Mission Possible: How the Secrets of Success Academies can Work in any School

With the ever growing problem with our school systems today, it's no question that the various techniques used in our schools  could benefit from serious evaluation and change.  While other industrialized countries are thriving, the United States continues to fall behind in performance, graduation rates and college attendance.  Why, when everything else in our world seems to be progressing, is education treated so differently than other professions in our country?  Could it be the lack of support for our teachers?  Or the low standard of expectations of our students?  What about the dwindling parental involvement?

In Mission Possible: How the Secrets of the Success Academies Can Work in Any School, Eva Moskowitz
 and Arin Lavinia discuss, through research, trial and error, how success can be obtained when schools shift their focus to improving the adults involved in education.  Moskowitz's charter schools in Harlem have emerged as some of the top schools in New York City and she wants to share with all of us just how this came to be.  Throughout the entire book, Moskowitz and Lavinia share various descriptions of how they keep students engaged and challenged, and their teachers informed, coached and supported.  When teachers are supported with learning labs, coaching sessions, and rigorous curriculum, good things happen.  Students are held to high standards, regardless of their  background and parents are required to attend meetings and learning sessions and to fully support their child's educational needs.

As a former teacher in a school full of disadvantaged and English as a second language learners, I fully appreciate the stress on high expectations.  All students have the ability to learn and should be challenged.  I just loved how the idea of clear, critical thinking is encouraged most of all.  Students are challenged and encouraged to think for themselves and come up with their own ideas with the support of their teacher.  The accompanying CD allows us to step inside any given classroom to observe the subtle ways in which lessons are tweaked to perfection.  Let's be clear here, people.  Moskowitz and Lavinia are not selling the charter school system.  They are merely sharing with us, the very ideals that led to their success.  I certainly think we as parents, teachers and administrators, can learn from these leaders.

To learn more about Success Academies, join Eva Moskowitz on facebook or follow her on Twitter @MoskowitzEva.  Use the hashtag, #readmissionpossible

Enter to win a copy of your own right here!

Comment below for a chance to win Mission Possible:  How the Secrets of the Success Academies can work in any school, by Eva Moskowitz and Arin Lavinia that includes a companion DVD, providing clips and interviews.  One luck winner will be selected by betterwithabook.com.  US residents only.

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Disclosure:  I was compensated for this post.  As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.