proven practices

2009 Proven Practice Award Winner
"T3: Technology Training for Teachers" - Digital Literacy is becoming one of the most important skill sets for 21st-century learning. T3, or Technology Training for Teachers, is a practical and cost-effective model that can be easily duplicated in any school district by providing two years of technology integration training for all teachers new to your district.

2009 Promising Practice Designee
"Making Careers Real…Fun" - The “Making Careers Real…Fun” project is a career exploration curriculum unit that flows with increasing difficulty and complexity from kindergarten through eighth grades. This practice is introduced and implemented by the counselor to the students in elementary and middle schools. Each grade has expected outcomes that are specific and age-appropriate for that particular level.

2009 Promising Practice Designee
"Partnerships in Comprehensive Literacy" - Partnerships in Comprehensive Literacy (PCL) is a school-reform model designed by the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, dedicated to increasing student achievement in literacy. This model uses literacy as a basis for measuring school improvement in four areas: student learning, teacher perceptions, school climate, and school processes. The power of the PCL model is marked by the understanding that school change is a dynamic, continuous process that requires commitment and collaboration among administrators, teachers, support staff and students.

2009 Promising Practice Designee
"Using IPI" - The Instructional Practices Inventory (IPI) is a data collection profile system designed to establish processes for accurately measuring the nature of student-engaged learning from various instruction practices across an entire school. It was developed to improve student achievement, and is being used to direct classroom instruction. The plan involves collecting data to guide the creation of an action plan for the year. Goals are then set by the building administrators, along with the Professional Development Committee, and monthly staff trainings are implemented to improve instructional practices.

2009 Promising Practice Designee
"Handhelds in the Classroom" - In this innovative project, seventh- and eighth-grade students use handheld computers in their daily learning activities, both at school and at home. Each student is assigned a handheld computer, wireless keyboard, and carrying case, as well as a variety of software to be used for learning and creating, including documents, animations, concept maps, drawings, and quizzes. Integration of the handheld computers into the learning process occurs in numerous subject areas. Teachers are assisted by the Instructional Technology Coordinator and Specialist to incorporate instructional strategies such as concept mapping, inquiry, writing prompts and responses, and constructivist approaches.

2009 Promising Practice Designee
"Young Tigers’ Book Club" - The Young Tigers’ Book Club was specifically designed to promote a love and enjoyment for reading while strengthening reading skills. Introduced in second grade, all students are encouraged to join and participate in this club. During the three month-long sessions of the club, students select books on a specific theme, and then choose an extension activity to be completed at home and shared with the class. Each session of the book club culminates with a special event designed for students and their parents to interact with each other to further enhance learning and excitement of reading.