Key+Elements


 * Element One: **** * Concept definition ** – Students clearly //define// their **concept**.


 * //Academic excellence - Doing great in education, therefore getting good grades. Passing tests, comprehending the topic, etc.//**


 * //Collaboration- Work jointly on an activity or project //**

//__ Mission: **Academic Excellence** __//

For kids to have academic excellence therefore getting good grades like passing tests, comprehending the topics learned, etc.

__ Vision: __**//__Collaboration __//**

For kids to collaborate with //other students// on projects and other work that involves school. Also to communicate positively while working together.

> These programs traditionally served to keep kids occupied until their parents got out of work, but new research says it provides a boost for many kids. According to a new study of 35 afterschool programs serving low-income elementary and middle school students, children that regularly attended a program were academically far ahead of their peers. Not only did test scores increase, but their work habits, social skills, and behavior also improved with increased afterschool activities. “These findings underscore the importance of high quality afterschool programs and activities for both elementary and middle school youth,” says Deborah Lowe Vandell, PhD., Chair of the Department of Education at University of California at Irvine and the study's lead author. “In contrast, unsupervised time spent either hanging out with peers or even at home alone watching television is problematic for young people.” >
 * Element Two: ** * **Information/statistics** – Students //report// current information and/or statistics about their **concept** using digital information resources such as online journals, newspapers, and databases.
 * Academic standards are the benchmarks of quality and excellence in education such as the riguor of curricula and the difficulty of examinations.
 * Element Three: **** Connection to IAMS ** – Students //identify and report// about a **practice or tradition** of the IAMS program that addresses that **concept** of the school’s mission/vision.

• Advanced Math Classes (Algebra)- This identifies our concept because Advanced Math Classes (Algebra) have to do with academic standards. Those who take high leveled classes and actually think and know that their education is the most important, are most likely to succeed. This class or maybe other advanced classes also either impact

• After School Academic Programs: The after school academic programs also identifies our concept. It either impacts other students’ education or not. There are different after school programs like the algebra group, Spanish classes, and basically programs that will most likely help the students succeed in the classes they mostly need help in.


 * Element Four: **** Interview(s) ** – Students //interview// __other students__ and __at least one member of the faculty__ on camera to provide further insight about their mission and vision **concept** and the IAMS **practice or tradition** reported in Element Three.
 * Why is it important for IAMS to have after school academic programs?
 * How have the advanced classes impacted you in your education?
 * Do you think that academic after school programs impact other students’ education?
 * How do you think it affects or impacts //their// education?
 * How long have you been in this school?
 * How is the education of IAMS different than another schools’? (if you have been in another school other than IAMS)


 * Element Five: ** **Personal Experience** – Students //share// how the IAMS **practice or tradition** described in Element Three has impacted them personally.

Joshua- Coming to IAMS impacted me in various ways like learning Spanish and it’s made it my second language. Learning Spanish in IAMS impacted my education, I know more now than what I used to, so it has helped me succeed in homework, tests, projects, etc.

Lexxy- Learning in IAMS has impacted me a lot. This school has taught me many things and has made me realize that I can do more than what I have already done. The Math Class class has helped me by making me smarter and making me more intelligent than before. The intelligence I have now has made me understand that little by little, the more I learn, the smarter I will get and I will most likely succeed.


 * Element Six: ** **Personal Commitment** - Students //explain// what they are doing to advance the realization of their mission and vision **concept**.

What we are doing to advance the realization of our mission and vision concept is that they have the chance to be in programs or/and activities, so that students will collaborate more, such as reading buddies, field day, Dia del Niño and after school academic programs.

Students respond to the essential question based on their research and personal opinions.
 * Element Seven: **** Connecting the dots ** – 1. ) Students //establish a connection// between their selected **practice or tradition** and a different **practice or tradition**. 2.) Students //explain// how one of these **practices or traditions** advances more than one mission and vision **concept** at the same time.
 * Element Eight: **** Essential Questions ** – //What kind of community are we trying to create in our school and in the world?//
 * The kind of community we are trying to create in our school and in the world is a positive thinking world. We want our community and the world to think about their academics and how important it is to succeed and have a positive and healthy future. Our community now a days don’t really care about their education, like what high school those people might get into. This is why we are stating that our concept, Academic Excellence and Collaboration, is important and cannot be ignored. The after school programs and Advanced math classes like algebra have made others think twice and that education is the //most important// thing we’d have to focus on. **