Summer school for teachers designed to help student math scores

While teachers may eye the summer break with the same enthusiasm as their students, for many it’s an opportunity to change roles and become students themselves.

Through many USD 428 offerings during the summer, teachers become the students as they compile the necessary hours to remain certified by the state board of education.

About two dozen third- through eighth-grade teachers recently returned to the classroom to attend a two-week math academy, offered by the district as a part of grant.

Ruth Heinrichs, curriculum director, said this is the final year of a three-year grant to provide the workshop designed to improve state assessment scores. Taught by Ruth Harbin Miles, a math consultant from Virginia, and Dr. Connie Schrock, a math professor from Emporia State University, teachers learn about math content and instructional practices.

As part of the two-week math academy, teachers will attend four Saturday sessions throughout the year.

When primary-grade teachers heard about the workshop offered to their upper-level peers, they requested something similar. Although it was a shortened workshop, Miles provided information to 25 kindergarten through second-grade teachers during the last two weeks.

Heinrichs said earlier this summer, Great Bend High School social studies teachers attended a webinar to learn about the technological aspects of their new textbook adoption.

“Teachers want the technology,” she said. “They want to learn.”

Heinrichs was impressed by the technology that was used in putting together the webinar. She explained that a representative of the book company in California and a consultant in Iowa work in tandem to present the information; one put things on the screen for the teachers to see and the other moved the mouse. Using a conference phone, everyone was able to ask questions and receive information. Later this summer, Great Bend Middle School and elementary social studies teachers will have an opportunity to learn how to use their new books.

“The cost savings to the district is unbelievable,” Heinrichs said, noting that no one had to be flown in for the webinar.

Next week district administrators will attend a retreat with a leadership consultant. In July, about 50 more teachers will attend a cooperative learning workshop called Kagan Structures.

“It helps teachers learn how to get kids involved in their own learning,” Heinrichs explained.
Later this summer, all new teachers to the district will be involved in a two-week orientation that includes Best Practices for Beginning Teachers, meeting their mentors and an introduction to USD 428’s mission and philosophy.