Organizing Relationships for lEarning

Small Learning Communities

Relationships

Student Advantages

• safety
• greater participation
• self-development
• "belongingness"

teacher Advantages

• collaboration
• community
• positive attitude

Ideally...

• +1
• support

houses

• own instructional plans
• community
• students remain in same unit

Anatomy of Effective Teams

• Keep Teams Small
• Time For Planning & Teaching
• Scheduling
• Team Areas
• Continuity Through Looping

Improve Student Learning

• improve teacher strategies
• joint planning and integration of curriculum and instruction by teachers
• teachers skilled in group operating systems
• Teacher and student agreement
• professional development

Advisory

• 3-5 days per week
• Morning or Afternoon
• 25-30 minutes

Advisory

• Individualized attention/ Mentorship
• Develop relationships that support learning
• Address a broad range of Student Concerns
• Every student should be known by 1+ adults
• Academic and Personal outcomes 

Group Discussion

• Did you have a teacher that you felt knew you?
• What are some characteristics of that teacher?
• How can you make your students feel known? 

"curriculum + teaching + relationships = success"