The September edition of Smithsonian Magazine includes an article (A+ for Finland) that profiles the Finnish education system. Because Finland’s students regularly outscore their peers from around the world on the Program for International Student Assessment, the country’s school system is looked to as one of the best. The article points out several differences between the Finnish and US education systems. For me, the most notable of these is how the country selects and prepares its teachers. But what I found most interesting, was the description of the Finn’s whatever it takes attitude that they employ with their struggling learners. Their all hands on deck approach is working.
Although we are a long way from being mentioned in the same conversation as Finland, I feel that KPBSD is doing a good job of doing what it takes for our younger, struggling learners. We can show that our Response-to-Intervention process that we employ with our primary students is leading to positive results. The number of special education referrals that we have for students who are emotionally disturbed, or with learning disabilities is falling. It is fair to say that our intervention efforts are paying off. I know that all of us at KPBSD are trying to improve our school district. It is good to see that some of what we are doing may in fact belong in this conversation of what is best in education.
Whatever It Takes
The September edition of Smithsonian Magazine includes an article (A+ for Finland) that profiles the Finnish education system. Because Finland’s students regularly outscore their peers from around the world on the Program for International Student Assessment, the country’s school system is looked to as one of the best. The article points out several differences between the Finnish and US education systems. For me, the most notable of these is how the country selects and prepares its teachers. But what I found most interesting, was the description of the Finn’s whatever it takes attitude that they employ with their struggling learners. Their all hands on deck approach is working.
Although we are a long way from being mentioned in the same conversation as Finland, I feel that KPBSD is doing a good job of doing what it takes for our younger, struggling learners. We can show that our Response-to-Intervention process that we employ with our primary students is leading to positive results. The number of special education referrals that we have for students who are emotionally disturbed, or with learning disabilities is falling. It is fair to say that our intervention efforts are paying off. I know that all of us at KPBSD are trying to improve our school district. It is good to see that some of what we are doing may in fact belong in this conversation of what is best in education.