Title II D Sharing Session Wednesday, August 12 Partnering for 21 st Century Success Lead Agency: Brookings School District Partnering LEA: Castlewood School District Partnering LEA: Deubrook Area School District Partnering LEA: Elkton School District Partnering LEA: Estelline School District

Goals & Objectives Goal One: District proficient and advanced scores for all students in grades 3-8 & 11 will increase by 3% on the 2010 DStep math and reading assessment. ( NOT MET )District proficient and advanced scores for all students in grades 3-8 & 11 will increase by 3% on the 2010 DStep math and reading assessment. ( NOT MET )Objectives: 95% of participating teachers will create and teach 4 lessons incorporating 21 st century skills of critical thinking and problem solving. ( MET )95% of participating teachers will create and teach 4 lessons incorporating 21 st century skills of critical thinking and problem solving. ( MET ) 50% of participating teachers will increase their technology integration by 1 level on the State Technology Survey. ( MET )50% of participating teachers will increase their technology integration by 1 level on the State Technology Survey. ( MET ) Representative teams from participating districts will participate in a data retreat process where they examine results of the DStep and choose low achieving standards to focus on during the school year. ( MET )Representative teams from participating districts will participate in a data retreat process where they examine results of the DStep and choose low achieving standards to focus on during the school year. ( MET )

Goal Two: 95% of participating teachers will incorporate 21 st century skills and tools into classroom instruction to support student learning. ( MET )95% of participating teachers will incorporate 21 st century skills and tools into classroom instruction to support student learning. ( MET )Objectives: 95% of participating staff will be trained in 21 st century skills (critical thinking /problem solving). ( MET )95% of participating staff will be trained in 21 st century skills (critical thinking /problem solving). ( MET ) 50% of participating teachers will increase their technology integration by 1 level on the State Technology Survey. ( MET )50% of participating teachers will increase their technology integration by 1 level on the State Technology Survey. ( MET ) 95% of participating teachers will collaborate through technology with peers in district and outside of district to increase skills of instruction. ( MET )95% of participating teachers will collaborate through technology with peers in district and outside of district to increase skills of instruction. ( MET ) Goals & Objectives

Creation of cohort… dedicated to changeCreation of cohort… dedicated to change PD for cohort teachersPD for cohort teachers Blogging… sharing thoughts, questions, concernsBlogging… sharing thoughts, questions, concerns Wiki… posting lessons, resources, toolsWiki… posting lessons, resources, tools Classroom observationsClassroom observations Coaching sessionsCoaching sessions Activities

DSTEP (eMetric)DSTEP (eMetric) State Technology SurveyState Technology Survey Lesson PlansLesson Plans Observation / Coaching NotesObservation / Coaching Notes Blog ArchiveBlog Archive Wiki DocumentsWiki Documents Data Collection Tools and Processes

Eventually, I'd like think my class will be almost completely student-centered, with many hands-on / discovery lessons being implemented. This may take a couple of years, but I think I can get there.Eventually, I'd like think my class will be almost completely student-centered, with many hands-on / discovery lessons being implemented. This may take a couple of years, but I think I can get there. While small, our success is starting to get our third graders to think. They are not taking huge steps, but they are taking baby steps. We can tell they are becoming more independent and confident. It is probably more difficult for us since we know where we want to go, but it is starting to happen.While small, our success is starting to get our third graders to think. They are not taking huge steps, but they are taking baby steps. We can tell they are becoming more independent and confident. It is probably more difficult for us since we know where we want to go, but it is starting to happen. I'm most proud of being able to step back and make students try to figure things out on their own. I still struggle at times with students too much, but I'm much more aware of how much help I'm providing.I'm most proud of being able to step back and make students try to figure things out on their own. I still struggle at times with students too much, but I'm much more aware of how much help I'm providing. Successes

You might find this silly, but I made it to this blog site on my first try and on my own! If this gets sent without being lost - amazing!!!!! Struggling a little helps me as a teacher. I can better understand and relate to why my students do not always get what I think is easy.You might find this silly, but I made it to this blog site on my first try and on my own! If this gets sent without being lost - amazing!!!!! Struggling a little helps me as a teacher. I can better understand and relate to why my students do not always get what I think is easy. I have heard comments like "I thought you were the teacher and are supposed to be teaching us." This is hard to deal with and respond to. I believe, however, that if I start just a little at a time and work up to bigger and bigger assignments, presented as a problem, then students will gradually get used to it and get out of the mind-set that teachers need to give them all the answers first.I have heard comments like "I thought you were the teacher and are supposed to be teaching us." This is hard to deal with and respond to. I believe, however, that if I start just a little at a time and work up to bigger and bigger assignments, presented as a problem, then students will gradually get used to it and get out of the mind-set that teachers need to give them all the answers first. Challenges

I'm wondering if what is really important about what we're doing is not that we create and teach a few new lesson plans, or even go back and modify some of our approaches to our content to include critical thinking skills in our old lesson plans, but in the process of thinking about and creating new lesson plans, we changed ourselves. That's probably where the larger and more permanent benefit lies. By changing the way the teacher thinks, the teacher begins to naturally include critical thinking in his or her everyday way of doing things, and if writing a few new lesson plans and sharing them with each other can change the way a teacher thinks, I think the payoff to our students in the future will be great!I'm wondering if what is really important about what we're doing is not that we create and teach a few new lesson plans, or even go back and modify some of our approaches to our content to include critical thinking skills in our old lesson plans, but in the process of thinking about and creating new lesson plans, we changed ourselves. That's probably where the larger and more permanent benefit lies. By changing the way the teacher thinks, the teacher begins to naturally include critical thinking in his or her everyday way of doing things, and if writing a few new lesson plans and sharing them with each other can change the way a teacher thinks, I think the payoff to our students in the future will be great! Challenges

Often we do not give children the credit they are due when it comes to creativity. We all have those students who challenge us, but I am trying to give those students more of an opportunity to let me challenge them. While they don't look at it that way, leaving them speechless and wondering what you are bringing next is sometimes the best problem solving moment we can deliver. When it becomes their problem and not our problem, that is where the a-ha moments occur.Often we do not give children the credit they are due when it comes to creativity. We all have those students who challenge us, but I am trying to give those students more of an opportunity to let me challenge them. While they don't look at it that way, leaving them speechless and wondering what you are bringing next is sometimes the best problem solving moment we can deliver. When it becomes their problem and not our problem, that is where the a-ha moments occur. Learning is not always without frustration, but looking back, it usually was all worth the struggle. While we would never admit that in the process it would be unfair to skip those steps along the way.Learning is not always without frustration, but looking back, it usually was all worth the struggle. While we would never admit that in the process it would be unfair to skip those steps along the way. Learnings

Today my third graders really made me chuckle inside. We were doing a lesson that relates to the 5 lines of the staff and using bean bags as our notes. We were assessing whether something was a repeat, step or leap. After a few minutes of the third grade frustration, I said, "Wow, I hope someone gets this wrong." I had the most bizarre looks. One of them said, "You want us to fail?" I replied, "Yep!" "Why would you want us to fail, Mrs. Lease?" One of the other students looked at her and said, "Because that is how we learn. She says that to us almost every day. Haven't you been listening to her?"Today my third graders really made me chuckle inside. We were doing a lesson that relates to the 5 lines of the staff and using bean bags as our notes. We were assessing whether something was a repeat, step or leap. After a few minutes of the third grade frustration, I said, "Wow, I hope someone gets this wrong." I had the most bizarre looks. One of them said, "You want us to fail?" I replied, "Yep!" "Why would you want us to fail, Mrs. Lease?" One of the other students looked at her and said, "Because that is how we learn. She says that to us almost every day. Haven't you been listening to her?" I have found myself re-thinking just about every lesson I have done or plan to do with my students in order to make it more student-directed rather than teacher-directed. Many lessons that I thought I did well, I now realize really didn't allow students to think critically and problem-solve.I have found myself re-thinking just about every lesson I have done or plan to do with my students in order to make it more student-directed rather than teacher-directed. Many lessons that I thought I did well, I now realize really didn't allow students to think critically and problem-solve. Learnings

Blog ces.com/ ces.com/ Lesson Plans Products Created

On p. 17 where it states "students continually relied on me for just about everything that happened in the classroom...." - I am that teacher and need to change this way of thinking. I always like to be in control of a situation so it's challenging for me. After reading some of the blogs today, there was a comment that said "ask a question instead of answering a student's question." Don't spoon feed the students and let them enjoy self- discovery. I am going to remind myself to do this more and more.On p. 17 where it states "students continually relied on me for just about everything that happened in the classroom...." - I am that teacher and need to change this way of thinking. I always like to be in control of a situation so it's challenging for me. After reading some of the blogs today, there was a comment that said "ask a question instead of answering a student's question." Don't spoon feed the students and let them enjoy self- discovery. I am going to remind myself to do this more and more. I love the quote by Bill Gates on p. 42 "success is a lousy teacher because it seduces people into thinking that they can't lose. Failure, on the other hand, tells us that we are doing something that needs to be changed." Failure is okay, as long as we learn and discover from it.I love the quote by Bill Gates on p. 42 "success is a lousy teacher because it seduces people into thinking that they can't lose. Failure, on the other hand, tells us that we are doing something that needs to be changed." Failure is okay, as long as we learn and discover from it. Advice