Increasing Enrollment in Advanced Academic Courses: “Super Saturday”
In order to increase enrollment in advanced academic courses, to provide professional development to middle school instructors, and, ultimately, increase the qualifying scores on Advanced Academic exams, Louis Educational Concepts coordinates an eighth grade orientation to enrolling in advanced classes to be conducted on a Saturday during the spring semester. The date is typically set in February or March prior to course scheduling for the following school year. The day consists of morning sessions and afternoon sessions.
This event, known as a “Super Saturday” is designed to illustrate to students the curricula they will encounter in advanced high school courses. Master teachers/consultants present dynamic lessons in order to engage and excite the students as well as to provide a realistic expectation of what the advanced academic programs represent. Some eighth grade orientations also invite parents to attend the classes in order to prepare them as well for the exhilarating yet rigorous paradox a student encounters in Advanced Academics
“Super Saturday” is also an excellent means of providing middle school teachers with professional development that differs from the norm. A “Super Saturday” allows attending teachers to observe consultants in a classroom environment rather than in a conference setting. Consequently, the teachers leave with more than a handout; they leave with knowledge of the lesson’s pacing; the techniques used to present the lesson, and evidence of anticipated questions, frustrations, and differentiation methods due to the interaction with students. An added advantage of a Super Saturday is that a typical one-day workshop costs between $750 and $1000 per teacher when including registration, travel, accommodations, and per diems. A “Super Saturday” folds a professional development in with a student orientation. During lunch is a good time to present a customized slide show of benefits (not included in budget).
