At​ ​Durango​ ​9-R,​ ​all​ ​students​ ​own​ ​their​ ​learning,​ ​act​ ​on​ ​their​ ​learning,​ ​and​ ​impact​ ​their​ ​community.​ ​​ ​We​ ​believe​ ​learners​ ​must​ ​be​ ​actively engaged​ ​and​ ​that​ ​we​ ​must​ ​personalize​ ​learning​ ​based​ ​on​ ​each​ ​student’s​ ​strengths​ ​and​ ​needs.​ ​​ ​We​ ​believe​ ​our​ ​role​ ​as​ ​a​ ​school​ ​district​ ​is​ ​to provide​ ​learning​ ​opportunities​ ​where​ ​students​ ​develop​ ​their​ ​critical​ ​thinking,​ ​collaboration,​ ​creativity,​ ​and​ ​communication​ ​skills.​ ​​ ​We​ ​believe that​ ​a​ ​personalized​ ​instructional​ ​approach​ ​aimed​ ​at​ ​graduation​ ​standards​ ​and​ ​a​ ​community​ ​of​ ​collaborative​ ​learning​ ​will​ ​equip​ ​each​ ​student for​ ​a​ ​successful​ ​life​ ​now​ ​and​ ​after​ ​his​ ​or​ ​her​ ​years​ ​in​ ​school.​ ​​ ​Durango​ ​9-R​ ​utilizes​ ​several​ ​core​ ​practices​ ​to​ ​provide​ ​this​ ​type​ ​of​ ​learning experience​ ​for​ ​every​ ​student. 

 

 

 

Learning Outcomes	Students Own Their Learning	​Students Act on Their Learning	Students Impact Their Community
Instructional Approach	Personalized;​ ​student-centered; competency-based​ ​content​ ​learning aligned​ ​to​ ​rigorous​ ​standards;​ ​data analysis​ ​and​ ​student​ ​tracking​ ​of progress;​ ​metacognitive	4​ ​Cs:​ ​​ ​Inquiry​ ​based,​ ​real​ ​life​ ​skill application​ ​through​ ​critical​ ​thinking, collaboration/cooperation,​ ​creativity, and​ ​communication	Community​ ​based;​ ​character development​ ​and​ ​growth​ ​mindset
Standards of Excellence for our Students	● Students​ ​have​ ​voice​ ​and choice​ ​in​ ​their​ ​learning. ● Students​ ​know​ ​their​ ​level​ ​of proficiency​ ​against performance​ ​indicators,​ ​set learning​ ​goals,​ ​and​ ​track​ ​their progress. ● Students​ ​ask​ ​questions​ ​and solve​ ​problems​ ​relevant​ ​to them. ● Students​ ​initiate​ ​strategies​ ​to address​ ​their​ ​strengths​ ​and next​ ​steps​ ​in​ ​the​ ​performance indicators. ● Students​ ​are​ ​metacognitive​ ​in their​ ​learning. ● Student​ ​learning​ ​is competency-based​ ​and focused​ ​on​ ​content-area graduation​ ​standards​ ​and performance​ ​indicators.	● Students​ ​engage​ ​in​ ​real​ ​life application​ ​of​ ​their​ ​learning. ● Students​ ​think​ ​critically​ ​about what​ ​they​ ​are​ ​learning. ● Students​ ​collaborate​ ​and cooperate​ ​with​ ​others,​ ​within and/or​ ​outside​ ​of​ ​the classroom​ ​to​ ​deepen​ ​their learning​ ​and​ ​engage​ ​in academic​ ​discourse. ● Students​ ​consistently​ ​apply, analyze,​ ​evaluate,​ ​and​ ​create as​ ​a​ ​means​ ​of​ ​engaging​ ​in active​ ​and​ ​meaningful learning. ● Students​ ​regularly communicate​ ​their​ ​thinking and​ ​learning​ ​with​ ​their​ ​peers.	● Students​ ​collaborate​ ​and cooperate​ ​with​ ​others,​ ​within and/or​ ​outside​ ​of​ ​the classroom​ ​to​ ​positively​ ​impact their​ ​community. ● Students​ ​are​ ​respectful, responsible,​ ​self-regulate, and​ ​make​ ​decisions​ ​in​ ​order to​ ​achieve​ ​ambitious​ ​goals. ● Students​ ​embrace​ ​a growth-mindset​ ​and persevere​ ​when​ ​faced​ ​with challenging​ ​situations. ● Students​ ​exhibit​ ​poise​ ​in presentation.

 

 

Students​ ​Own​ ​Their​ ​Learning
At​ ​Durango​ ​9-R,​ ​instead​ ​of​ ​asking​ ​students​ ​to​ ​fit​ ​the​ ​mold​ ​and​ ​needs​ ​of​ ​the​ ​organization,​ ​we​ ​personalize​ ​learning​ ​and​ ​adjust​ ​instruction​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​the needs​ ​of​ ​each​ ​student.​ ​The​ ​result​ ​is​ ​that​ ​students​ ​own​ ​their​ ​learning,​ ​lending​ ​their​ ​voice​ ​to​ ​their​ ​personal​ ​development​ ​of​ ​essential​ ​skills​ ​and knowledge​ ​in​ ​all​ ​content​ ​areas.​ ​​ ​When​ ​students​ ​own​ ​their​ ​learning,​ ​they​ ​become​ ​prepared​ ​for​ ​the​ ​rigor​ ​of​ ​college,​ ​career,​ ​and​ ​life​ ​in​ ​their​ ​community.

 

As​ ​a​ ​regular​ ​routine​ ​in​ ​their​ ​class,​ ​students​ ​use​ ​tools​ ​to​ ​set​ ​learning​ ​goals,​ ​reflect​ ​on​ ​their​ ​individual​ ​level​ ​of​ ​proficiency​ ​in​ ​the​ ​performance indicators,​ ​and​ ​track​ ​progress​ ​in​ ​their​ ​learning.​ ​​ ​The​ ​use​ ​of​ ​student​ ​centered​ ​progress​ ​monitoring​ ​tools​ ​allows​ ​students​ ​to​ ​proceed​ ​toward​ ​mastery​ ​of skills​ ​and​ ​concepts​ ​​across​ ​all​ ​content​ ​areas​ ​and​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Mindsets​ ​and​ ​Behaviors​ ​for​ ​Postsecondary​ ​and​ ​Career​ ​Readiness.

 

In​ ​addition​ ​to​ ​these​ ​tools,​ ​students​ ​are​ ​equipped​ ​with​ ​metacognitive​ ​learning​ ​practices​ ​that​ ​help​ ​them​ ​develop​ ​their​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​know​ ​what​ ​they​ ​know and​ ​reflect​ ​on​ ​how​ ​they​ ​learn​ ​best.​ ​​ ​These​ ​metacognitive​ ​skills​ ​allow​ ​students​ ​to​ ​demonstrate​ ​voice​ ​and​ ​choice​ ​in​ ​how​ ​they​ ​learn​ ​and​ ​provides​ ​them a​ ​set​ ​of​ ​tools​ ​to​ ​initiate​ ​their​ ​next​ ​steps​ ​in​ ​learning.

 

Students​ ​Act​ ​On​ ​Their​ ​Learning
Durango​ ​9-R​ ​is​ ​also​ ​an​ ​organization​ ​where​ ​students​ ​act​ ​on​ ​their​ ​learning.​ ​That​ ​means​ ​that​ ​students​ ​have​ ​learning​ ​experiences​ ​that​ ​help​ ​them develop​ ​critical​ ​thinking,​ ​creativity,​ ​communication,​ ​and​ ​collaboration.​ ​Instead​ ​of​ ​treating​ ​content​ ​knowledge​ ​as​ ​the​ ​ultimate​ ​goal,​ ​we​ ​recognize​ ​that in​ ​the​ ​real​ ​world,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​the​ ​student’s​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​build​ ​upon​ ​and​ ​apply​ ​these​ ​essential​ ​skills​ ​(critical​ ​thinking,​ ​creativity,​ ​communication,​ ​and​ ​collaboration) in​ ​all​ ​content​ ​areas​ ​that​ ​will​ ​lead​ ​to​ ​success.​ ​Students​ ​partner​ ​with​ ​their​ ​teachers​ ​to​ ​develop​ ​evidence​ ​of​ ​proficiency​ ​in​ ​the​ ​performance​ ​indicators, empowering​ ​students​ ​to​ ​act​ ​on​ ​their​ ​learning​ ​in​ ​ways​ ​that​ ​are​ ​relevant​ ​to​ ​their​ ​interests,​ ​passions,​ ​and​ ​strengths.​ ​​ ​All​ ​students​ ​will​ ​have​ ​the opportunity​ ​to​ ​become​ ​creators​ ​of​ ​their​ ​own​ ​learning​ ​and​ ​take​ ​an​ ​active​ ​role​ ​in​ ​what​ ​they​ ​learn​ ​and​ ​how​ ​they​ ​learn.​ ​​ ​All​ ​students​ ​must​ ​have​ ​the chance​ ​to​ ​lead​ ​from​ ​their​ ​passions,​ ​discover​ ​new​ ​opportunities,​ ​and​ ​reach​ ​new​ ​horizons​ ​in​ ​their​ ​thinking​ ​and​ ​learning.

 

Students​ ​Impact​ ​Their​ ​Community
Durango​ ​9-R​ ​is​ ​committed​ ​to​ ​developing​ ​behavior​ ​and​ ​mindset​ ​competencies​ ​in​ ​each​ ​student​ ​so​ ​he​ ​or​ ​she​ ​can​ ​make​ ​a​ ​positive​ ​impact​ ​on​ ​the community.​ ​This​ ​means​ ​that,​ ​in​ ​addition​ ​to​ ​a​ ​rigorous​ ​academic​ ​curriculum,​ ​Durango​ ​9-R​ ​also​ ​values​ ​a​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​community​ ​engagement​ ​and service.​ ​We​ ​recognize​ ​a​ ​connection​ ​between​ ​students​ ​owning​ ​their​ ​learning,​ ​acting​ ​on​ ​their​ ​learning,​ ​and​ ​impacting​ ​the​ ​world​ ​around​ ​them.​ ​​ ​We believe​ ​that​ ​developing​ ​a​ ​growth​ ​mindset​ ​and​ ​persevering​ ​through​ ​struggles​ ​develops​ ​a​ ​student’s​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​be​ ​a​ ​respectable​ ​and​ ​responsible community​ ​member.

 

An​ ​emphasis​ ​on​ ​students’​ ​self-advocacy​ ​and​ ​self-actualization​ ​is​ ​engrained​ ​in​ ​all​ ​we​ ​do​ ​in​ ​Durango​ ​9-R.​ ​​ ​We​ ​set​ ​high​ ​standards​ ​for​ ​student behavior,​ ​and​ ​offer​ ​student-engaged​ ​classroom​ ​communities,​ ​student​ ​choice​ ​and​ ​continuous​ ​support​ ​and​ ​feedback.​ ​We​ ​emphasize​ ​self-regulation and​ ​good​ ​decision​ ​making​ ​in​ ​the​ ​pursuit​ ​of​ ​ambitious​ ​goals,​ ​helping​ ​students​ ​understand​ ​that​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​greatest​ ​learning​ ​can​ ​come​ ​from​ ​reflection on​ ​perceived​ ​“failures.”​ ​Students​ ​are​ ​active​ ​participants​ ​in​ ​designing​ ​and​ ​directing​ ​their​ ​own​ ​communities​ ​of​ ​learning,​ ​initiating​ ​strategies​ ​that​ ​will build​ ​on​ ​their​ ​strengths​ ​and​ ​attend​ ​to​ ​their​ ​needs.​ ​​ ​They​ ​learn​ ​the​ ​confidence​ ​and​ ​poise​ ​necessary​ ​to​ ​present​ ​learning​ ​to​ ​peers​ ​and​ ​lead conferences​ ​where​ ​they​ ​discuss​ ​their​ ​learning​ ​with​ ​parents​ ​and​ ​teachers.