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Thursday, September 02, 2010
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| | Email this article • Print this article | CLHS program helps students get back 'On Track'
BY DANI STRENKE
Karen Barthol's students have one goal - to get out of her class. Fortunately, that's something she likes to hear.
Barthol will soon begin her third year teaching a program started last year at Chisago Lakes High School, called the On Track Credit Recovery Program.
It's aimed at kids who are falling behind and are at risk of not graduating on time. In the On Track program, students come to the computer lab and work to complete classes completely on the computer.
Barthol tells students from the start - work hard and get back to the classroom.
"I tell them, 'you're in here to get ouf of here,' so concentrate on that," Barthol said.
Students enrolled in the program come to Barthol after a referral from a school counselor. Most of them are sophomores, juniors and seniors, but there have been freshmen who needed the program to complete a class. Barthol said upperclassmen have priority if there's an opening.
The program is run after school four days a week and for two, three-week sessions during the summer. Students work to get out of the class, Barthol said. They can start anytime during the school year, and end when they've made up the class.
"Some are here for a month, some are here all year," Barthol said.
Despite the independent learning atmosphere in the computer lab, students are held to the same strict standards in the program as they are in the classroom.
"They're expected to be on time, be quiet and get their work done," Barthol said.
During the summer program, students arrive for class at 8 a.m. Barthol said if they get there later than 8:15, they are told to go home for the day. Each student and their parents sign a contract before starting the program, so they know the expectations from the start, Barthol said.
"As long as everyone follows the rules and is one the same page, there are no problems," Barthol said.
If students come to the summer program too tired to be productive, Barthol will send them out for a five minute break.
"I tell them to get a drink and take a lap around the school. If they are still too tired, I send them home and tell them to try again tomorrow. I don't want them wasting their time in here," she said.
Students in the program can complete a variety of high school classes, including math, English, science, history, economics, government and some electives such as health classes.
Course work is done on the computer, but Barthol requires the students to take notes and complete their assignments on time. Some classes have video presentations from teachers, others are primarily reading, completing practice quizzes and taking tests.
Barthol said the program mimics what is being done in the regular classroom. She reviews the materials in the classes with other teachers to make sure what is being covered matches the curriculum used in a regular classroom.
"It's typically not easier or harder work, but they do need to learn how to organize their time and get the work done," Barthol said.
All quizzes, tests and other assesments are graded using the computer programs - called Education 2020 and Compass Learning.
Other work - essays, journals and homework - is corrected on the computer by Barthol.
Compass Learning is a new software program for CLHS this year. Barthol said students will now have the option of working on their coursework at home, but not all students will be offered the option.
"We will have to structure it to determine who can work at home and when," Barthol said.
Also new this year will be how the after school sessions are structured. Last year, Barthol assisted students in two separate sessions after school. Now, all students will come from 3 to 5 p.m. four days a week. Barthol said it will be a change to have up to 30 students in one session, but with clear rules such as assigned seats she helps the students stay on task.
She has enjoyed her first two years teaching the program, which was newly created when she was hired.
"It's been a good two years, but I had no idea what it would be like," Barthol said.
She has enjoyed building relationships with her students and watching them excel in the program.
"These are good kids, but some just don't have the skills to sit in class and pay attention, or stay organized with their time," Barthol said.
One student, Danielle, said she probably wouldn't be graduating this summer if not for the On Track program. She started in the first year of the program, and just completed her last class this summer to receive her diploma in the same year as the rest of the class of 2009.
"I like it - for me, it's way easier than the classroom," she said. "It feels good to be here and I'm excited to be finishing. If I wasn't in here, I'd probably be back in school for another year."
Danielle said the organizational and note-taking skills she's acquired through working in the program have transferred to the rest of her classes, helping her be more successful there.
Feedback has also been positive from parents, Barthol said.
"They like that it is an option for their kids - they're happy it's an alternative," she said.
She wishes there would be more parents seeing her during conference time, but Barthol receives phone calls from many parents regularly, and even has some parents stop by to observe their student or speak with Barthol.
Barthol said there is currently no waiting list for the program, but once it's filled, counselors know that students may need to wait before starting.
"By November, we'll probably have anywhere from two to 10 kids on the waiting list," Barthol said.
The program is funded through a grant that is reapplied for annually. It replaces the school's ALC program, which ended due to lack of funding and the presence of other ALC locations in neighboring school districts.
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