Program Description:
    New District 211 teachers participate in a four year staff development program acclimating new staff
to school and district policies while refining teaching methodology and classroom strategies. 
The program culminates with teachers designing and implementing
a school-wide initiative for the HEHS learning community.
This program has been awarded "Those Who Excel" Award from the Illinois State Board of Education.

Mentoring Program:

    Designed to bring new teachers into the classrooms of master teachers at Hoffman, the Mentor Program showcases successful teaching strategies and methodologies.  New teachers meet with mentor teachers to design lesson plans and implement effective teaching practice in their own classrooms. 

Teachers use this link to SIGN UP to work with a Mentor
After observing a class Term 2, participants complete the OBSERVATION form.

Instructional Methodology
November-December 2009

Instructional Methodology

Active Reading:  As a passive activity, reading can become nothing more than running eyes across the words.  Active reading requires the student to engage with the text by adding physical annotation that parallels the mental note taking in this method.  Discover how to connect your students with the meaningful parts of any text. 

Community Based Education:  Learn more about this program that focuses on social skills and language development that facilitates independence in the community and work place.

Cooperative Grouping:   Co-operative learning is a highly structured methodology that encourages positive interdependence among learners.  Competition is replaced with cooperation while maintaining individual accountability. Strategies for creating cooperative groups with various types of structures will be presented. Ideas to gather students’ feedback on their level of understanding of material and the creation of groups based on the results will also be discussed.

Setting High Expectations for Low-Achieving Students:  Tactics of this methodology  include incorporation of higher-level thinking questions in an environment that inspire participation.  Components of this also include designing lessons where students are able to build upon prior knowledge, in order to serve as a confidence booster before beginning a new/unknown area of study.

Socratic Seminar:  A Socratic Seminar is teaching methodology used to assess student understanding by creating a dialogue based on ideas found in a text.  In a Socratic Seminar, participants seek deeper understanding of complex ideas through deep thoughtful dialogue rather than by memorizing bits of information.  Unlike a debate, the Socratic idea is not meant to be oppositional but a shared collection of ideas that help students find deeper connections and understanding.

Simulation and Instructional Games:  Looking for a way to connect your students with a life-long lesson?  Educational theorists have shown that classroom simulation is a powerful method to immerse your students into the curriculum.  Class debates and court trials are just two of the simulations that will be discussed.

TABA:  Take our discussion of "Exceptional Teaching" farther as Jason Stevens and Rob Schmidt discuss their use of TABA techniques in American Studies discussions.  Kevin Mallon will discuss his variations and adaptations of this model that work in his classroom.  This methodology that develops critical thinking skills will enhance any engaged discussion in any curriculum.  Scott Phillips will demonstrate TABA methods in an environment of scientific inquiry.

Experienced Advice:

    Experienced teachers are encouraged to e-mail best professional practices  to share with new and other experienced teachers.
 

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