| I had the pleasure of working with Stan
Cody for five years at La Paz Intermediate School. As a Resource
Specialist implementing the collaborative model for my students, I
have gotten to know Mr. Cody and his curriculum fairly well. My
students have done well consistently and most importantly, have grown
to like and understand history. This is no small accomplishment since
many of my students have struggled in any class that includes reading.
The reasons for this success are… First,
Mr. Cody loves history! His own love for the subject
is demonstrated in the way that he brings history to life.
Secondly, Mr. Cody teaches his students the importance of
understanding the sequential nature of
history – how one event leads to another. History does
not happen in a vacuum, but rather, it evolves – one generation from
another.
When I first encountered Mr. Cody and his famous timeline (of
historical dates and events), I questioned whether or not my students
could actually
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accomplish this task with the variety of
disabilities they have. I decided to help them… and Mr. Cody worked
with them. Many did not believe they could master such a task. They
not only gained an appreciation of the chronological order of history,
but they learned that through hard work and discipline they could
learn the material. For many of my students, this is a real first and
one which will pay dividends all through high school. Thirdly, Mr.
Cody appreciates the diversity of his students. He
continually attempts to improve his own teaching methods to fit the
needs of his students. He gives students memorization techniques. He's
developed a catchy little phrase for learning the thirteen colonies.
He developed a memory trigger for learning the constitutional
amendments. He combines visual and auditory techniques.
Finally, Mr. Cody inspires all his
students to be successful. He believes in each one and
they know it. He has a style all his own and it sends a powerful
message to his students.
Sarah |
