Teacher – D.F. Oklesen

1. Teacher – D.F. Oklesen • When I began teaching school, the students were interested in dating, with a definite idea of what that may lead to. • Today, they are more interested in mating, with no idea of what that may lead to.

2. TEAMING – Chpt. 6 • Education “happens” through relationships • Turning Points recommended that middle grades schools should be restructured on a more human scale. Students & teachers should join a small, ethical community in which adolescents & adults get to know each other well. • Small schools tend to be safer, have higher attendance rates, have better participation rates in a range of activities, benefit lower income students, and teacher & students have better attitudes, collaboration & are more positive.

3. Larger schools can be divided into smaller communities or “houses” able to accommodate 125 students to 250 students. All instruction in core subjects takes place within each student’s assigned area. Some large schools may be restructured into several schools-within-a-school. • T.P. suggests a maximum of 5 teachers to 125 students. Provide sufficient teacher team planning time - teachers design the majority of the schedule - designate team areas in the building

4. Planning time is essential – Teachers in the U.S. teach more hours per year and are given less planning time than teachers in 15 European countries & Japan. • Time is also needed to collaborate with other teams • T.P. recommends looping or keeping teams together at least two years as is done in Japan & Germany. Healthy emotional attachments evolve & teachers spend less time learning new names, establishing rules, & figuring out where each student is on the learning curve.

5. T.P. recommends an interdisciplinary team approach using an interdisciplinary (or integrated) curriculum giving opportunities for student support, curriculum, instruction, & individual workloads • The school principal is not a member of an interdisciplinary team, but is vital to success of teaming. • Team leaders can be chosen by the principal, or chosen by teammates, then rotated on an annual basis. Duties include attending meetings, maintaining relationships with other teams, reporting on team activities, etc.

6. Two additional roles on the team include: • Parent liaison – focus on maintaining the quality & quantity of communications with parents • Curriculum coach – maintain & invigorate a team’s focus on curriculum, assessment, & instruction

7. What do effective teams do? • They have a game plan to improve student learning including short & long term goals, strategies & realistic timelines for implementing them, team members’ roles & responsibilities, and the materials, professional development, and other resources the team will need to reach its learning goals for students. • Teams engage in two kinds of assessment - • Critique how the team works together in meeting goals • Collect data to determine if the teaching strategies in the team plan improved student performance. This information will be used to implement change.

8. Advisory – Chpt. 6 • In the advisory session, a teacher, administrator, or other qualified staff member meets with students, the advisees, and leads group activities that address a broad range of students’ concerns. • Topics can range from interpersonal issues to health-related questions to concerns about school work. Students should help select activities. • Advisory is not a time for intensive personal counseling. Teachers can work with school counselors who are trained in this area.

9. Role of the teacher/advisor • Know each advisee individually • Act as liaison between home and school • Refer students to resource personnel • Implement activities as planned by teams • Act as an advocate for each advisee

10. Scheduling advisory time • When during the day? • How often during the week? • What length of time per session?

11. Activities during advisory time • “Housekeeping” details • Discussions • Projects • Journaling • Games and social time • Read aloud • One-on-one time

12. Joseph Joubert - 1842 • To teach is to learn twice.

13. Advisory Team Project • Each member of your Team (advisors) will have approximately 25 advisees. Decide the following: • Time of day to meet, minutes, & days per week • General rules for all advisors & advisees • Major topics/activities/areas of interest that must be covered by all advisory teams. ( Civic, Housekeeping, Value training, Goal setting, Career exploration, Curriculum tie-in, One-on-one time, Tutoring, Student interest & Discussion topics, Projects, Reading, etc. ) • Parent communication • How will your team evaluate the effectiveness of the advisory program?