Discover the Difference: Lifelong Learners

by Diocese of Des Moines | April 1, 2022

One way to encourage students to be lifelong learners is for them to see adults that they respect constantly learning.  That is what the teachers at St. Albert Schools in Council Bluffs are doing.  Each Wednesday when the school dismisses early, teachers are engaged in learning to better their practice in the classroom. 

The elementary teachers have been focused on curriculum, looking at standards, and making sure what is taught is sequential and comprehensive for students.  Their learning has included reviewing the standards with each other to make sure they have a common understanding of each standard.  From there, teachers are mapping out a scope and sequence for the broader units.  This allows them to see what is being taught so that concepts are built on each year.

The middle/high school teachers have been reading a text called, Differentiation in Middle and High School.  The teachers are learning different strategies they might use in their classrooms and then have the chance to work on adding those strategies into their plans to enhance their teaching in the coming days. The teachers have also spent time looking at data from student assessments, identifying student needs, and determining interventions to improve learning.

The Catholic Schools Office is providing the training for teachers.  Each month Denise Mulcahy, director of Teaching and Learning and Anne Franklin, director of Professional Development, have the opportunity to work with the teachers at St. Albert. 

"Professional development allows teachers to engage in life-long learning, which betters their teaching practice," said Mulcahy. "When professional development is set up to help teachers grow in their profession, it is met with enthusiasm.  That enthusiasm winds up back in the classrooms and our students reap the benefits."

The Diocese of Des Moines Catholic Schools includes 16 schools in 23 counties in central and southwest Iowa. Catholic schools in the Des Moines Diocese build Christ-centered, collaborative, inclusive partnerships with parents, students, and parishes to provide innovative academic excellence and inspirational faith formation.