A306 Session 9: Examining Instruction PART II Apr. 8, 2008

Plan for Today 4:10-4:20Standards in Practice Reflections 4:20-4:50The Shaw in Action 4:50-5:50 Examining Instruction Analysis of Readers’ Workshop Lessons 5:50-6:00 Break 6:00-6:10 Spring Plan Presentation Asssignment 6:10-7:00 Team Time Meet with Teaching Team

Today’s Objectives 1. Learn from colleagues about strategies for using data. 2. Revisit the concept of the “ instructional core” 3. Experience a protocol for examining instruction and discussing what you see in non-normative ways. 4. Plan how to capture your team’s learning this year.

Standards in Practice Observations  Focuses on rigorous, objective scoring – clarifies grade-level expectations SUMNER  Focuses on fidelity to standards (not just curriculum) SHAW  Creating own rubric is an “equalizer;” inspires conversation about whether standards apply to all students OHRENBERGER  Some teachers prefer to current LASW protocols EMERSON

Possible Modifications to SIP  Involve students  Use for assignment development  Use for rubric development  Use to assess potential changes to curriculum

DataWise in Action The P.A. Shaw School April 8, 2008

The P.A. Shaw School Our motto: “Developing a love of learning.” 266 students in grades K-5 85% of students qualify for F/RP lunch 87% Black, 11% Hispanic, 2% Other

Our Story Problem: Assessments show Shaw students are performing at critically low levels in ELA and Math; although the Shaw made AYP for four consecutive years, after two years of missing our AYP targets, we are now in Needs Improvement status. Question: How can we better support our students? Solution: Develop a love of learning through multiple interventions!

MCAS Data

Digging into ELA Data Non-fiction questions were the most missed in all three grade levels Open response and short answer were more missed than multiple choice Our students did best on the “drama” questions!

Digging into Math Data Lowest area of performance across three grade levels: number sense. Students did better on multiple choice questions than on short answer or open response questions.

Our Challenges Time! (2 full-staff meetings/year) Staff resistance to more new initiatives Teachers’ ownership of student achievement Loss of coaches

Our Goals 1. Increase the use of data to drive weekly instruction while better preparing students for success at a high level of rigor (MCAS). 2. Develop a coherent, school-wide writing plan and rubrics for every grade level. 3. Create systems to improve school-wide coherence around data use to pilot this year and implement next year.

Action Steps

Goal 1: Increase the use of data to drive weekly instruction while better preparing students for success at a high level of rigor (MCAS). Our Steps:  Week-in-Review  MCAS Saturday Prep  Data Analysis Protocols for Grade Level Meetings

Week-in-Review Adapted from Mason School’s presentation Administered Fridays beginning in February Data compiled and then distributed/discussed at Tuesday grade level meetings Half made by grade levels (K, 1, 3) and half by principal intern (2, 4, 5) Standardized reporting sheet

MCAS Saturday Prep Saturdays 9: :00am Led by principal Families must attend Schedule with specific objectives and homework for reinforcement

Data Analysis Protocol Purpose: to increase teacher participation in discussion about week- to-week performance of students Strength: Teachers excited to “dig into data”. Challenge: Turning analysis into instructional planning for the future

Goal 2: Develop a coherent, school-wide writing plan to improve student writing. Our Steps:  K-1 CCL project as pilot  “Standards spectrum”  Rubrics for every grade level  Fourth grade writing prompt practice  Writing Calendar ( )

K-1 CCL Pilot Project Goal of CCL: Align Lucy Calkins, Giaccobi, and state standards to create a curriculum guide for Serve as a model for grades 2-5 (all of which will have writing guide by next year) Collaboration between K-1, ILT, and Literacy Coach

Fourth grade writing prompt practice Literacy coach and principal intern give lessons 2 days/week for a month before MCAS writing test Dual focus on test prep (writing to a prompt) and improving organization and idea development in student writing

Writing Calendar ( ) Develop monthly prompts and rubrics in advance aligned with writing curriculum guide and assessment calendar, along with end dates for publishing Provide common expectations for writing across grade levels Ensure the availability of common student work for data analysis at grade level meetings

Goal 3: Create systems to improve school- wide coherence around data. Pilot them this year; institute next year. Our Steps: 1. Teacher “e-binders” with professional expectations & supports 2. Assessment Calendar 3. Collaborative Planning Protocols

Teacher E-Binders Developed and reviewed by ILT during the final months of this school year Distributed to all teachers in September 2008 with “Laptops for Learning” Will contain any and all templates, Assessment & Instruction Calendar, prompts, data collection sheets, etc.

Assessment Calendar Contain all dates for: –Lesson plan templates –BPS Math and ELA unit assessments –Week in Review –Staff Meetings –Grade Level Meetings and foci –ILT dates –Due dates for unit and formative assessment administration and collection –…and many more!

Collaborative Planning Protocols Stemmed from use of Week in Review as conversation prompt Derived from a need to move data analysis to instructional action Give more responsibility and autonomy to teachers

“Developing a love of learning”

Reflection What has Data Wise meant to the Shaw team?

Data Wise and the “Instructional Core” Teacher StudentContent Last week, we offered Richard Elmore ‘s framework: if schools are to improve student achievement, they need to affect the instructional core

Examining Instruction note-taking sheet What is the Content of the lesson? What are the Students doing? What is the Teacher doing?

Tips for Taking Notes  Make only observations of fact  Be prepare to share the evidence supporting your observations  Resist judgment and evaluation!

Debrief Protocol

Assignments for May 6  Create Spring Plan Presentation  Skim Data Wise in Action Ch. 6,8  Read Data Wise in Action Ch. 9

Spring Plan PPT Presentation  Audience: your faculty + central office  Include: What you set out to do What you accomplished – helpful charts What challenges you faced What you learned Next steps Ideal support  We will “tune” in our May 6 class