Introduction
Driven by passion to advance my studies, I enrolled in United States of America to pursue my masters’ degree on educational leadership. Throughout the course, we undertook both in class study and field study in various high schools to understand their teaching methodologies .we visited high performing schools and low ranking schools to evaluate the variations and the determinants of the discrepancies.
I analyzed some of the approaches to different issues that I would like to practice in my school.
Teaching strategies
Some of the successful teaching strategies that yielded excellent results in the USA education include:
Individual Private coaching
Unlike in our institutions where low performing students are grouped and allocated extra teaching time. In USA, poor performing students are categorized and each allocated a specific teacher to help improve performance in the relevant subject. This approach will encourage openness of students in their low skilled subjects.
Frequent practice exercises
Academic clinic
This is a day reserved for parents/guardians and students to interact with the members of staff to evaluate the performance of students in both academic and other curricular activites.In our situation, parents who are less involved in students’ affairs will have a chance to be informed of their neglected roles.
Practical sessions for technical subjects
Approaches to confront students’ difficulties
Introduce private counseling sessions
For instance, in Oxford Academy, every student is allocated a teacher as the guardian who is mandated to monitor the student progress in both academic and social affairs .the student be granted the freedom to interact freely with the teacher and express any kind of difficulty. If this is replicated in our school, it will achieve the positive results.
Democratic election of students’ executive
Allowing students to be represented by their own members is a motivation toll in self-expression .they are able to express their sentiments bravely to the administration .If adopted, it will mitigate the frequent strikes that occur in the school
Technology
Technology in the USA is the catchment of education. Schools have installed wireless connectivity in the school libraries .this enables students to research beyond the class contents to expand their knowledge bank. Besides, applications like e-books, wikihow, web quests and knowhow have been installed. With such programs in our school, students will be motivated to study ahead of the teacher and learn more. Moreover, students are encouraged to develop relevant programmes and are rewarded for creativity.
Methods to assess the students’ progress
Preparing a progress evaluation book.
This book will record individual progress since the start of the program and the continued response to the new approaches.
Bi-weekly evaluation tests
These tests assist in studying the trend of the students’ response to the teaching strategies. Additionally, I will be able to realize the weak areas that require more attention. This will provide an opportunity to reward the students as way of motivating them.
Introduce private sessions
Attending to the students individually will provide ample chance to study the strengths and weaknesses of the student .Furthermore; it will enable the student to express themselves about the challenging areas.
Conclusion
A policy should be drafted and entrenched in the schools constitution to safeguard the future of these strategies from ignorance or manipulation. In addition, half-yearly reviews should be performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the strategies .those strategies that show slow impact should be reviewed and relevant changes made to accustom to the current environment. This should happen through frequent random test to the students to assess the effectiveness.
References
Campbell, Linda, 1948-2003 (2003). Mindful learning: 101 proven strategies for student and teacher success. Thousand Oaks, Calif: Corwin Press.
Kaufman, C. (2010). Executive function in the classroom: Practical strategies for improving performance and enhancing skills for all students. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Pub. Co.
