IT'S THE KIDS!
Educating Future Generations
by Barbara Barnes
A Real-World Learning Framework Teaching K-12 Students Skills for Life, Work, Citizenship and Service
ABOUT
It's the Kids! stands for K-12 project-based learning across all subjects; portfolio assessments aligned with content standards and real world expectations; student research, investigations, data analysis, and presentations to demonstrate competency; utilizing advanced technologies; partnerships with parents, business and the community. Students in public, private, parochial, magnet, charter and home schools in 23 states and 5 countries have excelled on standardized tests using this curriculum.
PROJECTS
Issues and Solutions Investigated
All subjects integrated in each Project, incl STEM
Developed and tested with students K-12
Characters created to help and enhance learning
Song that provides students with directions
PARTNERS
Businesses provided up-to-date, real-world skills
Communities offered locations for investigation
Universities trained teachers and issued credit
Families and friends suggested research at home
Churches and non-profits offered Service ideas
ASSESSMENTS
Teams assessed the way the world works
Portfolios matched to content standards
Assessment Matrix developed with ETS
Matrix for judging individuals and/or groups
Certificates, patches and pins for student awards
DEVELOPMENT
Ten summer education conferences
Training sites in TN, AK, AZ, CA, FL
Utilized in schools in 23 states and 5 countries
University Credit: UCI, UTC, MTSU, ASU, NFU
Twelve modifiable Projects for students/locations
YOUR GUIDES
IT’S THE KIDS!
ULTIMATE CURRICULUM GUIDE
It's the Kids! is an integrated curriculum involving real-world-based projects, mixed-age-group learners, community partners, portfolio assessments and content standards. It is the culmination of over 10 years of research and testing by the EFG Curriculum Collaborative, a non-profit created by Barbara Barnes which workshopped, developed, and implemented this extraordinary curriculum in the US, the UK, South Africa and New Zealand.
This book contains both an overview of the history and conceptual framework behind the curriculum as well as an in-depth dive into the details and implementation of the curriculum, including projects, examples, core skills, partnerships, parental involvement, and assessment criteria across several competency levels.
PARTNERS
These organizations provided real-world content, current information, skills needed for employment, training, and financial support.
WATER
-
Tennessee Valley Authority
-
Metropolitan Water District
-
Tennessee Aquarium
-
South Coast Water District
ECONOMICS
-
JJ Wenrich - Teaching Kids to Buy Stocks
-
Trader Joe's
-
Union Bank
-
Schools First Federal Credit Union
TRAVEL
-
Marriott Hotel
-
Hilton Hotel
-
Subaru
-
Honda
-
British Regional Railways
-
Holiday Inn, Leeds UK
ENERGY
-
San Onofre Nuclear Power Station
-
SOCO Institute
-
UCI Hydrogen Fuel Cell Research Center
DESIGN & BUILD
-
La Palita
-
GKK Architects
-
Manufacturers Association
LAND
-
Nature Conservancy
-
Farm Bureau
-
Caterpillar
HEALTH
-
Medtronics
-
San Clemente Veterinarians
-
Local Doctors & Dentists
ART
-
Bowers Museum
-
Pacific Symphony
-
Alaska Native Elders
COMMUNICATIONS
-
Apple
-
Toshiba
-
IBM
-
NBC
-
Royal Mail UK
-
McKee Foods
-
HYPE - Global Youth Summit
GOVERNMENT
-
Local Elections
-
Government Agencies
WEATHER
-
San Diego Weather Channel
SPORTS
-
Jacksonville Jaguars
ORGANIZATIONAL
STRATEGIES
-
Joel A. Barker, Futurist. Tactics of Innovation / Paradigm Shift
-
Stephen Covey: Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
-
Warrington Parker-Rockwell: Multi Age Teamwork
MENTORING, AWARDS
& SUPPLIES
-
Rotary
-
Marine Ministry
-
Kiwanis
-
100 Black Men
-
100 Black Women
UNIVERSITIES & EDUCATOR TRAINING
-
UCI - University of California, Irvine
-
UTC - University TN Chattanooga
-
MTSU - Middle TN State University
-
Chapman University
-
ASU - Arizona State University
-
NFI - North Florida University
-
University of Phoenix
-
Sheffield Hallam University, UK
-
The New School, NY
-
Pepperdine University
-
University of Alaska
-
Virginia Tech
EFG CURRICULUM COLLABORATIVE
Barbara Barnes created the EFG Curriculum Collaborative, a non-profit organization that conducted 10 summer curriculum conferences and made presentations to schools and business partners internationally. These meetings of minds resulted in the It's the Kids! curriculum that she subsequently created.
PHOTOS
BOOKS
Grow Your Vision
Welcome visitors to your site with a short, engaging introduction.
Double click to edit and add your own text.
THE POWER OF
PARTNERSHIPS
The purpose of this book is to encourage Private Sector PARTNERS to promote high-level learning, provide real-world content and the latest technology skills, help ALL students develop a positive plan for their future, and keep them safe digitally and in their schools.
POSSIBILITIES
• Host students at your company
• Provide career information
• Share specific content with real world applications
• Apply organizational strategies to improve schools
• Help students understand finance and investments
QUIZ CARDS
BARBARA BARNES
Barbara Barnes is a lifetime educator including 17 years as school principal in Cupertino, Irvine and on Camp Pendleton Marine Corp Base. She also served as the Director of Business Partnerships for Irvine Unified School District.
She has consulted with educators and business leaders across the US and internationally and worked with schools in underserved communities. These educational entities were public, private, charter, magnet, faith-based and home schools. Barbara served on the Dean of Education’s Advisory Council at UC Irvine, the Advisory Council of Crystal Cove State Park Alliance and Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center.
Barbara has presented at numerous international business / education conferences in the US, England, France, Norway, Canada and New Zealand. Barbara formed the EFG Curriculum Collaborative, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization which conducted ten summer curriculum conferences and made presentations to schools and business partners internationally. These meetings of minds resulted in the curriculum that she subsequently created. Barbara recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce.