The English Department Newark Valley High School has created a high bred! By combining three programs offered by the Tioga County Teacher Center, they have created their own brand of professional development. First the applied and were approved through the Study Group Program to conduct a study group they title “Pathways to Improving Literacy in the High School.” They are reading two books on Socratic seminars and Literature Circle. Beyond that Teacher Center Director George Lohmann, with the cooperation of Principal Diane Arbes, arranged a Socratic Seminar training that occurred partly during school hours and partly afterwards. Tom Beatty, Assistant Principal at OFA, provided that training. The third component was accomplished through the Classroom Laboratory Program. Director Lohmann would like to encourage more of this kind of professional development, particularly when it involves ongoing exploration of teaching strategies over an extended period of time. Research indicates that this is the most effective type of PD.
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What Is VTS: Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), is a school curriculum and teaching method that:
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Uses art to develop critical thinking, communication and visual literacy skills
- Asks educators to facilitate learner-centered discussions of visual art
- Engages learners in a rigorous process of examination and meaning-making through visual art
- Measurably increases observation skills, evidential reasoning, and speculative abilities
- Engenders the willingness and ability to find multiple solutions to complex problems
- Uses facilitated discussion to enable students to practice respectful, democratic, collaborative problem solving skills that over time transfer to other classroom interactions, and beyond
- Uses eager, thoughtful participation to nurture verbal language skills, and writing assignments to assist transfer from oral to written ability
- Produces growth in all students, from challenged and non-English language learners to high achievers
- Underscore connections to art and strengthens the role of museums as a valuable resource in students’ lives
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