Edgewood Middle School is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by utilizing critical thinking, communication, collaboration and Creativity.
For Critical thinking, our teachers are working to improve curriculum to a higher depth of knowledge which will increase rigor within classrooms in a more project based learning environment. We continue to work toward the use of more authentic assessments as well as teacher modeling of critical thinking during their modeling of lessons. Lessons are designed for students to show a deeper understanding of material by applying learning material in real life situations.
Communication is being stressed as students are expected to improve their skills in writing and speaking. This is being addressed in more technical and real world applications as students conduct career cluster presentations, interviews and discussions with certified career specialists. Guidance counselors teach critical soft skills to students that will both help them to associate with each other, but also to help in the future in their communication while on the job. Students have a chance to put this into practice by their participation in career fairs where they communication with potential employers, and also in a career day which pairs students up with local and state businesses where they are allowed to experience a job site and the communication skills needed to be successful while working there.
Edgewood students collaborate on a daily basis by working together in partners and groups. Lessons are designed around using Kagan strategies, which demand that students work together to achieve different goals. Students collaborate among the many teams we have here at school, whether they are academic or athletic in nature. Teachers continually stress the idea to students who trying to accomplish a new or unfamiliar task that two heads are better than one. Teachers work within committees and their common planning time to build lessons for the betterment of all students. Data teams help teachers to analyze student work, test scores, survey information, and more in order to provide the best instruction possible.
Additionally, students are able to show their creativity throughout the different explore classes offered to all students. We are able to offer classes where students can be creative in their choices of choral and performance music, fine art, agriculture, and even within culinary arts. Within regular classrooms, students are given multiple opportunities to show their mastery in a variety of methods using technology. Google classroom allows students to post created projects while other classes may make use of ordinary household items in the use of STEM projects. Students have access to Chromebooks, iPads, Virtual Reality glasses, Ozobots, and many other maker spaces within the Media Center to showcase their creativity.
These, along with many other examples, showcase how Edgewood Middle School is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the South Carolina Graduate.
David Schoolfield, Principal
Debbie Harris, SIC Chair
