70 School Transformation Ravitch (2014) contends educators need to transform schools to create supportive and equitable learning environments that prioritize meaningful learning experiences and the well-being of all students. Ravitch (2014) recommends schools challenge their systems to advocate for more meaningful learning. This includes increased opportunity for purposeful play, improved comprehensive health services, smaller class sizes, valued teacher collaboration, and creative means to support the socio-economic needs of all students (Ravitch, 2014). Many participants in the current study provided specific examples of transforming learning by adapting methodology, individualizing learning, and providing authentic learning experiences. The WIDE School engages students in purposeful play through the use of free center play and an art center. Teachers provide provocations and active listening to customize learning for the interests and needs of every student. The WIDE School uses ongoing conversations between students and staff to reshape the learning environment and learning experiences for the particular students in attendance each year. Vandermont uses customized spaces for student exploration and wonder. Vandermont prioritizes unique pedagogy design and a customized school language to instill values in all participants and challenge students to own their own learning. Teachers and leaders at Vandermont work together to challenge students to take risks, present their learning to the school community, and develop individualized dreams that drive learning. Early College High School (ECHS) adapts learning to the interests of students and advocates for students to pursue challenging courses and college opportunities to prepare for the future. ECHS employs a cohort model to connect students through meaningful relationships that help make learning exciting and help students use collaboration and competition to push each other to achieve their own goals. ECHS has created a small school community within a larger high school to maximize their small school values and culture. ECHS advocates for the socio-economic needs of all students and actively works to create exposures for students to envision opportunities they may not have considered. Project Search innovates learning experiences for students with special needs by opening doors and exposures to students where doors have largely been limited in school. Veritas Academy uses project-based learning to challenge students to think outside the box and pursue learning that is personally relevant. Life School developed values and nomenclature to transform the values and culture of the school community through intentional character education. Vandermont uses unique pedagogical language, roles, and practices to transform learning experiences for students. Vandermont uses intentional planning to create thought seeds and questions to provoke student thinking. The WIDE School tailors learning experiences to the different needs and ages of all students. Younger students are supported through provocations and pedagogical documentation of learning. Flexible classes are used to help students develop specific needs. Older students are encouraged to design their own pathways to learning. Art is used to provoke curiosity and creativity. Art is used to develop students’ 100 languages of learning. Older students engage in internships, international collaboration, and community projects. ECHS provides students with two magnet pathways to earn an associate’s degree: engineering and medicine. ECHS is in the process of developing a third pathway for education. ECHS uses these pathways to connect with students’ interests. The WIDE School encourages students to advocate for their own personal interests and allows students to develop opportunities for learning. Students have recently designed a culinary arts program. One student is taking flying lessons to prepare for a career as a pilot. Vandermont allows teachers to have a lot of freedom to design learning quests for exploration. Vandermont teacher function as guides that help students own responsibility for their own learning. Veritas Academy provides teachers the ability to adapt instruction to Jeremy K. Williams, Ed.D.
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