Danceworks Mad Hot Rhythm

Danceworks Mad Hot Rhythm inspires fourth and fifth graders to move their bodies and work together to create performing art. Participation in Mad Hot Rhythm boosts self-confidence and creativity, promotes respect, and teaches children that creative movement feels great!

Learning Journeys

Learning Journeys are educational field trips for all MPS students that are designed to take what students are learning in the classroom out into the real world. These annual opportunities aim to expand students’ career awareness (K4–grade 3) and help them explore potential careers (grades 4 and 5).

Milwaukee Art Museum Junior Docent School Program

The Milwaukee Art Museum Junior Docent School Program invites students in grades three through five to explore the visual arts during ten visits to the Milwaukee Art Museum. This personalized, three-year course of study teaches vocabulary and history, and students develop cultural and historical awareness. They earn “Junior Docent” status after selecting, researching, and presenting a favorite item from the museum’s collection!

Milwaukee County Zoo Animal Ambassadors

This program helps second, third, and fourth graders develop a deep understanding of the relationship between humans, animals, and our environment. Students learn through classroom lessons, Milwaukee County Zoo field trips, and conversations with zoo educators (animal experts). The program ends with a celebration of conservation for new “animal ambassadors.”

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)

To promote positive student behavior and improve learning, MPS uses a system of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS).

PBIS is a three-tiered approach that begins by teaching expectations and encouraging collaboration and consistency in classrooms. Teachers and students co-design agreements and routines that align with three districtwide expectations: “Be Safe, Be Respectful, and Be Responsible.” For students who need more support, higher tiers offer structure, interventions, and follow-up to address specific concerns.

After years of use, MPS and other districts across the country are reporting higher student achievement, improved school environments, and fewer classroom disruptions and student suspensions.