Charting new territory

RIDDLE -- It's easier for high school sophomore Erick Cheeseman of Riddle to understand what he reads when he draws pictures of the characters and scenes. He comprehends math better when he's required to find the height of a tree or its circumference.

Cheeseman, 15, is a visual and hands-on learner. In traditional public schools, he struggled in his classes. It got to the point where he disliked school and would make any excuse not to attend.

But this year, he enrolled in Riddle Education Center, a new charter school, and he now enjoys learning. His grades have also improved.

"It might be different for some people," he said. "But it's perfect for me."

Every school week, the students at Riddle Education Center work in the forest or the garden, participate in outdoor recreation or create art. All their school activities tie to math, science, reading, history or writing.

The center's mission is to integrate a variety of subjects around activities to show students that what they learn relates to their daily lives.

"It's a more global and holistic approach to learning," said Al Springer, the center's director.

Riddle School District opened the center, which educates 11 seventh- and eighth- graders and 17 freshmen through seniors, this school year. The school is separate from the district's middle and high school and replaced the district's alternative education program.

The school also offers an evening class for high school students and community members to earn credit toward their high school diploma or GED. That program has 29 students, five of whom are adults.

Students like Cheeseman have several reasons for attending Riddle Education Center. Some desire more individual attention or are independent learners. Others benefit from the hands-on curriculum or seek more challenging course work, Springer said. The center is for students who are college-bound or heading into the work force.

"We customize as much as we can to different learning styles," he said.



<b>INTEGRATION APPROACH</b>

On a recent school day, leaves covered the ground outside the school building, and a group of high school students raked them into a large pile. When they were done, Springer, who also teaches at the center, explained how the leaves would be used for compost.

"A garden doesn't go anywhere without good soil," Springer said.

This spring, those same students will begin planting a garden outside, but for now they're learning the basics and making preparations. The project will teach them about horticulture and botany.

The high school students attend school for 4 1/2 hours each afternoon, while seventh- and eighth-graders spend the same amount of time in class each morning. Because there are no breaks or transitions during the 4 1/2 hours, the amount of actual instruction time is similar to a normal seven-period school day, Springer said. Being a charter school allows them to have that flexibility.

In addition to the garden, the high school students take excursions to Alder Creek Children's Forest, where they learn math and natural resource science.

Sophomore Curtis Fields finds he learns more from working in the forest than sitting inside a classroom reading a science or math book.

"We get to go out and do stuff ... I can see how it is really used in the real world," the 15-year-old said.

The high school students also create art related to social science and literature. Recently, the students learned calligraphy and discovered how that relates to the languages of ancient cultures. The students also participate in outdoor recreation, like Frisbee or disc golf, for fitness and wellness class.

"Any time we can find a way to integrate any type of subject we will," Springer said.

The center is working on a more integrated approach for the seventh- and eighth-graders. Right now, they are taking family and consumer studies and construction classes while also studying astronomy, math, reading and wellness. Three Riddle High School teachers work with the middle-schoolers.

Springer admits it takes a while for students to get used to the center’s style of educating.

“But for the most part the students are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and saying, ‘Oh, hey, this is a different way to learn, but not too different,’” Springer said.



<b>STUDENTS LEARN ON COMPUTERS</b>

In addition to the integrated, hands-on learning approach, the center requires the middle school and high school students to complete lessons and take tests on the computer.

Throughout the day, students take turns sitting quietly at one of four computers to study a variety of subjects or to be tested on them. They use the A+dvanced Learning Systems or A+ program created by The American Education Corp., with more than 50 course offerings.

The program’s tests are comparable to statewide assessment tests, and students are required to take the exams twice a year, Springer said. Students also use the computer program to earn the credits required for college admittance.

If students don’t pass a certain section of the test, the program gives them lessons to work on. Students are required to score an 80 percent or better on their practice test and a 90 percent or better on the final test before moving on to the next lesson. Students are not permitted to participate in the gardening or forestry projects if they are not

completing their assignments.

CHARTER glance <b>What is a charter school?</b> • Charter schools are independent of public schools and tailored to meet students’ specific needs. In a charter school, only half the teachers must be Oregon certified. Charter schools are free and open to students beyond the school district boundaries. <b>Who operates a charter school?</b> • The charter school operates on a contract with the school district. The Oregon Department of Education does not have to approve a charter, but school districts must inform the department of their intent to open a charter school. <b>Quick facts about Oregon charter schools:</b> • Douglas County has two of the state’s 56 charter schools that began forming since the state Legislature established charter schools in 1999. • Multnomah County has the most charter schools with nine and Lane County is second highest with seven. • There are 1,178 traditional public schools in the state. <i>Information: Oregon Department of Education. </i>

Springer said the tests allow the center to gauge how well they are teaching students. If several students struggle in a certain area of the test, the center’s staff members know they need to integrate that subject matter into the curriculum more.

At a traditional public school, Fields couldn’t work at his own pace on his lessons. The bell would ring and force him to attend another class. Fields said he would often be struggling with a concept and couldn’t spend that extra time to figure it out. Instead, he would have to switch gears and start a new subject.

Now, he can spend the entire 4 1/2 hours of his school day on a lesson.

“We can work on it until we’re done with it,” Fields said.

He said the computer program also explains the curriculum well.

“It’s a lot easier,” Fields said.



<b>DISCOVER CAREERS</b>

Before freshman Chris McIntire attends his afternoon classes at Riddle Education Center, he volunteers at Spiritual Grounds, a local cafe, in the mornings.

McIntire, 14, works the cash register and stocks the shelves. He will receive credit from the charter school for his work.

“It gives me something to do, and it helps out the community,” McIntire said.

The center hopes to find all of its students job-shadow opportunities or internships in the community to stress the importance of a career, Springer said.

McIntire said the skills he’s learning now will help him get a job later on to earn money for college.

Senior Tony Dietrich, 18, would like to do a job shadow or work study

at one of the area mechanic shops. He wants to study to become an automotive import technician at a vocational school.

In a small school there may not be enough students interested in mechanics to offer an entire class, but “why should that be a determent to the three or five who want to take it?” Springer said.

They can go to a local mechanic’s shop and learn from a professional in the field, he said.

“By picking up some of these basic skills, they become more well-rounded, and when it is time to get out there and get a job, they have a multitude of these skills that they’ve practiced,” Springer said.



<b>LOOKING AHEAD</b>

The Riddle Education Center staff will continue to grow and change how it teaches students, Springer said. It will take time for the center to develop its current programs. Also, as opportunities arise, the center will be able to offer different classes for students.

“If we are going to work and be successful, we are always going to have to look at how to make improvements to what we’re doing,” Springer said.

Part of the reason students attend school for only 4 1/2 hours a day is because of space constraints. Once the school has proven to the community it’s doing well, staff can look into funding for a bigger facility and extend school days. Even though 4 1/2 hours is adequate, Springer said he would like to spend more time with students individually.

“It’s a work in progress,” Springer said.

McIntire’s mother, Wendy McIntire, said she’s pleased with her son’s progress at the center. In the traditional public school, he was having trouble with his grades and behavior. Now, he’s working hard at Spiritual Grounds and his scores have improved.

Wendy McIntire attributes part of that to the individual attention and support he receives at the charter school.

“I’m very proud of him,” she said.



• You can reach reporter Danielle Gillespie at 957-4202 or by e-mail at dgillespie@newsreview.info.