2007-2008 OKLAHOMA  A+ SCHOOLS

Mrs. Ursula Messano  Music Instructor

Ms. Marci Stellman   Visual Arts Instructor

Essential Questions:

Q. W hat is A+?

A.  The A+ Program is a comprehensive school reform that views the arts as fundamental to how teacher teach and how students learn in all subject.  The strategies that schools used to implement the program includes Curriculum/Instruction Strategies and Organizational Strategies.

Q.  How is A+ different from other school models?

A.  The A+ Program differs from other school models in the following manner:

• Reform doesn't end when the pilot does.

• Investments in human capital result in a resilient reform.

• Leveraging the power of a network.

• Adopting a school-wide approach to professional development.

• Emphasizing the professional in professional development.

• Facilitating a process, not marketing a product.

• Changes in culture and practice must be supported by structural changes, particularly in the use of time.

• Accept ambiguity and the need to balance seemingly opposing approaches.

• Sustaining education reform through a required political strategy.

• Materializing a comprehensive school reform without being overwhelming.  

Q.  What are the essentials of A+ and how will they come into play throughout the School year?

A.   The essential elements of the the A+ School program is the development and proficiency/mastery of the following elements.

•   Art  "Increasing arts instruction." (daily arts instruction, integrated, valued, in your planning, practice and personal experience.) 

•  Curriculum "Fostering a two-way arts integration between staff." (mapping, webbing, developing essential questions, interdisciplinary thematic unit development, cross-curricular integration, and ongoing assessment.)

•   Multiple Intelligences "Tapping into multiple intelligences." ( within your planning and assessment, student understanding of, new research.)

•   Collaboration  "Increasing professional collaboration." (within and outside of school, planning time - grade level and with arts teachers, students, teachers, family community corporate, broad-based leadership.)

•   Enriched Assessment "The establishment of a structured evaluation procedure." "(documentation, reflective practice, school system requirements, teachers/students.)

•   Experiential Learning  "Emphasizing hands-on learning." (arts-based instruction, creative process, entry points differentiated instruction.)

•  Infrastructure  "Strengthening schools' partnerships." (logistics - schedules, space, planning time; faculty commitment, leadership, shared vision, professional development, team building.)

•  Climate "Creating a positive learning environment." (classroom management of arts, stress, professionalism, morale, excitement.)

The Britton's A+ Program

 

 

Here at Britton we believe that a strong communication strategy is necessary for gaining the internal coherence and external support that our A+ program needs to be sustainable. We have devised a communication strategy with our staff, students, parents, and  community as a whole. Being a second year program we are  continually evaluating our program against the established goals and objectives of the Oklahoma A+ program.

By doing so, we have built a relationship through our Britton Elementary  Infrastructure that is proactive and ongoing, open and respectful. The content and format of our program is tailored to address the specific needs of our Britton Elementary community.

Since the inception of our school into the A+ program in the 2005-2006 school year, here at Britton we can truthfully say our program has strengthened the relationship between home and school, by encouraging the community to buy-in to this new visible and active planning process that the A+ program has materialized.

We welcome our students from K-5 and parents this school year to become apart of this new innovative  learning curriculum of instruction, which we feel will have a great student impact on their overall learning development. 

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