Now that freshmen are here....

[Deanie Dunbar]

We have been in school about ten days, and the "honeymoon" seems to be over. I have noticed that freshmen are showing up on ZAP lists. I think the teachers may need to teach success strategies that part of the "hidden curriculum." What do you think?

[Cat Mejia]

I also think that succes strategies should be taught. Our freshman team divides some of these strategies amongst the members and we cover several of them in the first week of school. That way, we know that all students have some knowledge of things like ZAP, goals, agenda use, etc. Then throughout the rest of the year we can reference each other's lessons and keep reminding students of the success strategies they learned in the beginning of the year.

[Scott Habeeb]

ABSOLUTELY! Things like ZAP lists (Zeros aren't permitted) do absolutely no good unless you are teaching students about the detrimental power of zeros. Success strategies should not just be part of the hidden curriculum - they should be an up-front, in-your-face, we love curriculum. To not teach them - when they are the number one thing standing in the way of success - would be like not teaching Algebra and then wonder why students can't pass an Algebra test.