Projects that help students learn about, understand and prepare for future occupations benefit students, schools and companies. Students gain an understanding of how the real world works, schools learn how to prepare students for the future, and businesses get work-ready employees.
Many studies have been done and books have been written on school-business partnerships. Frequently, though, teachers don't need formal, ongoing relationships between companies and schools to achieve classroom goals. So there are a few tips we can offer, for teachers who want to broaden the classroom experience and give their students a more exciting learning experience.
Planning ahead seems to be one of the keys to success here. At the beginning of the school year, as you get to know your students, ask them about the careers or jobs of their parents, guardians and relatives. Or, if a certain field or industry seems to lend itself to a lesson, check with students to see if they know anyone working at one of those businesses.
Before you make any calls, determine exactly what you want from the company or individual, what you want the company's involvement to be:
- do you want the class to be able to tour a plant or facilities?
- do you want a representative of the company to speak to the class, or teach a class? answer questions from students?
- do you want someone from the company to be available to answer questions via email?
- do you want the company to provide product samples?
Companies are interested in being good citizens of the community, but you need to be specific about your wants and needs, knowing exactly how much time and which days or dates you need as part of the commitment.
Also, be prepared to answer questions that may come from the company, such as:
- why did you pick our company?
- what will our company get out of this project?
- what are you looking for as a goal for this project or lesson?
- how can we reach you during regular business hours (which don't always coincide with school hours
For the next step you should call the appropriate individuals in the company and ask if someone would help you set up a partnership with the company. Always follow-up with a letter, restating your understanding of the extent of the individual's or company's involvement. Make sure you keep a copy of this letter, and follow through with each element listed.
Businesses work hard to show community involvement, so it may be a good idea to alert the media (local newspapers, television and radio) of your project. Be sure to first clear this with the company, so that there are no surprises. Take pictures for a class scrapbook or to document the project, and write up a description of the project to put on the school web site. Be sure to include the outcome of the project, such as improved grades, enthusiastic student involvement, better understanding of the math concepts. Documentation of positive learning outcomes helps show parents, school administrators and other businesses that it is important to work with schools!
Everyone loves to be appreciated for his/her hard work. A special thank you from you and your class, a note from the principal, a momento from the project, or pictures you've taken of the project, placed in a scrapbook, are all ideas of how to let your partner know his or her efforts were appreciated. It's also important to share the outcome of the project, as detailed in the previous paragraph.
Good luck on your project, and contact us with tips on your working relationship and/or details of your project at ohio_mathworks@wcet.pbs.org. Also, be sure to post your tips and project details on the Ohio Math Works Teacher Discussion Group.
GREAT RESOURCES for teachers and school personnel
Ohio SchoolNet's C.O.O.L. site takes teachers step-by-step to help you make your own connections outside the classroom.
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- A Bring Business and Community Involvement into Your Classroom: Handbook for Educators@ provides help for educators in setting up and maintaining business and community resources. It's available to NEA members for $10.95; $19.95 for everyone else.
- A "Putting Kids First" is a videotape that was produced by the National Education Association and The Learning Channel and shows how an elementary school in a low-wealth district does a great job at developing partnerships, both with businesses and with organizations in the community. The cost of the videotape is $19.95 for NEA members; $24.95 for everyone else.
To order either the book or the videotape,
write or call:
National Education Association
NEA Professional Library
1201 Sixteenth St. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036.
(800) 229-4200