Results

Suggestions:

1.  Set aside time in the spring to:

            a) get feedback, suggestions, thoughts from the current first-years.

            b) give the first-years time to do initial planning for the summer.  Check.

2.  Assign first-years Delta Autumn in June (preferably during the first week of orientation).  They should have an assignment tied to the reading, perhaps a blog post.  Reading it in the fall is too late.  Check.

3.  Have an assignment (blog post/paper/something else) tied to The First Days of School.  First Days is a great resource, but too many first-years never pick it up.  Check.

4.  Expand the crisis-management role-plays (these were cited most often as being the most helpful component of the summer training) to include more situations.  Tie this workshop to a course (EDSE 501) rather than as an outside workshop.  Look at doing some workshops with the entire group so people get a feel for standing in front on 30 "students."  Check.  There will also be a blog reflection assignment tied to this.

5.  Incorporate the wiki completely.  All lesson plans, worksheets, tests, etc. should be posted in an organized manner and agreed upon format.  See the biology wiki lesson plans that Nelson, Wilcox et al. did last summer for a good example.  Check.  Pete will review the format and general organization of the LP wiki with the first-years during orientation (how's that for recognition?).

6.  During summer school, allow the first-years to visit and observe other classrooms.  Check, with some general parameters.  There are also some logistical concerns about how to work this...

7.  Continue, and perhaps expand, the veteran subject-area workshops (utilize the TEAM for this).  In addition to tips and tricks, also have them review the subject-area frameworks, how to LP using these, etc.  Check.

8.  Session on how to manage the paper flow (ask Savage to do this in June).  Check.

9.  Have summer school include both 50 min and block periods (we did this last year in July).  Check.

10.  Push the start time of EDSE 500 back by 30 minutes.  Check.  Bus leaves Holly Springs at 1:00.  Ann's class will start at 3:00.

We also had a long discussion about how to increase the rigor of the summer school and how to measure this/hold teachers accountable.  It was decided that we need to talk to the first (soon to be second) years and ask for their input on this.

Finally, the summer school day will be shorter this year.  The basic schedule (not final) is as follows:

8:00 to 9:40-1^st Period

9:45 to 10:35-2^nd Period

10:40 to 11:50-3^rd Period

(11:10 to 11:30-Middle School Lunch [HS students in class])

(11:30 to 11:50-High School Lunch [MS students in class])

11:55 to 12:45-Clubs/Tutoring/ACT Prep/Detention

12:45-Dismissal for Students

1:00-Bus leaves for Oxford

3:00 to 5:00-EDSE 500