Essays, Research Papers....or Tweets?

When is enough, well - enough?

Teaching students to write succinctly is difficult, especially when their vocabulary is limited. The author of this New York Times piece, Andy Selsberg, teaches Freshmen English at John Jay College in New York. Professor Selsberg believes that a lot can be said with few words, if the word choice is correct. Teaching students to write captions, descriptions of clothing posted on eBay, or original hooks for You Tube videos requires critical thinking beyond that required for the five-paragraph essay. Getting one's point across in 140 characters or less is a difficult skill, and developing that skill through expansion of a student's grasp of the English language could tax even the master teacher.

Activities that Professor Selsberg suggests may help students increase their vocabulary by forcing them to use descriptive language with limits on the content. Lessons in vocabulary development will increase their skill level, as will practice, especially when challenging others to describe similar objects or events. I can see applicability to language development in students with language deficits to those born with the gift of proficiency in language fluency. In mastering the art of clarity, careful selection of adjectives and experimentation, students should become better writers of all genre.

I like the experiment.

I Can’t Think!

I Can’t Think!

Online Learning

The instructional format of the NEW Saline Alternative High School has implemented a largely online learning experience, for the majority of the core classes required by the Michigan Merit Curriculum. Students engage in lessons provided through the accredited vendor Education 2020. Tutorial, re-teaching and curricular explanations are provided by certified teachers and instructional para-professional staff. For many, taking classes in this format has proven to be a highly motivating, academically competitive learning experience. The curriculum is consistent. Credit accrual has been swift, and some have achieved early graduation.

However, as instructional leaders, we often question whether this online experience will adequately prepare students for what comes next: post-secondary education, the work force, or the military. Are we doing all that we can to prepare them for the rigors of those experiences?



A review of more than one managerial preparation website questions the validity the total online experience in efforts to prepare the student with other skills necessary for life. Are we neglecting to instruct students in the requisite "soft skills" that they will need for a successful adult life? The Ladders, a web based career preparation company, suggests that even IT executives must posses sensitivity, common sense and people skills in order to keep the job that the hard skills posted on a resume secured for them. Read more at http://goo.gl/dHXq1




In an effort to ensure that all students are prepared for whatever "comes next," the NEW Saline Alternative has employed a thematic programming component to aid students in becoming more well rounded, employable, compassionate citizens of the community. Each week, a theme is chosen that guides instruction in BASE classes. Teachers present the theme and provide talking points to begin discussions. As the week progresses, students practice skills they've learned in a non-threatening, small group discussion format.

While it is difficult to measure what impact this instruction has played, there are some related data: disciplinary referrals are down from October, attendance is up significantly from last year, and students are showing an increase in confidence, self-worth and self-satisfaction.

We will continue to question if this alternative experience, provided largely in an online learning community, is what is best for the traditionally unengaged, at-risk learner. For now, predictions are good that this form of instructional delivery, coupled with valuable instructor face-time, is working and producing students that are informed, curious and ready to contribute.

Saline Alternative Clothing Drive

Saline Alternative Clothing Drive

Early Successes

One of the criteria by which we judge a program's success is through student achievement. Is it working?

All of the students in the NEW Saline Alternative are enrolled in core classes offered through Education 2020 (e2020), an online accredited vendor. Their experience in these core classes can be individualized, with accommodations such as extended time or pre-testing added as applicable. The classes provide academic rigor and consistency in curriculum delivery. Further, as necessary, staff members offer tutorial or re-teaching.

During the first six-week marking period, the fifty-three students enrolled at the NEW Saline Alternative completed 64 courses in e2020. They took Biology, Algebra II, Economics, English, US Government, Career Planning, Financial Math, Environmental Science, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Health, Physics.....and many more course offerings. Progress has been, well, REMARKABLE!

Staff members award each student upon completion of a course in e2020. The hall lockers are now adorned with paper trophies, each depicting a completed class. I've felt a renewed sense of academic competition - and academic interest! - as students compare their list of achievements to those of their classmates.

So, is it working?

To date, five students have completed all requirements for high school graduation. On October 18, 2010, the first graduate of the NEW Saline Alternative received his diploma, a full eight months prior to classmates at traditional high schools. With a firm plan in place, he has enrolled in college level courses at the local community college and has his sights set on the Peace Corps. If earning a high school diploma and having a solid post-secondary plan in place is the mark of success, then the early reports decisively indicate, YES!

US Constitution Day

The students at the NEW Saline Alternative High School spent the past week learning about the US Constitution in preparation for Constitution Day on September 17, 2010. Working in their “Family” groups, the students memorized the Preamble to the US Constitution and focused their studies on the Bill of Rights. They’ve learned that the rights guaranteed by the Constitution are bound by responsibility. That responsibility is to themselves, the school, the greater Saline Community and also to the global community. They have learned that while you can be many things without knowing your own Constitution, you cannot be an effective citizen. Knowing your Constitution is not only a birthright; it is a rite of passage that allows you to become a responsible citizen in a modern representative democracy.

What is Constitution Day? According to the Law Library of Congress, Constitution Day, enacted by Congress, is observed on Sept. 17 each year to commemorate the signing of the Constitution in 1787. Constitution Day traces its roots to federal acts in 1940 and 1952 that authorized the president to recognize citizenship through observation of the signing of the Constitution. It formally became Constitution Day and Citizenship Day in 2004, with two new provisions, including one that stipulates every educational institution that receives federal funds shall hold an educational program on the Constitution on Sept, 17^th of each year.

Two hundred and twenty three years ago, the founding fathers of this nation signed the United States Constitution. In all, 55 men representing 12 of the 13 original states attended the Constitutional Convention, although there were just 39 signatures on the original document. In the opinion of many, the Constitution signed in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787 embodies the greatest expression of statesmanship and compromise ever written. In just four hand-written pages, the Constitution gives us the owners' manual to the greatest form of government the world has ever known.

Professor Jamin Raskin teaches Constitutional Law at American University in Washington, DC. He makes a strong point in this excerpt:

“ Every great legal conflict has at is heart a clash over values and principles. Learning the Constitution enables you to clarify what your values are and to engage in real dialogue with other people about the rules of our common life. No one knows what leads to disasters like the Columbine High School massacre. But it is hard to believe that the students responsible were taught to think for themselves as citizens and to appreciate the values and equal dignity of other people in the community.”

To cap off the week’s studies, the students, along with several staff members and administration at Liberty School, raised the first flag over the school. In many ways, we who now work and attend school at Liberty School are representative of a diverse and eclectic inter-mingled society. District Administration, Community Education, Little Stars Day Care, The Saline Young Adult Program and the NEW Saline Alternative now call Liberty School home.

Welcome, Students!

September 7, 2010

Dear Students,

Today begins a new school year, and from my perspective, this year promises to be the best ever for each of you. The Alternative High School has moved to a new building where you will see new staff, more space, new technology, and many more programs than in the previous setting.

The opportunities are boundless for those who chose just three things:

1. Attend school regularly.

2. Arrive at school ready to learn.

3. Follow the school rules.

In fact, if you commit to those three premises, I can virtually guarantee your success at the NEW Saline Alternative High School.

In the days and weeks ahead, we will be asking you to define your hopes and dreams for the future, establish goals, and define an area in the school or community where you might offer up your time and talents. In return, the dedicated staff at the Alternative High School will provide you with consistent and ready support, guidance and suggestions to help you realize your educational and post-school dreams.

These are exciting times – and I am humbled at the opportunity to serve as your Principal. Through trial and experimentation, we – TOGETHER – will define what the NEW Saline Alternative High School will become. I am feeling a sense of pride and a sense of urgency as we forge ahead with the important work that is before us. My door is open to you at any time. Please feel free to offer your suggestions or discuss your concerns.

Thank you for taking a risk and making the decision that the NEW Saline Alternative High School is right for you. I promise, you will not be disappointed!

Sincerely,

Carol Melcher, Principal

The NEW Saline Alternative High School