Setting Description
HTeCV, similar to the other HTH schools, is founded in project-based learning that employs four design principles to guide the direction of school and classroom practice; teacher as designer, personalization, adult world connection, and common intellectual mission.
Students are creating adult world connections as they explore the community around them.
Students are creating adult world connections as they explore the community around them. Students visited the library.
Students are learning mapping skills and are generating ideas on how to create a city map.
Students are creating adult world connections as they explore the community around them.
Creativity and curiosity lead to exemplary pieces of work like this.
Teacher's design projects according to their passions.
Creativity and curiosity lead to exemplary pieces of work like this.
Flexible reading groups are an essential part of the literacy curriculum. Personalized and differentiated instruction are a part of every classroom.
Morgan is seated at the Queen Bean Bag and goes through her Student Led Conference Menu. She describes her favorite parts of learning, her successes and her challenges.
Student Led Conferences are held twice a year. Kwynn is describing her strengths and challenges to her parents.
Flexible reading groups are an essential part of the literacy curriculum. Personalized and differentiated instruction are a part of every classroom.
PERSONALIZATION
Rob Riordan, co-founder of HTH, describes the heart of HTH in one word: “relationships” (Kuhl 1). Teachers at High Tech Elementary create a solid foundation in their classrooms by building strong personalized relationships with their students and their families. The social and emotional aspect of daily interactions with students in a project-based environment is central to the development of each student as contributing members of our community. Teachers are committed to a learner-centered approach that supports and challenges each student. Academically, teachers utilize flexible reading and math groups to differentiate instruction. Students utilize ST Math and Reading A-Z online applications to build literacy and mathematic skills.
ADULT WORLD CONNECTION
Teachers at High Tech Elementary connect their curriculum to the world beyond their classroom and provide their students with rich experiences. Examples of connections to the adult world include, field studies, community service based projects, and consultation with outside experts in and out of the classroom. By connecting the curriculum to the adult world, students find relevence in their work and exhibitions involve authentic audiences.
TEACHER AS DESIGNER
High Tech Elementary is an example of a project-based learning environment. One of the High Tech High Design Principles that empowers teachers comes directly from one of the founders, Rob Riordan when he said, “Conceive of the teacher as designer, inquirer, and clinician.” (Riordan, 1998). Every teacher at High Tech comes with their own set of experiences and passions. It is those passions that drive much of their instruction and curriculum design. Interdisciplinary projects weave reading, writing, math, problem solving, and collaborative skills into projects that are grounded by Common Core Standards. Student voice and choice allows for students to guide their own learning, while the teacher acts as facilitator. Grade level teams consist of three teachers and an Academic Coach.
DESIGN PRINCIPLES
COMMON INTELLECTUAL MISSION
High Tech Elementary is diverse and integrated. All teachers create a rigorous curriculum that provides foundational skills, that integrate the hands and minds, and the merging of academic disciplines. Students are not tracked by percieved academic ability and enrollment is non-selective via a zip code-based lottery system. Assessments at High Tech Elementary are measured through a variety of formative and performance based means. Developmental Reading Assessments are used as a formal assessment in reading. Final project deliverable or products as well as exhibition performance are examples of performace based assessments.
HTe is fully committed to an inclusion model.
HTe is fully committed to an inclusion model.