Programming
- Holistic/Diversification - In addition to academic and literacy support, this approach infuses pediatric and mental health care to support children’s health, fitness as well as social-emotional development. This means including non-traditional service providers such as volunteers, pediatricians, public health nurses and mental health practitioners, which allows for a more comprehensive perspective on students.
- Culturally Relevant - Take into consideration family and home life and culture when working with and evaluating students. For example, when a student associates a toothbrush with a refrigerator in the course of a test –understand why and not just dismiss student. Perhaps his mother places the toothbrush in the refrigerator at home to avoid cockroaches.
- Media/Technology Synergy - Media synergy is a theory of how people learn from different media. It refers to the idea that different media can complement on another, in terms of what students learn. Learning is complementary because there are important qualitative differences in the messages from different media, and skills acquired in one medium can act synergistically to help students make meaning and plly what they have learned to another context or medium. It is also a method that incorporates equity and access for those families with few resources and time to devote to a child's learning. Smart Boards, a technology used by the Minnetonka School District is worth looking into. http://www.minnetonka.k12.mn.us/videos/0809/ECFE.wmv
- Innovation/Thoughtful Risk - Utilize existing models and state standards (i.e., HeadStart, Open Court) but customizing or adding on new components. For instance, trying out immersion or accelerated programming, or on-line, web-based training. An intense and rigorous schedule (5-day week for a full academic year program) works effectively with students who are well below benchmark.
- Create Continuum/Eliminate Duplication - Identify similar programs and partner to integrate services, creating a continuum of literacy learning rather than inefficiently duplicating efforts. This effort will result in service to a broader population, while allowing more focus on creating depth and breadth of programming.
- Dedicated Staff/On-Site Coordinator - Having a coordinator or a dedicated team has proven successful in that there is accessibility, information about the program is clearly communicated and relationship building becomes a focus.
- Summer/After School Programs - This approach extends learning to outside the school day and makes it a part of a student’s way of life.
- Evaluation - High level, consistent, meaningful, evidence-based evaluation and surveys of program at the forefront, in the interim and at the program’s completion will contribute to a program’s success. Utilizing outside evaluation consultants or companies is also helpful to provide feedback.
