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The entire MinorBrushes Website is Copyright ©2002-2055 by DaraLyn J. McColl owner of this portfolio and its works, MinorBrushes and DLynDesigns™Studio. All Rights Reserved. My Professional Portfolio, MinorBrushes or DLynDesigns Studio websites MAY NOT be copied or duplicated in whole or part by any means without express prior agreement in writing or unless specifically noted on the site.

USM Graduate Concentration

Action Research Paper 2021

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  • Positive Behavior Intervention Support 
  • ​Social and Emotional Student Support 
  • Executive Functioning Student Support
  • ALU, PBL, SLU Curriculum Designer
  •  K-12 Art Teacher

Alternative Education Programming 

I enjoy creating alternative learning opportunities for the academically disengaged student within a school setting.
The process is simple and involves a great deal of positive relationship-building. I enjoy meeting with the students one-on-one and assist them in understanding their unique learning styles, their personal and academic strengths and assisting them in finding their learning success.  

Alternative Education at the elementary school level is quite often about making academics make sense for students. Based on student interests options have been but not limited to reverse engineering, hands-on, minds-on community service, community art, student-led newspaper, dance, and music enrichment. Students are grouped based on their "getting to know you" student survey and new relationships are formed with students and mentor.  In fact, these learning opportunities have proven to build self-esteem, increase academic engagement in general education classes, identify and teach executive functioning and time management skills, but the most obvious skills that is immediately revealed is the creation of  positive student to adult and student-to-student relationships. 

Summer of 2020: the Maine State Standards and the SEL benefits were added to the current list of alternative education learning opportunities to assist all educators in understanding of academic value for students.

During the pandemic, it was evident that many students were struggling with lagging skills in time management and executive functioning during their remote learning days. This data assisted in the creation of a new group of students utilizing the 3D printer once school was back 5-days per week.

The 21st Century student is a diverse learning group and they need more diverse learning advocates as mentors and educators to guide them. I believe in empowering even our youngest students to become leaders in their learning. I am their mentor and advocate!

For more information:
Schedule a consultation for your class observation or an individual mentorship please email [email protected] or call 207.332.1342 

Preparing for Growth 
​Creating a better team!

Policy brief, Research, and Alternative Education Programming Information

My Discourses and Resume

References

Positive Behavior Intervention Support

My Vision and Plan

Authentic Learning Units

Service Learning Unit

Educational Funding

Fundraising and Grants Awarded
2023-2024 DonorsChoose Waterville Sr High School
2022-2023 DonorsChoose Waterville Jr High School
2021-2022 Gorham Educational Foundation
​2020-2021 Aspire Gorham Award & DonorChoose
2019-2020 Perloff Foundation Grant 
2018-2019 SEMA Grant 
​USM Online Art Portfolio

Graduate Education

Professional Development

USM Transcript 2021
​University of Southern Maine Graduate
Master of Science in Education/Teacher Leadership
Masters  Completion Date: August 2021

Disciplinary Literacy Unit

I challenged myself to combine math and the arts. Math in Motion relates various vocabulary words found in math curriculum combined with dance movements.