Fostering Standards of the Heart: Engage Students’ Minds

Characteristic 6: Engage Students’ Minds

Rationale and Principles for Implementing Characteristics of Successful Schools

Rationale:

Engaging students’ minds keeps them connected to school and makes them responsible for their own learning. Students who are connected to school have the greatest opportunities for becoming caring, contributing, productive, and responsible citizens.

Principles:

Create school environments that reflect and honor the cultural traditions of all people.
Create an environment in which students feel free to express their thoughts and feelings or to make mistakes without ridicule.
Develop thoughtful, challenging tasks and learning experiences.
Involve students in building connections between learning and everyday life.
Offer students many different ways to learn and demonstrate learning.
Offer students a chance to work in groups and teams to foster social skills.
Involve students beyond the classroom in meaningful participation in other activities such as school plays, clubs, sports, music, etc.
Include service-learning alternatives in classes to foster connections.

Expected Results of a Citizenship Initiative

Students Will	Staff Will	Families and Community Will
Value learning because of its connection to everyday life Show greater acceptance and appreciation of diversity Develop perseverance in and outside the classroom Have many opportunities to build on their individual talents and interests Enjoy school and want to be there	Develop a variety of teaching strategies to meet the diverse needs of students View themselves as facilitators of learning Share the responsibility for learning with students and families Experience a higher degree of student involvement and satisfaction	Have greater opportunities to be involved in students’ learning Understand the school’s citizenship goals and curriculum Feel excited about the innova-tions they see at school Help develop and participate in community-based learning opportunities for youth

For questions about this information, contact dpisspw@dpi.wi.gov (608) 267-9117

Last updated on 2/22/2008 8:00:28 AM