Doing Differently in 2012-13Teaching Matters Most

Dr. Timothy MitchellRapid City Area SchoolsLeadership Rapid City-Session 5-Education-10-4-12

Teaching Matters Most

“The biggest problem in communication is the

illusion that it has taken place.”

-George Bernard Shaw

Teaching Matters Most

What are we doing?Why are we doing it?

What’s the plan to win?How are we doing?What is in it for me?

How am I doing?

Teaching Matters Most

What are we doing?

RCAS Goals

Goal #1: RCAS will develop a guaranteed and viable curriculum in all grade levels and in all courses so that all students have access to the same essential learning.

Goal #2: RCAS will develop a comprehensive system of assessment that is aligned with content standards, curriculum materials and instructional practices.

Goal #3: RCAS will develop diverse opportunities for students to learn and be academically successful.

Teaching Matters Most

A Professional Learning Community (PLC) is:-An on-going process in which educators work collaboratively in recurring cycles of collective inquiry and action research to achieve better results for the students they serve-PLCs operate under the assumption that the key to improved learning for students is continuous, job-embedded learning for educators

Teaching Matters Most

Why are we doing it?

Teaching Matters Most

The type of district and schools that I envision as we move forward embraces the current research as to what is the best way for leaders

and teachers to act.

The Bird Card Unit

Teaching Matters Most

Teaching Matters Most

What’s the plan to win?

Teaching Matters Most

“Discover a few vital behaviors, change those, and problems – no matter what the size -- topple like

a house of cards.”-(Patterson, Grenny, Maxfield, McMillan, and

Switzler- Influencer-The Power to Change Anything)

Teaching Matters Most

The primary goal of any learning community– improving student learning– is limited only by a district’s ability to establish new structures, improve communication, enhance teacher learning and develop collective intelligence.

Teaching Matters Most

The Heart of the PLC Model:

Collaboration

-Conversations with each other

-Learning from each other-Making decisions based

upon collective knowledge

Teaching Matters Most

Priorities/Non-Negotiables:1. Build district-wide shared understanding of

PLC concepts

2. Develop high-performing collaborative teams focused on high levels of learning for all students

3. Clarify essential learning outcomes/power standards

4. Develop and deploy common formative assessments 

Teaching Matters Most

How are we doing?

Teaching Matters Most

A Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum:

What is it?A curriculum is guaranteed when

it gives students access to the same essential learning

regardless of who is teaching the class. A curriculum is viable

if it can be taught in the time allotted.

Teaching Matters Most

Marzano (2003) found that a guaranteed and viable curriculum is the school-level factor that has the greatest impact on student achievement. If students do not have the opportunity to learn the content we expect of them, there is little chance that they will.

Teaching Matters Most

A Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum: What’s Its Purpose?

The fundamental purpose of education is to ensure high levels of learning for all students. It is a matter of equity. No school or district can accomplish

that purpose unless it can first answer this question:

Exactly what is it each student is expected to learn?

Teaching Matters Most

What is in it for me?

Teaching Matters Most

All organizations are capable of instilling a purpose motive by engaging people in frequent discussions and opportunities to share insight, goals, problems, and motivation**A teacher in a PLC school stated-After experiencing the collaborative approach to teaching-I never want to return to the old way of doing things-I am sure I am a better teacher today as a result of the PLC

Teaching Matters Most

How am I doing?

Teaching Matters Most

The District PLC Team has developed Indicators of Progress to be monitored on a regular basis for each priority. A process will be utilized to monitor progress and give feedback concerning each of our identified priorities.

Teaching Matters Most

Conclusion

Teaching Matters Most

Starbucks

Teaching Matters Most

It is merely stating the obvious: Teaching is enormously complex and can never be perfect. Because it is never perfect, it can always be improved; it is the professional responsibility of each of us to be on a constant quest for improved methods and approaches. Sometimes this requires digging deeply into the thinking that underlies practice and ensuring that everyone holds the similar conceptual understanding about the big ideas.

Teaching Matters Most

If it Ain’t Broke Fix It

Take fast, and make it faster. Take smart, and make it brilliant. Believe

that no matter how well you do something, you can always do it

better and chances are you will. Our goal is to create the benchmark –

and keep raising it.