Writing

Writing is a learning tool, a personal and public communication tool, and serves as a record of thinking. Students who write consider audience and purpose, engage in various writing processes to address specific situations, support their thinking, and demonstrate understanding.

Inquiry

Inquiry is uncovering one's understanding, asking critical questions, engaging in thinking, learning and discussion. Students who inquire analyze and synthesize materials or ideas, clarify their own thinking, probe others' thinking, and work through ambiguity.

Collaboration

Collaboration is teamwork with shared responsibility, sharing of ideas, information and opinions, and formal and informal discussion. Students who collaborate work together toward a common goal, develop positive interdependence, work in focused study groups, and support the learning of others through inquiry.

Organization

Organization is managing materials and practicing methodical study habits, planning and prioritizing school, work and social tasks, engaging in mental preparation and goal-setting, and strategically and intentionally taking responsibility for one's own learning. Students who organize develop and use processes, procedures and tools to study effectively, manage their time through prioritizing and goal-setting, are prepared for courses, participate during instruction and interact with instructors, and self-direct, self-evaluate, self-monitor and self-advocate.

Reading

Reading is strategically gaining meaning, understanding and knowledge from print and other media, purpose-driven, and interactive. Students who read understand text structures, apply prior knowledge and make connections to other text, self and world, made predictions and ask questions, and create visual images as they read.

Culture

Relational Capacity Overview

Relational capacity is the degree of trust and level of safety between members of a group. In an educational context, this specifically refers to the established level of trust and safety between teachers and students, as well as directly between students. Classes that are low in relational capacity are often teacher-centered, with little dialogue or collaboration amongst students. Alternatively, classes that are high in relational capacity are characterized by energy and comfort, where students feel mutual ownership in the expectations and learning within the classroom.