Personalized Learning in AP Lit - Teachers Honor Teachers
- Richard Schmidt, K-12 Literacy & Social Studies Coordinator, Riverside Local Schools
Stacey Lucas’s trust in students, passion for literature, and commitment to students is what’s right for the classroom.
“Mrs. Lucas has created a learning environment where students dig deeper and are now thoughtful agents of learning.”
-Richard Schmidt
Some educators teach math. Others teach English. Some teach science, social studies, or a myriad of other electives. Stacey Lucas, of Riverside Local Schools in Painesville, Ohio, teaches…STUDENTS!
“Mrs. Lucas is a KID CONNECTOR and a COMMUNITY CONNECTOR. She represents the BEST of the BEST on our CAMPUS,” William Mayer, Principal, Riverside High School.
Mrs. Lucas is an experienced teacher and a valuable member of the English department at Riverside High School. While she has always had a “student-first” classroom approach, this year, I’ve had the opportunity and privilege to work alongside her as she chose to dive headfirst into the Ohio Personalized Learning Framework to increase student engagement, autonomy, and ultimately, learning for the AP Literature classes.
In our collaborations, I as an instructional coach, she as a classroom teacher, we found common ground behind the idea that “fair isn’t always equal, and equal isn’t always fair.” As we continued to learn together about personalized learning, we found that structuring her classroom in this way will be best for students, and lo and behold, we were correct!
Mrs. Lucas began by pre-assessing students on several standards created by the College Board to collect formative data that was then shared with students. She then provided students with a calendar listing topics that would be learned each day. This data led to students making decisions about what and where they needed to learn. If a student needs to learn more about a topic, they can choose to attend classroom sessions. If they have already mastered content, they can choose to work independently to extend their learning. The classroom sessions are highly engaging for students. The daily structures include short bursts of whole class instruction or modeling, plenty of student-to-student collaboration, stations, and opportunities for students to work one-on-one with a teacher and/or a “student expert.”
The result of Mrs. Lucas’s commitment to personalized learning is a class of seventeen-and eighteen-year-old learners who look forward to coming to class (even to the first block!) because they have taken ownership of their learning. Many teenage students experience learning as passive. Mrs. Lucas has created a learning environment where students dig deeper and are now thoughtful agents of learning.
I am thankful to have been invited to work alongside her to learn this process together. Her trust in students, passion for literature, and commitment to students is what’s right for the classroom. Mrs. Lucas’s willingness to collaborate with fellow educators is what’s right for our school community. Her mindset toward being a lifelong learner is a great example for our professional community.
Perhaps, most importantly, she is what’s right for….STUDENTS!
Teachers Honor Teachers
The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation launched a new program last fall inviting teachers to recognize a colleague they know is doing exceptional work in the classroom.
In the above post, Richard Schmidt expresses his admiration for fellow teacher, Stacey Lucas. Thank you to both educators for your dedication to students and for taking the time to showcase what it means to deliver challenging, innovative, and student-centered lessons that result in powerful and deep learning.
Through the Teachers Honor Teachers Program, The Foundation is seeking Ohio public school teachers to share great things about a teaching colleague in an Ohio public school that ensures deep learning for students. If we choose to post your story, we will award $500 toward that teacher's classroom for their great work and $500 toward your classroom for honoring their excellence. Apply here.