Personalized Learning Journey at CICS Irving Park
Claire Nolan
Aggie Sparrow
Meaghan Rohan
Keywords: Personalized Learning, Breakthrough Schools, Competency Based Progression
Abstract
CICS Irving Park was a pilot school for Breakthrough Schools Chicago during the 2015−16 school year. Through this experience, a team of teachers were given the task to develop a scalable plan for personalized learning. This presentation would focus on the model we created. During grade-level instruction, students are presented with a weekly menu of options of learning activities that they “must do” and “can do,” including online competency-based progression programs such as Lexia in reading or ST Math in math, offline independent activities, and instructional tools that mix online and offline learning. The menus build student agency and ownership by giving choice in when and how students complete their learning. Menu items are directly tied to the concepts that students are learning in their time with the teacher either as support or extension activities. As students work independently on their menu, the classroom teachers will pull small groups to provide instruction. This allows the teacher to tailor the instruction to a group’s academic needs or learning style. These instructional groups change often depending on students’ previous knowledge and needs around the current topic of instruction. During “Puma Reads” and “Puma Solves,” students are grouped between classes and grade levels. Using NWEA Skills Navigator, teachers are able to identify specific skills that students are struggling with and address those specific learning gaps. As students show mastery they move to groups that address the next skill they need help with. Students work on specific, targeted skills during this time in small groups with an all-hands-on-deck approach to staffing. Just as we are creative and flexible in student groupings, we also play to teacher strengths so we are intentional when designing our schedules and routines. CICS Irving Park is currently working toward an all-school Personalized Learning model that focuses on the four elements of the PLWD.
Author Biography
Claire Nolan
Adaptive & Personalized Learning
