A+ Essentials™

The A+ Essentials™ are the overarching conceptual framework that guides an A+ School. They are intended for use as a reflective tool for the continuing implementation of A+ over many years. A+ schools also use the A+ Essentials™ to document specific goals and outcomes as part of School Improvement Plans, school accreditation renewal, professional development plans, and in identifying specific strategies to help meet No Child Left Behind benchmarks. The eight A+ Essentials™ include:

Arts

In A+ Schools, the arts are:

• inclusive of drama, dance, music, visual arts and creative writing
• integrated within non-arts content areas
• taught daily
• valued as essential to learning and personal experiences
• part of the whole school's identity

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Curriculum

In A+ Schools, curriculum is addressed through the use of:

• curriculum mapping by all teachers and specialists
• thematic webbing reflecting both horizontal and vertical alignment
• essential and focus questions
• teacher-created interdisciplinary thematic units
• cross-curricular and two-way integration

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Multiple Intelligences

In A+ Schools, MI theory:

• is used daily within planning and assessment
• is understood by administration, teachers, students and parents
• is studied and implemented, with a continued emphasis to explore new research
• creates balanced learning opportunities

• More on Multiple Intelligences

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Enriched Assessment

In A+ Schools, enriched assessment is:

• designed for learning
• inclusive of Arts and MI
• on-going and integrated
• experiential and collaborative
• a reflective practice
• used to help meet school system requirements
• used as a self-assessment tool by teachers and students

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Experiential Learning

In A+ Schools, experiential learning:

• is grounded in arts-based instruction
• is a creative process
• is guided by essential and focus questions
• acknowledges a range and variety of entry points
• includes differentiated instruction
• provides multi-faceted assessment opportunities

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Collaboration

In A+ Schools, collaboration:

• is intentional and valued
• is given priority by providing time for classroom and special area teachers to plan together
• occurs throughout the day
• includes teachers, students, families, & local community
• includes broad-based leadership

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Climate

In A+ Schools, climate improves because:

• teachers grow professionally
• morale improves
• stress is reduced
• teaching and learning through arts and MI is fun
• A+ whole school reform is exciting

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Infrastructure

In A+ Schools, infrastructure supports the philosophy by:

• addressing logistics of daily school routines
• providing appropriate space for the arts
• continually developing faculty commitment
• creating a shared vision
• providing relevant professional development
• supporting team building

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