Teachers' conference 21-22 of June,2018

Annual Teachers' conference was organized in Naryn on 21-22nd of June 2018 at the State Naryn University.
19 teachers from villages shared their positive experience and  successes of  their work. Teachers worked in groups and prepared analytical reports on their work, and the effectiveness of the program.
It was a new experience for teachers and they could think and work individually, share their product of ork with others, and to get a formative feedback from others. As the result, they improved the quality of their report by adding some data with numbers, facts, and statictical information. Teachers liked such form of analysis and in their feedback they mentioned that they will use it at their work.
In 2017 520 students applied to participate in LSP, and at the end of the year certificates were issued to students:

Number of certificates by level
English course					Math course
Starter 1	Starter 2	Beginner	Elementary	Pre-Intermediate	Starter	Beginner	Pre-Intermediate
96	35	99	39	9	37	17	70
Total number: 278					Total number: 124
Grand total: 402

On the other hand, 16 teachers also got certificates for the PD course in 104 hours for 2 academic years of work. Certificates for teachers were  recognized, signed,  and stamped by the Naryn Oblast Educational Department.

Teachers gave recommendations to improve  work:

-          Involvement to the LSP’s process community, parents and school administration.

-          Include new courses like: Russian language, chemistry, biology and history.

-          Modify and transfer our curriculum to Cambridge curriculum.

-           Carry out various interesting activities as they are in LSP and continue them, because students liked LSP’s presents and they are motivated to continue those contests.

-          Strengthen LSP by fixing one tariff of fee price, do not rise up.

-          To motivate teachers, they recommended conducting LSP’s activities in August 2018 in the lake Issyk-Kul, because they said they ready to pay transportation for themselves.  

-          To motivate students to conduct summer camps for students who are completed course successfully and present students certificates after completion of summer camp. 

Our meetings are always interesting and productive!

Contest in Naryn, 27th of March

“Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth learning can be taught.” 

   — Oscar Wilde 

When teachers have adequate subject and pedagogic content knowledge and effectively trained, it makes a huge difference on the education of students. Today as never before, meeting our society’s challenges demands educational excellence. To make changes in teachers’ education and to develop their skills and knowledge, Professional Development trainings are organized in LSP for teachers of Naryn Oblast, and opportunity to work with students where teachers implement their new knowledge and skills into the practice. To realize this goal, we organized a Contest between students-representatives from 16 schools of Naryn Oblast at 27^th of March, 2018. 72 students and teachers from Kochkor, At-Baashi, Ak-Taala, and Naryn regions met in Naryn. The Contest was organized at the Naryn State University and an educational tour and a lunch at UCA.  At this activity, participants could compare the facilities of both Universities, to experience the atmosphere of studying and learning at UCA, to meet and talk with students-guides at the UCA, and to ask about opportunities to study there.

In order to educate in the 21st century, teachers need to maintain the student's interest in the material by showing how this knowledge applies in the real world. There are many skills that children will need in order to be successful in the 21st century. Here are a few of the most important 21st century skills that we are working on to improve and develop in LSP, such as ability to collaborate, work in teams; critical thinking skills and problem solving; effectively analyze and evaluate evidence, arguments, solve different kinds of non-familiar problems in innovative ways; communication, using oral and written communication skills in a variety of forms and contexts; collaboration to demonstrate ability to work effectively and respectfully with diverse teams;  creativity and innovation; ability to conduct research to learn about issues and concepts. “ In a survey of 433 institutions of higher learning 95% of the chief academic officers identified critical thinking as one of the most important skills for students and noted that 81% of employers wanted universities to place a stronger emphasis on developing critical thinking skills” (AAC&U, 2011).( Using Critical Thinking Teaching Methods to Increase Student Success: An Action Research Project, 2017, Volume 29, Number 1) Consequently, we want our groups to develop critical thinking skills and other skills. At the last training in Naryn (in February, 2018), we presented and discussed the strategies to teach students to develop such skills. In the educational process through the Learning Support Program, students should be offered a wide variety of ways to learn, among which they could choose to learn and practice or with which they could experiment.  Teachers and students have learned through their research and community work projects, and textbooks are provided as one of many possible resources. All teachers play a significant role in shaping the lives and careers of their students. We observe in LSP the important role of the program play in developing effective, engaged teachers and students that, in turn, can improve outcomes for all students. All of us will benefit from it because our students are the results of our educational processes and inputs. We recognize that this is extraordinarily difficult work and the actual result will not be always visible at the end of academic year but later.  Going from knowing about something to really growing and developing requires a time. Teachers need to give the product of training or development activities the space to be developed. All of us need to sit with new ideas and knowledge. We need to take time to step back, reflect, and consciously decide how one will put new insights, skills, and abilities to work. New ideas, new approaches, new skills all need some practice at school and between schools for the better collaboration and understanding of the process. However, many students develop their potential and demonstrate it at our school and interschool activities. We support our teachers to be flexible with how they teach and give learners the resources to continue learning outside of school.  At the meeting in Naryn (in March, 2018), teachers and students of 16 schools of Naryn Oblast demonstrated their new knowledge, attitudes, and skills through essay writing, speech contest for students of English language course, and Math Olympiad and Contest to solve Math tasks for students of Math course. Students have “room” in the program for group projects and individual assignments. They work with teachers to propose and to implement their Community projects and Research projects. At the same time, independently they write their ideas for speeches, their essays and present them to teachers and students in the groups. They are becoming independent autonomous learners who can find solutions and solve problems, who can act autonomously, but with support of our teachers.  In these projects our teachers and students develop skills that are so valuable in our modern life. Teachers and students learn together and this is amazing that this is not a process of teaching only, but learning collaboratively and shaping new concepts. Teachers also present their speeches and write essays, practice Olympiads with students and learn in this process too. Educator preparation programs for research project work, for Community Project work, essay writing, speech presentations, play an important role not only in modeling effective curriculum and instruction that addresses both content and skills so that their own students will learn well; they offer important, structured opportunities for teachers of LSP to learn how to plan curriculum, set learning goals for their students, organize daily practice; plan and organize lessons,  and evaluate their own and their students’ successes along the way. In short, Learning Support Program play a role in helping all teachers and students in the program to learn, develop, practice, improve; and assess curriculum, planning; and instruction as extra- educational component to the school curriculum.

Training in Naryn 9-11 February 2018

Professional development plays an important role in ensuring that teachers develop their knowledge and skills up-to-date. A professional Development training was organized for 23 teachers from 9^th to 11^th of February, 2018 in   Naryn. Teachers from villages are participants of the Learning Support Program. Teachers are from Kochkor, At-Baashi, Ak-Taala regions and they work according to the working plan of the The Learning Support Program (LSP) from 2014.The program is centered on main aspects that are based on: Continuing Professional Development of teachers   and Students’ direct and indirect involvement into studying and learning. The content of the training provided a fantastic opportunity for English language teachers and Math teachers to learn, develop, and refine skills for providing quality teaching.  Training was focused on development of new knowledge and skills in Innovative way of work with students and Lessons organization for students of pilot groups. Classroom management practices and learner-centered teaching methodologies were developed, presented, and practiced at the training in essay writing, speech, research and community work presentations, creative approaches of work in teaching and learning. Teachers of Math could have a chance to present their research work in Math, to conduct a Quizzing game for students according to the level.  They practiced in writing compare and contrast essay and compare Math proportions, mathematical objects and figures. After practicing, teachers will work with their students to apply the same writing and math skills and to prepare them to think logically and analytically. Teachers of English presented their public speaking skills via prepared speeches.Training equipped teachers with new information about compare and contrast essay writing, photo-story essay writing, research and social work preparation, and a community project implementation. It contributes to the personal growth, confidence, and a wider skillset which will inspire a passion for teaching English and Math.Teachers’ knowledge, skills, attitudes, and dispositions have direct and serious implications for the success of the students they teach. From this point, professional learning represents investment in the development of teachers and students, directed at ensuring that the teaching and learning in our schools is up to date and effective. Many factors influence student learning, but it is increasingly clear that what teachers know and are able to do is one of the most important of all. Teachers work directly with students, translate and shape curricular goals and theoretical ideas into classroom practice and create the environment for learning. At the training they presented demonstrative lessons in English and Math and provided to each other constructive feedback for improvement and professional growth.Impact of the project on teacher education amongst our pilot group of students at 16 schools of Naryn Oblast was analyzed. Teachers shared progress reports, challenges and successes; discussed implementation of LSP guidelines; and reflected on some key lessons learnt and the effectiveness of the Teachers’ Conferences and trainings on the work with pilot group students. All teachers were encouraged to submit brief stories about the most important changes that were fulfilled in Learning Support Program, for a “Success stories” booklet that we are going to prepare for the Teacher’s Conference. The booklet is meant to capture lessons, and highlight successes and challenges faced by the program.
Training was very successful because the goals were accomplished. They acquired   new knowledge and skills, shared their best experience of work in LSP, and proposed a plan for the future application of concepts and ideas into their teaching practice. Teachers were motivated in organizing lessons with stationary and newly bought textbooks.However, Program coordinator’s support and mentoring (from AKS) have to be included after the training for Regional coordinators as well as for teachers in Regions. Implementation of new ideas from the training have to checked through the lessons observations, site visits, meetings with administration of the schools and teachers.