Summer School and Frozen Yogurt

   So, if you had to pick, which would you? Yeah, so would most kids.  Here's the thing, though, as a teacher and a former summer school administrator, the time spent at school really can prove beneficial to students that are enrolled; but only if you do it right.

   Small group instruction is good.  1:1 instruction or 1:2 instruction is even better.  We put that in place at the elementary school where I was in charge of the summer curriculum.  The results were - pardon the teacher-hyperbole - incredible.  I say that because in so many ways the old results were, at best, lack-luster.  Seriously, you're going to suggest we can make up a year's time in the classroom in front of 30 kids in 4 or 5 weeks?  Even if you watched Mr. Holland's Opus every night to be re-inspired (or maybe the old Mark Harmon movie)

and wrote lesson plans worthy of inclusion in some text published by the ASCD itself, it's not happening, folks...

   Summer school is really not a kid's idea of a fun way to spend their break.  I get it.  It may not be what their parents are looking forward to; and even many education professionals may lament the resources spent thereon.  Sometimes, summer school may seem less exciting than vaccinations, and less beneficial.  But, in truth, when it's done right, the benefits can be enormous and can make for a subsequent year of successes; and isn't that what we're really here for?  And success means that kids, parents, teachers, and everybody else who commits resources and time to summer school has done something worthy and difference-making.

   And there's plenty of time for frozen yogurt after school.  In what world are those things mutually exclusive?

   The wagon rolls on.  Thanks for riding shotgun!