Friday, January 18, 2008

New Lunch Programs

I wish I could take credit for these, but Mr. Kochan and Mr. Leaver conspired to get these promising programs going.

Lunch Study Hall – Tuesday and Thursday

Purpose : an intervention program to encourage students to complete classroom and homework assignments while developing study skills that will enable them to be successful in the future

Guidelines

1. This program is designed to benefit students who need extra time and/or motivation to complete assignments.

2. Teachers will give the student a pass attached to the specific assignment(s) to be completed.

3. The pass will allow the students to go to the front of the lunch line and proceed to room 130 within 5 minutes.

4. Teachers will e-mail the names of the students reporting to lunch study hall to Mr. Kochan by Tuesday and Thursday morning.

5. Mr. Kochan will compile an attendance list for the lunch times.

6. Students remain in the room the entire lunch period.

7. If the student finished the assignment(s) before the lunch period ends, the student will engage in silent reading or organizing any school folders.

8. Teachers will use their discretion to which students will benefit from this program.

9. Mr. Kochan will return the assignments to the teacher’s mailbox after the lunch periods are completed.


Activity Time in the Gym – Monday and Friday

Purpose : to reward students for completing classroom assignments and encourage physical activity

Guidelines

1. Teachers will give selected students a pass to go to the gym during the first 15 minutes of lunch.

2. Teachers may select students who have completed all assignments and have shown exceptional citizenship.

3. The students will go to the gym and participate in activities directed by Mr. Kochan.

4. Students will be dismissed from the gym and proceed to the lunch line and/or cafeteria for lunch.


posted by MiddleSchoolPrincipal @ 8:56 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Where have all the gifted students gone?

With the advent of No Child Left Behind congress may have left behind some children, the gifted children. As a principal you know that the school report card is based on the number of kids who pass the MEAP. The school report card has nothing to do with the students who exceed the state standard, only the number who at least meet the standard. Therefore, schools around the state spend allot of effort on those students who have fallen below the state standard line.

Congress is no better. In 2006 congress appropriated $9.7 million dollars for the Jacob Javits Gifted and Talented Act. Given the estimate of about 3 million gifted students, that works out to about $3 per child. In that same year congress has allocated $23.7 billion dollars to fund No Child Left Behind Act to bring students up to minimum proficiency.

The fact is that schools have a limited amount of resources to work with. Programs for gifted students or struggling students both cost money. So here are my questions for those of you who read this:
  • Is the United States going to compete globally without putting money into programs for gifted students?
  • Are the AP courses and dual enrollment options enough for these students?
  • Is it ethically wrong to spend money on gifted students when we still have students who do not meet minimum standards?

posted by MiddleSchoolPrincipal @ 8:56 AM 0 comments