Phoenix Modern by Isela Garcia

VISION

alesigroup — 2022-01-14 16:12:07 UTC

Raising humans: what the world requires to be helpful, competitive....believe in the genius, goodness, potential of human beings
Inspire and equip humans in their path of development
Humans coming together as a part of community...striving toward growth to impact the world in a positive way (calling/gift/etc.) in a unique way...help them in that journey
learning design: mixed age learners ina dynamic, interactive...learning by doing, over time shouldering more responsibility to develop lifelong skills. Skills for learning matter.
Structures...day-to-day, how we begin the day, end the day, and the task within the day
Workshop Model: Increase/add flexibility...how and when work gets done
Role of the guide: Moving from typical teacher role (lesson through teacher/directly transferring info); coaching, setting goals, distractions, equipping with tools, hero stories, equipped learners in the process, support learners to feel ownership of their studio that resemble systems in a broader society--accountability, systems of support, incentives, authentic conversations, vulnerability
Learning by doing with real exploration of materials...meaningful and curiosity; connected to real life experiences
Equipping the learner to grow...reflective process of helping individual children, studios, etc. grow and learn and gain skills they get to practice and demonstrate; real challenges
Growth mindset as they drive their own learning

VISION

alesigroup — 2022-01-14 16:12:15 UTC

Space that feels welcoming and comfortable...ownership of their space and time including caring for their space and community
Projects and classwork being immersed in the community: field studies, getting to know people in their surrounding community; feeling grounded in their community
Multi-age groups, mentorship (big brother-big sister)
Flexibility in and out of the studios...wondering about approaches, what to do....collectively living the vision as significant members (families, children, guides, etc)
True collaboration: sharing ideas to grow together
All adults are actively involved: children should be seen and heard, loved and valued by everyone
Collaborative efforts toward small groups/large groups, working to create a newsletter, yearbook...community work that brings group together
Workshop model where children are working an producing work meaningful to them
Learning environment/studio-type space with real tools and materials accessible to kids

REFLECTIONS

alesigroup — 2022-01-14 17:01:56 UTC

Using the word learner vs. children; culture of learning, emphasizing growth mindset. Limits and boundaries of both (kid). Adults "rule the society"... I'm a submember
Adults as mentors, elders should be looked to as wisdom..."shared power"...is that really what we want?
Adult control...telling what needs to occur; authoritative
Role of the adult: guiding, supporting mentorship...inspire and equip children with resources and being explicit at times (with tools); materials, one-on-one check-ins, mini-lessons
Guide roles...authority vs. an our community lens and approach
What does this look like in action/practiced throughout the entire school community
Alignment from bottom to top, top to bottom, every which way
In-the-moment decisions (habits) is often telling as opposed to thinking through behaviors, commitments, agreements with the intent of helping them grow
Adults "on-duty" are also integral members of the community supporting active engagement
Grown-ups need to be in spaces to supervise but should be actively engaging with children (ROLE & EXPECTATIONS OF ADULTS)
What is offered within the environment during non-studio times
How do schools operate as a way to reflect vs. what do we want to implement, who do we went to be in terms of our values, beliefs, agreements, etc.
Intentional limitations of power where everyone has responsibility and a voice (in action)

The First Few To-Dos

alesigroup — 2022-01-14 17:07:55 UTC

ANDREW

PM Learning Design, Studio systems...what they need to thrive and function well, what does a Guide look like (norm setting and clarity)
Writer's workshop, genre studies, Quest, reader's workshop, math workshop
Morning launch and closing guidance (what does it look like)
Roadmap for on-boarding
Series of learning...mindset, learning design components

JESS

Structured step-back: day of observations (who's here, data, what are they doing, where are we, where do we want to go from here)
What we said we wanted to be and what's currently occurring
1-3-5 year vision, roadmap, plan: program and curriculum with finance and budget in mind
Guide training and support
Structure for leadership meetings; collaborative structures to work with one another (PLCs, admin, etc.)
What does a guide look like...what we're looking for in a guide
Moving from level-to-level Having badges (competencies, grade level)
Staff training/development, equipping guides with workshop models, SEL, building community, etc.
Parents: Communicating with families about PM, logistics, expectations, community

CREATING AND UTILIZING BADGES

alesigroup — 2022-01-14 17:40:46 UTC

Guide review
Printed
2022 version (spring semester)
Binders/bound
Middle school needs to be finalized
Input social studies and science for all grades
External set of eyes (ADE, families, children, etc.)

Plan
January 21 meet to explore, discuss, plan
January 28th AM Meeting; Meet with Guides for feedback
Utilize as a tool with the learners the week of February 28th

HIRING GUIDES

alesigroup — 2022-01-14 17:42:29 UTC

HIRING GUIDES

Job descriptions, vision... what needs to change
Send Isela the current job description
Jess and Isela will meet to come up with scenarios
Hiring process

Hiring a Guide

alesigroup — 2022-01-18 23:36:02 UTC

Recruitment that is compelling
Why work at Phoenix Modern
What does it mean to be a Guide
Arizona Education Board/Charter Board/other sites

Jot form hyperlink
Essay questions

Mindsets:

Emergent experiences...keying into interests and growing them
Resourceful
Outside the box thinking
Best relationship with child...how is that defined; What does that mean for you
Lifelong learner, consistently investigating and learning
Flexibility
Humor, even as a coping strategy
Magical moments with children
Emotional vulnerability

Real Scenarios

Partnerships with Families (See Saw and other Apps for Communication, End of Week Connections, Excitement about what's happening...what excites them about Phoenix Modern)
Organization of time
Organization of space
A child's data and what they'd plan to support this child learning and development
Organizational culture...interdependency, supporting one another
Communicating, conflict
Picking a topic to create an integrated web; how might you connect the dots
Influencing and inspiring; how might you illuminate a topic instead of just tell about it
How might you introduce a topic (choose one)
Building community; a child not included
Being proactive looks like to them
What are you curious about?
Are you curious about learners?
Capture videos when on campus (candidate)

Hiring

alesigroup — 2022-01-21 17:13:23 UTC

Job description responsibilities (1/26 Post)
Aligning it to create reflective tools and evaluation
Building a process for screening and interviewing and decision making
5 minute video...what is a guide at Phoenix Modern (What resonated with you, different from past experiences, challenging for you, what did you notice about the children in the video)
February contract offer with very clear vision for the upcoming school year
We're still building the ship
More visible for jobs on website
Inspiring, equipping (systems, framework, tools)
Side note: Socratic discussions...facing distraction, 7 sins of communication, wayfinding, SEL, etc.
Values (set of beliefs for families)

Consolidated hiring documents (from 1/21 meeting)

2022-01-21 17:15:49 UTC

MAIN FOLDER (JESS)

alesigroup — 2022-03-04 17:19:23 UTC

PHOTOS VIDEOS (JESS)

alesigroup — 2022-03-04 17:22:54 UTC

TO CAPTURE

alesigroup — 2022-03-04 17:35:26 UTC

Opening/Closing Circle
Writing workshop mini-lesson
Math small group
Exhibition
Artifacts
Learner's work

Guide Onboarding

2022-06-02 15:59:12 UTC

Work backwards from what guides need to be prepared.

- Our big picture vision and beliefs
- Role as a guide (refer to JD)
- Communicating with families (session updates: launch midpoint updates, closing ) (weekly posts on learners work/progress)
-Staff communication channels/process
- What to do with an incident/concern
- Language/Growth Mindset Praise
- Studio Management/Behavior Systems
- Urgent/Important matrix
Framework, Recipe, World Class Examples (look like, feel like, sound like):
-How to of workshops (math, writing, reading)
-How to launches and closing circles
- Walking through a typical day/week
-How to quest/exhibition

HOW DO WE TAKE CARE OF SELF, OTHERS, THINGS:
-Adult care/self regulation
-Adult behavior norms /how we talk about learners
- Solution orientated
- Strengths based
- Growth Mindset
- Curiosity not judgement
-Getting to know our families
-How we disagree/challenge each other
-Master duty schedule/team effort/how we support each other
Autonomy, Mastery, Purpose + Joy
Meaningful, relevant, tangible learning experiences
Core value days?
Personnel Handbook/Expectations
How we use days without learners
This is what it looks like to be prepared

Artifacts:
Personnel Handbook
Family Handbook
Guide Playbook
Badge Tracker System <-Jess
Genre Unit Plans (examples) <-Jess
Quest plans (examples) <-Jess
Evaluation/Feedback Tool using JD responsibilities
Self Reflection Form (Whole-person framework)

Family Onboarding

2022-06-02 16:16:18 UTC

July Orientation

Welcome + Short journey thus far + New staff introduction (10 min)
Goals/priorities/commitments for the coming year (10 min) (Jess- cohesive experience across school/strong culture; raising academic bar; continuing to build relevant, meaningful quests)
Review Handbook
What Phoenix Modern is/What it isn't (15)
- "My kid wants to study whatever they want, whenever they want."
- "My kid can't focus or sit still in public school."
- "Accountability = shame"
Academic responsibility?
- Self-paced but also.. keeping a pace. ..
- No homework, BUT...
Working in partnership (encouraging self-advocacy) /how we communicate
The benefits and realities of being a small staff
Newsletters/communication (read them)
Calendar
Ways to get involved
What to expect at launch..

Send some resources after:
- Tip sheet (language, helping kids through emotional stuff; homework; questions to ask)

Family Launch

Messages from Guide

Core Skills

2022-06-02 16:39:30 UTC

Math diagnostic? What is everyone's baseline?

How much math per day is independently? Khan Academy, Woot Math...
What are the skills to be mastered and what are the best tools available for learners to use.
How is guide and learners tracking progress?
Does the criteria actually prove mastery?
For all levels, how do learners prove mastery?
How do we best equip learners with a variety of resources (digital, vocab wall, math talks, etc.)

What is reading diagnostic? MAP?
How build a culture of reading for joy/personal interest.

Badge Tracking system

Writing Workshop
Create genre study unit plans

STAFF SELF REFLECTION TOOL

2022-06-02 17:25:09 UTC

Family Handbook

2022-06-02 18:39:41 UTC