Engagement of Learning

Analysis and Synthesis

Upon the review and reflections of the STEM Standards 6, 7, 8 for the Engagement of Learning and participating in the review of a variety of data sources for Mundy’s Mill Middle School, we have identified the characteristics that exhibit our progress in our efforts to facilitate and ensure that learners are engaged in the learning environment.  Student perception surveys, implementation of STEAM/PBL (Project Based Learning) curriculum/implementation of enrichment classes, classroom observations, lesson planning with differentiation and professional development has ensured that students have vast opportunities to be included in the learning process, participate with confidence, and are actively involved in learning. Students are beginning to show confidence in executing the engineering process.  This is evident in the active engagement demonstrated in the STEAM Showcases and STEM nights.  Students are also showing their perseverance and determination through actively participating in various community projects such as the Water Tower Competition. Mundy’s Mill Middle staff and leadership has created an environment where students are digitally diverse and frequently engage in opportunities to realize their potential while promoting their voice and taking responsibility in planning experiences. 

Facilitating equitable learning experiences for all students, faculty and staff promotes an environment that encourages and respects student voice by providing access to student clubs such as Kidadah and Men of Valor.  At Mundy’s Mill Middle School staff strive to encourage, develop and promote students who are highly regarded for their creativity and academic excellence through the implementation of rigorous diverse interdisciplinary lessons that encourage inquiry, integrity, collaboration, problem solving, and critical reasoning.  To ensure that students have equitable learning experiences, teachers consistently engage in weekly collaborative planning sessions to discuss lesson plans, teaching strategies, assessments, and plans for learners at varying levels.  These tasks are specifically designed to create an engaging learning environment where students can participate with confidence or build confidence and endurance.

Findings and Interpretation

Mundy’s Mill Middle School relies on the data from various sources, however the use of culture and climate surveys, attendance/ discipline data, and classroom observations have been an accurate source to help determine areas for improvement within the school. The best gauge of student engagement is the number of students who are actively participating in afterschool activities such as the Tech Club, Art Club, Hydroponics, Archery, and various Engineering Competitions.  Students even worked in partnership with Home Depot to design and create an inviting learning space.Based on the analysis of these data points, the leadership team and staff has determined that several areas of improvement are a priority for the upcoming school year. The emphasis on improvement has been the incorporation of STEAM and PBL while ensuring more diversity and relationship building through acknowledging cultural and background experiences.  There has also been a growing focus on improvement to encourage students with more risk taking, collaboration, and design thinking through the involvement in activities such as 3M News Show, Boys that Code Club, Book and Anime Clubs.  

Facilitating an environment that fosters lifelong skills in creativity, curiosity, risk taking, collaboration, and design thinking will deepen learners’ knowledge and understanding while proving to be beneficial to student engagement and inquiry. Teachers are engaging in Content Collaborative Planning  with the specific goal of integrating lessons that will guide students to engaging lessons that are based on real-world learning experiences.  Collaborative Planning has been structured to ensure that teachers are working towards creating learning experiences that are multidisciplinary and provide students with the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of complex curriculum.  Teachers have begun to collaborate with district personnel to improve the planning and include collaborative practices amongst grade levels and content areas.

Summary 

Mundy’s Mill Middle School strives to provide optimal educational experiences for all learners while embracing the uniqueness of all students.  We are doing well with providing students with opportunities to explore the world around them via virtual and in person field trips.  Access to programs with various corporate partners and higher education institutions has also given our students the opportunity to make changes within the community.  There are several challenges that must be overcome. Creating lessons that are interdisciplinary has been a weakness that the leadership team is trying to overcome through collaboration, dedication, and intentional professional development. These challenges are impacted specifically by: teacher experience, teacher retention, cultural diversity, student attendance, and student discipline.  Despite our best efforts to ensure that students are receiving the most engaging learning experiences possible, it has been determined through data analysis that there is an immediate need for more diverse cultural and background experiences. The challenge of providing a learning experience that is inclusive of diverse cultures, backgrounds, and abilities is a priority because the goal of ensuring all students are. This is hindered by limited diversity of the population of the community. There is also limited diversity within the staff members that would hinder the implementation of clubs and activities to include other cultures.