"If a student hasn't learned..."

August 16, 2010 6:54 PM

What are some programs that help mid-career teachers to improve the way they teach, especially teaching lower-performing students?

North Carolina has a nice program called NCCAT, but it's more of a soul-refreshing retreat program. I hear a lot about places like Washington DC (where Michelle Rhee is at work) or Rhode Island firing teachers left and right. Teach for America is aimed at non-traditional teachers.

What are some tools or strategies people have for engaging high school students, especially when they are basically resisting engagement? And a bit selfishly, strategies that leave ES Dad some time to spend with his own children.

posted by ES Mom to education (5 answers total)

Try the book "Why Don't Students Like School" by Daniel Willingham. It offers some good techniques to engage students.
posted by trigger at 7:19 PM on August 16, 2010

Disclaimer: this is a company I work for sometimes, but New View Publications through/with an organization called "A Connected School" offers some workshops that might be interesting for you. I just realized that the descriptions of the workshops doesn't really explain the content except to say that it's part of a certification process; dig deeper, maybe look at one of the books (I'd recommend the book called "A Connected School"), and you'll see what the workshops are really about.
posted by amtho at 7:31 PM on August 16, 2010

I see you're in Raleigh - the company, New View Publications and A Connected School, is based in Chapel Hill. It was founded by a teacher; they're very education-focused, although they're also very focused on a model of behavior they call Perceptual Control Theory.
posted by amtho at 7:39 PM on August 16, 2010

If you haven't read Doug Lemov's "Teach Like a Champion," it has great teaching ideas for hard to reach kids.
posted by dzaz at 3:51 AM on August 17, 2010

The group Facing History and Ourselves has a number of professional development courses and online seminars. While they are mainly focused on Civil Rights and the Holocaust, there are numerous teaching techniques they employ and encourage teachers to use. However, almost all are humanities based.
Also, there are numerous lessons and units available on their website.
posted by Captain Sunshine at 6:26 AM on August 17, 2010