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 real-world, project-based learning across all subjects; portfolio assessments aligned with content standards, rubrics, and real world expectations; student research, investigations, data analysis, and presentations to demonstrate competency; utilizing advanced technologies; partnerships with parents, business and the community.
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
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.
PARTNER NEWS
Beach Clean
Howard Tuckett, Headmaster at Wycombe Abbey School, Hong Kong, shared the following ECO Service Project: Wycombe Abbey School, Hong Kong met together as a community last Saturday to hold our Beach Clean event. It was such a treat for the entire school community to be able to meet up on Hong Kong’s Shek O Beach for the morning. Well done to all our pupils, parents, and staff colleagues for coming together to focus on protecting our environment by recycling all the plastic we found.
Holiday Donations
A Charter School partnered with San Clemente Presbyterian Church donated pajamas for babies and children of Marines in the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion stationed on Camp Pendleton MCAS. These PJ’s were distributed at the annual holiday dinner provided by the church for the Marines and their families. This is a continuation of the holiday donations at San Onofre School, located on the Marine Base.
Implications Wheel
The “Implications Wheel” created by Joel A. Barker, Futures, was utilized by educators in the EFG Curriculum Collaborative. This tool helped Learning Leaders and students formulate school and grade level organizational strategies. It continues to be a valuable private sector tool today.
Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
“Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, by Stephen Covey, was field tested by K-12 Learning Leaders at 21st Century Prep in 1993. Educators and students were trained using the “Seven Habits”. These were a major focus for K-12 students. More books were subsequently written and these “Habits” were utilized at the school on Camp Pendleton in 2010.
Skill Development
Herbert “Book” McCray is the Founder and Director of BOYS TO MEN - A MALE MENTORING MODEL, in Chattanooga, TN. Book has had a lengthy connection with It’s the Kids / EFG. Following graduation from UTC, he became the Assistance Principal at 21st Century Prep. Now in the private sector, he continues to assist young men to develop skills for their future by partnering each student with a business leader.
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 It's the Kids! curriculum that she subsequently created. Barbara recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce.