Back in the classroom
Suzie Harrison
The bell rang, signaling the kids to come in from break. It was
English period and the first 20 minutes are designated for sustained
silent reading.
Students in Suzanne McClaire’s special day class for at-risk
students at Valley Vista High School are focusing on the book “Into
Thin Air” about Mount Everest.
Each student got out their work folder and concentrated on their
in-class grammar and punctuation assignment.
“As you can see, I’ve made notes in your folders,” McClaire said.
Her class provides more than lessons in grammar and syntax. She
tries to facilitate their knowledge of real world applications.
McClaire has been a teacher in the Huntington Beach School
District for 30 years and at Valley Vista for more than 10 years.
Valley Vista is a continuation high school that addresses the
individual needs of the student. McClaire’s class is made up of six
students, with two teacher’s aids, who give the students a lot of
personal attention and help. Her class is comprised of 11th-and
12th-graders, most of them 17 years old, but all with different needs
and learning styles.
“Each student has unique learning needs, the staff works
diligently to identify the specific needs of each student and tailors
our approach for each student,” Principal George Green explained.
As part of the curriculum in McClaire’s class, the students earn
packets or credits through course work.
At the front of the class, they have a job board with job postings
for the students.
Though she tries to encourage them to work, none of her students
have a job yet.
McClaire pointed out to the class how important it is to find out
what one likes to do and that everyone’s taste might be different.
“Someone might like working alone in a stock room while other jobs
require that you work more with people,” McClaire explained.
She believes that teaching her students to be responsible is an
integral lesson that imparts success.
“It’s important to instill responsibility, make them responsible
citizens and teach them the value of an education,” McClaire
explained.
She encourages them to better themselves in any way they can.
The class discussed the value of an education and how it affected
their future.
One young man was getting side tracked by worrying about making up
some missed class time after school. He declared for an artist, such
as himself, school was wasn’t necessary.
“You might decide you’re going to learn something,” McClaire said
with a smile.
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