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SCHOOL FOR THOUGHT
You can lead them to water, but you can’t make them drink
GUEST BLOG BY LINDA SOEHNER, SPECIAL ED TEACHER
I have a tool that will improve the quality of education. I can teach students how to read where schools have failed.
I have written a program (Everyone's a Reader), and have set up a non-profit charity (Reading Rescue Ontario). We teach 30 students a week. Ninety-nine percent of these students learn how to read at their grade level.
This program is also in many schools, both in Grey and Bruce counties, and elsewhere. Programs in the schools are set up with volunteers whom we trained, and they are overseen by a qualified teacher.
My local school, Beavercrest in Markdale, went from a "turn-around" school to a "lighthouse" school in about two years. Behaviour problems and bullying went down, while self esteem and good behaviour increased.
The Ministry of Education came to visit the school and saw the program. It suggested in its "Guidelines" that schools use community resources. It did not recommend the program any further.
Bluewater School Board does not recognize this program, even though it is used in the majority of its schools.
I have written to the Toronto and Upper Grand school boards and did not get a reply.
The cost of the program is $300, and the training is free (expenses only). I know this program works and can help thousands of students. I am frustrated that educational institutions are not even willing to investigate the possibilities. Communities must become involved in the education of their young people. They must volunteer for programs like this one.
Can you help me?
Linda Soehner, BA, MEd, 519-794-4745, [email protected]
SCHOOL FOR THOUGHT
A Rocketship Ready to Take Off
There is a new group of charter schools that are closing the achievement gap between less affluent children and their wealthier counterparts. Rocketship Discovery Prep in California is one of five elementary schools founded by school reformer and teacher, John Danner.
The students, mostly poor Latino and Spanish-speaking, are now outscoring the county and state averages. The school is using technology to drill students in fundamental skills for part of the day. The rest of the day is spent in a traditional classroom environment. The technology has saved 25 percent of the school's labour costs allowing the Rocketship model to be very cost effective. Danner is hoping to expand the concept across the U.S. Naturally, the entrepreneurial teacher faces the usual obstacles. Read the Washington Post article here. Here's a great video interview with John Danner here.
While Ontario school boards scramble to play costly catch-up over the summer to solve the achievement gap, wouldn't it be better to do the preventative medicine? Better yet, let's hope that this rocket lands in Ontario.
(HT to JR for this story.)