Cobb County Performance Learning Center Students Help Raise Math Scores
Students from the Cobb County Performance Learning Center® (PLC) worked with Labelle Elementary School students in a “Musical Math” program that integrated fun and learning for everyone involved. Musical math involves repetition utilizing rap lyrics and other music techniques, and it has proven to be quite effective and engaging for elementary students as they used dance steps to enhance their math skills. According to the principal, there has been a 2% increase in these students math scores since the PLC students have been working with them for the past year.
PLCs, supported by local Communities In Schools affiliates, focus on a variety of resources and programs to help enhance the education of students. Programs like “Musical Math” work well because they engage students in peer mentoring, which benefits both elementary and high school students. By helping elementary schools students, the high school students are reinforcing their own learning and serving as mentors to the younger participants. Beyond the fun that everyone is having, test scores are making noticeable improvements. Recently released data shows that students that were struggling in math have now made very positive strides and increases in the number of students passing the state math tests.
CIS affiliates and the PLCs are always looking for mentors and tutors. You can volunteer an hour a week and make a difference. If you’re interested in becoming a tutor or mentor, e-mail us at info@cisga.org.
Students learn life lessons in "Teen Maze" event
Six AmeriCorps*VISTA members from CIS of Dodge County participated in a “Teen Maze” event. “Teen Maze” is a prevention game that helps students understand how bad decisions and irresponsible choices can impede their ability to succeed in school and graduate. Students were given slips of paper with various scenarios such as drunk driving, drug abuse and teen pregnancy, which is the leading cause of girls dropping out of high school. Participants were then asked to visit representatives at various stations who explained interactively or through illustrations how each of the bad decisions could have long-lasting consequences. For example, the Dodge County Sheriff's Office gave the program a feeling of authenticity by creating a jail scenario where teens were fingerprinted and booked. While students understood that this was only a game, it was clear that this scenario and others helped them understand the serious implications that irresponsible choices have in real life and how they can affect their ability to graduate and succeed in school.
Kenya and Nicaragua Service Learning Projects
(l-r) Dr. Lamar Brown, Kyle Bruce, Charlotte Leech and Tom McMahan
Staff and students at the Catoosa County Performance Learning Center® have high hopes for international service learning projects in Nicaragua and Kenya. Charlotte gathered information on Kenya and Kyle’s focus was on Nicaragua. During their research, the students learned that Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and Nicaraguan teachers make under $1,000 a year and lack many fundamental resources. They also discovered that most students don’t get more than a 6th grade education. In addition to their research, the students got involved in a project helping to make a teacher’s conference (with over 500 attendees) in Nicaragua a success by raising money to provide meals. To date, various student projects have raised $1,600. As a result of these experiences, Kyle wants to do more. “After college I want to go back and help the kids in Nicaragua.”
The principal, Dr. Lamar Brown, and social studies teacher Tom McMahan are helping the students develop a long-term plan. Part of the plan will include working to become a sister school to a high school in Kenya and helping another school in Kenya obtain solar panels to provide electricity for a computer lab in an area that has limited access to power.
The PLC administrators want to do more to help by providing math and literacy curriculum, professional development assistance and best practice information as it pertains to at-risk and unmotivated students. Teachers who have an interest in these countries and want to help can contact Dr. Brown at lbrown@catoosa.k12.ga.us.
PLC Teacher of the Year
Barrow County CIS Performance Learning Center students
with Teacher of the Year, Lynn Rambo (center).
Anna Lynn Rambo was recently named Teacher of the Year in Barrow County. Ms. Rambo teaches at the CIS Performance Learning Center® (PLC). PLCs create partnerships with public schools, businesses, community agencies, and local CIS affiliates. They offer local communities another learning option for high school students who are not succeeding in the traditional school setting. Students learn through a rigorous, integrated online and project-based learning curriculum.
Ms. Rambo likes the small school setting where she can spend more time with students who need it. “My students can be given needed attention and assistance with more immediacy, receiving personalized feedback and reinforcement that will hopefully lead to long-term retention and greater interest,” said Rambo.
She keeps her students interested and motivated with projects such as blog entries incorporated into written essay assignments, a collaborative class wiki, and researching scholarship and college opportunities.