SUMMARY
Across the country, more school districts are making the change to a four-day school week. NewsHour Communities Correspondent Gabrielle Hays traveled to one of those districts in Missouri to see how teachers and parents are adjusting.
For a transcript of this story, click here.
News wrap alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
WARM UP QUESTIONS
- How many districts have made the switch to four-day weeks in Missouri?
- Who is Dale Herl, and what is his background including job?
- Where does Missouri rank in terms of teacher salary?
- Why might students not learn as much during a four day week?
- How many full-time teaching positions were unfilled or filled with underqualified employees during the 2022-2023 school year?
FOCUS QUESTIONS
What do you think state governments can do to increase incentives for teachers and school workers?
Media literacy: Why do you think NewsHour chose to focus on one state to tell this story?
Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What story would you want to find out more about? Where would you go to learn more?
FOR MORE:
What students can do: Watch this Student Reporting Labs video about the teacher shortage and answer the following question — How has the pandemic affected the teacher shortage?
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