7 Ways to Increase Student Ownership

We hear it all the time. "Students should take ownership of their school." But how do we make that happen?

Last spring, my colleagues and I began the process of transforming Childersburg High School (CHS), which serves nearly 500 students in rural Talladega County, Ala., with a sharp focus on college and career readiness. Many changes were primarily about pedagogy and learning tools: the instructional shift to a project-based learning curriculum; the addition of advanced placement courses and honors pathways to increase academic rigor; the addition of desktop computers, Smart Boards, and networked printers to all classrooms; and a course-management system to facilitate the new digital environment.Good stuff.

But the best part of this transformation has been the dramatic shift in school culture. It's true: Students at our school demonstrate their ownership of their learning community each and every day. I pinch myself often, just to make certain that I'm not dreaming. Here are some strategies that worked for us—and may work for you.

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