Muskego Teachers Go Back to School to Enhance Literacy Curriculum

Muskego teachers went to summer school themselves this year to learn new ways to inspire students. 

Ninety teachers from the Muskego-Norway School District studied a reading, writing and literacy program run through Columbia University's Teacher's College in June and July. They're now implementing the training in classrooms of all grade levels, according to  Associate Principal Bob Antholine.

Results in other parts of the country are astounding. 

CUTC's success has been measured from a database of more than 90,000 students, which includes New York City and Seattle Schools, that show a performance of 97% above other schools, Antholine said. 

The program "helps kids become better problem-solvers, better writers and more engaged in the discourse," he said. "It also stimulates higher thinking in developing an opinion, taking a position and analysis." 

Applications for the program are beyond reading and writing, and can include math and science courses as well. The program mentors teachers over a three-year period, allowing for "freedom within fences" to allow schools to follow the program's goals while customizing to their own students.

"Muskego kids aren't Seattle's kids aren't New York City's kids, so we're able to make it our own program," Antholine explained.

The ultimate goal, he said, was to make Muskego schools an example for others.

"We want to improve everything across the board," Antholine said. "We have a lot of kids doing great things currently, but we'd like to be one of those places that becomes an exemplary or pilot district for others."

Teachers took immediately to the program, he added. 

"I've never been part of a staff development day that has been so well attended," Antholine said about the seminar. 

Mary Ehrenworth, deputy director at the Teacher's College, conducted the learning sessions. It was a stroke of fate for the district, as Ehrenworth was already in Wisconsin to visit relatives during the summer.

Antholine cited her renown as a "literacy guru" as a great advantage for the district, which will receive additional instruction from CUTC at Lake Denoon Middle School in October, February and April to follow up on the principles of the program.

Schools have access to CUTC's curriculum guides to aid teachers at all levels to implement, while customizing the program for their individual classes.  While Muskego schools perform well and are improving, Antholine said the program is a way to "keep things moving" in the right direction.

"They have a philosophy of the teacher becoming a facilitator of learning in the classroom, which makes each student do more on behalf of their own progress," he explained.