Page 4 - PPPS Pride & Progress-Spring 2017

TEACHER SPOTLIGHT:
CEDAR STREET CAMPUS

657-8831 update

Jeannine Koeneke
COMMUNITY EDUCATION DIRECTOR
Elizabeth Patckak
Please join us in wel- Radically Different Discipline Program
coming the newest addition at Cedar Street
to the Adult Education
teaching staff! Originally Cedar Street Alternative Education has they are asked the questions again. The stu-
from West Michigan, Eliza- recently implemented a new discipline pro- dent will then work with the SRC Monitor,
beth Patchak received her gram that is radically different from other Warner Offord, to create a plan that the stu-
bachelor's degree from behavior management programs. This pro- dent will bring to the teacher to negotiate
WMU with a double-major cess was developed by Edward E. Ford and is and earn their way back into the classroom.
in math and science, and called the Responsible Thinking Process Cedar Street’s discipline program does
earned a master's degree in (RTP) . It is based on Perceptual Control not try to control students or do something
®
mathematics in 2016. Theory (PCT). Cedar Street believes that to make them change the way they behave.
Previously, she taught finite students have the right to learn and teachers There are no rewards and no punishment.
mathematics, pre-algebra, have the right to teach in a safe and respect- There is no step approach to detentions or
and probability and statis- ful environment – free from disruption. suspensions and students actually decide the
tics at WMU and KVCC. When a student makes a disturbance in amount of time they are away from class or,
Elizabeth will be overseeing the classroom, or breaks a rule in any part of in the case of serious misconduct, away from
the Van Buren County Jail the building, the student is asked questions school. The ultimate goal is to keep kids in
GED Program, as well as like, “What are you doing? What are the the classroom.
helping out in the Adult Ed rules? How do your choices affect others? Within the first month of the new disci-
Lab at Freshwater Church. What will happen if you break the rule pline program there have been no detentions
Here's what she had to say again?” By asking these questions students or suspensions. With the mutual respect
about her time in Paw Paw are allowed to accept responsibility for their created since using the RTP, teachers are
so far: actions. spending more time teaching and students
"There is a holistic ap- If a student chooses to break the rule a are spending more time learning!
proach to education here. It second time, the student then goes to the
is so much more than just Student Responsibility Classroom where More Cedar Street Update on pages 15 & 16...
memorizing information
and passing tests. I have Mind Mapping
been so impressed by the
dedication and hard work Alternative Ed students
collaborate to make com-
of the students.Paw Paw
mon notes for their science
Adult Education is truly a
class at Cedar Street Cam-
perfect fit for me, and I feel
pus. After reading a pas-
very fortunate to have this sage, each student writes
opportunity." on the board what they
When she isn't spend- thought the main idea was.
ing her free time renovat- Then, the class reads what
ing her new "fixer upper" is on the board, discusses
house in Otsego, she enjoys which elements are similar
and makes connections.
reading, traveling, and
Students update their indi-
spending time with her two
vidual notes throughout
cats, Hank and Taco.
the process. PP
Welcome, Elizabeth!
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