High school was designed to teach to the “average student,” who learns all subjects to an average depth at an average pace. In this world, “fast learner” was used as a shorthand for intelligence, and “slow learner” was a polite phrase for stupidity. The problem is that the average student doesn’t exist and learning slowly is actually more associated with retaining information.
Some schools that understand the incredible variation in how students learn are rethinking the concept of accommodations, the extra support and time that students identified as having learning differences usually receive. This award-winning early college high school gives all students accommodations while those students are simultaneously completing all four years of high school and up to the first two years of college.
Explore more innovative ways to help all students succeed:
- Watch: Culturally responsive teaching is… good teaching
- Watch: The power of giving students voice and choice
- Read: 7 ways schools can help teens suffering with mental health issues
- Watch: Documentary films and videos to help rethink high school
- Read: Giving students voice and choice
- Read: Understanding the power of project-based learning
- Read: How mastery-based pacing helps every student succeed
- Listen: The problem with high school
- Listen: Podcasts to help rethink high school
Thank you to Principal Claudia Gomez-Perez of Jimmy Carter Early College High School, which won a GreatSchools College Success Award.
