21st Century Teaching

Last evening at our School Board meeting, I heard a presentation on the success of Greene Central Schools second year with their Reading First Grant. Sure having over $400,000 over 3 years to spend on materials, professional development and programming was a big help. But, the items that jumped out of the presentation for me were teaching and learning paradigm shifts that have resulted during these two years. The teachers said:

• we no longer work in isolation, but as a team
• each student is benchmarked and her progress checked regularly
• extensive data is being used to discover a student's true levels
• intervention is not completed by pulling out, but by adding
• scientifically based researched reading programs are being implemented as needed
• we know the level and progress of every child, not just the ones that are apparent
• we have had such great training and support
• special education referrals are going down

I think these bullets represent a shift toward 21st Century teaching. Doug Johnson, wrote in his Blue Skunk Blog some criteria for 21st Century teachers:

* are diagnosticians who use technology to help them create effective IEPs for all their kids using evaluation data that is accessed and manipulated electronically
* are masters of differentiated instruction
* communicate online easily
* can identify, organize and prescribe online learning activities
* are dynamic and engaging discussion leaders
* figure out new ways of teaming with other educators to specialize in learning styles rather than content areas

I see a clear correlation between these criteria and the Greene teachers' description of their work. Technology is the ubiquitous tool used to make these things happen. From a child's computer project to the Palm Pilots used by teachers to record test scores, it is a major component of this success. We are onto something here.

The question that comes to mind is "Why can't we implement these strategies in all areas for all students"?

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