr. 7 – Visual & Performing Arts (Ms. Eva Knight)  Gr. 8 – Sports & Athletics (Mrs. Denise Dancey)  Please refer to Classroom & Teacher summary Groupings Offered

 All students in the class, as well as the teacher, will have a common interest area  Illustrations, examples, and projects will be based on that interest  Speakers will be brought in who will be able to extend learning in that interest area (seeking expertise)  Field trips will be sought out which further that interest area (extending the passion) Unique Features

 Each interest area will be charged with bringing in an event which the whole school can be a part of (sharing the passion)  Surveys will be conducted with stakeholders to determine satisfaction  Students may have the opportunity to continue in a different interest area in another year, should the space exist Unique Features (cont’d)

 Use of application form to determine student interest and parent awareness  Selection based on interest, space, class composition (boys/girls, coded students, relationships)  Insufficient numbers may result in a withdrawal of the interest-based class for that grade  Exceptional numbers may result in use of criteria (see above), student draw, and a waiting list Student Selection

 Insufficient student/parent interest and/or support  Expectation of using the interest every day in every subject  Potential for overuse of the approach for some students (boredom, saturation)  Feelings of ‘elitism’ by students in the classes and those outside of them Anticipated Problems

 Using one’s passion to learn and teach  Having like-minded individuals in one’s class  Being able to go deeper into one’s interest  Having access to speakers who can extend the interest  Being able to go on interest-specific field trips  Being able to regularly bring in one’s passion to the classroom for discussion/presentation/sharing Anticipated Benefits

 Parents knowing (generally speaking) how a subject, topic or event might be introduced and/or covered  Parents with similar interests being sought out to support or share with the class  Students being given the opportunity to show leadership within the rest of the school  Specific benefits of engagement, affecting areas such as attendance, achievement, behaviour  Continued provision of traditionally structured classrooms for parents and students (choice) Anticipated Benefits (cont’d)

 Refer to Q & A sheet  Thank-you for coming  All information, including this presentation, can be found on the front page of the Springbank Middle website Questions & Answers