Paper and Pencils

I visited Hillsdale Middle School and was impressed to see the majority of students using paper and pencils!  Principal Wallace showed me around campus as we visited classrooms and other learning spaces of various subjects and grades.  Principal Wallace shared with me the school's mission to prepare students for Valhalla High School by facilitating learning with 60% paper and pencils and only 40% technology-based instruction.  This is a welcome return to the foundations of research-supported cognitive development strategies, and it was a joy to see students making eye contact with their teachers and even taking notes!!!  In addition to seeing quality instruction, the key focus of the visit was to see the Restorative Center in practice and learn more about it.  Besides supporting students and staff on campus on a daily basis for shorter time lengths, their practice of transitioning students from suspensions with a day of reflection, goal setting, and academic tutoring seems to really help students return successfully.  Principal Wallace also shared with me the details of how the school's policies support students of a variety of religious backgrounds to build a community of partnership rather than division.  Hillsdale is a great model of implementing successful strategies in response to student and staff needs.