Toronto Regional SIM Session Oct 16-17, 2012 My Leadership Role –In Improving Student Achievement through “Theory of Action” Toronto Regional SIM Session Oct 16-17, 2012

Welcome to this Break-Out Session Agenda: What is LSA? Quick overview Viewing of LSA video (Ken Leithwood) Let’s investigate the 4 paths Rational Emotional Organizational Family What is a THEORY OF ACTION Connecting our SIM Work to: * a Theory of Action * a LSA path

Your Reflection Template On your table you will find a template Please use it to record your thinking during the session.

Overview of the LSA Project Goal: to improve student learning by building the instructional leadership capacities of principals WHO: OPC, CPCO, ADFO in partnership with and funded by LNS and CSC WHAT: guided by an evolving theory of action about what the LSA project needs to do to improve instructional leadership of principals

Leadership and Student Learning After teaching, the second most influential factor on student learning is leadership (shared; formal and informal). Ken Leithwood 5 5

The Principal’s Role

LSA THEORY OF ACTION

Theory of Action Overview Video available https://www.box.com/s/l4fpz9vn0u1x2glvraov

LSA Theory of Action Paper How the Leading Student Achievement Project Improves Student Learning: An Evolving Theory of Action February 2010 Kenneth Leithwood

Let’s Investigate 4 Paths… Number off at your table 1,2,3,4… 1’s – gather at Table 1 – Rational Path 2’s – gather at Table 2 – Emotional Path 3’s – gather at Table 3 – Organizational Path 4’s – gather at Table 4 – Family Path * Read your section of the article * Discuss what that path is all about * Return to your “home table” * Each person shares the path with which they are now more familiar

Let’s uncover the meaning of “Theory of Action” ?

Algorithm for “Theory of Action” GOAL ( intended outcome ) + Problem of practice (inquiry) Theory of Action (If… Then…)

Destination = improved student achievement car = vehicle travelling down the roadway = the theory of action Road conditions =our daily reality of the world of education Roadway = Leithwood’s 4 pathways

Our Analogy… We ride our theory of action down one of the 4 pathways / roadways towards our destination of improved student learning.

Our GPS guides our journey = our data and other evidence (e.g., student learning, conditions for learning,

Let’s look at an example of a “Theory of Action”

Refining our inquiry - draft a question… A theory of action… 17 17

Good Inquiry Questions: are significant to classroom practice lead to action are feasible in terms of time, effort, and resources are open-ended with many answers possible 18

Cause & Effect IF What teachers are going to do/have students do… THEN What students are going to learn and/or demonstrate IF... THEN… IF descriptive feedback is provided that is specific to individual student work and highlights next steps, THEN students will be able to improve the content and clarity of their written work.

4 Corners Think about your SIM plan Connect To which path might your learning need / inquiry/ theory of action be most tightly connected? Discuss A theory of action and an associated path Determine How might school/system leaders influence positive student learning?

Reality Check Is our inquiry question focused? Is our inquiry tied to regular classroom practice? Is our inquiry realistic in terms of time & opportunity? How will we measure what we treasure?

GUIDING QUESTIONS… IN MY ROLE AS A LEADER IN MY BOARD: What might my theory of action be? How might it be worded? How might I implement? What evidence might I gather to support my theory? How will I track and receive feedback on the Path upon which i have selected to work? (Monitoring)

In closing… go alone If you want to go far go together… If you want to go fast go alone If you want to go far go together… African Proverb

Questions/Answers/Feedback Are there any outstanding questions? Was this session helpful in framing your work within your school/board?