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Essay / Time To Learn by George Wood - 1251
The second book of George Wood's manuscript, "Time to Learn", addresses the idea of change within the school system. “Transforming High School” is divided into chapters that explain how to positively change the normal, structured school environment. Wood gives examples and illustrates the need and process of change through: how to truly interact and connect with students, how to teach important things successfully and reinforces the need for a democratic system within the school. Like the first book, Wood uses many students to serve as examples of situations within the school, but also to provide a connection in his story. In the introduction, we meet a new student at Hocking High School. The student came from a very challenging school and was unfamiliar with a positive school environment such as FHHS. The title “Reaching Every Student” does just that with new student, Leroy. The school contacts Leroy, discovers how difficult he is to adapt, and corrects his problem by talking to his grandparents. The story sets a perfect theme for the next chapter which deals with getting to know students. In Chapter 3, Wood begins directly by addressing the issue of school size. The schools are simply too big. With the example of Charity's student, Wood demonstrates that when a student becomes anonymous, they feel less connected to the school; therefore, students underestimate the importance of high school. I know that if I felt like I didn't belong in a certain place or situation, my interest and involvement would undoubtedly be diminished. Wood also gives the example of a boy who is very intelligent, but simply uninterested in work. When his lack of achievement was discovered and after investigation into his study habits and interests, he was very active in education, but not committed. It wasn't school work; it was his lack of connection with the teachers and the classroom materials. Wood then discusses five strategies for establishing a connection between student and teacher/school. 1- Reduce the overall size of the school With this method, Wood believes that no student will be anonymous. They will all develop a greater sense of involvement. Students will also have more face-to-face contact with teachers. It is also developing a system of small discussion groups where students are divided into areas that interest them most...