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.