Secondary Literacy Guide

System 44 First Steps for Success

To view the Getting Started: Your First Three Weeks With System 44 Guide Click HERE.

Creating a Collaborative Learning Community Taking time to establish a positive academic community, building a sense of belonging, and fostering collaboration paves the way for academic growth and achievement. A classroom culture built on collaboration, communication, and trust paves the way to increase student engagement. In the first three weeks it is critical to set clear expectations for student interactions, including how to listen actively, ask effective questions, adn respond to others appropriately. The Getting Started lessons focus on building community through peer interaction using community building activities and instructional routines. Setting Up Your Classroom An effective System 44 classroom is an inviting safe place for reading, learning, and sharing ideas. The classroom is designed to support positive and productive learning and foster a classroom community. The classroom has separate distinct areas for each rotation - - Small group, Independent Reading, and the Student Application. Desks or tables should be arranged to accommodate peer interactions and make it simple for the teacher to facilitate discussions in partners, small groups, and in a whole group setting. Establishing Expectations and Procedures A key component of a System 44 classroom is establishing expectations and procedures for each part of the blended learning model. Procedures are modeled and taught explicitly for whole and small group learning, the student application rotation, and independent reading rotation. Procedures are posted in each rotation area and students are given opportunities to practice the routines and procedures. Teachers reinforce expectations through PBIS. Increasing Self-Efficacy With a Growth Mindset Establishing a strong growth mindset contributes to students’ success as learningers. The 2012 report, Teaching Adolescents to Become Learners (Farrington, et. all., 20212), identifies four beliefs of an academic mindset. These four beliefs drive the development of students’ growth mindset during the first three weeks of System 44 and beyond. These beliefs are: I belong in this academic community, my ability and competence grow with my effort, I can succeed at this, and this work has value for me.