The following broad areas provide the focus of crew sessions in EL high schools:

• Relationships

Crew provides each student a one-to-one relationship with an adult advisor (crew leader) at the school, as well as a consistent and ongoing small-scale peer community. Crew leaders monitor and support student progress, serve as the student’s advocate in difficult academic and social situations, and act as the primary contact point between parents and the school. Crew meetings are frequently used for teambuilding exercises and for group discussions on topical issues. These exercises and discussions help establish crew identity and a positive school culture.

• Literacy

Crew has a strong academic focus on the goal of developing life-long readers. This goal, while primarily addressed in academic classes, has a special home in crew. Crew time is used each week for literature circles and structured discussions based on short text or high interest books. Crew leaders utilize readers’ workshops and other practices that hone students’ ability to apply reading comprehension strategies to progressively more challenging texts. Independent reading is also monitored in crew, often through book chats that also enhance the relationship between crew leader and individual students. The crew portfolio outlines the minimum independent reading requirements for each term of the school year. Crew leaders confer with students as they read, encourage exploration of new genres, and monitor student progress in meeting the independent reading requirement.

• Service

Within their crews and with the guidance of their crew leaders, students identify needs in the school and in outside communities, and propose and develop projects to address those needs. Students document their involvement in service throughout their school experience and select examples of service for inclusion in passage portfolios and presentations.

• Adventure and Fitness

Crew offers opportunities for shared discovery and explorations into the unfamiliar, both inside and outside of the school building. These experiences are initially crafted and guided by the crew leader, and then gradually led by students. Fitness and nutrition plans are developed and revisited by students during crew meetings.

• Post-Secondary Preparation

Crew leaders support and coach students in their exploration of options for higher education, application processes, and college selection. They also assist in exploration of a variety of other post secondary options. All students have specific post-secondary plans upon graduation.

• School Administration

Student administrative business is generally accomplished during crew meetings under the guidance of the crew leader.