General News
A time for learning, too
May 22, 2008 5:36 PM
Gang pressure is on the rise with new groups from places like El Salvador. Participants in the “Understanding Youth Gangs” workshop led by NYPD School Safety Sgt. Jeanette Taveras learned how to tell if a student might be involved with a gang and what to do about it. Graffiti covering a book could be a sign. Gang members often wear certain colors of beads, hats and clothing. Bloods wear red; Crips wear blue; some wear jewelry displaying a five-point or six-point star. Initiation in gangs can lead to kids committing crimes. The UFT chapter leader for guidance counselors, Angela Reformato, advised participants to notify a counselor or administrator if they suspect gang involvement. Sgt. Taveras also does workshops for schools staffs and parents. above: Sgt. Taveras explains gang paraphernalia.
Tailoring instruction to meet the needs of all learners is not simply dividing kids into low-level versus high-level groups, according to Dr. Kristina Doubet (right), a professor at Virginia’s James Madison University who was brought back by popular demand to present at the “Differentiating Instruction” workshop after her popular session last year. Her strategy is to think of the classroom as a community where every student has strengths and weaknesses and difference is celebrated. Students learn to appreciate one another, and are more likely to cooperate and make friends. “Every student should have had the opportunity to both be challenged and to be the challenger,” she said.
Besides the speeches and awards and panels and exhibits, those who attended the UFT’s Spring Education Conference also had an opportunity to sharpen their skills at four workshops that took place during the event. National experts led discussions on “Differentiating Instruction to Meet the Needs of All Learners,” “Code Switching: Teaching Standard English in Urban Classrooms,” “Understanding Youth Gangs: Identification and Interventions” and “Thinking Mathematically.”
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