Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Orange

The idea of making the smaller units for the kids is a great idea. Kids that live in impoverished areas face so many issues and problems. The last thing we can expect them to do is come to school excited to learn. It is our job to help them stay focused and interested in their studies. It is also our job to help them see there is hope, and education can change their lives. Smaller groups of kids and teachers will make it easier to do that. When kids feel like they are just a number they do not get the individual attention they need to grow. Smaller groups help keep their individuality. The teachers can collaborate, and discuss what the best tools are to help their students. They can meet on a regular basis. Most of these tactics can not be done in a large school due to space and time. I believe this idea will work for the students. The teachers will have more personal relationships with their students, and the students will feel cared about and encouraged on a constant basis. The testing puts pressure on schools and Orange middle school has felt that pressure yet focused on change and not blame.

Unfortunately impoverished areas do not have parental involvement like other schools. Parental involvement is a key factor in a students success. Teachers can do so much for that student and some of that progress can be lost by just going home. There needs to be activities planned to get parents to come and be involved with their child learning process. This is a change that will help reinforce what Orange is already doing for their kids.

2 comments:

LiZ Tretola said...

You made a good point about the lacking parental involvement. There needs to be community support and the support of the parents. The students are effected more by what goes on outside of school than what goes on inside the building. Maybe if it started with the parents reinforcing the school norms it would eventually trickle down throughout the town...

Barry Bachenheimer said...

What can the schools do (or should....) to take something off the plate for parents so they can get more involved in schools. Child care? Health care? Nutrition?