Teachers Should Analyze Student Work Together
By Bob Lenz
10/26/09
In my last post, "How to Make Writing Research Papers Relevant for Students," I described an expository writing task that all our students at Envision Schools must complete. In this post, I will highlight the task of analyzing literature.
How to Make Writing Research Papers Relevant for Students
By Bob Lenz
9/28/09In my last post, "Preparing High School Seniors for College," I outlined the College Success Portfolio, a performance-assessment system used at Envision Schools. We developed this system because we believe students demonstrate college readiness not only by passing rigorous courses but also by actually producing college-ready academic work, demonstrating 21st-century leadership skills, and mastering college-level work habits.
Preparing High School Seniors for College, Part Two
By Bob Lenz
7/23/09This is the second part of a two-part blog entry. Read part one.
Academic content knowledge is usually measured in a number of ways, from papers, tests, and quizzes to more comprehensive assessment tools like the California Standards Test. At Envision Schools, we rely on a rigorous evaluation system designed to measure not only content mastery through traditional assessment tools but also college readiness.Preparing High School Seniors for College, Part One
By Bob Lenz
7/15/09Here, in California, another school year has finally dipped into the cool, blue Pacific. I've been reflecting on all that we've accomplished this year, including the fact that more than 90 percent of our graduating seniors will be going to college. I also can't help but think about everything that goes into the rite of passage that is graduation at Envision Schools.
How to Go Global in Your Classroom
By Bob Lenz
6/30/09Given the level of technical sophistication of today's students, why not use technology to extend the classroom and collaborate globally?
What Parents Think About Student Achievement
By Bob Lenz
6/4/09When I talk about student achievement in the academic community, the first thing that usually comes to mind is test scores: How well does this school perform relative to others? Are students on track for college? How prepared are they for the SAT?
Surprisingly, the discussion shifts when I talk to parents.
Balancing Life Skills with Academics
By Bob Lenz
5/8/09In my last Edutopia.org blog entry, I talked about project learning at Envision Schools, and the ways kids are motivated to master difficult subjects by interacting with peers in an interdisciplinary environment and tackling real-world issues.
Project Learning Creates a Win-Win Situation
By Bob Lenz
4/9/09The mere mention of 21st-century skills always seems to elicit lively debate among people who are either for the concept or against it. The conversation about it is a good one to have, but we should move beyond this particular debate and toward an inclusive discussion that helps students win on all sides.
Using Student-Led Parent-Teacher Conferences to Build Relationships
By Bob Lenz
2/24/09Quite a few readers responded to my blog entry "In the Loop: The Payoff for Parent-Teacher Conferences." As spring approaches, the next round of conferences is just around the corner.
College Readiness, Part Two: Turning Thoughts into Action
By Bob Lenz
12/11/08This is the second part of a two-part blog entry. Read part one.
In his article cited in part one of this blog entry, Tony Wagner describes visiting some of most highly regarded suburban schools and "interviewing leaders in settings from Apple to Unilever to the U.S. Army and reviewing research on workplace skills." In response to his findings, he calls for students to master seven skills to be successful in the twenty-first century.
