Teachers Take Red Cloud's Curriculum to the Next Level

posted June 13, 2014

Earlier this month, Red Cloud’s faculty once again joined with curriculum professionals from Bridgewater State University in Red Cloud Indian School’s historic library to take the next step toward integrating common core standards throughout the school’s courses. 

Moira Peckskamp, director of curriculum and assessment at Red Cloud, believes that by working in partnership with Bridgewater State, Red Cloud is on track to graduate students that not only know the correct answer, but how to think critically about the question—a skill that top colleges and businesses are looking for.

“We decided back in 2012 that we’d focus our efforts on Common Core standards,” says Moira. “With the help of Bridgewater State University, the faculty at Red Cloud are exploring a new way of learning built around the idea that the goal is not just the right answer, it’s the process. We don't just want students to know what 2 x 4 is, we need them understand why. Literacy is our goal.”

And after a series of professional development workshops this summer, Moria says they are right on track to provide teachers with the support they need while increasing test scores and overall retention.

“The process so far has been very positive and the teachers are really amazing. It was never an issue of the teacher's or the student's ability to teach or learn, but rather an issue of having the right tools to get the job done. I’ve been so glad to be in a role where I can help provide curriculum and professional support for our teachers so that they have the tools they need to give our students a fighting edge as they compete against students from across the county at the college level.”

With the close of this professional development series, they will have covered the subjects of math and English and will now begin planning workshops around a new course topic with the help of Bridgewater State for their August session—each time taking one step closer to their goal.