SHORELINE — Teachers at Shorecrest High School aren’t just interested in teaching their classes – they’re vested in the success of each student.
Beginning more than a year ago, staff created a Vision Team at Shorecrest, made up of people interested in researching what makes schools effective places for students, Principal Brian Schultz said in a presentation to the school board Oct. 17.
Their research pointed them in many directions, but it all came back to a couple of areas: the need to increase students’ engagement and personalize their education and teachers’ instructional practices.
Shorecrest decided to focus on engagement and personalizing education this year, and moving forward with their ideas has taken a huge commitment from staff and faculty, said teacher Andy Barker, co-chair of the Vision Team with teacher Maija Alves.
With a large task before them, the Vision Team set out to implement slight changes at Shorecrest that it hopes will show dividends.
Smaller classes personalize
Walking into many high-school classrooms, it’s not unusual to find the room full of 30 or more students.
But entering a freshmen English class at Shorecrest, 20 students is the most anyone will find.
All non-honors freshman English classes this year have been limited to 20 students, Barker said. The school hopes to expand this targeted class size to sophomore English classes, with the goal being to personalize each student’s experience.
With 20 students, teachers are able to connect with students more easily, and such is the case with Barker’s freshman English class, currently being taught by University of Washington student-teacher Haewon Baik.
Baik began Monday’s class by asking students to write for 10 minutes, which gave her an opportunity to stop by each student’s desk and check in with them on their homework status.
Barker said doing so would have been difficult if the class had 30 students.
“It allows for just a little more individual attention,” Barker said.
In addition, teachers are able to meet regularly one-on-one with students, and Barker also has noticed that student behavior has improved – as they have more room to move around and fewer distractions.
Students are recognizing the differences as well.
Kelly Chudler, 14, said group discussions are much easier in a smaller class.
“It’s easier to get your ideas out,” Chudler said.
And students who may struggle more with reading and writing get more assistance and attention, said AJ MacLeod, 15. He said he has a class that has close to 34 students, and the smaller environment is one he’s enjoying so far.
Since the instructor only works with 20 students, Chudler and MacLeod said, the class can spend more time on the subjects at hand.
AVID brings possibilities
Marilyn Leverson, a Shorecrest math instructor, is teaching a new elective to freshmen this year called AVID.
AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a worldwide program that is taught during an elective period at school. The goal is to prepare students typically performing in the academic middle to reach their potential and become eligible for post-high school educations.
The class at Shorecrest currently has 32 students, and Leverson focuses on topics like note taking and preparing for tests. Twice a week during class they have tutorial sessions with University of Washington students and graduates, to help the students learn how to study and work together.
The elective is meant to be taken all four high school years, which allows the same group of students to become better acquainted with each other and Leverson, Schultz said.
“It really does personalize the learning environment,” he said.
Although the focus is on tasks some students consider “busy work,” students also seem to find the value in what AVID offers.
Freshman Billy Libengood, 14, said he didn’t apply himself as much as he should have in middle school, and he said he sees AVID and entering high school as opportunities to turn that around.
“If I really want to get good grades, I can,” Libengood said.
In fact, he said he’s already started thinking about college.
Devon Hawkins, 14, also is excited about her future opportunities. She said she tends to not think far enough into the future, and she knew this elective would provide a way to focus.
“I have a fresh start – I might as well,” Hawkins said.
She said she’s really pleased with the way things are going for her at Shorecrest, and she has her eye on studying either art or writing in college.
Leverson said she’s hopeful the class will allow students to form better connections at Shorecrest and become more engaged. She’s also working to get parents involved, and in a couple of weeks the class will host a potluck in which all families are invited, she said.
“We work hard to make this a community and have parents involved,” Leverson said.
More in the works
Shorecrest’s Vision Team is working on a number of other methods to help students succeed. One such way is forming advisory classes, which would help students connect with other students and a staff member and keep that connection throughout their time at Shorecrest. While still in the planning stages, the staff is hoping to introduce the idea next year.
Shorecrest also is focusing on increasing communication with families and the community, including holding monthly meetings with Latino families, Schultz said.
Personalizing each student’s education will make it more meaningful, he said.
With these efforts, Schultz said the goal is that “every child who walks up the steps knows there’s at least one person who knows them well.”
He said staff members are excited about the possibilities, and Shorecrest will continue to work to meet students’ and families’ needs.
“We are always going to be an evolving organization,” Schultz said.
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