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Posted by:
Dennis Szymkowiak
K-12 Classroom teacher
Mundelein, IL
Topic:
Rethinking, Focusing and Core Materials: Three Basic Measures Required For Success
Message:
While it would be possible to present solid arguments for many approaches to this question, I believe that there are three basic measures that must be in place for any reform to achieve any level of success. Those three measures would be a rethinking of the use of time, discussion based on core readings which would lead to the establishment of a community of learners.
The first, most important, and most difficult to account for measure would be to find time for systematic professional development. One way to accomplish this is to rethink the way most districts utilize the days of in-service and/or staff development currently in their schedule. Granted some districts and states have already lengthened the number of days in their annual calendars, but just an increase in the number of days is not sufficient. In some cases, an increase in the number of days is not economically possible, Rethinking the use of that time would be a good first step. There is an old saying that many coaches have in various locker rooms and gyms: "It's not the hours you put into practice, it's the practice you put into the hours." And just as coaches get individual athletes and teams to focus on specific goals, so too must concerned educators, hopefully teacher-leaders, get colleagues focused. The focus of staff development and in-service must be the integration of literacy across the entire curriculum.
Of course, one way to gain this focus is through the reading and discussion of core materials. These core materials might be a single or several professional texts. Articles from professional journals might be included or may be used in place of texts. While this probably is the point at which recommendations should be made, I would rather suggest that individual districts and schools decide on what would best meet their specific requirements. This is an opportunity for schools to look to and utilize the expertise in their own buildings. "What (professional material) have you read recently?" is a great way to begin a conversation. Ideally the reading and discussing of common core materials should contribute to the establishment of a professional community of learners. Although we at the secondary level are aware of some of the more "natural" pairings of classes - American literature and history and some math and science classes - we may not know exactly how those pairings work. And once the subject moved beyond those pairings, many would be lost. So what and, more importantly how, does a mathematician read? What do scientists write? What does a presentation in foods class contain? These and many other bits and pieces are what we can learn form each other once we become a community of learners where everyone is respected and welcome.
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