Freshman Seminar Meeting Minutes, November 11, 2008

Tuesday, November 11, 2008 Freshmen Seminar Sub-Committee Meeting Notes  Brainstormed topics for a potential freshmen seminar while reviewing Teaneck High School’s Freshmen Seminar Goals o Effective Internet Research/Research Paper Writing o Study Skills/Guided Practice o Public Speaking/Presentation Skills o Technological Literacy o Community Building – Peer Leaders as Teachers/College Campus Visits/Etc. o Humanities – Art, Music o Problem Solving/Logic Based Questions (Math & Science Input)  Need a survey to be distributed to the faculty to update them on our brainstorm and reach out for ideas – Meredith & Carol will work on survey  Reaching out through the Principal’s Discussion Board to high schools that have freshmen seminar to set up visits – Ryanne & Kathy will check the board and set up visits  Potential Visits: N. Highlands, Bordentown, Teaneck, Union City, Hackensack?, etc.  Qs for Visitations: o Effect on Staffing? o # of Teachers Involved and Their Certifications? o How Do They Break Down (Marking period v. semester?) o Curriculum? o Common Prep Time? o Peer Leadership Component? o Linked to Other Courses or Not? o Research on Its Success/Challenges? o What Existed Before/Did It Replace Anything? o Does It Fulfill Any State Mandated Requirements for Graduation?  Poll all freshmen (all levels) on their needs for freshmen seminar – Dan will work with Guidance to get student and Guidance feedback  Needs to be mandatory/grad. requirement and graded (not Pass/Fail)  We would like the visits competed before the holidays, surveys and all feedback ready for Feb. meeting  Next Meeting: 12/16, period 4