Teachers from across Kentucky showed how their new approaches to teaching math and literacy skills are paying off for students, both in greater interest in learning and achievement results.
An audience of about 200 from Kentucky and other states learned from the teachers’ experiences. The new strategies are backed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and have been guided in Kentucky by the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence and the state Department of Education, which is now leading expansion of the program. The new approach to math puts students in the center of problem solving that taps students’ thinking skills; the new language arts assignments require deeper thinking and stronger writing in English, science and social studies classes.
The approaches highlighted at the June 4 showcase here are now being used in 17 school districts across the state, up from nine districts last year. Nationally, the project is expanding to new states, with educators from Colorado, Louisiana and Florida in the audience here to learn about what Kentucky teachers are doing.
“This is the second year we’ve heard that all teachers in the state need to be able to do this type of work,” said Stu Silberman, executive director of the Prichard Committee. “I know I want my grandkids to have the chance to be part of classrooms where teachers do this.”