A+ Ideas, Programs, and Practices

The Kenilworth Public Schools set out to find a way to provide the type of elementary-school child care that parents desired – and educate the “whole child” at the same time. A group of teachers and the building principal at the Harding Elementary School formed a professional learning community, which developed the successful program. District … Continued

Leaving middle school, and entering the demanding world of high school, can be a culture shock for many students. Often, there is a gap between the skills students have when they leave eighth grade, and the skills they will need to succeed in high school in algebra, science, technology and other content-rich courses. The school … Continued

The Pascack Valley Regional High School District has implemented all of these, plus other scheduling changes, to restructure time and scheduling at the high school, for the benefit of student learning and wellness. The effort to restructure time began several years ago, with a multi-year study involving parents, students, faculty, administration, the school board and … Continued

Like many adolescent students, seventh-graders in Chester’s Black River Middle School read the “The Outsiders,” the classic teen novel by author S.E. Hinton. But after that, Chester students delve more deeply into the book and its themes, by working with their teachers and local police officers. Team teachers Joseph Pizzo and Doreen Aiello invite two … Continued

This shared service strives to increase student achievement by building skills, knowledge, leadership and collaboration among the staff of the seven school districts (Haworth, Closter, Demarest, Harrington Park, Old Tappan, Norwood and Northvale) that feed into Northern Valley Regional’s two high schools. The curriculum center provides all new teacher learning through a three-year academy; professional … Continued

Many districts struggle to ensure that professional learning communities, groups of colleagues that are formed to foster collaborative learning, are productive and teacher-led. The Somers Point district has created a model that enables teachers to lead their PLCs, and ensures that the learning communities are focused on teaching and learning, rather than on administrative tasks … Continued

The Green Brook Middle School is on a mission to help students become self-directed learners. The school is working to help students learn take responsibility for their own decision-making; select, manage and assess their own learning; and organize their time, materials and ideas. Students in grades 5-8 take an active role in creating their own … Continued

Homework does not have to be an object of dread. Homework can promote learning, foster a positive classroom environment, and “prime” students’ brains for learning. The Freehold Township School District has received excellent feedback for its work in improving homework practices – or, as district officials call it, “home learning.” Based on the most current … Continued

The Beverly School District uses a computer-based skills assessment program to gauge student performance in the elementary and middle school grades and develop differentiated instruction. Data is collected on a student-by-student basis, and shared with teachers to aid in the design of instruction for each student. The information is also retained to create a longitudinal … Continued

For the past nine years, the Harrington Park School District has worked toward a goal of developing the leaders of tomorrow, through a deliberate and strategic program to place students in opportunities where service leadership is infused into their daily lives. One effort is Project Pride. Through Project Pride, students use what they learn in … Continued