Participation in such programs, now backbones of Lora Peck, breaths creative winds into the school, provides structure to the students, and brings extra money for scholarships, materials and teacher development, Goodwin says. Now, she tours the country to speak about her school's success. If in first grade 34 percent of her students are below grade level in reading and writing, in second grade only 17 percent are below, in fourth grade 3 percent and in fifth grade less than 1 percent. The kids have pride. Peck bristles with sound, color and energy.
Classes are small, and children are given a lot of individual encouragement and personal attention.
To make the environment even more intimate, children usually work in groups. They consult with each other before speaking to the class, and they are rewarded in teams. Goodwin thinks routine and structure are key elements of the school's success. Teachers focus intense concentration on basic skills, reading, writing, speaking and doing math in some form most of the day. Methodology overlaps across rooms.