Creating an invigorating learning environment begins with you– the single most critical force for change and improvement of student performance. Yet the stressors mount with new federal mandates, the tensions that accompany an influx of immigrants, dwindling resources and in many communities, unprecedented school violence. It seems increasingly challenging to focus on the most important question – what is best for kids?
MICROSOCIETYhas a three-pronged approach to help:
Innovative internal organizational structures that spread management responsibilities across all stakeholders in ways they enjoy
Creative learning environments in which the responsibility for learning shifts from teachers to students
Engaged community members to build capacity and sustain success.
All-Star Building Leaders Since 2004, we have recognized some of the best-of-the-best MICROSOCIETY principals with a George Award at our Annual National Conference. Learn more.
Parent Engagement Tips for home and school! Learn how to involve them in meaningful ways by checking here periodically. Do you have tips for others? Post your tips for home and school here.
Tip: Most schools today serve students who lack support from the home. Encourage your active parents to advocate for these children as well as their own. Children without advocates will affect everyone else. Choose a strategy that works for them.
Building Bridges Strengthen the connections between your site and the community to help sustain your MicroSociety program. Share your ideas and we’ll post them here.
Tip: Send a Press Release highlighting your good news to important community members. Include MICROSOCIETY Headquarters and we will spread the word on our web site.
Tip: After you have identified several potential community partners, explore what their needs might be and how working with you can address them.
School Leadership Development Go here if you are interested in personal one-on-one coaching or professional development and technical assistance for yourself, your directors, coordinators or staff.
Buy In! You want everyone excited about the MicroSociety program but you don’t want your staff feeling overwhelmed. Sound familiar? MICROSOCIETY has devised new ways to simplify our hands-on experience. For more information, contact one of our regional representatives. Micro Shop Register now to view our current materials!
Outreach, Fundraising and Grant Writing tip of the month! Got an exciting project idea? Get the funding to make it happen.
Tip: Sign up for Donors Choose, the hottest on-line funding opportunity for teachers. Go to the Donors Choose website.
Tip: “Start a Student PR company in your MicroSociety program. No one sells your successes better than them. Charge the PR company or the PR Student Representative with sharing your MicroSociety program Success Stories aka Micro Moments and your quantitative and qualitative data through surveys, focus groups, and interviews with the district, school board, parents, community members and even staff! And don’t forget MICROSOCIETY Headquarters, we’ll place it on our website for all to see. These stories make your narrative compelling to prospective donors too. Write about students who have never been successful in school and face uncertain futures, families who have never felt comfortable coming to the school to meet with teachers until Micro.
Share the strategies of administrators who struggle with shrinking budgets and insufficient classroom space or teaching staff, and teachers who are at the point of giving up on teaching.” (Source: Porter, Deborah PhD., Successful School Grants: Fulfilling the Promise of School Improvement. Pittsburgh: D & R Publishing, 2003) Share your great ideas here!
Expecting Visitors? Need Communication Materials? Be prepared! Spread the news of your MicroSociety program and visitors will come. Seeing is believing! We can help. Everyone who hears about “Micro” is eager to experience it up close and personal. So get ready for lots of visitors! Check out our materials.
If you are having a Micro Night, MICROSOCIETY’s version of an open house, only so much more exciting, expecting important visitors, holding an International Day, or some other exciting event go to The News Room and check out our Media Kit. Downloads galore! Would you like someone from MICROSOCIETY headquarters to be there to support you? Check out when and where we will be On The Road. Click here for our travel schedule. Or, if you’d like us to present an introduction to MicroSociety programs to any audience, contact our Communications Department directly at jsnow@microsociety.org.
Need a promotional press release that you can use or modify? Click here.
Weigh In: Inspire others with your success stories. Made a breakthrough with one of your students? We want to know! Got a grant or a new community partner? Was you school just covered in the local news? Let us know. We’ll spread the word! Tell us what you’re thinking. We encourage any and all ideas, comments, feedback that will help us to better serve you and our MICROSOCIETY community. Send a short email to tragoopath@microsociety.org for posting.