Date: Fri 13-Oct-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: AMYD

Quick Words:

teachers-success-model

Full Text:

Teachers Study The School System's Model For Success

B Y A MY D'O RIO

While schools were closed Columbus Day, the teachers still went to school,

this time for themselves.

The district's professional staff spent the day working on ways to improve the

teaching and curriculum. All teachers started Monday with a workshop on the

school district's "success-oriented school model."

This model states what the Board of Education wants to happen in the

classroom. It is an overall structure for teaching and learning that sets

three educational goals.

Students should be taught to be self-directed learners, master the curriculum

and gain decision-making, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.

While the model has been set for a while, the school district wanted the

teachers to get a deeper understanding of it.

Assistant Superintendent Bob Kuklis told teachers Monday it took him months to

marry his beliefs with the model and to really gain a deep understanding of

it.

"I would sit there and stare at it," he said.

He urged the teachers to also ponder it, because in order for it to be

successful, the teachers must take "ownership" of the model.

Dr Kuklis said Wednesday that he felt the workshops were productive.

"People are really beginning to understand the model, seeing it in regard to

their own work," he said.

In the afternoon, the high school staff divided by department and took on

different projects.

The district's entire physical education department worked on ways to better

assess student physical fitness. They also concentrated on how to include

special education students in gym class.

The elementary school staff spent time learning about a new educational

approach to math: complex math problems using various skills that are solved

over an extended-period of class time.

Dr Kuklis said such math assignments are being advocated by national math

groups as a way to connect math to real life situations.

The art teachers worked on how to get students to internalize what is quality

art. Instead of depending on a grade to indicate quality, the teachers want

students know themselves and understand what makes a good work of art.

Dr Kuklis said the middle school teachers were asked to apply what they

learned in the morning to their daily teaching habits.

The teachers shared strategies on how they get students to be self-directed

learners, master the curriculum and develop good thinking skills.

The in-service day Monday was the first day this school year the staff had a

chance to work together on professional goals. Dr Kuklis said these days are

extremely helpful to the district.