Over 150 students in grades three through six have access to a specialized hybrid summer learning program in Fraser Public Schools. The program, which is in its second year of existence, offers extended learning in English and math to Fraser Public Schools’ families.
 
“Our hybrid summer learning program is innovative as it continues our focus on learning any time, any place, any pace and for any path. With the particular age group participating in our hybrid model, I believe it further supports the culture and expectation that learning will occur using a variety of mediums and on an individual basis,” said Dr. David Richards, superintendent of Fraser Public Schools.
 
The program, which only meets face-to-face one day each week, uses a variety of instructional materials that make the “hybrid” component of the course possible. Software applications such as DreamBox, Newsela, Khan Academy and TenMarks allow students virtual access to the hybrid model. The district’s learning management system, itslearning, is also used to help manage the content and to individualize student instruction for each child.

“The District wanted to continue offering additional learning opportunities for our students while school is not in session, but understands summer schedules and family vacations can make the traditional summer school model complex,” said Carrie Wozniak, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. “By providing every student with an iPad for mobile learning, students now have ability to participate in the hybrid model.”
 
In the program's pilot year in 2014, it operated as invitation only. Now, the district is pleased to welcome all students in grades three through six to take part in continuing their learning this summer through the program. 
 
“We are so excited to be offering a larger, more sophisticated program this year to help reach more of our students in their learning needs over the summer months,” said Wozniak. “It is important to continue the educational process throughout the summer so student learning continues to grow and the need for remediation is reduced in the fall.”
 
While the program itself offers extended learning for students, the design also perfectly aligns with the professional development Fraser Public Schools is offering to its teachers. This summer and into the 2015-2016 school year, Fraser Public Schools educators will receive professional development training that directly addresses teaching in hybrid and blended learning environments, similar to the hybrid summer learning program.
 
“The way our teachers are delivering content, assessing student learning and checking for understanding is very different than the traditional school model. The transformation for our teachers is very much about their professional practice and instructional strategy,” said Richards.
 
The professional development course, which all staff will eventually experience, provides teachers with a simulation of competency based learning that combines content, skills and conceptual competencies for generating three-dimensional learning.

“Through this course offering, teachers can build and organize resources around lessons so that students have choice, scaffolding, engagement and appropriate access to content at the level of rigor called for by the standards. Additionally, teachers can design lessons with diversity in pedagogy,” said Wozniak.

Several of the district’s teachers enrolled in the course are practicing and modeling through their role in the hybrid summer learning program. Kristi Skladanowski, a 21st century literacy teacher for Fraser Public Schools, has been involved in the hybrid summer learning program since its initial start last year and recently completed the professional development course offering.

“The professional development we experienced this summer has given us the tools to construct content within our learning management system. Students not only have access to this content within the hybrid model, but we as teachers have the ability to connect and build a relationship with our students within a virtual community,” said Skladanowski.

The design of the hybrid summer learning program and the access to pertinent professional development are just smaller pieces of a very large puzzle for Fraser Public Schools. Focused on customizing learning to meet the needs of every child, every day, Fraser Public Schools continues to work towards redesigning the learning environment.

“One of the greatest challenges we are facing in education as a whole is this call to redesign and rethink schools. As an educational institution we have to recalibrate just like any organization and for us, it starts with the child. We must ask ourselves ‘what is in the best interest of our students?’ and determine how we can create a school system that will allow them to demonstrate their mastery of learning on an individual basis,” said Richards.

In recent years, the role of the teacher has transformed into a facilitator of learning in Fraser Public Schools. Students now have access to a wealth of information from a variety of mediums. Through opportunities like Fraser’s hybrid summer learning program, staff continue to practice and model new instructional strategies while providing the best educational opportunities for their students heading toward a customized path.

“Our staff has truly gone the extra mile in making sure our students have the best learning opportunities each and every day,” said Richards.

For more information on this program and the other offerings in Fraser Public Schools, visit www.GoToFraser.com or call 1-877-94-FRASER.