Greenwood: May 2008

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

The 2007-2008 School Year Comes To A Close!

Our last day ended with fourth grade parents and siblings silly stringing the fourth grade classes as they exited their classrooms. It was a great final good-bye! This has become a "right of passage" for all fourth graders. The tradition dates back over seven years.

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The Great Expectations (GE) teaching/training model is guided by six basic principals (Tenets).
The GE Tenets are further defined by seventeen Classroom Practices that occur in GE classrooms, schools, and districts. Through teachers' use of the GE Classroom Practices, students become self-directed learners, productive citizens, effective communicators, critical thinkers, and cooperative contributors in the classroom as well as in society.
Educators helping students achieve excellence guide them in adhering to the 8 Expectations.

Tenets:
High Expectations: Teachers must hold high expectations of students. When students recognize those expectations, they will respond by reaching upward to achieve them.

Teacher Attitude and Responsibility: Teachers who have positive attitudes possess the influence necessary to shape the attitudes of students. The teacher's attitude is one of a facilitator of learning who encourages and believes in students, and who requires excellence in every detail.

All Children Can Learn: All children can learn no matter what labels are placed upon them, whether it is learning disabled, low socioeconomic status, unstable home life, inner-city, or rural.

Building Self-Esteem: Building self-esteem is the key to helping students believe they are capable of learning and motivating them to try.

Climate of Mutual Respect: Students are empowered to take risks necessary for growth when encompassed in a climate of mutual respect in which mistakes are seen as opportunities to learn and their ideas and efforts are appreciated. The teacher must extend the same respect to students that he/she desires to receive from them.

Teacher Knowledge and Skill: The teacher must be knowledgeable and skillful in learning theory and teaching methods that enable students to achieve academic and social success.
These Tenets provide guidelines for program training and implementation and serve as standards for evaluating GE schools/districts.

GE Classroom Practices

1. The teacher models desired behaviors and attitudes such as those set forth in the Life Principles and the Eight Expectations for Living.

2. Students and teachers speak in complete sentences and address one another by name, demonstrating mutual respect and common courtesy.

3. Students are taught as a whole group, thoroughly and to mastery, with intensive and specific modifications insuring success for all.

4. Lessons are integrated, related to the real world, reviewed consistently, and connected to subsequent curricula.

5. Critical thinking skills are taught.

6. A non-threatening environment, conducive to risk-taking, is evident. Mistakes are okay. Students are taught to learn from their mistakes and to correct them.

7. Memory work, recitations, and/or writing occur daily. These enhance character development and effective communication skills while extending curricula. Recitations are exuberant and full of expression.

8. Enriched vocabulary is evident and is drawn directly from challenging writings and/or wisdom literature. Sources should include classic literature, myths, fables, poetry, proverbs, quotes, and other genres.

9. The Magic Triad, a positive and caring environment, and discipline with dignity and logic are evident.

10. Every student's work is displayed in some form. Teachers provide positive commentary through oral and/or written feedback.

11. Word identification skills are used as a foundation for expanding the use of the English language.

12. Students assume responsibility for their own behavior. Their choices determine consequences.

13. A school, class, or personal creed is recited or reflected upon daily to reaffirm commitment to excellence.

14. All students experience success. The teacher guarantees it by comparing students to their own past performance, not the performance of others. Students are showcased, and past failures are disregarded.

15. The teacher teaches on his/her feet, engages students personally, holds high expectations of students, and does not limit them to grade level or perceived ability.

16. Each classroom has a student who greets visitors and makes them feel welcome and comfortable.

17. Teachers and students celebrate the successes of others.

8 EXPECTATIONS

EXPECTATION #1: We will value one another as unique & special individuals.

EXPECTATION #2: We will not laugh at or make fun of a person's mistakes, use sarcasms or put downs.

EXPECTATION #3: We will use good manners saying please, thank you, excuse me, & allow others to go first.

EXPECTATION #4: We will cheer each other to success.

EXPECTATION #5: We will help on another when ever possible.

EXPECTATION #6: We will recognize every effort & applaud it.

EXPECTATION #7: We will encourage each other to do our best!

EXPECTATION #8: We will practice virtuous living using the Life Principles.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

The 2007-2008 School Year Comes To A Close!

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