Karen's blog

As I was reading I saw page 28, second paragraph.
The problem is not lack or resources. As Allan Odden writes, "The problem isn't funding." It is the lack of "will and persistence" to implement what we already know.
I feel like we have learned so much and have so many tools at hand that we are not sure how to proceed. Many teachers have been taught different methods or feel more comfortable with different teaching styles but is individual comfort more important then student achievement. If we can't move beyond this mindset and start modifying our teaching to incorporate what we know is best for students then we will never improve. I know I don't really want someone coming in and telling me how to run my class but I also know that there is always room to improve and if there is a better way to teach, I want to use that method.
Pleasant Hope has invested in the teachers and students by adding programs like MRI, Rocket Math and Promethian boards. We have the tools, now we have to stay the course. We need to sharpen our skills and learn all we can to implement all we have learned. The next logical step in our development would be a content rich curriculum that would help guide all teachers to the appropriate lessons to achieve our goals as a school.
Our focus recently has been on individualized instruction. This plays an important role in the classroom but there is room to also incorporate some work from the textbook as well. The text is written on a higher grade level then some students can read but reading the text together and group work can help to overcome this issue. Students need to learn the basic skills to research and locate information in the textbook. I do believe that focus on essential learning, individualized instruction and work in texts all have a place in our curriculum.