Innovative Schools with Personalized Learning

This week I have visited schools that inspire me! They extend the bounds of what school can be to meet the individual needs of its students. The first is Mill Neck Schools for the Deaf and Special Needs Preschool. I was inspired by this sign outside one classroom empowering all children to be scientists, authors, explorers, creators, thinkers, leaders! Another bulletin board noted that these students have as their Super Power... Signing! One graduate of the School for the Deaf just graduated from Harvard Law School, realizing the school's vision in her own life through their individualized educational program to help her realize her God-given potential.

I enjoyed seeing the way technology enables the teacher to present multimedia on a specially designed Smart Device where the teacher can sign on the other half of the board as information is shown. Now students can look at one board to see content and watch the teacher sign to teach at the same time. Amazing!

Next I visited Long Island Lutheran Middle and High School, a progressive school preparing students to serve and lead globally in 21st century careers. LuHigh offers an Academy Model to allow students to pursue their interests and passions within a college preparatory curriculum. Beginning as a junior students may focus their learning in areas including STEM, Leadership & Communications, Allied Health Services, Social Science, and Arts & Humanities. This allows students to explore interests before applying to college to build knowledge and learn if this is a field they would like to pursue. 100% of students go on to college!

When I visited a class was working in a Makerspace to design a prosthetic hand for a child in another state who was born with only two fingers. This robotics course uses project-based learning to inspire students to create to meet real world needs. Student designers are building two models that will allow another student to grasp a lacrosse stick to better compete in a sport he loves. They are collaborating with the child to find out with what other activity he would like the second device to assist. After designing they will create the prosthetic using one of the five 3D printers in this space. These students are learning the STEM areas of critical thinking to make a difference in someone's life, and their own.

Personalized learning does motivate students to pursue their interests as they develop their God-given gifts. It is exciting to see actual schools achieving standards while helping students go far beyond to achieve their own goals and prepare for college and career. Hats off to these Lutheran schools of excellence!