One of the primary goals of COST for the past forty-two years is the internationalization of teacher education; that is, raising teachers who not only appreciate and teach the differences inherent within distinct cultures, but who reshape the profession by integrating best practices from around the world. In many ways, COST and organizations like it predicted, decades in advance, the dramatic changes in our world in terms of population density, language priority, wealth distribution, sustainability, and globalization. More so, the organization has sought to foster what the International Baccalaureate describes as International Mindedness; the idea that we should seek first to understand before we judge or make a determination, and that others, with their differing values and beliefs, can also be right.
A large part of the discussion around teacher education, beyond the pragmatics of effective instruction and assessment, is what values should we be teaching in the classroom, and what does culturally responsive practice look like? Most public and state systems are, not shockingly, highly provincial in their orientation. This is not a judgment. They emphasize local culture, local language and local history. These are obvious cultural priorities, and tie closely to one of the well-defined purposes of public education, to support the development of a literate citizenry. It is incredibly important that students understand where they come from, but they also must understand how the broader world and the arc of history has shaped, and shapes, their home and culture. An important example of this truth would be our own beautiful and complex Puerto Rico, and its relationship to historical and contemporary forces including colonization, slavery, immigration, emigration, globalization, and foreign interdiction.
Baldwin has been a partner with the COST program for two years. Along with fifteen American colleges and universities, and dozens of K-12 receiving sites world-wide, Baldwin is committed to improving the quality of teacher education so that it is fundamentally more responsive to the needs of the students and cultures that future teachers will serve. We have sponsored two COST students this year. Currently, Shanley Hicks from Auburn University is working with Veronica Reyes in our fourth grade team. We will welcome another student in the fall.
At Baldwin, we are also highly invested in growing our current teaching practices. Our teachers have worked incredibly hard this year to create a skills-based curriculum in all grade levels and all subjects. Our teachers are meeting with their IB Coordinators to grow their classroom units. Over the last two years, our teachers have engaged in continuous professional development both on and off campus. We recently had an expert in elementary math education on campus for a week of instructional training. In a few weeks we will welcome two of the authors of the IB Middle Years Program (grades 6-10) for training in unit planning and assessment. This summer we will send numerous teachers to training across the IB continuum. We are committed to your kids, and to the future of education.
On a different note, I am pleased to inform you that the Board has approved the Playground Committee's new playground concept, and has authorized me to move forward with its development. I will leave this as a teaser, but you can expect a very different Elementary playground by August.
See you around campus.
A large part of the discussion around teacher education, beyond the pragmatics of effective instruction and assessment, is what values should we be teaching in the classroom, and what does culturally responsive practice look like? Most public and state systems are, not shockingly, highly provincial in their orientation. This is not a judgment. They emphasize local culture, local language and local history. These are obvious cultural priorities, and tie closely to one of the well-defined purposes of public education, to support the development of a literate citizenry. It is incredibly important that students understand where they come from, but they also must understand how the broader world and the arc of history has shaped, and shapes, their home and culture. An important example of this truth would be our own beautiful and complex Puerto Rico, and its relationship to historical and contemporary forces including colonization, slavery, immigration, emigration, globalization, and foreign interdiction.
Baldwin has been a partner with the COST program for two years. Along with fifteen American colleges and universities, and dozens of K-12 receiving sites world-wide, Baldwin is committed to improving the quality of teacher education so that it is fundamentally more responsive to the needs of the students and cultures that future teachers will serve. We have sponsored two COST students this year. Currently, Shanley Hicks from Auburn University is working with Veronica Reyes in our fourth grade team. We will welcome another student in the fall.
At Baldwin, we are also highly invested in growing our current teaching practices. Our teachers have worked incredibly hard this year to create a skills-based curriculum in all grade levels and all subjects. Our teachers are meeting with their IB Coordinators to grow their classroom units. Over the last two years, our teachers have engaged in continuous professional development both on and off campus. We recently had an expert in elementary math education on campus for a week of instructional training. In a few weeks we will welcome two of the authors of the IB Middle Years Program (grades 6-10) for training in unit planning and assessment. This summer we will send numerous teachers to training across the IB continuum. We are committed to your kids, and to the future of education.
On a different note, I am pleased to inform you that the Board has approved the Playground Committee's new playground concept, and has authorized me to move forward with its development. I will leave this as a teaser, but you can expect a very different Elementary playground by August.
See you around campus.