key+Elements

What kind of community are we trying to create in our school and in the world? We are trying to create a save and family friendly community for our school and the world. We want everyone to feel save at anytime of the day no matter where they go. if the world and our school was like this there would be no violence in the world and no conflict between certain people or their groups, bettering the world.

Element One: * Concept definition – Students clearly define their concept. Key Element 1: Concept Definition Our group has decided to choose two keywords from the Mission & Vision statement from IAMS. Those keywords were __Multiculturalism__ & __Bilingual Education.__ The reason we chose Multiculturalism was because our school is based on many different heritages. It is important for us to know and let other people know about the diversity of cultures in our school. Our school would be plain old boring if we were all just from one culture, but luckily us and our ancestors are from other countries & cultures allowing us to have a unique connection between all of us at IAMS. The bilingual education at our school is very important and unique. by having a bilingual education, we are able to have a better point of view towards other people because not only will we have a higher expectation of ourselves, but we will be able to interpret out goals in two different languages which will be a really good advantage throughout our lives. Element Two: * Information/statistics – Students report current information and/or statistics about their concept using digital information resources such as online journals, newspapers, and databases 1). Some South American countries, like Peru and Ecuador, have large populations of Indians who speak various tribal tongues. There are government programs to teach the Indians Spanish, the national language in most of Latin America. 2) A significant demographic transformation is on the horizon for the United States of America. Bennett (1995) estimates that "by the year 2000, over 30 percent of our school age population will be children of color" (p.18). Additionally, research has indicated that ethnic minority students are disproportionately poor, dropping out of school, being suspended or expelled, and achieving far below their potential relative to the ethnic majority (Bennett, 1995). Consequently, teachers must prepare themselves and their children for the ever changing challenge of interacting and communicating with diverse races. Reduction of fear, ignorance, and personal detachment are possible benefits to a Multicultural education. The following excerpts are taken from Paul Gorski (1995), a University of Virginia Doctoral student during a case study interview:

Element Three: Connection to IAMS – Students identify and report about a practice or tradition of the IAMS program that addresses that concept of the school’s mission/vision A very unique & special activity that our school has is Fiesta Cultural. This event has been going on for a few years now and it's a really big hit. This event is a time where many poeple come to our school and enjoy of the food from other countries, their customs, their music and dances. This event is related to the mission and vision statement of IAMS because our goal is to be able to socialize and have cognitive experiences with one anothers cutoms.

Element Four: Interview(s) – Students interview other students and at least one member of the faculty on camera to provide further insight about their mission and vision concept and the IAMS practice or tradition reported in Element Three.

Element Five: Personal Experience – Students share how the IAMS practice or tradition described in Element Three have 1.) impacted them personally and 2.) advanced the realization of their mission and vision concept.| Evelyn's Experience: IAMS has impacted me in many ways. In this school, i learned to be able to socialize more with many more people from other cultures and be more interactive. In my old school, we would never learn about the curriculum f the Americas and in this school, you start learning from the native americans all the way to the Aztecs. the way the teachers have their lessons plan is put in a way where everybody can take part and not be left out. The academic experience ere is great because not only do we learn things, but we learn to interpret it in one language to the other.

Element Six: Personal Commitment - Students explain 1.) what they are doing and 2.) what others can do to advance the realization of their mission and vision concept Evelyn: Right now, what we are doing is that we are mostly reviewing over many things about the Americas, & the U.S constitution. There are also some students that are giving their personal experiences at IAMS. What most students are doing to improve the mission and vision of the school is by leaving behind a legacy projects that is being done in Mr. padron's and Mr. feeley's Class. This project makes students have a reflection about how our school is based on and created for and what every student should leave behind by the time they graduate.

Viviana: We are learning about the US and Illinois Constitution. What others are doing to advance the realization of our schools mission and vision is leaving behind a legacy project with our teachers so that they can forever be viewed for the students that will become 8th graders.

Element Seven: Connecting the dots – 1. ) Students establish a connection between their selected practice or tradition and that of another group. 2.) Students explain how one practice or tradition advances more than one mission and vision concept simultaneously.

Element Eight: Essential Questions – Students respond to the essential questions based on their research and personal opinions