Reform vs. Traditional Pedagogy – A Teacher’s Perspective By Cathy Jones

How Does A Teacher Become Reformed: Continuous Professional Development Curriculum Revision Selection of Materials Support Network Research Talks!

What causes a paradigm Shift? Commitment to step out of the “comfort zone.” Student learning supports the new methods. Teacher reflection on past, present, and future lessons.

Hazards of Changing from Traditional to Reform Methods Time Consuming – Don’t try it all at once. Administrators, Parents have concerns. Belief that test scores will improve immediately.

Benefits of Implementing Inquiry Methods Students become responsible for their own learning. There are more opportunities for cross-curricular activities. Classes are more fun for students and teacher.

Benefits of Implementing Inquiry Methods (cont’d) Students see the relevance of what they learn and are able to transfer knowledge. Attitudes improve. Test scores do go up!

Teacher’s Role to Ensure Continuous Improvement Attend professional development regularly. Rely on your network. Read current research, especially NCTM. Mentor other teachers!