Learning Works! began as an idea to help Madison and Lamphere students make a better transition from school to the workplace. Three people in the Madison and Lamphere school districts: Norma Ross, Terry Johns, and Pat Mullins, formed a team to develop a plan to capture a half-million dollar grant from the Skillman Foundation.
They got some interested people from both districts, including community leaders, business people, and parents to come up with a plan. After a lot of time and energy was invested, the result is Learning Works!
Every attempt will be made to simulate in the classroom what it is like in the world of work. The world of work is changing rapidly, and often schools didn't have a clue about how people worked in the "real world". LW will attempt to make school more in harmony with the workplace.
When you go to work outside of school, you will rub shoulders with all ages and types of people. In school you usually interact only with people of about your own age. In LW, however, all grade levels will be mixed. You will be required to develop assignments with people older and younger than you.
From the very beginning you will be placed in a group with a team leader, one of the three instructors in LW! That group will be further subdivided into working teams. Each team will be given work together on a series of projects to complete.
Your ability to work as a team player, to solve problems, think creatively, listen to one another, etc. will determine whether your team functions or not. We know that businesses today expect employees to work together, learn to solve problems, and feel that their contribution is important to the health of the business place. You will have many opportunities to develop teamwork skills this year.
Throughout the year your team will be faced with designing many projects. You will have goals to reach, deadlines to meet, individual assignments to help attain the skills necessary to complete the projects. Textbooks used in each curriculum area will be available for use in completing LW projects as needed.
In the traditional school each class is separate and independent. Students often think the skills taught in one class are not applicable to another. They may see no connection between math, for example, and English or Social Studies. In LW the projects in Social Studies, Science, and English will be integrated. Your instructors will be showing you how these three areas of knowledge are related to one another. Applied credits are given in each curriculum area. This means that you will receive an elective credit that fulfills the specific requirement for your grade.
i.e. 9th Grader English-required Freshman English credit covered with an elective English credit. Same for Freshman science and Civics and Economics for social studies.
A class such as this demands that all of us knows what is going on outside our walls. The new LINC room will serve as our connection with the world of work. Each of you will have the opportunity to use the resources available in LINC to find out your interests, strengths/weaknesses as they apply to the world of work. After this occupation testing, you will be able to explore those areas of employment that you are interested in and have an aptitude for. Job-site visitations, interviews, and job shadows will be arranged through the LINC room. People in business will get to know you, and you will have the opportunity to establish useful contacts within the community. You are fortunate to live in a community which has shown an extraordinary interest in its youth as well as providing outstanding resources of a highly technological nature.
Another component of LW is the use of technology as a tool to help accomplish the many tasks set before you. You will in fact be linked electronically to the world through computers. You will have access to the Internet (the "information highway"), software, video technology, all the "bells and whistles" that will make you computer literate and far more resourceful as an employee.
We think you will find Learning Works!, a school within a school, the most exciting innovation ever to come to the Madison School District. Once you have experienced a few weeks of LW we think you will agree you made an excellent decision!
Learning Works! Class Expectations Daily Schedule Learning WorksII Learning WorksIII 7:40-8:00 11:45-12:05 Team Attendance, Announcements, Agenda 8:00-9:15 12:05-1:25 Learning Works! 9:15-9:30 1:25-1:40 Break 9:30-10:00 1:40-2:10 Learning Works! 10:00-10:10 2:10-2:20 Journal Writing 10:10-10:20 2:20-2:30 Clean-Up
Learning Works students will be issued identification badges. These badges will allow you access to A Hall and the Cafeteria for breaks. With the permission of a Group Leader/Teacher you may go to other parts of the building with a written pass. Failure to follow this policy will result in the loss of the privilege to leave the classroom. Repeated problems will lead to disciplinary action.
The Learning Works room is an expensive facility created for the benefit of the students who will use it. We expect each participant to take pride in the facility and equipment. Abuse, misuse, and lack of care will not be tolerated. Vandalism, destruction or theft of equipment and/or supplies will result in disciplinary action including reimbursement and/or repair costs to the student/parent.
We expect students to be clean and neat at all times. No coats or hats will be permitted. Extreme styles, however fashionable, will be excluded. Appropriate attire must be worn when representing the Learning Works program including field trips or in the workplace.
The school year is divided into four marking periods of approximately ten weeks each. The school grading system will be used for report cards. The following system will be used for grading class work: A, B, REDO on individual written work except journals. Unexcused absences will result in a ZERO.
1. Clear homework deadlines will be given. You should record these dates on your monthly calendar, weekly planner,
etc.
2. Only completed assignments may be turned in. Partial assignments will be given a ZERO.
3. Late Work Policy: Individuals with excused absences will have additional time equal to the number of days absent.
Late assignments excluding oral presentations, skits, and long-term projects will be graded as follows:
1 day late = marked down 1 grade or 10%
2 days late = marked down 2 grades or 20%
3 days late = marked down 3 grades or 30%
Nothing accepted after 3 days.
Individual problems will be dealt with as they arise.
4. A finished assignment which is completed in good faith but does not meet the standard of an A or B will be marked
"Redo" and returned for improvement with a new due date. The original assignment must be turned in with the redone
version to receive credit.
5. Card marking grades will be computed using the following weights:
Major Assignments 40%
Homework Assignments 35%
Journals 15%
Participation 10%
6. Final semester grades will be the average of the two card markings.
Students with excellent attendance within a card marking will receive a grade increase as follows:
0 absences +5% 1 absence +4% 2 absences +3% 3 absences +2%
Attendance is of utmost importance. Since students spend half of their school day in LW, an absence is equivalent to three days in a traditional classroom. If you are absent from LW for a week its the same as missing three weeks in a regular classroom! Chronic absenteeism and /or tardiness will also adversely effect your grades using the following school policy:
3 tardies = 1 unexcused absence = 2% deducted from your grade 1 unexcused absence = 2% deducted from your grade After 5 excused absences, each one is a 2%deduction (see school policy)
A break will be taken within a designated block of time each day. Students will not be released during regular passing time. Students on break must remain in the area bounded by A Hall and the Cafeteria. They may not leave the building and must use the A Hall restrooms. Break is a privilige and abuse/misuse will result in the loss of this privilige. In that event, regular 5 minute passing time will be used.
Group- - -Each student belongs to one of two groups. Each group reports to and turns work into its Group Leader,
one of the instructors.
Team- - -Within each group are several teams. The majority of the project work will be done by these teams. The
groups and teams will exist for a card marking and may be dissolved or remain the same for the next
card marking based on the desire of the members/teacher's recommendation.
Every effort will be made to assist students in making good use of their time. Students will be expected to plan their time as well as account for it. A weekly sheet showing good use of class time will be turned in with the weekly journal. It is further expected that students will be aware of deadlines and taught how to meet them.
Since all students will have access to word processing equipment, it is required that all written projects/major assignments be completed using the word processing programs.
One of the daily tasks in Learning Works will be to take ten minutes at the end of class and write a daily journal. This journal will be turned in each Friday. It will consist of your thoughts, reactions, questions, ideas, suggestions and feelings.Here are the guidelines:
Written in ink At least eight full lines daily Dated with the topic written at the top Legible
Mr. Balawander, Mrs. Banka, 4th Hour
To promote proper behavior in the Learning Works classroom, part of your grade is decided by a participation grade as follows:
1. Each student will be given 500 class participation points which will be worth 10% of your final grade. 2. You will lose points for the following: 20pts. Disappearance from The LW classroom/referral to office 10pts. Profanity or unacceptable language 5pts. Rudeness when a student or teacher is talking 5pts. Late return from break/tardy recorded 5pts. Not working or "visiting" another team's station 5pts. Violation of computer policy/clip card/notify office 5pts. Leaving a messy team station at the end of class
Counseling and Guidance
The group leaders will also serve as a counselor for the members of their group. Any questions, problems, or concerns should be discussed with your group leader.