"These are lifelong learning skills."
   -Sheryle DeHondt 
  8th grade Science Teacher
  Reuther Middle School
THE SHIFT IN OUR THINKING

Historically, staff development tended to be “informational” in nature – staff attended seminars, workshops, in-services and received information about new techniques and strategies but may not always have implemented them back in the classroom. Our focus for staff development has now become a “transformational” one – staff still attends professional development opportunities but there is continual support provided, such as co-teaching, collegial lesson-building, and teacher lab, and an expectation that instruction will and does evolve.

WHY USE BEST PRACTICES

These routines and strategies are tools that provide structure for students to collectively as well as individually initiate, explore, discuss, document, and manage their thinking.

OUR MISSION

To create a culture of thinking where students learn through authentic, intellectual activities.

-Make decisions

-Solve problems

-Evaluate evidence

-Develop curiosity

-Identify new understanding

Reuther Middle School received a book grant from MEEMIC to purchase Creating Cultures of Thinking: The 8 Forces We Must Master to Fully Transform Our Schools by Ron Ritchhart for the staff's 2015-16 professional development.  Natalie James, Rachel Mainero, and Deanna Knox accepted the award from John Pino and Brad Almonroeder.  
Children grow into the intellectual life around them. 
                        -Lev Vygotsky