iExcel Program
What is iExcel?
iExcel is a program that provides ALL students with the opportunity to excel in school. All students in grades K-8 participate in this program three days a week (M, W, F) for 30 minutes each day.
Is this a new program?
Yes and no. The program has been in place since spring 2010 and has operated under the name Personal Learning Time (P.L.T.). Since its introduction into the curriculum, the teachers have worked together regularly to analyze its effectiveness and modify the program as needed. The current iExcel program, launched in February 2011, is a new and improved version of P.L.T., better designed to meet the individual learning needs of each student.
Why change the name?
Teachers and students regularly referred to the program as “P.L.T.” rather than by its full name “Personal Learning Time”. As such, the focus on “learning” became lost within the abbreviated title. This loss of the “learning” concept also carried over into the students’ activities as students viewed the program more as a fun play time than a work period. The teachers believe that the name of the program should capture the essence of the program and that this will help remind students and teachers of the program’s focus. The “i” in iExcel places emphasis on the “personalized” aspect and “excel” represents the potential for each child to have “superior achievement” in his/her learning.
What is the purpose of iExcel?
The purpose of this program is to provide both intervention and enrichment opportunities to students as needed. Each student has personal strengths and weaknesses in different areas of academics. Based on these identified areas, the teachers have designed a personalized learning program for each individual child.
Since reading skills have a direct relationship to overall academic success, the teachers are placing an emphasis on reading in the early grades. All K-2 students will work specifically on developing their reading skills either in small group settings or with a one-on-one tutor provided by students in the upper grades.
For students in grades 3-8, teachers have assigned personalized learning activities to all students based on their identified strengths and weaknesses in various subjects. Students may be involved in activities such as: assignments that build skills in math, reading, writing or spelling; tutoring; projects for extended learning; free choice (Choices are limited to specific and approved learning activities such as: tutoring, iLearn project, Chess, Mastermind, Scrabble, on-line math games, Type-to-Learn).
Why can’t students use the iExcel period to complete their homework?
Homework is designed to take place outside of the school da . Students are introduced to new skills and concepts in their various classes each day. In order to achieve a level of mastery of these skills and concepts, students need additional opportunities to practice them, which come in the form of homework. In addition to benefiting student learning, the routine and expectation of homework also prepare students for the responsibilities of real life.
The iExcel program, which takes place within the school day, is an opportunity for students to “excel” in their learning (“to stretch; go beyond; be superior in achievement”). This is not a time to practice concepts; rather this is a time to learn concepts not yet understood (intervention) or to explore new ideas altogether (enrichment).
Some students have asked why they cannot choose to work on their homework during the “free choice” period. In addition to the reason listed above (iExcel is a time for learning new things, not practicing current work), eliminating homework as a choice activity also ensures “fairness” and “equity” for all students. Typically, students who need the most support and time for homework are often the same students who do not have a “free choice” period because they are busy working on specific skills. Allowing homework completion during this period would only further place struggling students at a disadvantage while providing students who are already experiencing success with time and support that, though convenient, is unnecessary.