Welcome

Experts in school reform agree -- decisions made around restructuring demand to include the voices of adults who put those decisions to work. But what about children? Can the same be said about decisions made in the classroom? Each day, teachers make hundreds of behavioral choices that impact their students. Our twenty years of research shows that children can be active participants not just when implementing those choices, but actually helping make them. Why aren't they given the chance?

One reason is teachers are graded on how well they control their classrooms. But far and away the biggest reason is the No Child Left Behind act. Now ten years in effect, this legislation stubbornly proves to isolate on content in disregard of the social/emotional development of youth. Teaching to the test is now the norm; the everyday classroom provides little chance to build healthy teacher/student relationships. Worse, by a one-third margin, the resulting pressure is driving students away from school. 

Here at The Collaborative Center, we believe teachers can add collaborative leading to their authority-based repertoire and can welcome the voices of young people as they decide issues which impact their classroom. Involving young voices when deciding means less teacher stress and, in some cases an actual increase in student achievement. Participating in and learning in a collaborative culture not only keeps children in school, it prepares them for their uniquely interactive future. Let us show you how it works.