A+ Essentials™: A Set of Commitments
Oklahoma A+ Schools® network delivers whole school reform through ongoing professional development that focuses on collaborative, research-based practices. A+ Schools adhere to a set of commitments that include daily arts instruction, experiential learning and enriched assessment. The schools collaborate around curriculum, mapping the instruction so that interdisciplinary themes emerge that encourage cross-curricular integration and the use of multiple intelligences to structure learning opportunities for students. Ongoing research documents changes in the climate of A+ Schools that foster an engaging learning environment. The infrastructure in A+ Schools supports common planning time, shared vision, and faculty commitment to the goal of schools that work for everyone.
| Arts In A+ Schools the arts are: * taught daily *inclusive of drama, dance, music, visual art and writing *integrated *valued as essential to learning *included in planning *practiced *a part of personal experience | Curriculum In A+ Schools curriculum is addressed through the use of: *mapping that reflects alignment *thematic webbing *development of essential questions *creation and use of interdisciplinary thematic units *cross-curricular integration |
| Experiential Learning In A+ Schools experiential learning: *is grounded in arts-based instruction *is a creative process *acknowledges entry points *includes differentiated instruction *provides multi-faceted assessment opportunities | Multiple Intelligences In A+ Schools multiple learning pathways are: *used within planning & assessment *understood by students and parents *studied, and new research is explored by teachers *creating balanced learning opportunities |
| Enriched Assessment In A+ Schools enriched assessment: *is on-going *is designed for learning *is used as documentation *is a reflective practice *helps meet school system requirements *is used to self -assess by teachers and students | Collaboration In A+ Schools collaboration: *is intentional *occurs within & outside of school *occurs during planning time: classroom teachers with arts teachers *occurs with teachers, students, families, the community, & local businesses *includes broad-based leadership |
| Infrastructure In A+ Schools infrastructure supports the philosophy by: *addressing logistics such as schedules that support planning time *providing appropriate space for the arts *continually developing faculty commitment * creating a shared vision *providing related professional development *continual team building | Climate In A+ Schools climate improves because: *teachers can manage the arts in their classrooms *stress is reduced *teachers are treated as professionals *morale improves *excitement about the program grows *A+ whole school reform is invigorating |