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Five Keys Curriculum Project--Overview and Objectives
This project is a result of a school-wide initiative started in 2008 to strengthen and expand the school's curriculum. Our strategy was to create a collection of lesson plans by Five Keys teachers that bear directly on the mission of the school -- successful reentry into the community through a focus on the "five keys" -- education, community, recovery, family and employment. The lessons included here will be used once a week by all teachers throughout the school year as a supplement to existing class content. It is our hope that using this curriculum will better assist us in achieving our school mission.
Standards for the project are included and were written by members of the curriculum committee to give focus to the content and to generate desired outcomes. These standards reflect the unique nature and objectives of teaching in jails and post-release settings.
Implementing this project creates exciting opportunities for the teaching staff to discuss best teaching practices. After each lesson is taught, teachers can come together both informally and in staff meetings to share their experiences. This will provide a supportive model of internal and ongoing professional development for teachers over the course of the year.
A further benefit of the project is the ability to build a collection of student work. After each lesson, teachers will submit samples of lesson assessments. This collection will provide evidence of student achievement and progress and can be shared with the school's stakeholders. Efforts will be made to showcase student work in classrooms, throughout school facilities and in the community.
This project is a beginning. The goal is for it to it grow each year and ultimately include the lessons of all teachers. The standards will be reviewed as the project unfolds to see how well they meet our objectives. Ongoing evaluation and feedback will be incorporated as the project evolves.
Thank you to all teachers who contributed lessons. We look forward to seeing the fruits of your labors!
The Five Keys Curriculum Committee -
Alice Hargis, Meredith McMonigle, Kathy Rose, Dana Rivers and Chaska Conrow.
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