Inspiring students to learn

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A cube. A paper airplane. A cut-up sentence.

All are tools teachers can use to instruct any student in just about any subject as large in scope as the history of imperialism or as basic as the names of colors. They can do it while accommodating different learning styles, sometimes even different languages in one classroom, as is done at the trilingual Elsie Stokes Whitlow Community Freedom Charter School on 16th Street Northwest in the District.

Given training and direction along with some purposeful goals and a philosophy, some District educators are doing just that under the direction of a nonprofit educational group called the Center for Inspired Teaching. The spirit of open inquiry, akin to the famed Socratic method that is fundamental to its approach, has resulted in improved test scores and attendance records, according to research provided by the center.

They do it and manage to surmount challenges from parents, unsympathetic principals and an occasionally stubborn bureaucracy, since the program also includes long-term support.

"We train the teacher to work with parents, even angry parents," says Aleta Margolis, executive director of the center, which she founded 12 years ago as a third-generation Washingtonian eager to help a struggling public school system.

Her premise, then and now, she explains, is that traditional top-down instructional methods turn off a child's natural curiosity. Figuring out how each student's mind works and finding ways to engage that student is key.

"Research shows that even — especially — kids not from stable families can take advantage of our approach," she notes.

In addition to seminars, workshops and a two-week-long summer institute for professional development, the center sponsors classroom mentors in certain schools and partners with others for one year or longer. In the latter case, all of a school's personnel, including service workers, take part.

Issues surrounding the art of teaching are at the heart of each program. Skills and strategies are core. These can involve physical as well as mental activities to fully engage a student.

"It's a lot of what you the teacher put into it," suggests Carol Betts, a program graduate.