Electives in New Tech schools

          For those teachers who teach electives, students take electives too. This is what I learned in the I&I tour. Not all classes are integrated with other subjects. For example, Spanish is a stand alone class and they offer three years in both new tech schools we visited. Students may choose to take a fourth year of  a different foreign language but it is a computer class.
         The difference between our schools and a New Tech is that in addition to meeting state content standards, PBL and the use of technology are required and the students have to have a major project every nine weeks. The major project is interdisciplinary. They can have smaller projects throught the entire year. Group work is required too. All students must have at least one integrated class a day. That means two subjects combined in one classroom (double size room), two class periods, with two teachers, one for each subject (certified), with interdisciplinary projects. Student get two grades in their transcripts. Not all core classes are integrated. For example, Algebra two and up are stand alone. Each school decides what combinations will work for them. We'll learn more as we go through the training in May.
         If you think of any questions you want us to ask when we are in Texas, email them to the Texas team: Mary Anne, Alex, Heather, Sunda, Josie, Angela, April, and me, Teresa.

Teresa

Band and Dance Team at Rochester New Tech, IN

by Teresa Baxter

                The band meets daily for both symphonic and marching rehearsals. The band plays for athletic events, parades, concerts, and special events in the school, community, and state. There are, also, awards for senior band members who have given four years of service, and awards are presented to outstanding band members each year. Dance Team will meet during band class for practice. The purpose of the Dance Team is four-fold: to provide color and visual interpretation for the Band, to develop skill in the “Performing Arts” through the medium of dance, to set an example of good behavior at all times, and to promote friendship between members of the squad and schools with whom we compete, perform and go to camp.