|
|
|
|
 |
Ask the Superintendent - March 21, 2007
Last week, I asked Jane Unhjem, the Assistant
Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, to be
a guest columnist and highlight one of the many
successful programs we have in our District. She
selected a program at the Scotchtown Avenue School
known as Responsive Classroom. Since her article was
very long, she decided to do it in two parts.
In last week’s column, I wrote about the Responsive
Classroom, a comprehensive program that is being
implemented at Scotchtown Avenue School to help our
young students learn appropriate behavior and
develop social skills. I thought it would be of
interest to describe two other aspects of this
program at SAS: the staff development of teachers
and aides in the practices of the Responsive
Classroom, and the work of a committee of teachers
that monitors these new practices and makes
suggestions for effective implementation.
Training of staff members: Several faculty members
from Scotchtown Avenue School have participated in
extensive training to learn the practices of the
Responsive Classroom, and they now serve as turnkey
trainers in their own school. Over the past two
years, these dedicated professionals have conducted
workshops for the faculty on conference days and
during faculty meetings to acquaint all teachers
with the six major dimensions of the Responsive
Classroom. Additionally, workshops for the staff of
teacher aides at Scotchtown have also been conducted
to help ensure that all adults who interact with our
young students are on the “same page” and have the
same clear and consistent approach to discipline
that fosters responsibility and self-control.
Troubleshooting Team: From the beginning, a
“Responsive Classroom Committee” was formed at
Scotchtown Avenue School to evaluate the new
practices, disseminate new ideas to the entire
faculty, and make suggestions for improvements. The
four faculty members who serve as the in-house staff
developers chair this committee; they meet monthly
with six additional teacher representatives and give
their feedback to the principal for her review. It
was through their efforts that training was provided
for all teacher aides so that their supervision of
students could be consistent on the playground and
in the cafeteria. It was also the recommendation of
the Responsive Classroom Committee that the
principal now include a special morning announcement
over the P.A. each day to reinforce the social skill
the children are learning in Morning Meeting.
The youngsters at Scotchtown Avenue Elementary
School are benefiting from the daily lessons and
reinforcement of positive behavior and from the
consistent way in which teachers and aides respond
to any misbehavior. We believe that this learning of
“social skills” will serve them well in school and
in life.
Jane Unhjem
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum
|
|
|
|
