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Simple Steps To Close Gap

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 23, 2007

Regarding 'Significant Squeeze On Achievement Gap' (Our Opinion, Oct. 22):

It is about time that we've had some good news about closing the 'achievement gap' in Hillsborough County schools. Congratulations to Miles and Temple Terrace elementary schools.

Three key elements have now been identified, two of which could be used within the entire school system as examples of what works:

1. Control the classroom environment by requiring good discipline so as not to distract from the learning process. Self respect and respect for others are learned behaviors.

2. Find out the learning needs of individual students and teach them in smaller groups in ways that target those needs. In an era of equal opportunity, sometimes we forget that the best way to treat everyone the same, is to treat them differently. The last element is up to the parents to provide.

3. Parents working with their children, fostering a home environment where learning is encouraged, satisfactory completion of homework assignments is required and respect for others is taught.

FRED JACOBSEN

Apollo Beach

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