Curriculum Focused Visit In Search of Standards

People’s minds are changed by observation and not through argument. (Will Rogers) What gets monitored gets done, but more importantly, what gets monitored improves. The purpose of monitoring is to assess implementation with the specific purpose of providing support and improving implementation. (GDOE Keys to Quality: Implementation Resource)

Curriculum Focused Visit What is it? – A scheduled school visit by the central office curriculum staff teamed with school administrative staff. Why do it?: – To provide data to schools regarding the level of implementation of standards-based instructional practices – To offer data-based support to schools in the implementation of standards-based practices.

Before the Visit The curriculum director works with the principal to customize the visit to school’s goals and initiatives. The school provides the master schedule. We do the rest!!!!!!!!!!!!!! KEYS TO SUCCESS: CUSTOMIZED AND EASY

During the Visit During a two-hour period, focus team members work in pairs to conduct short classroom visits. The goal is to visit as many different classes as possible during the two hour period. Each classroom visit lasts between 7 – 10 minutes. Observers randomly choose three students in the classroom to interview. These interviews consist of 3 or 4 predetermined questions designed to reveal the use of standards-based practices. – Example: How do you and your teacher know if you’ve learned this material well enough? Observers look for specific environmental evidence of standards-based practices. – Example: Is student work displayed with standards-based commentary and feedback? KEYS TO SUCCESS: TEAMWORK, QUICK VISITS, INTERVIEWS, AND EVIDENCE

After the Observations The focus team gathers to tally data and debrief the observations. Within 24 hours, the principal is provided with a detailed report including the level of standards-based practices observed and conclusions and recommendations. KEYS TO SUCCESS: TEAM DEBRIEFING, IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK

A Success Story Shoal Creek Elementary School – Enrollment: ~ 725 Students – Grades Pre-K - 5 – Title I School Initial Visit: 2/12/2008 Summary Report – Read through the summary report. – The conclusion remarks have been removed. – Working with your team, draft some conclusions for your assigned section.

SCE Response to the Data Standards-based Staff Meeting Performance Task: Create a professional development action plan. Performance Task Evaluation Rubric Commentary Provided – Includes specific “standards-based” descriptive feedback AND guidance. KEYS TO SUCCESS: MODELING AND FEEDBACK

The Results Students making application – From 52% to 80% EQ’s posted and related to lesson and standard EQ’s posted and related to lesson and standard – From 32% to 71% High Level of Student Engagement – From 82% to 94% Work Samples with S-B Commentary – From 41% to 84%

Success Doesn’t End the Process

Some Added Benefits Student input. Student responses reveal a lot about the level of actual implementation vs. level of perceived implementation. Multiple classroom visits with a strategic purpose. An unobtrusive process that does not disrupt to the instructional environment. Enables a collaborative approach to identify areas of strength and to provide support in needed areas. Provides schools with an additional data source (not just test scores) by which to address areas of strength and weakness with regard to standards-based instruction. Builds readiness for new approach to teacher evaluation

Lessons Learned Start with volunteers and advertise success. Make it simple for the school. Administrators must have an understanding of the process. Push for the school leaders to do the focused walk WITH the curriculum department. Emphasize the data collection function. (Data collection must be a tool, not a weapon.)

What a Focused Walk Is...What a Focused Walk Is Not... A Data Collection ToolA Weapon Formative AssessmentSummative Evaluation An Opportunity for Collaboration and Support A “Gotcha” Exercise

Anticipation / Reaction In the blanks to the right of each statement, please check the boxes by the statements with which you now agree. Curriculum Focused Visit: In Search of Standards

Learn What the Organization Really Does!!! “That means a lot of listening and examination of data. I am continually stunned by the number of leaders, including principals and central office people, who simply do not know what is going on in schools... Leaders must know what the organization does.” Reeves, Douglas B. (2004). 101 Questions and Answers about Standards, Assessment, and Accountability. Colorado: ALP.

How to Contact Us Leslie DeMarco RCPS Curriculum Director Tommie Morgan Academic Coach, Shoal Creek Elementary School

Essential Question posted for current lesson and tied to GPS Back

Level of Student Engagement Back

Student Work Samples Posted with Standards-based commentary Back

Students Making Application Back