All Students Can Learn
At Thimmig, we strive to become like Henry Higgins, which is the last model listed. We believe All Kids Can Learn! AND WE WILL ESTABLISH HIGH STANDARDS OF LEARNING THAT WE EXPECT ALL STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE! We encourage teachers to stay away from the first three ways of thinking that some teachers slip into.
We continually ask our staff these two questions:
Which Teacher Are You Today?
Which Do You Hope to be in the Future?
ALL KIDS CAN LEARN!
…BASED ON THEIR ABILITY (Charles Darwin – Natural Selection)
We believe that all students can learn, but the extent of their learning is determined by their innate ability or aptitude. This aptitude is relatively fixed, and as teachers we have little influence over the extent of student learning. It is our job to create multiple programs or tracks that address the different abilities of students, and then guide students to the appropriate program. This ensures that students have access to the proper curriculum and an optimum opportunity to master material appropriate to their ability.
…IF THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN
(Pontius Pilate – Teach and Wash Your Hands of Them)
We believe that all students can learn if they elect to put forth the necessary effort. It is our job to provide all students with this opportunity to learn, and we fulfill our responsibility when we attempt to present lessons that are both clear and engaging. In the final analysis, however, while it is our job to teach, it is the students’ job to learn. We should invite students to learn, but honor their decision if they elect not to do so.
…AND WE WILL ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENSURING THEIR GROWTH (Chicago Cubs – A Fun and Happy Place Where Any Progress is a Good Thing…If We Don’t Make It…Wait Until Next Year!)
We believe that all students can learn and that it is our responsibility to help all students demonstrate some growth as a result of their experience with us. The extent of growth will be determined by a combination of the student’s innate ability and effort. It is our job to encourage all students to learn as much as possible, but the extent of their learning is dependent on factors over which we have little control.
…AND WE WILL ESTABLISH HIGH STANDARDS OF LEARNING THAT WE EXPECT ALL STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE (Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady – We Can Teach Anyone to High Levels of Achievement, Regardless of Who They Are and Where They Come From)
We believe that all students can and must learn at relatively high levels of achievement. It is our job to create an environment in our classrooms that result in this high level of performance. We are confident that with our support and help, students can master challenging academic material, and we expect them to do so. We are prepared to work collaboratively with colleagues, students, and parents to achieve this growth.
- DuFour, Dufour & Eaker
