Abington High School enhances student engagement with tailored writing strategies

Abington High School's commitment to enhancing student engagement and academic rigor was front and center during the recent School Committee meeting on February 25, 2025. Educators highlighted their strengths, particularly the expertise of their experienced teachers and a curriculum crafted by educators themselves, which emphasizes mastery over standardized testing metrics.

The discussion underscored the importance of fostering a deep understanding of literature through an authentic text set curriculum. Teachers are dedicated to helping students explore essential questions about human experience, encouraging them to connect literature to their own lives. "We believe in student voice and choice," one educator noted, emphasizing the need for students to express their perspectives and showcase their strengths.

However, the meeting also addressed ongoing challenges, particularly in engaging passive learners and supporting English language learners. Educators expressed a desire to move students beyond mere compliance, aiming to evoke inferential reading skills that go beyond the literal text. "We want to engage our passive students," they stated, highlighting the need for students to generate supporting evidence and analyze the craft of writing.

To combat these challenges, the school is implementing various strategies, including goal setting and feedback for writing assignments. The introduction of diverse reading materials, such as audiobooks and graphic novels, aims to cater to different learning styles and increase student stamina in reading complex texts. "We always want to turn the dial up a notch," educators affirmed, focusing on progressively challenging students with more complex works.

The meeting concluded with a strong commitment to fostering creativity and higher-order thinking skills among students. By encouraging them to create and innovate, educators believe they can cultivate a deeper understanding of the material, transforming students from passive recipients of knowledge into active creators. As Abington High School continues to refine its approach, the focus remains on empowering students to thrive in their academic journeys.