Back to School: Lincoln School

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While some Melrose schools are just starting to roll out co-taught classrooms, the Lincoln School has had co-taught classrooms for the past two years, according to Principal Brent Conway.

"Traditionally, co-teaching is in place to support the needs of special education students in an inclusive setting, so they can continue to get the same level of content instruction, but also have the support from a knowledgeable special education teacher," Conway said. "It takes different forms; there's daily co-teaching, and there's also models where the special ed teachers come into the room for a portion (of the week)."

More writing coaching, professional development for teachers

New at this Lincoln School this year is what Conway called the teaching staff's four-hour "Curriculum and Instruction Retreat," held last Thursday. The material wasn't completely new to the teachers, however.

Last year, the school brought in a writing coach who helped Lincoln teachers implement a writer's workshop method of instruction that Conway said aligns with the school's Harcourt Storytown curriculum for English-Language Arts. He said that the school had "great results" from working with the writing coach.

"Some of her work was done in sessions with the teachers by themselves, and then eventually moved into her going into classrooms and observing their teaching with teams of teachers," Conway said, "and coming back out afterwards and essentially being critical, to an extent—critiquing their work and having feedback and questions and answers with the other teachers as well. It was great learning, a great sort of a high-leverage professional development activity."

The same writing coach ran last week's "retreat" where Lincoln teachers who teach writing, on their own time, came in for the session. Conway said the coach will continue to work with Lincoln teachers throughout the year.

PE and Wellness Students of the Month

Lincoln's physical education and wellness teacher Gene Metto is starting a new program this year, Conway said—the PE and Wellness Students of the Month. One boy and one girl from each grade will be selected each month for the honor, based on sportsmanship and cooperation, which Conway said that Metto was looking to emphasize and build upon.

"It's two aspects of PE and wellness instruction that branch out into everything else that goes on in the classrooms and the students' lives," he said. "We have t-shirts that say 'Property of Lincoln Physical Education," it's got Lucky the Lion in the middle and on the back it says "Lincoln Pride." Those t-shirts will be given to students of month. We thought it was a great thing to get started."

Stronger Ties with International Welcoming Reception

The Lincoln School is known for having a diverse student population, with students from multiple nations speaking many different languages, according to Conway. Last year, the school held an International Week with a Festival of Nations at the end of the week, with students getting to visit tables staffed by Melrose residents from various countries.

"We're building upon that again this year and we'll try to tie it in with the International Welcoming Reception that the mayor's office runs in conjunction with the Human Rights Commission," Conway said. "Our site council has co-sponsored that reception the last couple of years, but now we're going to try and tie it all in together and have it be a full celebration of the international elements and variety of cultures we have in the building."

New Lincoln Teachers

• Laurie Durney, part-time occupational therapist