Preparing Mineola Schools for the next decade, and beyond

Nearly every generation has uttered the phrase “I just don’t understand young people these days”.  History demonstrates marked differences between generations and can easily distinguish between ‘baby boomers’ and the ‘generation-x’.  However, the onset of advances in technology has blurred these lines. We have never been faced with such dramatic changes in technology that in turn have altered the work force and the way we work.  From computers in automobiles to data programming, technology advances so quickly that the professions of today’s Kindergarteners do not yet exist.  To quote from the popular You-Tube video, “Shift happens 2010”, “We are currently preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist using technologies that haven’t been invented in order to solve problems we don’t even know are problems yet.” For educators it begs the question: “How are we supposed to prepare students for life after high school if we do not know what jobs will exist when they graduate?”

 

Educators can no longer afford to teach the way they learned.  Children today are so inundated with media and technology that it is becoming increasingly difficult to engage and motivate them in school. In fact, in most cases, they use more technology at home than at school. More than ever we need to embrace the notion of ‘if you can’t beat them- join them”. Our school system must reinvent itself to focus on student engagement and collaboration, while simultaneously not forgetting the ‘three r’s’ (Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic). 

 

 In order for us to meet these new demands and to create a learning environment that children want to be a part of and grow, we need to change the way we do educate them. We are re-designing our schools with a new generation of learners in mind.

 

1) The Prek-2 program must emphasize “reading.”  The primary goal of our new ‘reading schools” will be to ensure that every child is on grade level when they leave second grade.  With “Reading Buildings” we  concentrate our  resources to insure that every child progresses at his/her own rate in not only “reading” but in such areas as whole-body movement, hands on learning, social interaction, cooperative learning activities, open communication and problem solving skills.    All of this in an environment that teaches children appropriate social and ethical behaviors including anti-bullying, to prepare them for a global society.

 

2) Jackson Avenue’s grade 3 & 4 building will be designed to build on the foundations of the ‘reading schools’.    Jackson will become the “inquiry school’, where children use the tools/strategies they have acquired to ask questions and find the answers to their questions. (Helming 2011)  Embedded in the inquiry school is teaching students how to think. The foundation of 21^st century skills is based on the four “C’s”, Collaboration, Communication, Creative thinking and Critical reasoning.  These skills must be taught and cultivated. 

 

3)  Our middle school (grades 5-7) will allow for an exploration of different skills and technology.  The fifth grade ipad pilot program has given our students an opportunity to collaborate and be creative thinkers. By expanding the pilot to the entire 6^th grade will allow us to change the way we teach and then the learning process changes dramatically.  The ability of students to access information is literally at their fingertips.  This automatically changes the way teachers think about the learning process.  Questions that require students to recall specific facts now take a back seat to questions that require analysis.   Classroom activities that involved worksheets are replaced with real learning requiring students to work together and develop problem solving skills; just like we face in the workplace every day.   Our focus shifts from rote memorization to how we solve problems and how we explain and demonstrate our understanding of our work. Technology will allow students to actively engage in their work and creatively demonstrate their understanding.

 

4) The culmination of a child’s journey through the Mineola School District will be at our high school (Grades 8-12).  An 8-12 HS will allow our students to learn about specific content but with the skills and knowledge to make meaning of their studies.  The entire 8^th grade will begin Algebra next year, something only two classes were able to achieve in the past. The progression of students through The Reading Schools, The Inquiry School and The Technology Skills School are all in preparation for the rigors of higher expectations in the high school.   Students all too often do not believe they have the knowledge or skills for such subjects as Calculus.  We will provide them the skills, knowledge and confidence to challenge difficult work and, most importantly, to succeed.

 

Every aspect of public education is now under the microscope be it on a national level, state level or right here in our community. We can not continue to do business the way we always have. Insanity has been defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. We have a unique opportunity in Mineola to re-create our schools in such a way that will excite our students about learning,  properly prepare them for their future, and provide for a more cost effective and efficient school district.  I hope that you are as excited about the path ahead as I am.