During the spring of 2012, I had the privilege to visit a very special middle school in inner city Atlanta, Georgia. This school, headed, managed, and taught by award winning educators Ron Clark, Kim Bearden, and their staff, takes an innovative approach to tackling the challenges of education in the 21st Century.
Since my visit, my own teaching has been revitalized. It's apparent in the way that I wake up in the morning, the way I create lessons, and even in the way I respond to my peers. My students are receiving the best of who I am as a teacher. They are learning the hard lessons of how to deal with people respectfully, with appropriate handshakes (not too hard or soft) and direct eye contact, actively listening to a speaker, and appropriately responding to other people.
It it obvious to anyone who visits the Ron Clark Academy (RCA) that this school exudes a different kind of energy. If one did not know better, one would believe it is magical. Teachers there regularly challenge the students (who reflect the average public school in Atlanta even though it is a private school) at advanced levels, with the highest of expectations, and students succeed because of it.
The video below provides only a taste of this school's amazing spark. If you are interested in seeing more, the RCA YouTube channel has a number of interesting videos.
Since my visit, my own teaching has been revitalized. It's apparent in the way that I wake up in the morning, the way I create lessons, and even in the way I respond to my peers. My students are receiving the best of who I am as a teacher. They are learning the hard lessons of how to deal with people respectfully, with appropriate handshakes (not too hard or soft) and direct eye contact, actively listening to a speaker, and appropriately responding to other people.
It it obvious to anyone who visits the Ron Clark Academy (RCA) that this school exudes a different kind of energy. If one did not know better, one would believe it is magical. Teachers there regularly challenge the students (who reflect the average public school in Atlanta even though it is a private school) at advanced levels, with the highest of expectations, and students succeed because of it.
The video below provides only a taste of this school's amazing spark. If you are interested in seeing more, the RCA YouTube channel has a number of interesting videos.
