Aligned Curriculum
Next on our list of things on which Lakeside Christian School focuses in order to prepare our students for college and career is
Aligned Curriculum.
Another name for aligned curriculum is coherent curriculum. According to edglossary.org, aligned curriculum “refers to an academic program that is (1) well organized and purposefully designed to facilitate learning, (2) free of academic gaps and needless repetitions, and (3) aligned across lessons, courses, subject areas, and grade levels.”
Simply put, an academic program with aligned curriculum would be one in which all assessments, lessons, instructions, tests, assignments, textbooks, and the like are matched in such a way as to meet standards and cohere as a whole. The purpose of this is that the students’ knowledge builds on itself naturally and doesn’t repeat unnecessarily.
When teachers work together within a school “using developmentally appropriate and well-defined learning expectations (source),” students will have a better chance at eliminating and/or closing academic gaps, therefore becoming more college prepared.
This makes sense, especially when you understand that there can be a four-year gap in academics between the best and worst state standards. This means a senior in one state might find himself at the academic level of a freshman in another state. Consistency is important.
Beyond consistency within the school is alignment to education standards that measure college readiness at grade level. Lakeside Christian School has therefore aligned with ACT Aspire testing. College and career readiness standards are their basis for measuring student improvement (grades 3-10). Aspire tests grade-level knowledge as defined by the standards of the largest states in the US.
ACT Aspire provides three types of tests: classroom assessments, interim assessments, and summative assessments. All three work together to provide insight into each student’s progress and readiness, which then guides instruction.
Why is this so important? It’s important because our goal is to work from day one to help your child become college and career ready. One way we do that is through aligned curriculum with ACT Aspire.
“ACT solutions are explicitly designed and empirically validated to assess student progress toward college and career readiness” (source).
No other organization can link student test scores and actual post-high school performance, plus the ability to then determine what must be learned to be ready for college. Our alignment with the evidence-based ACT Aspire Benchmark testing gives students, parents, and teachers the information they need to determine the right educational path and possible interventions needed to prepare them for college and career. There is no guessing or hoping; there is no pulling for grades high enough to simply graduate; instead, each student is given the opportunity to become truly prepared for life after high school.
For more information about ACT ASPIRE, please visit their website. Consider scheduling a free tour with Lakeside Christian School. We’d love to show you how ACT Aspire works, and what makes LCS different from other schools.
College Visit and Application Tips
Taking a break from our list of important classroom elements, let’s take a moment to focus on our seniors. ‘Tis the season for college visits and applications. Deciding on the right college can be a daunting task, but with some organization and a game plan, it doesn’t have to be.
At this point, seniors don’t have to know exactly what they want to major in and exactly where they need to go. But they do need a plan. Consider these questions:
- Am I interested in a trade or a career that requires more schooling?
- Start here, because if a trade interests you, you’ll want to start pursuing the trade school route rather than applying to colleges that will only offer careers that don’t interest you. If you decide to attend college, move on to the next question.
- Do I want to go away to college or stay nearby?
- If you want to stay nearby, do a Google search and make a list of the colleges within the radius of home, and go from there. Note if you want to board at school or commute. If you are open to a college that may be in another state, make a list of the colleges that interest you, and why.
- Narrow your list to about 5 or so colleges that interest you for whatever reasons are important to you.
- Do I want to take my general electives while I live at home first, and then go away?
- One option that may save money is to take your general electives while living at home for the first couple of years, and then move onto the college of your choice. This option is a good idea for the senior who really cannot decide on a major, the senior who would like to save money, and the senior who may be placed on a waiting list for the college of their choice.
- How do I plan on paying for college?
- This is a family discussion. Discuss how much money, if any, is provided by parents, and if you will work while attending college.
- Look into scholarships. Florida offers many scholarships, and often individual colleges offer scholarships as well. Find and apply for as many as you can. This can easily be done in a Google search.
- Look into financial aid with each college.
- Look into where you might apply for loans once you have been accepted to the college of your choice.
- What are some careers that interest me?
- Examine the majors offered at each college, and determine which interest you. Thoroughly research what is required to get your degree and the kinds of careers that major will allow.
- Speak with individuals who have taken that career path, to get a realistic idea of what that career and the college work is like.
- What are my strengths as a student and an individual?
- College applications require you to know yourself well. You essentially must show your best self to each college. You should not lie, or even stretch the truth. However, they don’t know you, so you must present yourself in the best possible light. Make a list of your strengths.
- Google resume qualities and characteristics. That may help you with verbiage.
- Make a list of the clubs, organizations, service, leadership, volunteering, extra-curriculars, etc. you were involved in during your high school career. Think about what each of these things says about you as a person.
- What are my long-term goals?
- Imagine what you want your life to look like when you’re 40. Work backwards from there to help you decide on a college and a major.
- Do I know what each school is like?
- If a college has made your short list of about 5 schools, visit it. You can’t make an informed decision without stepping foot on campus. Each college should offer tours to prospective students. Be sure to do this long before applications are due.
- Ask questions. Make a list of all the questions you have, and be sure to ask them. The more informed you are, the better you can decide if you want to apply.
- Try, to the best of your ability, to imagine what life would be like in each school. Chances are you’ll get a good feel for life on campus, and you should be honest with yourself if you are comfortable in that environment.
- Who are my references?
- Accumulate references: people who will speak well of you and recommend you to the college to which you’re applying. Think of teachers, youth leaders, organization leaders, and bosses in particular. These should be people who can accurately describe your character and qualities.
- What are the requirements for applications?
- Carefully read what each college requires for applications. Some will require test scores, application fees, references, and even essays.
- Take note of when applications are due. Make an effort to send in your applications long before the deadline.
With these ten tips in mind, you’re off and running in your quest to find the right college for you. Don’t stress, just get started!
Lakeside Christian School wishes our seniors the best as they plan their futures. Our prayer for them is that they will “trust in the Lord with all [their] heart and lean not on [their] own understanding. In all [their] ways acknowledge him, and he will make [their] paths straight.”- Proverbs 3:5-6
Data- Driven Instruction
When the time comes, will your child be ready for college or career? Or will their diploma simply stand for a possible four- year gap in information they must know to succeed after graduation?
Does your child’s elementary school use Best-Practice Instructional processes that prepare them foundationally for academic success in secondary grades?
These are the things on which Lakeside Christian School focuses, in order to prepare your child for college and career starting in Kindergarten.
- Data- driven instruction
- Aligned curriculum
- Best- practice instruction
- Effective educators
- Complementary technology
- Biblical worldview
- Safe & secure learning environment
Over the next several weeks, we will explain each of these items on this college & career readiness checklist, because what good is knowing what your child needs to succeed, if you cannot identify those things (or the lack thereof) in their classroom?
First, we’ll tackle data- driven instruction. There is a lot of meaning packed into such a boring- sounding term! According to www.engageny.org, “Data- driven instruction and inquiry is a precise and systematic approach to improving student learning throughout the year. The inquiry cycle of data-driven instruction includes assessment, analysis, and action and is a key framework for school-wide support of all student success.”
In simple terms, data- driven instruction means teachers assess students, analyze their findings, and take action to improve the education of each individual student.
Why is this so important?
Data- driven instruction means your child receives a tailored educational plan that will work to either eliminate academic gaps, or propel them forward if they are already on track. Without assessment (and there are multiple kinds of assessment), it’s impossible to determine if a student is on track or not, and if this can’t be determined, students fall through the cracks and essential skills may be lost.
When this data is analyzed, teachers can immediately see if their teaching is effective for each student. This allows them to either create smaller groups concentrated on the skills with which students are struggling, or change her methods entirely. This means the teachers aren’t teaching content to students. They are teaching students essential content.
In classrooms in which data- driven instruction is practiced, it doesn’t matter the size of the class; each student receives the education they need in order to close academic gaps and get on track for college preparedness. Anything less is not enough to ensure that your child is on track!
Lakeside Christian School has been practicing data- driven instruction in K-5 for several years and has noticed a marked improvement in scores. Academic gaps are closing and off- track students are quickly catching up! In a nation with such poor academic statistics, this is immensely encouraging.
Is your child in a classroom that practices data- driven instruction? Book a free tour with Lakeside Christian School today, and ask about our data- driven instruction!
Here’s how it’s done:
