The Self Select Program
The self select program is designed to
motivate both students and staff to set and achieve higher standards
of teaching and learning. The underlying educational philosophy is
one that promotes student ownership of and hence engagement in, their learning.
Engaged students are far more likely to be successful students.
The self select program recognises and caters for the needs of all students who
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desire to make a commitment to, and assume responsibility for,
their own learning.
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aspire to achieving their personal best.
In parallel with the self select program, a large team of staff
at Southern Cross School K-12 have given a commitment to the
Quality Teaching Program.
This is providing them with a powerful means of providing
a more challenging and innovative curriculum and supporting
the school's commitment to encouraging each student to aim for
their personal best.
These two programs, together with others the school has developed
to support successful learning, have already established a culture
among our students that learning is highly valued at
Southern Cross School K-12.
Entry to the Self Select Program:
Nomination:
Students must nominate themselves for a
self select class.
Success is based on a personal commitment to the program.
Selection Criteria:
Entry criteria focus on:
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Demonstrated enthusiasm for/commitment to learning.
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Ability to work independently.
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Ability to learn cooperatively.
Criteria which may, in the staff's judgement, make an application unsuccessful are:
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Basic literacy and numeracy skills not sufficiently
developed to cope with the program.
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A record of behaviours which would impede the progress of the class.
The selection process is overseen by the Deputy Principal Curriculum
and focuses on the professional input of the most relevant
staff in any given situation.
In most cases whole classes of self select students
will be formed and, depending on numbers, some students
offered a position on a waiting list.
In other cases (eg. 7-10 Music, Art and Photography)
a class may be made up of both self select and non-self
select students. In the latter case more challenging or
additional work may be given to self select students
that will allow them to expand their
interests and develop their skills in that subject area.
Self select classes are usually offered in:
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Years 5/6
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8-10 English
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8-10 Science
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8-10 HSIE
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8-10 Visual Arts and Photography
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8 Music
Self Select Selection Criteria
The most important criteria
are enthusiasm/motivation for learning, ability to work
independently and ability to work cooperatively with others.
Literacy, numeracy and behaviour need to be at a level that
they do not impede the student's progress or that of others in the room.
Basic Literacy/Basic Numeracy:
This relates to a student's current performance in their
class/age/group/cohort.
Keep in mind that the self select student does not have to be
academically able - this is a guide as to whether the student's
basic skills are sufficient to enable them to access the learning
in the class without falling behind and losing self confidence.
K-6 will find literacy and numeracy to be the best guides,
7-12 may use one or both (or neither in some subjects).
Ability to Work Independently:
This relates to a student's willingness to take responsibility for his/her own learning; their ability to work without constant teacher supervision and stay on task. It may include being able to work at different paces, within varying timeframes, in a variety of settings, across a variety of types of activity and meet curriculum deadlines.
Demonstrated Motivation/Enthusiasm for Learning:
This relates to the frequency with which a student demonstrates curiosity in what is being learnt and in peripheral, related issues. It also relates to his/her desire and commitment to follow up this curiosity with research. Another factor to consider would be how often learning tasks are completed.
Ability to Work Cooperatively with Others:
This is not a rating of how cooperative a student is socially. This relates to a student's ability to consider other learners and the role they play in the learning process. It may include ability to listen to other's viewpoints, ability to work with other students in group situations, ability to take on different roles in group learning situations, ability to ignore inappropriate responses/behaviour, ability to be both competitive and cooperative in the learning process.
Behaviour:
This relates to a student's attitude as much as his/her record of actual misbehaviour in the classroom. It may include evidence of a poor attitude to classroom activities (eg laziness, incomplete work, inclination to talk without having completed the task at hand, disrupting others' learning etc), evidence of a poor attitude towards other students, overt disruptive behaviour.
2-40 Chickiba Drive
East Ballina
N.S.W. Australia, 2478
Phone: 02 6686 0503
Fax: 02 6686 0508
Southern Cross School K - 12 "Towards Tomorrow"
