Saturday, December 3, 2011
"Lessons from a Public School Turnaround"
Lessons from a Public School Turnaround was an inspiring newsfeed from Edutopia. Both the article and video was touching as to how one middle school, Cochrane Collegiate was once ranked as one of the lowest performing schools in the state. However, through strong leadership, meaningful professional development, and collaboration, the school is showing tremendous progress. While I believe structure, high expectations, engagement, and consequences are necessities in any educational setting, I agree with the teachers in the video that teaching and learning is about building relationships and collaborating. This however can be difficult to do if students sense stereotypes or believe a teacher does not care. Whether or not a teacher cares is significantly related to student performance. A saying I heard a while ago that has stuck with me since being in the classroom is, "Students don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." Although teaching and learning also entails hands-on and authencity, I believe the previous saying wholeheartedly. Even as I dwell upon my school-age years, I worked harder for the teachers who showed that they care than I did for those who didn't. In fact, I believe this is how students determine their favorite teachers...at least I did.
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The charter school I work at is considered a turn around school because we went from being in academic emergency to continuous improvement. I agree with you when you say collaborations is key. Everyone has to play their role hard! Go hard or go home! Yes, the students need to know that you care about them as an individual. I have good news sharing time each morning before we start our day and that gives the students to bring an important object from home and share it with their classmates and myself. If they don't have an object, they just share something good that's going on in their lives. 5 students go per day and their on a rotation schedule. So, each student knows when their day is. This system has really helped me get to know them on a personal level. :)
ReplyDeleteI teach at a charter school also. However, it is a high performing school. Prior to transitioning though, I worked for a public school system that resulted in a "state take-over" basically. So, I know what it feels like to be looked down upon by others in the district, state, and country. By the way, I love the "Good News" strategy and plan to borrow the idea. :)What other strategies are your school implementing to turn things around?
ReplyDeleteSorry for the mechanical error. What other strategies "is" your school....? is what I meant to say.
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