setting and context
Setting and Context Knowledge Quest Academy
Culture and Community Context
Knowledge Quest Academy is a charter school for students from kindergarten to eighth grade. Each elementary and middle school grade consists of two classes that range in size from 18 to 25 students per class. The total number of students enrolled here is 341. This school is located in Milliken Colorado. Overall, Milliken still feels like a very rural town. There is a lot of open space in the surrounding area and a strong agricultural presence. However, Milliken is developing quickly with the construction of new housing developments that seem to be marketed towards young families. Also, there is a strip mall being built just a few miles from the school itself. To give an idea of exactly how fast this town has grown, in 2000 there were 3,047 residents. By 2007, they had doubled in size with 5,977 residents. Currently there is still a population of about 6,000 people. However with the recent construction developments in this area the town’s population is expected to continue growing.
Because this school is quite small, there is a very close relationship between students and faculty. This close, family-like, relationship seems to have a big impact on personal accountability for both students and staff. As a guest in this school it is very clear to me that the effort all staff members make to build personal relationships with the students positively influences the students attitude towards their education. There have been several occasions where students have made an extra effort to behave in my class because they know I will be reporting back to their main teacher. Also, students here seem to be eager to achieve, express themselves, and watch out for one another. They come into my art class excited to tell me about things like their science fair projects, new songs they learned in music class, and what exciting things they get to do with their main teachers. In every class I have, the students always stand up for each other if one student is being rude or hurtful. They are very quick to offer supportive words to one another, especially when someone seems to be struggling or having a hard day.
Demographic Characteristics
Demographically, this school seems to be reflective of the surrounding area, predominantly white with other ethnic subgroups still present. Currently the schools population is classified as 71.7% white, 18.8% Hispanic or Latino, 0%black, and 9.4% that classifies themselves outside of the ethnic categories mentioned. Academically, the majority of students are achieving at either the proficient or advanced level in reading, writing, and math. Also, the overall percentage of students performing at either a proficient or advanced achievement level is very close to the achievement levels of the minority population in the previously mentioned academic areas.
Classroom Environment
The art room at Knowledge Quest Academy is located on the far end of the middle school side of the building. As this school has grown and changed from year to year, the art room has moved. This is currently the second year art has been in the room it is in now. The room has carpet floors and one built in sink with a cabinet area that includes a little bit of counter space and a coat closet in the far left corner. The cabinets by the sink are where all wet materials such as paint and clay are kept. Opposite of the built in storage space is where the teachers desk and computer is located. Also in that corner is where the colored pencils, pencil sharpener and cutting board are kept. The colored pencils are kept in the open so they are easily accessible because they are a used often in this class. On the farthest back wall are more cabinets for storage of dry art materials such as pastels, charcoal, scissors, and yarn. Student work in progress is stored in a cabinet in the front of the room, right by the entrance. Each grade level has its own storage shelf with a designated place for each class to store their work separately. On the wall in the front of the room there is a whiteboard and a shelf of books and magazines for the students to access. There are a total of 6 plastic fold out picnic tables in the middle of the room. Two tables are pushed together to make larger table suitable for 8 students to work. When the room is set up normally there are 3 large workstations with 8 students at each one making for a maximum classroom capacity of 24 students. Each individual table has a designated color from the rainbow. These colors are used to aide in the clean up of materials, storage of student work, and classroom flow. Students are often called up one table at a time to gather materials, ask questions, and line up in order to avoid congestion in the art room. Also, there is a small, easy to move desk at the front of the room that is used for various teaching materials, as they are relevant to the lesson.
School wide policies for:
-Management
Knowledge Quest Academy operates on what they call a Positive Behavioral Support System. This system was designed with the intention of making sure students have access to the best possible methods of instruction, behavior management, and intervention. Knowledge Quest Academy describes the system on their website with the statement, “PBS is not a curriculum, intervention, or practice, but is a decision-making framework that guides the selection, integration, and implementation of the best evidence-based behavioral practices”. The schools Positive Behavioral Support System is activated through the schools motto, “KQA trailblazers follow the PATH”. PATH is an acronym that stands for Pride, Achievement, Trust, and Honor. The most effective component of this system that I have experienced is the PATH marker reward system. Each teacher has PATH markers that they are to give to students that show behavior displaying pride, achievement, trust, or honor. Students then turn in their PATH markers in to be included in a raffle for a prize. The value of the prize depends on when the raffle occurs. Weekly raffles offer the lowest prize, monthly raffles offer a moderate reward, and semester raffles offer the most valuable reward. The more PATH markers a student enters into the raffle, the better their chances of winning become. Another component of the KQA positive Support System that I have seen positive effects from is the “IF” program. This program is designed to give middle school students incentive to keep their grades up while giving those who need extra support time to receive it. If middle school students have a C or above in all of their classes they are allowed to participate in whatever the planned fieldtrip activity is for the last Friday of that month. If they have a D or and F in any of their classes they have to stay at the school and work on any schoolwork that needs to be done. This has resulted in students taking initiative for their own grades. There have been several occasions when students have come to me outside of class to ask about a low grade or a missing assignment and how they can improve their grade.
-Safe Schools
In order to keep the students safe, KQA makes sure there is always someone supervising the students. During lunch periods, recess, and passing period there are always several staff members present to monitor the students. Unless you are a staff member with a key, there is only on way to enter the building. The front door remains unlocked and leads visitors into an all glass entryway. In order to actually enter the building, the person at the front desk must use the intercom system to unlock the door for you. Whoever enters the building is very clearly visible from the front desk because of the glass-walled entryway. Each classroom door has a “lock-block”, which allows each door to remain locked during the day, but prevents the doors from closing. This is in case of a lock down situation. To keep an intruder out, all a teacher needs to do is flip the lock block and close their door.
-Special needs students
Culture and Community Context
Knowledge Quest Academy is a charter school for students from kindergarten to eighth grade. Each elementary and middle school grade consists of two classes that range in size from 18 to 25 students per class. The total number of students enrolled here is 341. This school is located in Milliken Colorado. Overall, Milliken still feels like a very rural town. There is a lot of open space in the surrounding area and a strong agricultural presence. However, Milliken is developing quickly with the construction of new housing developments that seem to be marketed towards young families. Also, there is a strip mall being built just a few miles from the school itself. To give an idea of exactly how fast this town has grown, in 2000 there were 3,047 residents. By 2007, they had doubled in size with 5,977 residents. Currently there is still a population of about 6,000 people. However with the recent construction developments in this area the town’s population is expected to continue growing.
Because this school is quite small, there is a very close relationship between students and faculty. This close, family-like, relationship seems to have a big impact on personal accountability for both students and staff. As a guest in this school it is very clear to me that the effort all staff members make to build personal relationships with the students positively influences the students attitude towards their education. There have been several occasions where students have made an extra effort to behave in my class because they know I will be reporting back to their main teacher. Also, students here seem to be eager to achieve, express themselves, and watch out for one another. They come into my art class excited to tell me about things like their science fair projects, new songs they learned in music class, and what exciting things they get to do with their main teachers. In every class I have, the students always stand up for each other if one student is being rude or hurtful. They are very quick to offer supportive words to one another, especially when someone seems to be struggling or having a hard day.
Demographic Characteristics
Demographically, this school seems to be reflective of the surrounding area, predominantly white with other ethnic subgroups still present. Currently the schools population is classified as 71.7% white, 18.8% Hispanic or Latino, 0%black, and 9.4% that classifies themselves outside of the ethnic categories mentioned. Academically, the majority of students are achieving at either the proficient or advanced level in reading, writing, and math. Also, the overall percentage of students performing at either a proficient or advanced achievement level is very close to the achievement levels of the minority population in the previously mentioned academic areas.
Classroom Environment
The art room at Knowledge Quest Academy is located on the far end of the middle school side of the building. As this school has grown and changed from year to year, the art room has moved. This is currently the second year art has been in the room it is in now. The room has carpet floors and one built in sink with a cabinet area that includes a little bit of counter space and a coat closet in the far left corner. The cabinets by the sink are where all wet materials such as paint and clay are kept. Opposite of the built in storage space is where the teachers desk and computer is located. Also in that corner is where the colored pencils, pencil sharpener and cutting board are kept. The colored pencils are kept in the open so they are easily accessible because they are a used often in this class. On the farthest back wall are more cabinets for storage of dry art materials such as pastels, charcoal, scissors, and yarn. Student work in progress is stored in a cabinet in the front of the room, right by the entrance. Each grade level has its own storage shelf with a designated place for each class to store their work separately. On the wall in the front of the room there is a whiteboard and a shelf of books and magazines for the students to access. There are a total of 6 plastic fold out picnic tables in the middle of the room. Two tables are pushed together to make larger table suitable for 8 students to work. When the room is set up normally there are 3 large workstations with 8 students at each one making for a maximum classroom capacity of 24 students. Each individual table has a designated color from the rainbow. These colors are used to aide in the clean up of materials, storage of student work, and classroom flow. Students are often called up one table at a time to gather materials, ask questions, and line up in order to avoid congestion in the art room. Also, there is a small, easy to move desk at the front of the room that is used for various teaching materials, as they are relevant to the lesson.
School wide policies for:
-Management
Knowledge Quest Academy operates on what they call a Positive Behavioral Support System. This system was designed with the intention of making sure students have access to the best possible methods of instruction, behavior management, and intervention. Knowledge Quest Academy describes the system on their website with the statement, “PBS is not a curriculum, intervention, or practice, but is a decision-making framework that guides the selection, integration, and implementation of the best evidence-based behavioral practices”. The schools Positive Behavioral Support System is activated through the schools motto, “KQA trailblazers follow the PATH”. PATH is an acronym that stands for Pride, Achievement, Trust, and Honor. The most effective component of this system that I have experienced is the PATH marker reward system. Each teacher has PATH markers that they are to give to students that show behavior displaying pride, achievement, trust, or honor. Students then turn in their PATH markers in to be included in a raffle for a prize. The value of the prize depends on when the raffle occurs. Weekly raffles offer the lowest prize, monthly raffles offer a moderate reward, and semester raffles offer the most valuable reward. The more PATH markers a student enters into the raffle, the better their chances of winning become. Another component of the KQA positive Support System that I have seen positive effects from is the “IF” program. This program is designed to give middle school students incentive to keep their grades up while giving those who need extra support time to receive it. If middle school students have a C or above in all of their classes they are allowed to participate in whatever the planned fieldtrip activity is for the last Friday of that month. If they have a D or and F in any of their classes they have to stay at the school and work on any schoolwork that needs to be done. This has resulted in students taking initiative for their own grades. There have been several occasions when students have come to me outside of class to ask about a low grade or a missing assignment and how they can improve their grade.
-Safe Schools
In order to keep the students safe, KQA makes sure there is always someone supervising the students. During lunch periods, recess, and passing period there are always several staff members present to monitor the students. Unless you are a staff member with a key, there is only on way to enter the building. The front door remains unlocked and leads visitors into an all glass entryway. In order to actually enter the building, the person at the front desk must use the intercom system to unlock the door for you. Whoever enters the building is very clearly visible from the front desk because of the glass-walled entryway. Each classroom door has a “lock-block”, which allows each door to remain locked during the day, but prevents the doors from closing. This is in case of a lock down situation. To keep an intruder out, all a teacher needs to do is flip the lock block and close their door.
-Special needs students
- In order to identify and monitor students who may need individual attention Knowledge Quest Academy uses a variety of assessment types. Some of the formal assessments they use are the TCAP (Transitional Colorado Assessment Program), DIBLES (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills), and STAR Reading and Math. However I feel that their strongest assessment types are informal. Because this school is so closely knit, teachers get to know students extremely well. Therefore teachers are able to pick up on irregular learning patterns quickly. Also, due to the size of the school, teachers are more easily able to work together to identify students that would benefit from individual attention and what type of individual attention they may need. If one teacher sees an issue in a particular area they are able to discuss it teachers who have previously had that student and know he or she well. In order to accommodate students who require individual attention KQA has on staff an Intervention specialist, a Student Intervention Team (SIT) and, English Language Learner (ELL) instructional specialist as part of their special education team