Promise
Project and Activities
Projects and Activities
This page contains a listing of WMU projects and activities that pertain to the Kalamazoo Promise. It is updated each semester of the regular academic year.
WMU PROJECTS PERTAINING TO THE KALAMAZOO PROMISE – May, 2008
Please note that this inventory is a “work in progress” and does not represent the total number of WMU projects pertaining to the Promise.
After School Enrichment
Description
Since 2004, the Engineering Design Center for Service-Learning, funded with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS), has been conducting after-school enrichment activities in engineering and technology at Boys and Girls Club for KPS students, and conduct professional development for in-service KPS teachers.
Duration
Ongoing
Director/Contact
Dr. Andrew Kline, Paper Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Imaging
Director/Contact
Ineke Way, School of Social Work
Other Info
This project is being implemented in conjunction with Kalamazoo Communities in Schools.
The Common Ground Project
Description
A partnership with WMU’s journalism program and the newspaper staff at Loy Norrix High School in which faculty member Sue Ellen Christian and select School of Communication students assist the student staff at the high school in formulating, reporting, writing and publishing an annual edition dedicated to an issue of diversity in the community.
Sites
Kalamazoo community at large
End Date
Ongoing
Director/Contact
Sue Ellen Christian, School of Communication
Other Info
Loy Norrix High School Knight Life Adviser: Tisha Pankop
Dance Performances
Description
Lecture-demonstrations by Western Michigan University’s dance touring ensemble, Western Dance Project
Sites
Kalamazoo Central High School
End Date
ongoing
Director/Contact
David Curwen, Director of the Western Dance Project
Other Info
Department of Dance: 269-387-5830
Documentation of the Curriculum Improvement Process
Description
The Kalamazoo Public Schools is in the process of a five phase curriculum improvement process analyzing their current curricula, considering options for supporting teachers, piloting new curricula, and analyzing student assessment data. As part of the Center for the Study of Mathematics Curriculum, WMU mathematics faculty are documenting this process to identify what informs the District’s decision-making about curriculum improvement.
Sites
Various KPS schools
Termination date
2009
Director/Contact
Dr. Steven Ziebarth, Department of Mathematics
Expanding Your Horizons Program
Description
Several hand on workshops in electrical, civil, mechanical, chemical engineering
Sites
WMU Engineering campus
Duration
Monthly during fall semester
Director/Contact
Ikhlas Abdel-Qader, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Other Info
Transportation is provided for Millwood middle school student
Expanding Your Horizons Program – Summer Camp
Description
Several seminars and engineering competition in both civil and electrical engineering
Sites
WMU engineering campus
Duration
One-week long commuter camp in June
Director/Contact
Ikhlas Abdel-Qader, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Other Info
Transportation is provided for Millwood middle school students
Evaluation of the Kalamazoo Promise
Description
This evaluation will look at systemic change in the Kalamazoo Public School district as a result of the Kalamazoo Promise. Broadly speaking, the award will allow us to do a thorough evaluation of the Kalamazoo Promise to determine its impact on schools and identify strategies that could improve this kind of scholarship program.
Sites
All Kalamazoo schools
End Date
Feb 2007 to Jan 2009 (these dates may changed depending on when the grant arrives)
Director/Contact
Gary Miron, Evaluation Center
Other Info
The evaluation will be conducted by three separate groups. The Evaluation Center, the Midwest Educational Reform Consortium (MERC), and the W.E Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
GEAR-UP/College Day (GUCD) College Visitations
Description
Students from an entire 7th grade class come up to Western Michigan University to participate in a college visitations. Presenters from the Office of Admissions and from Financial Aid provide the students will valuable information about college. Students also participate in a college tour, eat lunch in a cafeteria on campus, and have the opportunity to ask a college student panel questions about their college experiences. Parents are also invited to attend the college visitation.
Sites
There are currently 7 schools that GUCD has been assigned to provide services such as the college visitation and the Saturday programs. Our target schools are: Fair Plain Renaissance Middle School, Hull Middle School, Eau Claire Middle/High School, Harrison Middle School, Hartford Middle School, Hillside Middle School, Kelloggsville Middle School.
Duration
Ongoing
Director/Contact
Erika Carr, Division of Multicultural Affair
GEAR-UP/College Day Saturday Programs
Description
Three Small Group Programs meet approximately every other Saturday throughout the academic year (October thru April). There are 25 students accepted into each program. The three focus areas are: Aviation, Engineering, & Health & Human Services. Students have the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities in a specialized field in order to expose them to that career field and higher education.
Sites
There are currently 7 schools that GUCD has been assigned to provide services such as the college visitation and the Saturday programs. Our target schools are: Fair Plain Renaissance Middle School, Hull Middle School, Eau Claire Middle/High School, Harrison Middle School, Hartford Middle School, Hillside Middle School, Kelloggsville Middle School.
Duration
Ongoing
Director/Contact
Erika Carr, Division of Multicultural Affairs
Other Info
There are currently 7 schools that GUCD has been assigned to provide services such as the college visitation and the Saturday programs. Our target schools are: Fair Plain Renaissance Middle School, Hull Middle School, Eau Claire Middle/High School, Harrison Middle School, Hartford Middle School, Hillside Middle School, Kelloggsville Middle School.
GEARUP Learning Centers
Description
The mission of the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate
Programs is to significantly increase the number of low income students who
are prepared to enter and succeed in post-secondary education.
Sites
Maple Magnet, Millwood Magnet, Loy Norrix
Termination date 2009
Director/Contact
Dr. Joseph Kretovics, Educational Leadership,
College of Education, Ph. 269
Other Info
http://www.wmich.edu/gearup/index.htm
Kids Communicating
Description
The Kids Communicating Program is devoted to facilitating the integration of communication curriculum into K-3 education. The Kids Communicating website provides fun activities such as a coloring book, podcasts, and games for K-3 students. There is also an instructors’ forum with teaching ideas and lesson plans. The Kids Communicating curriculum is based on the K-3 learning concepts and benchmarks set forth by the National Communication Association. Everything on the website is provided for free as a service to the educational community.
End Date
Ongoing
Director/Contact
Chad Edwards or Autumn Edwards, School of Communication
Other Info
Literacy for English Language Learners
Description
Pre-service teachers from Karen Vocke's ENGL 3770 course, Language and Literacy in Multilingual Classrooms, are mentoring and tutoring English Language Learners (ELLS) in Nancy Klee's fourth grade class at Woods Lake Elementary in KPS.
Sites
Woods Lake Elementary--Magnet School for the Arts
End Date
On-going
Director/Contact
Dr. Karen Vocke, WMU, and Ms. Nancy Klee, Woods Lake
Other Info
Vocke and Klee have collaborated for five years on various university-school projects.
Music Master Classes
Description
School of music faculty provide master classes for KPS music
Faculty.
Sites
Various schools
Termination date
Ongoing
Director/Contact
Dr. Richard O’Hearn, School of Music
On-campus festivals and seminars
Description
The Southwest Michigan Vocal Festival and Spring Conference on Wind and Percussion are held each fall and spring. High school ensembles from Loy Norrix High and Kalamazoo Central High are participants. Individual students perform as Part of the honors choir and band.
Sites
Various schools
Termination date
Ongoing
Director/Contact
Dr. Carl Doubleday, School of Music
Summer Music Camp
Description
This is a two-week residential camp for high school music students – band, choir, and orchestra. Students are selected by audition.
Sites
Loy Norrix High, Central High
Termination date
Ongoing
Director/Contact
Dr. Carl Doubleday, School of Music
Supporting Elementary School Mathematics Teaching and Learning
Description
The staff at Spring Valley and Woodward have been using a mathematics curriculum that has high expectations for student reasoning. As part of the Center for the Study of Mathematics Curriculum, we have been supporting teachers in their implementation efforts by offering professional development pertaining to developing student reasoning. We have also been studying the implementation process by observing classroom instruction and by monitoring student progress through the analysis of embedded assessments from the curriculum.
Sites
Spring Valley Elementary, Woodward Elementary
Termination date
2009
Director/Contact
Dr.Kate Kline, Department of Mathematics
Other Info
http://atmizzou.missouri.edu/oct03/Math.htm
Teaching with Web 2.0
Description
WMU students enrolled in CIS 1020 Introduction to Business Computing teach Kalamazoo Central high school students one Microsoft Office skill through on-line collaborative technology tools.
Sites
On-line (brief presentation at Kalamazoo Central High School, Loy Norrix High)
End Date
On-going
Director/Contact
Thomas Rienzo, Business Information Systems
Other Info
In 2006, Muhammad Yunus won the Nobel Prize for micro-loans. We are using the micro loan model to create micro-education. Will learning one skill provide motivation and confidence to learn more?
Theatre Production School Project
Description
Local high school students will be offered the opportunity to see a production at WMU. Performances will be followed by workshops at WMU or at the home schools. Additionally, special performances will be offered to local schools.
Sites
WMU and local schools
Duration
On-going
Director/Contact
Joan Herrington, Dept of Theatre
WMU Bronson School of Nursing promoting health & wellness in the Kalamazoo Public Elementary Schools
Description
Student nurses fulfill some of their pediatric clinical requirements in the community setting-elementary schools.
Sites
Edison Environmental Science Academy, Arcadia elementary, and Spring Valley Elementary
End Date
On-going
Director/Contact
Wendy Kershner , School of Nursing
Other Info
We are also at Lake Center elementary in Portage and Galesburg-Augusta elementary school.
WMU Writing Day
Description
Even participants included 200 High School students and teachers, comprising of six creative writing classes from local schools (Loy Norrix, Kalamazoo Central, Gobles, Portage Central, Portage Community, and Portage Northern.
Students were placed in small groups (8-10 each) under the supervision of WMU English education students. Each group conducted a ‘writing marathon’ around campus that culminated in a convocation/lunch at Bernhard Center. Each group elected 1-2 writers from their group to read polished draft of the writing they did during the marathon. WMU students also conducted ‘pre-visits’ in each school prior to Writing Day.
At lunch, all participants received a bag of WMU materials, with door prizes that included T-shirts, water bottles, journals, pens/pencils, and other small prizes.
Sites
Sangren Hall, Bernhard Center, writing conducted throughout the entire campus.
End Date
Friday, April 20, 2007 (8:30-2:00). We plan on making in an annual event.
Director/Contact
Jonathan Bush
English
jbush@wmich.edu / 7-2607
Writers in the Schools
Description
A collaborative initiative between the WMU Department of English and Kalamazoo Public Schools in which English graduate students serve as writers in residence, mentoring elementary school writers. Genres have included performance poetry, children’s literature, creative nonfiction and short story.
Sites
Washington Writers’ Academy and Woods Lake Magnet School for the Performing Arts
Termination date
Ongoing
Director/Contact
Dr. Karen Vocke, Department of English
WMU and Local School Partnerships/Projects
Center for the Study of Mathematics Curriculum
Description
Support and advance K-12 math curriculum design, analysis, implementation, and evaluation
Sites
Multiple
End Date
2003-08
Contact person
Christian Hirsch
(269) 387-4526
Other
600 teachers
10500 students
Diversions
Description
Weekly book discussions of relevant young adult literature with incarcerated teens. Books are purchased through the Kalamazoo Juvenile Justice Home Foundation in conjunction with Bronson Hospital
Sites
Kalamazoo Juvenile Justice Home
End Date
On-going
Contact person
Allison Baer, WMU
Tamica Frison, Assistant Superintendent of KJJH
Other
Groups meet every week for approximately one hour The project has been going on for three years and has no specific end date.
Dorothy J. McGinnis Reading Center/Clinic
Description
Provides literacy services to a diverse student population and practicum experiences to future teachers. Works with public schools on middle school literacy.
Sites
Reading Clinic on campus
End Date
ongoing
Contact person
Karen Thomas
(269) 387-3470
Other
200 students
Instructional Methods in Science (NSF)
Description
An experimental efficacy study of science achievement and attitude development amongst 8th grade urban students using an inquiry, integrated science-mathematics-engineering model of instruction. Outcomes of inquiry methods of science instruction will be compared to those for direct instruction in a summer school environment—in KPS and Chicago Public Schools. PD with middle school science teachers related to curriculum development and lesson study will begin in 2004-05.
Sites
On-going
Contact person
Bill Cobern
(269) 387-2971
Other
15 eighth grade science teachers
1500 eighth grade students
Kalamazoo Arts Integration Initiative (KAII)
Description
Gilmore funded the Kalamazoo Arts Integration Initiative (KAII), intended to bring artists into the public schools, integrate arts into KPS curriculum, provide professional development opportunities for KPS teachers through direct contact with artists, and opportunities for WMU and K College students to participate in public school educational settings.
Sites
KPS
Contact person
Diana Hart Johnson
Diane Eberts
Allison Downey
Other
14 schools with a total of 7000 students participating
Leadership Council for Kalamazoo County’s Education for Employment
Description
Career and Technology Education programs across the county
Sites
Both Kalamazoo High Schools
End Date
Ongoing
Contact person
Deb Miller, executive director, (269) 385-1520.
On-campus: Richard Zinser
Other
Note: WMU faculty participate on council
Media Influences Women in MST careers
Description
Assessing Media Influences: Effects of Media Literacy on Middle School-Aged Students’ Perceptions of Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology. This study, proposed for all three KPS middle schools will examine the perceptions of students regarding females in math, science, and technology. The research will involve an intervention to make students aware of media influences and an evaluation of the impact of the training.
Sites
On-going
Contact person
Jocelyn Steinke
(269) 387-3913
Other
1500 middle school female students
Ready to Read
Description
Working with pediatricians and staff for giving out books at well-baby visits. It is a collaborative among
Bronson, Borgess, Kalamazoo Public Library, Kalamazoo Gazette, Pediatric Clinics
Sites
Pediatric offices, clinics, and shelters
End Date
Ongoing
Contact person
Karen Thomas, WMU
Marge Kars, Bronson Hospital
Mary Doud and Andrea Enyedi, Kalamazoo Public Library
Southwest Michigan Educational Leadership Consortium
Description
A partnership between K/RESA and WMU that focuses on aspiring and practicing principals' instructional leadership, community leadership, and systems management. This consortium serves 82 high-need schools in nine districts and 3 charter schools.
Sites
K/RESA
End Date
On-going
Contact person
Van Cooley
(269) 387-3465
Other
15 building principals mentoring aspiring administrators
SUPT (School/University Partnership)
Description
Designed to provide education students with positive, productive field experiences. Expedites communication between WMU and placement sites and provides ongoing professional development for teachers at those sites.
Sites
KPS and other elementary, middle and secondary schools
End Date
ongoing
Contact person
Kathy Mitchell (269) 387-3469 , Lynn Nations-Johnson KPS
Other
More than 800 Pre-interns and Interns placed in 21 schools each semester
800 teachers and 10,000 students
Third Coast Writing Project
Description
Organization of, by, for teachers of writing at all grade levels and disciplines dedicated to improving the teaching and uses of writing.
Sites
Varies
End Date
ongoing
Contact person
Ellen Brinkley
(269) 387-2581
Other
approximately 300 students and 10 teachers from multiple schools
Washington Writers Academy Counseling Practicum
Description
Provides mental health services to elementary school children and their families or guardians. Services are provided by supervised graduate students in counselor education and counseling psychology. Designed to provide CECP 6120 counseling practicum students with practical training experience in a school setting
Sites
KPS: Washington Writers Academy
End Date
Ongoing
Contact person
Joseph Morris (269) 387-5112
CECP Department
Other
351 students in PK-5 classrooms
55 staff members (teachers, behavior staff, and principal)