At-risk students work it out in school

NEA Today, Sep 1999

Innovator: Marge Christensen

Job:

English teacher/coordinator, Catalina High Magnet School, Tuscon Arizona

Marge Christensen's four-year high school course for at-risk students with reading scores at the fifth grade or below focuses on getting students into their studies by getting them ready for the working world.

Each of her 20 students in "English for the 21 st Century Workplace" has a computer, and the room is set up in "departments."

Her classroom reflects an office setting, with carpeting, plants, art, a fax, and computers.

If you take students who have poor literacy skills, put them in this setting, and treat them as adults and use technology, it removes any stigma," says Christensen. "They don't feel put down, and they can succeed."

Many of Christensen's students are ESL. And many are from low socioeconomic brackets, dysfunctional homes, or are even homeless.

Students follow individual educational plans, and most stay in the program four years. Students are admitted to the program year round, and grade levels are mixed.

Each student has access to the Internet for research, career planning, and reading about current events. Christensen uses software that focuses on writing and rewriting and interactive software with interdisciplinary readings.

Evaluation is based upon attendance, attitude, motivation, and writing portfolios.

To prepare students further, Christensen enlists eager mentors from the work sites where her students have internships and part-time jobs.These sites range from the military and medical centers to high-tech companies. In the end. students who complete the program are recognized-by employers and by themselves-as top-notch job candidates.

"One year, we had two companies competing for our graduates." Christensen notes. "Students realize the work thev re doing is career-related and has value in the real world."

Impact:

Ninety-eight percent of students enrolled for three years graduate from high school. Students show an average two-year gain in reading comprehension for each year of participation.

One student who started reading at the third grade level is now at college level. Another. a Bosnian refugee who spoke no English three years ago. has been accepted to the University of Arizona Engineering School honors program.

For More:

Contact Christensen at Catalina High Magnet School. 3645 East Pima St.. Tucson, AZ 85716. 520/318-2948. E-mail: mchriste@aol.com. Visit the Web at www.edreadsources.com. Christensen has written Developing Literacy and Workplace Skills: Teaching for 21 st Century Employment, a three-year English curriculum and program course book (National Education Service. $159. 800/733-6786).