Aug
29
2008
Las Vegas Schools Kicks Off Several Events for the New School Year
Posted by admin in Middle School Article, tags: Based Education, Dr Leonard, Family Physician, Males And Females, RebatesLas Vegas Schools ‘ Cheyenne High School Host Specialist in Gender Neutral Education
Dr. Leonard Sax, one of the foremost authorities in the success of gender neutral education, addressed the teachers and staff of Cheyenne High School. This was part of a professional development day scheduled before the start of the new school year. Dr. Sax is an author, psychologist, and family physician who has become a leading scholar on the topic of how gender differences affect student learning.
Dr. Sax’s day long presentation at Las Vegas Schools’ Cheyenne High School was based on twenty years of educational research and his most recent book, “Why Gender Matters.” Cheyenne High School has been using gender based instruction for a few years now based on the idea that males and females learn differently. Students who experience gender based education have been shown to ask more questions and have fewer problems with discipline. Dr. Sax’s workshop offered practical advice on discipline, gender stereotypes, and helping students avoid smoking, drugs and alcohol.
Las Vegas Schools Energy Conservation Program Reports Savings
The Two hundred and thirty-four Las Vegas Schools have will receive rebates for saving energy during the 2005-2006 school year. Schools in the Las Vegas Schools that have cut their energy costs by 10% or more will receive rebates of between $1,500 to $5,000. These rebates will be placed in a special account fund and will total around $560,000. Schools will be allowed to use these funds on anything that could directly impact student learning and achievement. This energy saving fund rewards those schools that have made behavioral changes in how they use energy. Las Vegas Schools that qualify for the program are those that can show that they have at least two years of documented utility history and then show that they have cut their energy Continue Reading
Aug
29
2008
Middle School May Be Passé Within The Boston Schools
Posted by admin in Middle School Article, tags: Achievement Levels, Gaining Momentum, Kindergarten, Supportive Structure, Upper GradesThe middle school model was conceived in the 70s and implemented throughout the 70s and 80s across the nation. It was thought that middle schools would provide a nurturing bridge between the early elementary school experience and high school. Unfortunately, many education experts now consider the experiment a failure with their poor performance and uprooting children twice during their turbulent and challenging adolescent years. Middle schools now are being viewed as the weak link in the educational chain by many.
Prior to the implementation of middle schools, these grades were either part of the elementary school experience or an expanded high school environment. Now, education leaders across the nation (including the Boston schools) are looking to return to those earlier models.
Kindergarten through Eighth Grade Model
With this model, the Boston schools would expand their elementary schools to include kindergarten through eighth grade. Many Boston schools educators believe this would deliver a supportive structure that would foster longer-term relationships between the teachers and their students. The thought is to use the earlier school experience to extend the nurturing that the middle school model was suppose to provide but hasn’t.
The push to integrate the middle schools with the elementary Boston schools is gaining momentum. Parents are especially in favor of the K-8 model for the Boston schools, wary of sending their children to the current middle school environment – especially within the urban areas.
Many Boston schools leaders and educators are familiar with the middle school struggle to raise achievement levels. They believe the K-8 model will keep the students and their families not only involved with their Boston schools but also connected on a more positive level.
Upper Grades Model
Others support the upper grades model of Continue Reading