| How do I decide what to teach? |
6/10/04 7:06 AM |
| Author:
Carole Mottaz
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Cyndi, in Wisconsin we charter with our local school district, which has been a wonderfully positive experience for me. We have state standards that we have to adhere to.
Our program has the two traditional parts, required subjects and elective subjects. I believe that it is very important to give students a strong foudnation in the basic skills of reading, writing, numerical reasoning, citizenship, science and technology.
So, our required classes for my day program are the same as at the local high shcool, with some additions. An important part of our mission is to provide transitional skills to help students transition from school to ??? (hopefully college). All seniors are required to take a full Careers class from me at the beginning of the year. They complete a number of interest and career inventories. From these inventories they develop a lists of careers (not jobs!) that they would be interested in. During the last quarter with us they all participate in a mentoring-apprenticeship placement that has been indicated by their inventories. This year, some of my placements were: local architect, physical therapist, law enforcement, elementary pre-school program, elementary music program, heating and air conditioning, auto mechanic and a health food store.
In keeping with this mission, we also require all of our students to take 2 years of Spanish and at least two technology classes.
Our elective classes are somewhat determined by our students. Students complete an interest inventory at least twice each year where they indicate what electives they would like to take. I have a half time position available each quarter to hire staff to teach these classes. As we have evolved, we have found that our students love technology and art so these are permanent electives.
Posted as a reply to:
What do you teach? by Cyndi Wells 
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