Additionally, the teams provide the forum for projects which help students see linkages between the disciplines and interrelationships of knowledge which transcend the barriers of the formal curriculum. Interdisciplinary projects enrich the program and create new and exciting learning experiences for students. Field trips expand the scope of the learning environment to encourage lifetime learning habits beyond the school building. Cooperation through learning teams is stressed to prepare students for the skills needed in the workplace of their future. Development of portfolios of student work assist teachers, students and parents in assessing progress.
Teams also provide rewards for positive behaviors and academic effort.
The team serves as the focal point for the effort to provide each student with the support needed to grow during the three years at Urbana Middle School.