Wooten Attends the North Carolina High School Network

By Madeline Cunningham

       Greene Central High School Literacy Coordinator Brenda Wooten recently attended the North Carolina High School Network, which was held at the Sheraton Imperial Conference Center in Durham January 28th-30th. 

       This was a gathering of teachers and administrators to share their teaching strategies and the latest educational practices and issues.  It was also to hear what other schools are offering.

       Principal Randy Bledsoe also went and presented a school wide passion for literacy.  He discussed the fact that if students are going to be literate and ready for the 21st century, it takes all the teachers across the curriculum.

       “The High School Network provided an excellent opportunity for us to showcase our writing across the curriculum program.  After the presentation, high school principals and teachers from across the state inquired about our program and integration throughout the curriculum,” said Bledsoe. 

       “All teachers need to be focused on students being better readers and writers,” said Wooten. 

       Research shows that far too many children leave high school at too low a level of reading to make them successful in the world. 

       “If they go to college or not, literacy is essential in this world for success,” commented Wooten.

       This conference accomplished sharing simple ideas about writing training, electronic portfolio, SAT database, and reading across the curriculum. 

       “These are things that we have brought into Greene Central, but we are not where we want to be, and the students are not where we would like them to be.  We have a goal and a responsibility.  We want students to write in every class because if they are going to improve they have to practice and receive feedback,” said Wooten.

       “We are planning more staff development to give teachers directions on how to assess a paper and to quickly provide useful feedback.  We also hope to put together a committee of teachers who will develop a school wide writing program,” commented Wooten

       “I appreciate the teachers that are making a real effort to have their children reflectively write on a regular basis, and then providing them with feedback.  That is what they need to improve on in every classroom,”said Wooten.