Bridging the Learning Gap
I had dinner a few weeks ago with a friend of mine who is a regular-day teacher. She told me that her principal is discouraging teachers at her school from teaching any science or social studies unless their entire class is testing at proficient or above on their state tests. I had suspected this was the case in some schools, but I was shocked to have my suspicions confirmed. While this is a terrible downturn for our students, this brings a huge challenge – and responsibility – to light for Afterschool. With testing and budget pressures forcing regular day teachers to continue to narrow their focus, It is now up to those of us in Afterschool to offer engaging, hands on, standards based curriculum in subjects where students are missing out such as science, art, social studies, music, and fitness.
View this as an opportunity to broaden your reach. Instead of spending all of your time working on homework or repetitive crafts, start teaching what your students are missing and make your program an invaluable part of your students’ learning. Engage them with new standards based lessons in subjects they don’t normally get to experience. This may sound difficult or time consuming but it doesn’t have to be. Curriculum is already available at places such as Curricubits. Materials can be inexpensive and easy to find if you are able to get creative in how you use them.
By teaching new and exciting material to your students, you can truly make a difference in their learning. Increased general knowledge and a positive attachment to school improves students regular-day attendance and boosts their test scores. Your program can be the place parents turn to help provide their children with a more well-rounded education. If you communicate with parents about all the wonderful things you are teaching in Afterschool, word will spread and your program will never have an empty slot for long.
Go ahead! Leave a comment and tell me what you think.
