Lead Learners Update 3.25.13

Major Educational Changes - such as curriculum reforms, have been implemented successfully primarily due to professional attitude and pedagogical leadership by the school principals. Finnish Lessons, 2010 p 93

Calendar of Events

3.25 Curriculum work session Point, Grade 8- Literacy

3.26 Cadre; 

3.26 K-6Topic: Standards-Based Report Cards (7:45-11:45 @ the HS Study Hall)

3.27 Quarterly Conversations

3.27 K-6 Textbook Adoption Vendor Presentation @ ESC Boardroom (7:45 - 3:45)

3.28 Quarterly Conversations

3.29 No School-Good Friday

4.1 Instructional Rounds (PV and Edge)

4.2 Media Council (AM)

Digital Literacy Advisory Committee (11:30 - 12:30) @ Point Presentation Room

4.3 GT council (AM)/GT on-site visit from the GT consultant, Mary Schmidt (PM)

April 15 Oversight (Ying Ying Chen)

Time: 12:00 - 3:30

Location: ESC Board Room

The main focus of Oversight is to set system improvement goals, actions plans and to monitor system progress based on evidence and data.  A main chunk of 4/15 session will continue the discussion we started on Feb 25 regarding PL for the 2013-14 school year.  To refresh your memory, this is the result from the administrative discussion conducted on 2.25.13.

Also, please finish reading the Data Team Book (Chapter 6 and 7) prior to coming to the meeting.  Finally, we will continue to collect data regarding AFL and quality unit design.  The best way to reinforce those concepts is to have teachers self-reflect/peer assess against the TPP-AFL and TPP-Unit design on each PL day and/or have teachers demonstrate/share how they implemented the “success criteria” in teaching.

Draft Agenda for 4.15.13 Oversight:

1. Annual ICC self-reflection against ICC Innovation Configuration (District wide continuous improvement)
2. Continue PL focus discussion/Building a K-12 cohesive plan
3. Data Team discussion and how it enhances continuous improvement cycle
4. Parent Survey result (New parent assessment sent out by John in mid-March) and SMART goal #4
5. Looking ahead (June Oversight)

Curriculum Update (Ying Ying Chen)

Based on the priority list set by the principals, Bill and I have been working diligently to help many teams set up standards based curriculum units.  These sessions have been well received and the results have been impressive.  By April 5, all K-12 teams will accomplish the following:

Literacy:  

Fully unpacked, powered, scope/sequenced.  Most teams also built unit contents by transferring their old units and/or added new information from Standard Insights.

Math:

K-8 math is fully unpacked, powered, scoped/sequenced and all units are fully developed with EU, EQ and LTs.  K-4 also built assessment suggestions to allow flexibility for future revision after adoption.   5-9 either built CFA or revised their CFAs to include performance tasks.  10-12 unpacked and powered Algebra, Advanced Algebra and Geometry.  The team will continue to work with Chuck to see how to add Probability and Data into all courses.

What can principals’ do to facilitate guaranteed and viable curriculum from here on?

Simple answer - reinforce the use these units and the Rubicon tool! Do not let them sit in the cloud!  More details:

• Recognize that what we have accomplished answers - “What do we want all of our students to understand; know and be able to do.”   
• Expect and help teachers plan and teach these new units from now on, one unit at a time.   
• Each standard based unit does not need to be perfect.  Try to improve one area at a time. Use TPP to guide their reflection.
• Model CIC - Cultivate a growth mind set by having teachers share and celebrate small successes during or after implementation.
• Have teachers analyze student results while they implement the units during collaboration.
• Use Rubicon data in leading CIC discussions.

Iowa ASCD Presentation - April 10 (Ying Ying Chen)

It is a great honor that CCSD is invited to give a keynote presentation on April 10, 2013 with a focus on implementing concept-based learning and implementing Iowa Core.  A group of teachers and administrators have been working very hard to organize the content and artifacts.  In the process of working with the team, we also recognized how much we have grown as a system.  We do have a lot to celebrate!  The K-12 team members are:

Laura Medberry, Greg Leytem, Erik Anderson, Brad Koch, Nicole Greazel, Sarai Dodge, Shelly Schulte, Ernie Cox, Patrice Becica, Mindy Reshetar, Ryan Rydstrom, Dennis Becker, Laura Barden, Bill and Ying.