Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/315828
Learning "Your conclusion should wrap things up. So what? Now what?" The students start writing, and Cooper tells them her class will be open during lunch for them to con- tinue working or get help. C o o p e r s ays i n c o r p o r a t i n g l a n g u a ge a r t s a c ro s s the science curriculum does take more time, but the payoff is worth it. This isn't the first time students h ave b e e n a s ke d to w r i te o r i n te g ra te w h a t t h e y ' ve l e a r n e d . S h e ' s h a d s t u d e n t s w r i t e t a k i n g d i f f e re n t s i d e s o f va r i o u s b i o e t h i c s i s s u e s l i ke e m b r yo s te m cell research, animal testing, physician-assisted sui- cide, and the use of genetically modified organisms in the food supply. She's also had them debate each other in front of the class. Students feel such projects, including today's essay, help them learn the material better. " I t r e a l l y b r i n g s i t a l l t o g e t h e r f o r u s a n d g e t s u s t o r e a l l y p r o c e s s w h a t w e ' r e l e a r n i n g ," s a y s G i a n n a L u c a r e l i . Her classmate Justin Debeikes agrees. "It's better than just doing worksheets and quizzes." The past year, Cooper has been part of CTA's first Teacher Leader- ship Cohort, a program that identifies strong, passionate teachers and develops their advocacy skills around improving professional prac- tice. The Unified Association of Conejo Teachers member is a strong believer in Common Core, and despite the fact that textbooks are not yet aligned to the new standards, she's making it a point to adjust her teaching and curriculum. "I'm trying to develop at least one lesson per unit per year that incorporates the new standards," she says. She believes her district is on the right track with Common Core implementation, and the key is to have the change teacher-led rather than a top-down effort that brings in a lot of outside consultants. "Teachers are the real experts. We know our students, our districts, our subject matter, our resources, and any constraints we're under. We're the ones who will make this work," she says. The bell rings, and students pack up and begin leaving. Cooper again reminds them to take advantage of her class being open at lunch. Many of them have sports meets and band competition after school, which will eat into the time they have to complete the assignment. As the students leave, a tall boy named Derrick makes his way to the front. He politely thanks Cooper for today's class. "He does that every day," she says. "It's really kind of nice." Ashley Cooper says teacher leadership is key to Common Core implementation. "Teachers are the real experts." Over 5,000 complete Common Core-aligned lessons from 130 Master Teachers (including CTA members!). cc.betterlesson.com 45 www.cta.org M AY 2 0 1 4 Educator 05 May 2014 v1.6 int.indd 45 5/16/14 3:21 PM