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What makes for good teaching? And how does the Dallas school district get more of it?

That is one of the themes we are going to explore on this blog this year. So, let me take a stab at the start of an answer. I’d like to hear ideas from Education Front readers, though. This conversation is ongoing.

As far as what constitutes good teaching, I’d say it starts with a passion for the work. In my experience as a student, parent and journalist, a sense of calling has seemed to separate the stand-out instructors from the average to dismal ones. The leaders have a deep desire to connect with kids.

That quality points to the next must-have ingredient. A top-tier teacher knows how to relate to their students. I remember talking to one Dallas principal a couple of years ago when he brought this point up. I was thinking more about a teacher’s pedagogical skills. But he was right. Good teachers have a knack for letting their students know they care about them.

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The Cumberland Valley School District is looking at redistricting for the 2012-13 school year in response to overcrowding predictions at three elementary schools.

A redistricting committee will meet Friday at Cumberland Valley School District’s Eagle View Middle School. There is a possibility of overcrowding at three elementarty schools.

The district has formed a committee in response to a recent enrollment and demographic report that projected overcrowding at Middlesex, Monroe and Silver Spring elementary schools.

The report by Brad Furey Consulting looked at trends within the districts population, including enrollment projections, housing developments and census data.

The three-member committee will meet 7 p.m. Friday at Eagle View Middle School cafeteria to discuss what they would recommend to the school board. Districts officials said no decisions have been made.

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Entering your freshman year of high school can be a daunting task for many teenagers. At the West Shore School District, teachers and administrators try to make the transition smoother by holding team-building exercises and games for incoming freshmen to get acquainted with their new surroundings.
    
English teacher Starr Ariola drops an egg inside a paper bag at the egg drop event during the seventh annual Patriot Challenge at Red Land High School. The daylong event is for the incoming freshman class to complete tasks that allow students a chance to get to know each other, meet school staff and familiarize themselves with the layout of the school.Red Land High School recently hosted the Patriot Challenge, a full-day event that helps get students excited about their first year in high school.
    
The event includes games and team-building exercises sandwiched around a cookout prepared by the high schools staff.
 

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