Initiating a Freshman Academy

[Debbie B. Fowler]

This has been the most awesome year of my sixteen years of teaching! We have just begun a Freshman Academy at our high school, and the difference the team approach is making in these students' lives is just heartwarming! I am so glad I attended Mr. Habeeb's conference in Nashville, Tennessee. For the sake of our students, I am so happy we are giving them the freshman opportunity!

[Scott Habeeb]

Is this year going well, too?

[Scott Habeeb]

Wow - that's great to hear! It's nice to hear when ideas are implemented well and then work.

You hit on a key point that we hope all members of the Freshman Transition Network will pick up on. You said "the team approach is making [a difference] in these students' lives." When a team approach is used correctly it is powerful.

Sometimes schools decide not to team because it seems difficult to work into a master schedule. I would encourage schools to make a list of top priorities. If 9th grade is high on the list, then you might want to look and see how teaming can be done even if it means impacting some of the items that are lower on the priority list.

Debbie - if you end up coming up with a website for your academy, send me a link and I'll post it on the main page. Also, if you end up with any data worth sharing, let me know and we'll let others see it. Finally, feel free to share lots of blog posts about your Academy's experiences.