Where Learning is an Adventure!

Evergreen hosts EL Site Seminar this Spring!

The Evergreen community is looking forward to opening our doors for a fully investigative, interactive, and enjoyable site seminar in Expeditionary Learning on April 11 and 12, 2013. If you would like to learn more about how Evergreen has employed Expeditionary Learning practices into our environmental education model, successfully and for the past ten years, please consider registering.  Central topics will include how to implement EL into your classroom or school, how Evergreen has created traditions around the EL design principle Culture and Character, the history and steps of our EL journey, how to design and align expeditions to the Common Core, and more. Various workshops and break-out sessions will also showcase specifics of our integrative program.

We look forward to having you.  Please see the attached brochure for more information.
 
To register, please email sarah.shoemaker@evergreenccs.org.

In Expeditionary Learning Schools (ELS), learning expeditions are the primary way of organizing curriculum.The subject matter of a learning expedition is a compelling topic derived from content standards. Learning expeditions feature linked projects that require students to construct deep understandings and skills, creating products for real audiences. Learning expeditions support critical literacy, promote character development, create a sense of adventure, spark curiosity, and foster an ethic of service. They address central academic standards of content, skills, and presentation, including goals related to character and community. They allow for and encourage the authentic integration of disciplines.

Teachers work together to ensure that learning expeditions align with local standards. A coherent sequence of learning expeditions is mapped vertically through the grade levels to ensure that expedition topics are not repeated and that students learn essential skills and knowledge. The ELS approach emphasizes hands-on, project-based instruction to encourage high academic achievement and personal growth. The progress of students is evaluated through multiple criteria assessment strategies and a work sampling portfolio system linked to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.

While learning expeditions are the primary curricular structure in an ELS, other curricular structures, programs, materials, projects, and lessons are also used when appropriate or required (e.g. commercial math programs). As much as possible, however, these other curricular structures incorporate essential elements of learning expeditions such as products, literacy, and service.

Taken from the Expeditionary Learning website, Expeditionary Learning Core Practice Benchmarks, I.1 Learning Expeditions: Implementing Learning Expeditions Across the School.