The teachers in the English and social studies programs at Jamestown High School are coming up with innovative ways to teach their students the fundamentals of their classes.
The teachers in these two departments are working together in their world literature and global history classes to ensure that their students are truly understanding what is being taught to them. With new state standards being handed down to teachers, students are expected to be literate in every subject.
Barbi Price, high school ELA department chair, and Mike Tuccio, high school social studies chair, agree that the two subjects have many cross-curricular opportunities, especially at the sophomore level, where students are learning world literature and global history.
Tuccio said that the Regents Exam is very difficult for students at this level, with low exam scores statewide.
"We were begging everybody to help us," Tuccio said.
According to Mrs. Price, he didn't have to beg. Upon comparing notes, the departments began to realize that there were many similarities between the departments that they could build upon inside the classroom.
"Ultimately, we want to help kids succeed in every area," Mrs. Price said.
THE BEGINNING STAGES
At the beginning of this school year, Donelle Conti met with other global studies teachers to compile a list of key concepts that they cover in their classes. She then gave the list to English teacher Becky Newman, who realized that the concepts that the social studies department focused on could be applied to materials that her students cover.
Together with consultant teacher, Jean Davies, Mrs. Newman created a PowerPoint presentation around the book "Animal Farm," focusing on the Bolshevik Revolution, and asking students questions about totalitarian governments, how they might manipulate their citizens, and how language can be misused.
"We wanted to reinforce the connection between history and literature, and many students commented that they better understood the dystopian novel because of the background history and biographical information about Stalin. As a matter of fact, one student remarked, 'Gee, Mrs. Newman, what are you teaching? English or global?'" Mrs. Newman said.
Mrs. Price regards that student comment as a compliment as to the teaching style.
"The English and global kids get it, and that's what we're shooting for," Mrs. Price said.
AN OBVIOUS MARRIAGE
New York state is one of 46 states that have adopted common K-12 curriculum standards, which offer grade-specific learning expectations for mathematics, English language arts, as well as literacy in social studies, science and technical subjects.
Due to the common curriculum standards, teachers have had to work together to ensure that students are retaining the same information across the board in each subject.
"We need to come up with ways to better foster relationships between departments," Tuccio said.
The connections between the English and social studies departments form what Mrs. Price describes as an obvious marriage.
"There has been a fabulous reaction from the kids. They understand better with both the English and social studies background," Mrs. Price said.
Tuccio said that with the new standards, communication has also increased within the departments, as teachers are able to discuss what does and does not work within their classrooms. They are then able to brainstorm new ways to engage the students and help them to retain information.
"We're sharing with each other, and borrowing ideas. It's all for the good of the kids," Tuccio said.
FUTURE CROSS-CURRICULUM OPPORTUNITIES
Even as his department works with the high school's English department, Tuccio said that he can't help but to think of where else cross-curriculum opportunities may lie. Both he and Mrs. Price agree that the school needs to continue to do more to engage their students on multiple levels.
"This is just the tip of the iceberg," Mrs. Price said.
According to Tuccio, right now, the departments are making a push to focus on the classes that are either gearing up for or actually taking the Regents tests, to ensure that they are literate on the material.
However, he and Mrs. Price already see upcoming opportunities for cross-curriculum learning, especially at the 11th-grade level, where students are learning U.S. history and American literature.
"We try to facilitate the transfer of knowledge," Mrs. Price said.
Right now, Tuccio said that the teachers have talked about the successes that they are seeing within the students, which is raising their morale and confidence.
"Teachers are coming on board and seeing the benefits," Tuccio said.
Currently, English and social studies teachers at Jamestown High School are working with students on grasping vocabulary and concepts. Mrs. Price and Tuccio expect that there will be several other opportunities for the departments to work with one another coming up this year.
