Teaching and Learning Strategies for Success Richard D. Jones Senior Consultant International Center for Leadership in Education

Personality

Teaching and Learning Strategies for Success Richard D. Jones Senior Consultant International Center for Leadership in Education

Education Is Important

Small Learning Communities Do Make a Difference Increased Attendance Increased Student Achievement Increased Student Participation Increased Student and Parent Satisfaction Increased Positive Student Behavior Greater Focus on Students’ Interests and Aptitudes Relevancy Leads to High Achievement

Pitfalls? Lack of Specific Goals Unchanged Curriculum Failure to Address Literacy Too Much Emphasis on Belonging Ignoring Staff Concerns Uninformed Student Assignment Bad Timing Focusing only on Teachers

The Status Quo

In schools the status quo persists!

Protect the Status Quo

What are the reasons WHY? Improving Student Achievement What are the reasons WHY?

Why?

Why ? Changing Nature of Work

Accelerating Technology                                                                       

Employment 1970’s High Skill Low Skill

Employment 1990’s High Skill Semi Skill Low Skill

Employment 2010 High Skill Semi Skill Low Skill

1970’s 1990’s 2010

Why? Teaching To Standards

Standards are NOT Curriculum

Standards are a common destination

Standards VS. Expectations

An Overcrowded Curriculum Why? An Overcrowded Curriculum

McREL Needed Time 15,465 Hours Available Time 9,042 Hours

Teachers struggling to teach an overloaded curriculum!

Much Teaching Little Learning Why? Much Teaching Little Learning

Teaching VS. Learning

Why ? Inconsistent Student Achievement

Source: NCES 1999-081R, Highlights From TIMSS

NAEP Reading17 Year-Olds 21 31 Source: US Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. NAEP 1999 Trends in Academic Progress (p. 107) Washington, DC: US Department of Education, August 2000

African American and Latino 17 Year Olds Read at Same Levels as White 13 Year Olds Source: Source: NAEP 1999 Long Term Trends Summary Tables (online)

Different Schools – Different Expectations National Reading Test A B C D <D A B C D <D SOURCE: US Department of Education

Why ? Islands of Excellence

1998 by The Education Trust, Inc.

Professional Learning Community Shared Values Collaboration Reflective Dialogue Focus on Student Learning

Why ? Prepare for THE test?

NYS Math A Question June 2003

NYS Math A Question June 2002

New SAT - 2005 More Application New Writing Section Expand Critical Reading for Information More Achievement Base on three years of Math Higher Level Math Skills Less Aptitude Eliminate analogies Eliminate simple math reasoning

Why ? Increase Student Motivation

Why Change? Changing Nature of Work Teaching to Standards Overcrowded Curriculum Much Teaching - Little Learning Inconsistent Student Achievement Islands of Excellence Prepare for THE test Increase Student Motivation

Rigorous and Relevant Learning

Rigor

Relevance My only skill is taking tests.

All Students

Best Practices

Bringing Best Practices to Scale Small Learning Communities 2. High Expectations 3. 9th Grade 4. 12th Grade 5. Data 6. Curriculum 7. Relationships / Reflective Thought 8. Professional Development 9. Leadership

Everyone needs support when they take new risks

Relationship Model Key to Student Learning 1. Knowing Teachers get to know students and their families 2. Assisting Some positive support, but sporadic 3. Mentoring Moderate support from some individuals 4. Enduring Fully supported from all individuals 5. Mutually Beneficial Mutually supportive learning community

Support Behaviors Respect Being There Active Listening Frequent Contact Encouragement Avoiding “Put Downs” ??????

Bringing Best Practices to Scale Small Learning Communities 2. High Expectations 3. 9th Grade 4. 12th Grade 5. Data 6. Curriculum 7. Relationships / Reflective Thought 8. Professional Development 9. Leadership

“Don’t follow others blindly”

Lovers never send form letters.

Further Information http://dickjones.us Or rdj@nycap.rr.com

Use of Data

Data Rich but Analysis Poor

Types of Data Curriculum Demographics Student Learning School Processes Perceptions of Quality

Types of Data Example Type of Data Literacy Curriculum Demographics Student Learning Performance on State Test Processes Perceptions of Quality

Types of Data Example Type of Data Literacy Curriculum Level of Reading Comprehension on State Test Real World Postsecondary Learning Demographics Incoming Student Reading Levels Student Learning Performance on Local Assessment Processes Reading Levels of Textbooks Teaching Materials Success of Reading Practices Perceptions of Quality Student Surveys

Clearly Important ? How to Quantify? How to Develop? Relationships Clearly Important ? How to Quantify? How to Develop?

Relationships are Essential to Student Learning Result of combination of support from: Family Peers Teachers Community

Relationship Model 0. Isolated Knowing Assisting Mentoring Enduring Mutually Beneficial

Beginning to Use Data Ask Questions and Analyze Avoid Snap Judgments Collect Data to Answer Questions Set Goals Using Data

Staying on the Cutting Edge

Smaller Strategies Elementary Reduced Class Size Looping Multi-age Groupings Expanded Use of Adults Learning Centers Differentiated Instruction

Smaller Strategies Secondary Schools-within-Schools House Plans Freshman Academy Magnet Schools Career Academies