Tips for volunteer Citizen Teachers at Citizen Schools on how to plan WOW!s.

1. achieve
inspire
teach
dream Getting to WOW!
connect April 20, 2009

2. AGENDA
Welcome and Introductions
I.
Objectives
II.
WOW! Review
III.
Event Planning
IV.
Preparation
V.
Resources
VI.
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April 20, 2009

3. Getting to WOW!
OBJECTIVES
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4. GETTING TO WOW!
Today we will answer your questions:
 What exactly is a WOW!?
 What are the different forms of a WOW!?
 How do I prepare my kids for WOW!?
 So many details, so little time! How will I get it all
done?
 Where should I concentrate my efforts?
 Where can I find resources if I need help?
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5. What’s a WOW! again?
WOW! REVIEW
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6. WE ARE A NATION OF WOW!S
Since 1995 Citizen Schools has:
 Engaged over 20,000 apprentices in 7 states
 Who have learned from and with over 10,000
 Volunteer Citizen Teachers
 In over 5,000 apprenticeships.
All of these apprenticeships have culminated
with a WOW!
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7. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE
A WOW is a very special
The audience says:
moment of magic.
A shy bi-lingual 6th grader takes

center stage in a court room
during a mock trial
apprenticeship. “WOW! We
didn’t know
A dance troupe takes center stage

with elegance and precision as
middle school
they move as one to the rhythm of
students could
the music, 100% poetry in motion.
do this!”
A struggling math student

proudly demonstrates how
interest is calculated in a savings
account.
Future geoscientists start their

engines at the solar car races .
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April 20, 2009

8. SHARE YOUR WOW!
1. Experience WOW!s
online.
2. Decide which
projects should get
a Gold Star!
3. Show kids their
work can make an
impact outside their
classrooms.
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April 20, 2009

9. WOW! STAMP OF APPROVAL
Product Performance Presentation
WOW!
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10. WOW! STAMP OF APPROVAL
PRODUCT – PERFORMANCE - PRESENTATION
 Demonstrate
Mastery
 Community Value
 Professional Quality
 Authentic Audience
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11. AUTHENTIC AUDIENCE
Apprentices need the opportunity to share their
new skills with a group or specific client for who
these skills are particularly relevant and can
provide feedback.
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12. AUTHENTIC AUDIENCE
• In Courtroom with real
Mock Trial judge & attorneys serving
as jurors
• Helps to assemble bikes with
Bike Repair Elves & More who distribute over
40,000 bikes to children
Minute • Food & nutrition Lunch & Learn at their
HQ where apprentices critique & analyze
Maid F.A.N.
food choices selected by employees.
Club
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13. WOW! FORMATS
What if you are a part of a Example: 3D Sketch Up
larger WOW! Showcase? Design
 Student demonstrates on
 Students can still demonstrate
mastery computer projected on a
large screen how the 3D
 Students can still interact with
tech program works
the audience as opposed to
talking at the audience.
 Student takes a request
from the audience and
 Families and school
communities can be authentic completes a design.
audiences
 Student prints copy of the
design and gives to
audience member
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April 20, 2009

14. Getting students to WOW!
PREPARATION
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15. FOCUS ON STUDENT LEARNING
Things to consider to leverage student learning:
 What is it that our students have learned and mastered?
 How can we showcase this learning at the WOW!?
 Will all students showcase everything they’ve learned, or
will there be differentiated roles?
 Aside from watching, is there anything that our audience
can DO to participate in our WOW! (note: people learn
from learning)
 How can we position our students to teach what they’ve
learned to the audience?
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April 20, 2009

16. COMMON PITFALLS
 The WOW! doesn’t match what students actually
did in the apprenticeship (ex: song-writing
apprenticeship = publication NOT performance).
 Students don’t have enough time to practice.
 Little positive peer pressure from students to take
their WOW! seriously.
 Students spend majority of time in logistics vs.
design (ex: journalism WOW! spent
editing, visioning & directing)
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17. STUDENT LEARNING TIPS
 Focus on the skill your students have mastered.
 If your students haven’t mastered everything
you’d originally planned, REVISE your plan to
showcase what they did learn.
 Create mini-groups or a WOW! practice buddy a
couple of weeks before the WOW!
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April 20, 2009

18. SCAFFOLD & FADE “CRUTCHES”
How to prepare students to speak
in front of an audience (ideally
without notes)
1. Students write their own notes
with coaching, during class (so
the wording is natural for them).
2. Teacher types notes in large font,
double spaced, for students to
take home and memorize.
3. Teacher transfers notes to key
words on notecards
4. WOW! students speak without
notecards
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19. A community celebration
EVENT PLANNING
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20. EVENT PLANNING
What will be taken care of? What will you provide?
 Invitations  Vision
 Venue Reservations  Authentic audience
 Programs  Format
 Transportation  Personal guest list
 Food  Practice
 Decorations  Practice
 Media  Practice
 Visuals
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April 20, 2009

21. WOW!S ARE A TIME TO CELEBRATE!
 Share your success
 Invite colleagues &
friends
 Encourage others to
share
 Build a cohort of
Citizen educators
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April 20, 2009

22. 10 Days of WOW!
RESOURCES
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April 20, 2009

23. Citizen Teacher Nation 10 Days of WOW!
 CT Nation is our online April 20th – May 1st visit CT
community designed to Nation for…
make your experience  WOW! blog posts
easier.
 WOW! handouts
 Connect with staff & other  Daily tips
Citizen Teachers
 Training documents
 Cool WOW! of the Day
http://ctnation.citizenschools.net
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24. MORE RESOURCES
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Citizen-Schools/34951951528
http://twitter.com/cschools
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