Meet Your School: Waverly High School Chris Fritz Jessica Hagen

Waverly High School In Delta Township in Lansing, Michigan In Delta Township in Lansing, Michigan 1,100 students, teaching staff of 63, a support staff of 30, 3 administrators, and 3 counselors 1,100 students, teaching staff of 63, a support staff of 30, 3 administrators, and 3 counselors Offers dual enrollment through Lansing Community College Offers dual enrollment through Lansing Community College Offers AP classes in all core subjects Offers AP classes in all core subjects Several extracurricular activities, including NHS, world language honor societies, and Destination Imagination Several extracurricular activities, including NHS, world language honor societies, and Destination Imagination 23 different sports activities 23 different sports activities 80% of students involved in co-curricular activities 80% of students involved in co-curricular activities

Waverly High School School environment School environment The colors in the school are very simple: white walls and blue lockers. The colors in the school are very simple: white walls and blue lockers. Several posters on bulletin boards and hanging in the halls to advertise various school events Several posters on bulletin boards and hanging in the halls to advertise various school events Several flags from around the world hang in the main entryway. Several flags from around the world hang in the main entryway. The classrooms seem to be a little dark, but the teachers have decorated a lot. The classrooms seem to be a little dark, but the teachers have decorated a lot.

Waverly High School Mrs. Baker’s Classroom Mrs. Baker’s Classroom Mrs. Baker has painted the crests of the 16 German states at the top of the wall around her classroom. Mrs. Baker has painted the crests of the 16 German states at the top of the wall around her classroom. There is also a map of Germany painted on the wall. There is also a map of Germany painted on the wall. She also displays student projects around the classroom. She also displays student projects around the classroom. The German class made fake German Facebook profiles that hang in the back of the class The German class made fake German Facebook profiles that hang in the back of the class She also has three bulletin boards for the classes she teaches that display information relevant to the classes. She also has three bulletin boards for the classes she teaches that display information relevant to the classes.

Interview with Mrs. Baker Why is she a FL teacher? Why is she a FL teacher? She wanted to change the world at age 16. She wanted to change the world at age 16. She became a teacher at 30. She became a teacher at 30. Her travel to Europe and Germany had a powerful influence and opening people’s eyes to a different culture is a way to change the world. Her travel to Europe and Germany had a powerful influence and opening people’s eyes to a different culture is a way to change the world. Overseas travel made her realize the importance of FL instruction. Overseas travel made her realize the importance of FL instruction.

Interview with Mrs. Baker Travel Experience Travel Experience Her first time to Germany was at 16. Her first time to Germany was at 16. She had completed two years of German. She had completed two years of German. Studied abroad in Freiburg, Germany, during her junior year in college. Studied abroad in Freiburg, Germany, during her junior year in college. Been to Germany/Europe at least “two dozen times.” Been to Germany/Europe at least “two dozen times.”

Interview with Mrs. Baker Does she teach the way she was taught? Does she teach the way she was taught? Yes and no. Yes and no. Her two mentor teachers had very different teaching styles. Her two mentor teachers had very different teaching styles. German teacher was Dutch and had a great personality but never did anything fun or interactive German teacher was Dutch and had a great personality but never did anything fun or interactive She models her teaching after her English mentor teacher who did very many creative lessons. She models her teaching after her English mentor teacher who did very many creative lessons. She developed many of her interactivities herself through professional development conferences and teaching experience. She developed many of her interactivities herself through professional development conferences and teaching experience.

Interview with Mrs. Baker How has her teaching style changed? How has her teaching style changed? Her planning has become more streamlined and more concise and precise. Her planning has become more streamlined and more concise and precise. “The more you teach, the more you have in your head to pull out when something doesn’t go exactly how you planned.” “The more you teach, the more you have in your head to pull out when something doesn’t go exactly how you planned.” She has continually added to her repertoire of “fun” lessons. She has continually added to her repertoire of “fun” lessons.

Interview with Mrs. Baker What skills are emphasized? What skills are emphasized? Listening skills Listening skills Associating new knowledge with prior knowledge Associating new knowledge with prior knowledge What does she grade on? What does she grade on? There are different assessments for each area. There are different assessments for each area. She focuses specifically on communication. It is more important to know how to communicate than to know exact grammar points. She focuses specifically on communication. It is more important to know how to communicate than to know exact grammar points. She wants to get kids over their fear of speaking the TL. She wants to get kids over their fear of speaking the TL.

Interview with the Counselor Support services available to students Support services available to students Emotional support Emotional support The counselors are not meant to be used for therapy for psychological issues, but when students need emotional support, there's no one else to go to. Students may meet with counselors on a regular basis to ensure that they are doing alright. The counselors are not meant to be used for therapy for psychological issues, but when students need emotional support, there's no one else to go to. Students may meet with counselors on a regular basis to ensure that they are doing alright. Disciplinary alternative Disciplinary alternative When students get into trouble, a counselor may often offer a more constructive alternative to suspension or expulsion, often playing good cop / bad cop with the administration When students get into trouble, a counselor may often offer a more constructive alternative to suspension or expulsion, often playing good cop / bad cop with the administration Career guidance Career guidance Counselors offer guidance in choosing classes and preparing oneself for life after high school, whether that be college or not. Counselors offer guidance in choosing classes and preparing oneself for life after high school, whether that be college or not.

Interview with the Counselor Counselors and the World Languages program Counselors and the World Languages program Counselors have a very good relationship with the World Languages program and meet with them regularly to take part in the planning within the department. Counselors have a very good relationship with the World Languages program and meet with them regularly to take part in the planning within the department. Counselors encourage all students to take part in some kind of World Language, although not all students listen. The students steered towards German in particular tend to be more academically-focused students as there are fewer local resources for learning German and may therefore be more difficult. Counselors encourage all students to take part in some kind of World Language, although not all students listen. The students steered towards German in particular tend to be more academically-focused students as there are fewer local resources for learning German and may therefore be more difficult.

Interview with the Counselor Student Body Student Body 1,100 students 1,100 students Students reportedly attending college: 80% Students reportedly attending college: 80% Student drop-out rate: 15% Student drop-out rate: 15% (although the counselor estimates it may actually be closer to 10%, since she doesn't agree with how the statistic was calculated) (although the counselor estimates it may actually be closer to 10%, since she doesn't agree with how the statistic was calculated) Waverly is a very diverse school with large proportions of many ethnicities represented, something they and many parents count as a great strength to the school. Waverly is a very diverse school with large proportions of many ethnicities represented, something they and many parents count as a great strength to the school. I lost this statistic, but I believe about 50 students qualified for the free or reduced-priced lunch. I lost this statistic, but I believe about 50 students qualified for the free or reduced-priced lunch. 80% of students involved in extra-curricular activities. 80% of students involved in extra-curricular activities.