At White Mountains Regional High School, we challenge students to own their learning. Students personalize their educational experiences through avenues including a STEAM program, CTE completer programs, ELOs, and seminar courses. Regardless of the pathway they choose, each student has the opportunity to engage in meaningful, inquiry-driven work, often based in real-world challenges.
These efforts have not been without challenges. Free blocks and flex periods give students autonomy in using their time and space, and some have struggled to embrace this agency. In response, we have built structures to support students and have implemented new ways to track and assess student learning, such as school-wide exhibitions. In these ways, we strive to ensure that all students thrive and learn in our unique environment, so we can do more for more kids.
In this session we will share how we support students in owning their learning and, in turn, promote the success of all students. We will discuss how our emphasis on teacher agency works in tandem with these efforts. Participants will learn how we hold students accountable for their learning and discuss strategies to implement in their classroom and/or school to help students own their learning.