Why BTL? | Bridges to Learning

Why should we talk?

I provide practice in skills that can enhance student achievement in the classroom.

The starting point will be what the student is expected to do in the classroom. I will provide guidance on how to complete these tasks successfully by reinforcing techniques taught by the classroom teacher or showing alternative ways to approach them. It might be helping a student to break a larger task into smaller tasks. It might be simply providing the student the opportunity to ask questions or try solutions that he might otherwise feel uncomfortable trying in the classroom for fear of being “wrong” or “looking dumb” in front of peers.

School-age children and their families across the country face challenges.

Academic standards are being raised yet programs that enhance learning are being reduced. These include access to technology instruction, music, art, and physical education. Class sizes are increasing. Days of instruction are being reduced.

School days will be lost this year due to budget shortfalls.

At least five days of school have been cut due to budget shortfalls in the St. Helens School District. There are additional days (at least 5) that students are not in class because of parent teacher conferences and teacher work and inservice days. I will offer half or full day workshops focused on a theme (poetry and/or creative writing, bookmaking, puppetry, science, etc) that will integrate learning, art, and creative play. There will be a maximum 12:1 student/teacher ratio. Students will enjoy structured, well supervised activities.

Try as they might, parents and education professionals will find it increasingly difficult to help students to meet these standards

With more students in the classroom and fewer days of contact with them, teachers have neither the ability nor the time to devote to each individual student. I can provide additional opportunities for instruction and practice with the ability to give immediate feedback that is not always available in the classroom. This is important not only for students who are struggling, but for the students who are exceeding in schoolwork and need or want additional challenges.

In spite of less days in classrooms, the performance standards that students are expected to meet are not less

Many states, including Oregon, are adopting higher performance standards, particularly in math, reading and writing. They will be subjected to more frequent assessments to demonstrate proficiency.