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Returning to Basics – Teaching the Whole Child

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Seventh in a series

Re “LaRose on Raison d’etre: To Ensure All Learn at Highest Levels”

[img]1456|right|Dave LaRose||no_popup[/img]Teaching to the test, zooming in on fattening test scores isn’t even at the bottom of the Objectives List in the School District under Supt. David LaRose.

If students are struggling and teachers intervene in real time, he says, “test scores will take care of themselves. The goal of focusing on test scores is too narrow.”

In Year One of the Common Core curriculum, the motivation for visiting with Mr. LaRose, he said:

“When I have spoken of our goals and objectives, and I have spoken not only of the ‘what’ of learning but the ‘why’ of learning, and focusing on all of the factors that impact learning – this is addressing the whole child and providing that level of support. Those are also important measures.

“It’s more like someone said, How do you have a more holistic lens?

“I am not just talking about making assessments, assessments used to identify at the end of the year, that provide some type of compare-and-contrast within our organization, comparatively across the state and even nationally.

“More importantly, the four questions I talked about before,” said Mr. LaRose, snapping his fingers, “those are our own formative assessments.  They take quick snapshots on a regular basis to make sure the students are developing, growing, mastering those standards that are essential.”  

(To be continued)