Accelerated Reader - Teachers Teaching Teachers (TTT)

Today two teachers presented to their peers on Accelerated Reader.  Both teachers were expert users that I approached to address an expressed need amongst staff.  The teachers prepared a nice presentation that addressed the use of the program at all ability levels.  The audience was attentive and asked good questions (which is not always the norm at our staff meetings).

 

I see the power in utilizing staff members to teach their peers.  Not only does it empower the teacher leaders, but it allows room for discussion and learning at a much more comfortable level and intimate level.  I need to continue to encourage this type of professional development as a means of building competency and trust amongst staff. 

 

 

Daily Reading - Focus

"Curriculum may be the single largest factor that determines how many students in a school will learn" (Marzano, 2003). 

I definitely think I agree with this quote, that and the manner that it is taught.  Schmoker's book opens with a simple premise:  simplicity, clarity, and priority.  I hope he can hold his book to this standard.  Chapter 2 talked about curriculum.  The premise was that students need content, intellectual thinking skills, and authentic literacy opportunities to be successful.

The recommendation is for less standards, more depth, and a large focus on reading critically, writing critically, and debating/speaking.  Sounds like the ancient Greek curriculum, no?  Not surprisingly that Socrates is quoted here.  Also, not entirely wrong.  It seems to me literacy was much better one hundred years ago, maybe not so widespread but certainly better in those that attained it.  What have we lost in exchange for 21st century skills? 

Daily Reading - The Collaborative Administrator

Read Noonan, "Breaking Through the Barriers of Time" tonight.  I liked the SWOB chart which I think I will use at the staff professional development on March 1st. 

I also liked this quote, "High expectations are not measured when a student is successful.  Rather, the true test of a faculty's high expectations is evident in how we collectively respond when a student is failing" (Lezotte, 1991).

Found copies of "Professional Learning Communities at Work" and "Classroom Instruction That Works" and have added them to my "to-read" queue. 

Sharing the Love?

I've decided to share out the Terri Martin PLC article with staff.  The only question is what I write on the front page.  I've decided something along the lines of "This is how I envision a successful PLC.  How do we measure up?  How can we move closer?"  Initially, I had "school" in lieu of "PLC" but something about that felt wrong and possibly inflammatory.  I'm being very careful about how I frame things, especially considering many of the staff surveys felt that the school currently has "no weaknesses".

The Staff Meeting Long View

I created a schedule of staff meetings for the rest of the school year and emailed it out to staff.  I've included four (4) weeks in March to discuss the survey and create focus groups (teacher teams) to research and troubleshoot in areas we want to improve and then present their ideas to the staff.  I'm hoping this will generate good ideas and build buy-in.  I've also designated all of May for forward planning, curriculum mapping, and common assessment creation.  This will be critical as far as starting 2011-12 in the right frame of mind.

Here is the schedule:
Staff Meeting Schedule, February - June 2010

What I'm Reading Now...

This is one of the books I'm reading right now. Tonight I read an amazing essay by Terri L. Martin called "Professional Learning in a Professional Learning Community", Chapter 8, page 143.  This is exactly what I hope to accomplish at McGaugh.  I am considering sharing this article out with staff before our first planning meeting on March 1, 2011.  

The Staff Needs Assessment - 2/7/11

Here is  a link to the Google Form I sent out to all staff as a means of gathering information on how to move forward as a staff:

McGaugh Staff Needs Assessment / Professional Development 2011-12

I hope to gather some insight about what the staff perceives to be the schools strengths and weaknesses and also get some ideas about a school wide professional development focus.  I will use the results of this survey to guide our first staff planning meeting on March 1, 2011.