Interest-based Classrooms at

Springbank Middle SchoolMay, 2015

Students will be placed in interest-based classrooms based on their area of interest or passion

Teachers will be placed based on their identified areas of interest or passion

The curriculum will be taught through the ‘lens’ of that interest area, when and where possible

Program Premise

Allowance of parent and student choice in class placement

Opportunity for use of interest area to aid in student engagement

Potential of long-term issues for students who are not engaged in school, particularly in middle school

Opportunity for students to feel connected to a group

Student connection to each other and teacher

Implementation Rationale

Gr. 5 – Environmental Science (Mrs. Sue Williams)

Gr. 6 – Humanitarian (Mr. Bill Belsey) Gr. 7 – Visual & Performing Arts (Ms. Eva

Knight) Gr. 8 – Sports & Athletics (Mrs. Denise

Dancey)

Please refer to Classroom & Teacher summary

Groupings Offered

All students in the class, as well as the teacher, will have a common interest area

Illustrations, examples, and projects will be based on that interest

Speakers will be brought in who will be able to extend learning in that interest area (seeking expertise)

Field trips will be sought out which further that interest area (extending the passion)

Unique Features

Each interest area will be charged with bringing in an event which the whole school can be a part of (sharing the passion)

Surveys will be conducted with stakeholders to determine satisfaction

Students may have the opportunity to continue in a different interest area in another year, should the space exist

Unique Features (cont’d)

Use of application form to determine student interest and parent awareness

Selection based on interest, space, class composition (boys/girls, coded students, relationships)

Insufficient numbers may result in a withdrawal of the interest-based class for that grade

Exceptional numbers may result in use of criteria (see above), student draw, and a waiting list

Student Selection

Insufficient student/parent interest and/or support

Expectation of using the interest every day in every subject

Potential for overuse of the approach for some students (boredom, saturation)

Feelings of ‘elitism’ by students in the classes and those outside of them

Anticipated Problems

Using one’s passion to learn and teach Having like-minded individuals in one’s class Being able to go deeper into one’s interest Having access to speakers who can extend the

interest Being able to go on interest-specific field trips Being able to regularly bring in one’s passion to

the classroom for discussion/presentation/sharing

Anticipated Benefits

Parents knowing (generally speaking) how a subject, topic or event might be introduced and/or covered

Parents with similar interests being sought out to support or share with the class

Students being given the opportunity to show leadership within the rest of the school

Specific benefits of engagement, affecting areas such as attendance, achievement, behaviour

Continued provision of traditionally structured classrooms for parents and students (choice)

Anticipated Benefits (cont’d)

Refer to Q & A sheet

Thank-you for coming All information, including this presentation,

can be found on the front page of the Springbank Middle website

Questions & Answers