Welcome to QL Club
Let's bring it in
Whoa!
This month we'll look at The Power of
"BLITZING", a case study in Kearney, Nebraska.
I am so excited and fired up about the progress of one of our CSR Grant schools: Bryant Elementary in Kearney, Nebraska. Students and staff at Bryant have been working with Quantum Learning under a Comprehensive School Reform Model where staff training, coaching and extensive implementation of Quantum Learning strategies are at work. I have had the privilege of working for 2-1/2 years with Bryant's Principal Nancy Brosamle and her staff and students. Bryant is a challenging school with many disadvantages, including high poverty and drug use among parents. Staff members face a multitude of situations with high-risk students on a daily basis.
When I think of the numerous dynamic shifts and the overall progress of Bryant, many details come to mind. One area of importance, of course, is leadership and, as the principal, Nancy has taken responsibility for leading change at Bryant. But leadership can take many forms. Nancy has empowered others at Bryant to help her make a difference in how the children succeed. Enrichment, mentoring and tutoring in small groups are forms of leadership that are performed by all staff members at Bryant in a concept called "BLITZING."
"BLITZING" is a scheduling idea Nancy created where paraprofessionals in the building work in every classroom for a specific period of time with the students who need extra help. They do this with small groups of students simultaneously to boost reading, vocabulary and comprehension. And, it's working!
Think about it: Why do some economically disadvantaged students perform well academically despite so many obstacles while others flounder? I'm sure there are many factors to be considered, but I believe that Nancy has created one system that really works. Enrichment, positive mentoring and small-group tutoring at school during the early years are some of the components that, when carefully planned and consistently implemented, help many of these children succeed academically.
In a long-term study of 111 children from low-income families, Campbell and Ramey concluded that the earlier such children are exposed to special childhood and academic development intervention, the better the long-term results. The study determined that even in households where parental support was less than ideal, children who received Head Start mentoring and social worker intervention continuously from infancy through 8 years of age scored significantly higher on reading and math tests by age 15 than the control groups. The control groups received the intervention at later age levels or did not receive any intervention at all. Children exposed to early intervention repeated fewer grades and required fewer episodes of special education.
At Bryant, "BLITZING" is one form of powerful enrichment where mentors help students to believe in their own abilities, and where the mentors demonstrate positive modeling. Leadership takes many forms and creates a powerful, lasting context for all staff and students to "step into." "BLITZING," along with dozens and dozens of effective Quantum Learning strategies being implemented daily by the staff at Bryant, is shaping successful students day by day. We wish them continued success.WE'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU
...
We welcome any contributions to QL Club including topics of
interest, questions you have, stories of QL in your classroom, and what's
working for you. Send your comments to: jgomez@QLN.com.
The purpose of the QL Club is to continue to look for what works as we deepen our understanding, practice ideas, and develop mastery of skills in QL and as professional educators.
Thank you for making a difference in the lives of your students and staff!
Jenny Severson,
Ed.D.
Lead Facilitator, Quantum Learning Education
