2009 Annual Report.pdf - Town of Milton

Slater and Elizabeth Spitz, received a stipend to take the Principals of Inclusion
Class at Harvard with Professor Thomas Hehir. They investigated a model for
expanding the co-taught classroom into the fourth and fifth grades. Their recommendations
will be used to pilot the model in the 2010-2011 school year.
Teachers also had the opportunity to visit the Ahearn School in Boston to view
their Response to Intervention and Special Education model programs. The
Tucker was in its second year of developing an RTI model. This year the team
initiated “rounding meetings” in which teachers met with the Child Study Team
to brainstorm intervention strategies to help students in the classroom. A new
initiative implemented was Teacher Learning Walks. Teachers visited colleagues’
classrooms to view instruction in action, observe the continuum of
learning between grades, and listen for common instructional language throughout
the school. Tucker teachers also opened their classrooms to other Milton
principals and teachers to share the concept of Learning Walks and how they
support teachers’ professional growth.
Student Activities: Tucker fifth graders had their annual visit to Harvard
University which consists of a tour, a scavenger hunt, and a meeting with Mary
Grassa O’Neill, who spoke on the importance of planning for school and their
future. The science curriculum brought presentations by the Trailside Museum
to the school. Grade 5 students presented Junior Naturalist animal presentations
to the third grade students. Grade 3 visited Plymouth Rock. They also
continued their relationship with Milton seniors by visiting the Senior Center
and engaging in a Pen Pal Program. Five Tucker students participated in the
ACE Art Program. Tucker students also participate in the WISP science program
with University of Massachusetts focused on water ecology. A U Mass
doctoral student worked with the Tucker fifth grade students for the year.
Continental Math Awards and WordMaster Awards: Four Tucker students
took first place awards in Continental Math. Six took second place and three
took third place. Three Tucker students won medals in WordMasters and 12
won certificates.
Teacher Accolades: We were pleased to report that Tucker Elementary
School teacher Soondari Barker was honored by Milton Early Childhood Alliance
with their MECA Professional Recognition Award for her outstanding
contribution to the children and families of the town of Milton. In addition, Ms.
Barker was named runner-up in the final round of the Massachusetts Teacher
of the Year contest. This extremely competitive event, sponsored by Massachusetts
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, selects a teacher
each year who is worthy of speaking for and energizing the teaching profession,
and who represents the positive contributions of all teachers statewide. As runner-up,
Ms. Barker was honored at a State House ceremony.
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