Student Life Connection: Implement Programs to Explore Interests and Aspirations

Inflexion February 27, 2023

0 Comments

Three diverse middle school students display excited expressions in class.

Why should a student show an interest in our classes if we do not show an interest in them? Show them you care.

– Jeff Charbonneau

INTRO

Implement activities, classes, and/or programs that give students opportunities to explore their interests and aspirations, while also building ownership of learning skills.

ACT skills and behaviors help students take ownership and successfully manage their learning. These skills include the ability to be self-directed, collaborate, set and meet goals, persist through challenges, learn to take notes effectively, and manage time well.

OBJECTIVES

Implement programs to give students opportunities to explore their interests and aspirations

RESOURCE LINKS

DIGITAL RESOURCE: Roadtrip Nation

ACTIVITY

Implement activities, classes, and/or programs that give students opportunities to explore their interests and aspirations, while also building ownership of learning skills

Roadtrip Nation is a great resource to get started

TIPS

Key Moves are efforts that require a bit of planning, but can be implemented within the next 3-6 months

Like this activity? Check out Inflexion’s full-page ACT document for more ideas.

Categories: Toolkit

Tags: 21st Century Leadership, 21st Century Readiness, Effective Leadership, Inclusive Leadership, Inclusive Practices, Instructional Practices, School Leaders, Shared Vision for Readiness, Student Empowerment, Student Experience, Student Outcomes

Inflexion

Resources We Love (And Hope You Will Too!)

During our May Counterpart meetings, we asked folks to share what they have been engaging with recently. Below is a list of all the resources shared by our incredible community, offering a taste of the diverse and inspiring content they’re currently exploring. This list has something for everyone: from thought-provoking articles to captivating podcasts to must-watch documentaries. So, take a peek, pick your poison, and get ready to dive into something fantastic!

Michelle Liebhardt June 5, 2024

0 Comments

Case Study: Merced Union High School District

Through its work with Inflexion, MUHSD is seeing strong results in student outcomes and in closing the opportunity gap for underserved students. California School Dashboard data show College/Career Indicator scores for African American, Hispanic, English Learners, students with disabilities, students who are homeless, and students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged are 16 to 29 points higher than the state average.

Inflexion June 9, 2020

0 Comments

Passion. Pride. Promise. Two Leaders Help Pave the Way for Their Students & Communities

Tucked away in the hills of rural western Oregon, the Vernonia and Gaston school districts defy many of the stereotypes most of us hold when we think of rural schools. Their communities face both common and unique challenges. Vernonia Elementary Principal, Michelle Eagleson, and Gaston Superintendent, Summer Catino, share how their small schools and communities achieve greatness.

Vanessa Brazil October 25, 2022

0 Comments

Professional with dark shoulder-length hair points to a computer screen with graphs on it. A second screen shows a calendar.

Rethinking Master Schedules: Build a School Day That Prioritizes People

An effective master schedule is so much more than making sure the bells ring on time. It not only sets the pace for the school and community, but it can directly impact students’ access to equitable learning, opportunities, and holistic well-being. It also impacts the well-being of your staff as well as their opportunities for meaningful collaboration, preparation, and professional development. An equitable and effective master schedule can lead to a healthier school community overall.

Inflexion March 20, 2023

0 Comments

Build Unity Through Change: Engage Staff in Continuous Improvement Processes

Continuous improvement should be embedded in day-to-day work, in a systemized, organic way. You can think of the cyclical process as a formative assessment of the ideas being tested.

Inflexion June 7, 2023

0 Comments

Equip Your Students to be Life Ready Using These 3 Simple Strategies

This last year has been full of airplane rides and early mornings for the School Partnerships team here at Inflexion as we work with school leadership teams up and down the West Coast. Listening to the radio on one of my late night drives home from the airport, I caught part of a Freakonomics interview with the managing director of a team that started as part of the British government known as the Nudge Unit.

Brandi Peterson January 19, 2018

0 Comments

Family And Community Engagement (FACE): How To Get Started with Community School Development

So you’re familiar with community schools. You’re interested. But getting started can feel like the hardest part. While your own school/district’s path may ultimately differ from Anaheim Union School District’s, their example can help you begin mapping out where to start.

Inflexion April 19, 2023

0 Comments

Elementary teacher and students sit in a circle smiling and laughing.

Incorporate SEL in the Classroom: Engaging Strategies for Brain Breaks and Transitions

Educators and OST providers understand and believe in the power of SEL, but often seek clarity about how to demonstrate and observe SEL in action.
The Engaging Strategies and Brain Breaks are practical ways to introduce and broaden the use of SEL practices in classrooms, schools, and even workplaces.

Inflexion March 3, 2021

0 Comments

Three diverse professional woman look at a poster paper with one pointing at it.

Model SEL for Students: Five Social and Emotional Competencies Gallery Walk

Modeling SEL offers students positive examples of how to navigate stress and frustration and maintain healthy relationships while simultaneously influencing the learning climate. You can engage staff in this activity to reflect on how you will intentionally model SEL as part of schoolwide implementation.

Inflexion March 9, 2021

0 Comments

Black woman rests her head in her hand with her eyes closed expressing exhaustion.

Teacher Burnout: Addressing Educator Exhaustion

Educator (and support staff) exhaustion is nothing new, though it has arguably accelerated exponentially over the past few years with no signs of slowing. In order for teachers/staff to best support and care for their students, they need to feel supported and cared for.

During a Crowdsource Coffee on November 9, 2022, Portico leaders, coaches, and facilitators shared their experiences and discussed new ideas for how we can better address educator exhaustion and work toward preventing this issue in the first place.

Inflexion February 24, 2023

0 Comments

Responses

You must be logged in to post a comment.

INTRO

OBJECTIVES

RESOURCE LINKS

ACTIVITY

TIPS

Related Articles

Responses