Classroom and School Structures

As I read the chapters for this week I was pleased to discover that I have been previously exposed to many of these research based best practices.  Most have been discussed as part of other courses in the MAT program.  Also, I am foutunate that my school provides professional development oppurtunities for our teachers and we have literacy coaches providing support.  I teach in a Title I school.  We are NI5 this year. The majority of my students are economically disadvantaged and we have a large number who read below grade level.  As I said, I have heard of most of these strategies, but I am still experimenting with how best to use them in a chemistry classroom.  I am beginning my third year teaching, and so far it is my best, but I want to continue to improve.  Our school is committed to improving and we are working on professional learning commumities within our building.  We stated a "Freshman Academy" this year  with teams to help our 9th grade class be more successful and insure that they reach the 10th grade.  We also have common planning for our subject area and are developing commons assessments.  I really believe that our new principal is heading in the right direction for us to become one of the 90/90/90 schools discussed in the text.