Teacher Development Grant 2024-2025 Project Summary

Susan Proulx-Herron

Duchesne Academy • Omaha, NE

Duchesne Academy, a private all-girls high school, wants to empower young women to be active participants in their education. Through the Gradual Release of Learning method, a research-based instructional approach,  teachers will support learning and engagement by systematically shifting responsibility from the teacher to the students. The Academy plans to introduce this method of teaching. Teachers will participate in a book study of Better Learning Through Structured Teaching: A Framework for the Gradual Release of Responsibility by Douglas Fischer and Nancy Frey to apply the framework. Collegial assessments, walkthroughs, and student feedback will guide planning for future professional development. Teachers will participate in groups to discuss what they have learned from the text, how they could incorporate it into their everyday lessons, and make changes for the future. Teachers will also observe their peers to see applications in a variety of classrooms and content areas. The implementation of the Gradual Release Teaching method promises to increase student learning and engagement in the classroom.

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