Summer Update
Maple Avenue 2019
Summer is Swimming Right Along....
Flight Plan
We have worked diligently this summer to help our strategies come to life at MAMS in a way that is supportive of teachers and is focused on student learning. We have narrowed the action steps to ensure a steam-lined focus on year 2 of our Flight Plan. If year 1 was "The Take Off, " year 2 is "Gaining Altitude." (Revised Flight Plan Graphic to be shared soon!) In the meantime, here are some of the highlights:
Strategy 1: Coaching
The feedback we received was that teachers feel isolated and have a desire to see other teachers in action. It is clear that we believe that transparency of practice will help us to grow and support each other.
- Instructional Coaches: Teacher Leaders will work with teachers who are in their first three years at MAMS. All other teachers may request a coach, or may be assigned to a coach.
- Peer Classroom Visits: All teachers will engage in 6 peer classroom visits. Click here for a Peer Visit F.A.Q. document.
Strategy 2: Formative Assessment
We are in the midst of a 2 year professional learning journey with Brooke regarding Formative Assessment. This poses a unique challenge: Deepening our practice on what we learned last year (clarifying learning & eliciting and using evidence) while we continue to learn (feedback and activating learners) and try new strategies. It is the goal to provide support to teachers in this area through differentiated learning opportunities. We will work through the following phases, knowing that we are are all in various places:
- Research/Learn (NWEA Training with Brooke)
- Plan (incorporate new learning in to instructional practice)
- Implement (teaching & learning)
- Reflect and Respond (PLC work, Coaches, Classroom visits, Department meetings, Micro-PD, etc)
- Refine (make adjustments)
- Realize (instructional agility in response to formative evidence)
Strategy 3: PLCs
The PLCs will be cross-grade and cross-department. The sole focus of the PLC's work will be student learning. Click here to see the PLC groups. During PLC meetings, the agenda will consist of following the student work protocol or sharing classroom visits. PLCs will meet once weekly on a day of the team's choosing.
Cell Phones- Revised Expectations
We hope that this will limit the cell phone as a distraction, and help the students to focus on the business at hand. With all things, this will require clear expectations that are consistently applied. We will work together on this.
PSSA & Keystone Results
We have so much to celebrate! Students are GROWING and it is showing!
Of course, these results help to build the data context that we use to help make strategic decisions. These results are insightful in the sense that it helps us to hone in on where we need to continue to grow, while it can affirm some strategies that are already in place.
Rosters- Sapphire Portal
PS- Sky Pilots and Aviators: Do we want to balance out the ACE rosters?
New Hires
Yearbook Alert!
Adventures in St. Louis
That opportunity afforded me the chance to reflect. Seeing the excitement in the audience's faces and the utter amazement that they demonstrated upon seeing our data and hearing our story, it is clear that we are on the right path with of use of formative assessment to tailor instruction to meet student needs. Of course, we need to continue to implement and refine what we are learning, but we are GROWING students! I am more committed than ever to this work; we are getting this right!
In the evenings, we were typical tourists. We ate barbecue, rode to the top of the Midway Arch, and went Axe throwing! I can't wait to hear about all of your summer adventures!