At the beginning of this school year, a co-worker mentioned this book to me and suggested that I order it for the professional library at my school. It took me a while to actually pick it up but I am so glad that I did. Ron Berger definitely has a lot to say about educational reform and what true learning should look like. The basic idea steams from the need for a culture change, a paradigm shift in our schools and in our classrooms. Learning has become so prescribed and tailored to standardized tests that students are missing out on the experience of true learning and a culture that holds all students to high standards that transcend curriculum and traditional strategies.
Berger teaches in a small public school in rural Massachusetts. The culture of the school is one of excellence. This excellence is seen in every part of the school day. Students are taught to go through multiple drafts of work, give meaningful feedback and receive feedback from others. All students create portfolios that are presented to a panel at the end of every school year. The work included in the portfolio is evidence of true work that matters to the students and the schools. Content is delivered through thematic units that include all core subjects and revolve around real world problems and activities.
This has to be my favorite quote from the book:
Imagine...Wouldn't that be amazing!
Here is a link to the introduction on the book for you check out!
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