Course Overview


Links: Home Course Overview Course Expectations Lesson Plans Course Materials Sample Student Work MSAN Scholars Student Bios Student Digital Portfolios Ms. Mafi's Digital Portfolio	MSAN Leadership Seminar Digital Portfolio
	Course Overview
		The vision for this course first came in the January of 2005 when Marta Guevara and I met to discuss the possibility of creating a course where students were given the space to discuss issues surrounding the Achievement Gap. Our initial idea was to create a "MSAN Scholars" program that would mirror a National Honor Society model. The program would be considered an extracurricular activity. However, as time went on, Ms. Guevara and I realized the great potential that existed for the program to become a course for credit-- that if student leaders of color were actually given time during the school day we would be empowering them to not only address why the Achievement Gap persists but empower them to work on closing the Achievement Gap at ARHS. Over the summer , I worked on creating a rough curriculum sketch for the course. As a Social Studies teacher by training, I wanted the course to have a strong social science component. I also wanted to take advantage of the fact that the course was going to be the same 15 students for the entire school year. This small-school learning environment made it possible for the format of the course to run as a seminar. MSAN Seminar Course Expectations Sample General Class Assignments: Introduction "Tell Me" Letter Race Awareness Essay Social Construction of Race Timeline Historical Significance of Race Paper "Bamboozled" Video Discussion Questions Jane Elliott Video Discussion Questions Media & The Achievement Gap Essay Tracking Debate Graphic Organizer 3. Class Articles: "The Complexity of Identity: Who Am I?" article by Beverly Daniel Tatum "The Cycle of Socialization" article by Bobbie Harro "Why Does the Achievement Gap Persist?" Educational Leadership series, November, 2004. American Anthropological Association Definition of Race The Historical Origins and Development of Racism article "Stereotype Threat and African American Student Achievement" article by Claude Steele "The Meaning and Significance of Stereotypes in Popular Culture" by Jack Nachbar & Kevin Lause Children Say Television Distorts Its Portrayal of Minorities Closing the Achievement Gap by De-tracking Tracking-Issues and Controversies Article 6 Facets of Understanding article by Grant Wiggins & Jay McTighe 4. Action Project and Digital Portfolio Assignments: Project Proposal Outline Action Plan Progress Sheet Digital Portfolio Assignment Rubric for the 6 Facets of Understanding 5. MSAN Regional Youth Summit, May 11th-12th, 2006 6. Sample Pictures: MSAN "Classroom Constitution" passed September 10, 2005 Room #109 Home to the MSAN Serminar! Pictures of our MSAN Seminar Classroom Race Timeline Visuals and Assignment Ajia & Amira working on their Action Project MSAN scholars on "Retro" Spirit Day Walter, Chelsea & Kleaver "6 Facets of Understanding" Socratic Seminar Guidelines Tommie, Daniela and Stevon at Tutoring Program Orientation with UMASS students Tommie and ARHS Alumni/UMASS Black Students Union Representative Aaron Buford leading tutoring program orientation Eugene working on his action project film about Middle to High School Transitions Action Project Worktime Students responding to the essential question, "Why does the Achievement Gap persist at Amherst Regional High School?" Assistant Principal Ms. Guevara, MSAN student Kleaver Cruz & Dr. Hockman at the AAEA grant recipients ceremony MSAN Seniors, Class of 2006 & Ms. Mafi Proof that there is so much work yet to be done... Essential Question ("Why does the Achievement Gap persist at ARHS ?") Response anonymously left on classroom board: "because some people are dumb others are not dumb it's that simple..."
6 Facets of Understanding: Explanation Interpretation Application Perspective Empathy Self-Knowledge