Vermont has set a very high bar for student achievement with Transferable Skills. Every student must demonstrate proficiency in the following areas.
- Clear and Effective Communication
- Self Direction
- Creative and Practical Problem Solving
- Responsible and Involved Citizenship
- Informed and Integrative Thinking
One way GEMS is helping students learn transferable skills is through Team U-Topia. Every Monday and Friday morning a team of over 60 students and 3 core teachers plus countless other staff members meets to provide students with a greater voice in their learning. GEMS tackled three transferable skills in Core classes.
Self-Direction: Teachers encourage students to take ownership of their learning by setting goals and taking proper action to achieve they desire to accomplish.
Clear and Effective Communication: Students are asked to participate in large and small group discussions. Some presented to the entire grade during our weekly Team U-Topia meetings. They were asked to explain their thinking in writing. Every piece had to be organized with a clear purpose (claim). Our purpose had to be supported by facts, numbers, quotes, and logic.
Responsible and Involved Citizenship: Our students had a voice and were engaged in building stronger teams.
Beautiful Work: Students display their best and most “beautiful” work on the GEMS Tribute Wall. Meeting the qualifications for the Tribute Wall involves critique, revision, rehearsal, and aesthetics.
The FWSU Story 