Verdugo Hills High School WASC Self-Study Page 1

Verdugo Hills High School WASC/CDE Self-Study Reportinfluenced by technology. In response to the changing way that studentsperceive and receive information, the faculty strive to use a variety ofapproaches that simultaneously preserves the fundamentals needed by allstudents, while promoting inquiry, problem-solving, and expressions oflearning that allow students to make personal discoveries about themselves,their society, and the world. This further enables teachers to help thestudents to become socially responsible members of society.STRATEGIES THAT PROMOTE A MORE PERSONALIZED APPROACH TOLEARNINGThe Faculty at VHHS recognizes the need for student’s mastery of basicliteracy skills, especially reading comprehension and writing.Our English Department has fostered a history that successfully created aculture at VHHS where interdisciplinary literacy is essential. The VHHSWriting Program is the foundation of this idea where students learn to useconcrete details and commentary as the fundamentals for learning. Use ofthese terms has become fairly common in all disciplines, thus creating acommon language that most students and teachers share and understand.These concepts are first introduced to the students in English 9AB and arereinforced by common assessments used by the English Department. Thesecommon assessments are unit essays. The English Department reinforcesthis concept through the use of a departmental rubric which is also utilizedby some of the other departments.The social studies department approaches teaching through the use of manystrategies. There is lecture, but instructors make good use of a variety oftechnologies like document readers, LCD projectors, DVDs, and computers.Students are evaluated through the use of PowerPoint projects, studentfilms, and Internet research. Teachers in the social studies department haveguest speakers occasionally come to their classes such as representativesfrom local vocational schools and colleges. To supplement the students'learning social science teachers work hard to provide students with theopportunity to go on field trips to various museums. Many social studiesteachers put their homework assignments online on the VHHS schoolwebsite and Edmodo.Verdugo Hills High School WASC Self-Study Page 120