Fall 2018–2019 Volume 3 Issue 1
5048 E. Oak Street Phoenix, AZ 85008 602 389 8600 newwayacademy.org
NEW WAY FAMILY
CONNECTIONS
News and campus highlights connecting the New Way family.
Student Toolkits:
Learning Isn’t Always Academic by Laura Murray
W
hen students arrived on campus for the 2018-2019 year, they were introduced to a new method to gain essential knowledge about the world around them: Student Toolkits. By now, we may know that students work through their Toolkits in their homeroom, covering topics necessary to demonstrate independence. However, not much as been unveiled about developing the Toolkits in the first place. I asked New Way Executive Director, Abbey Ross, all the details of our new, essential campus offering. “The Toolkit began as a personal brainchild of mine, when I began teaching fifteen years ago,” shared Ross. “My students [at the time] consistently seemed to lack some of the general knowledge that we just assumed they had. For example, memorizing emergency phone numbers, navigating what part of town they lived in, or knowing their clothing size. I realized that these gaps of knowledge were not small, but in fact created vast opportunities for student connection. From there, the framework of Toolkits for every level was born.” What started as an idea over a decade ago gained its legs towards full development around 2016. A staff committee was formed, ideas were put to paper, and the structure, scope and sequence were created. From content to execution, the committee analyzed each piece for effectiveness and engagement in students at all levels. Each student now has a document to make their own, build upon
their skills, and practice essential life knowledge at each stage in development. And, just as our students are growing, the Toolkit will grow and adapt as well. A small group of teachers now lead the charge with the Student Toolkit Committee. Collectively, they are assigned to analyze three main components of the Toolkits: measuring student progress, integrating guest speakers and field trips in conjunction with correlating topics, and developing a capstone project for students who progress quickly through all the topics. Each section of the Toolkit intentionally and thoughtfully provides guidance through important concepts not otherwise learned in an academic setting. By encouraging broad learning and general life skills, Toolkits are designed to gradually present a variety of topics throughout the year including health, etiquette, and social awareness. Additionally, each level builds upon previous learning, such that the content will circle back to important concepts and skills that require additional review each year. With much to uncover such as practice in organization, life skills, basic finance, and even transportation, the pilot year of implementing the the Student Toolkits is off to a great start. Students now have an instrument to build a deeper partnership between students, families, and their school environment. Have you noticed a benefit from your student working through their Toolkit? Let us know! Send your feedback to Laura Murray, Director of Marketing at murray@newwayacademy.org.