Weekly Coaching Communication
Make it a great day -- every day!
05 - 09 October 2015
On the Standards Front . . .
The process of SBG is based on standards-based LEARNING (SBL), which will be different from one teacher to the next and even from school to school, but the basis of any practice is the standard. Whether the standards come from the State or another entity or professional organization, the standard is the result or results (depending on how the standard is written) of what we want students to be able to accomplish.
The unwrapping of standards consists of delineating what the standard wants students to do or learning targets -- these are written as I can . . . or The student will . . . statements. These statements would be the equivalent to the Purpose Of the Day (POD) statements we worked on a few years ago. The goal of unwrapping the standard and writing PODs is the same purpose: clearly stating the learning target in student-friendly language.
The PODs or learning targets derive student-focused learning tasks. Some teachers will simplify their work and look at one learning target and task at a time; other teachers will not be able to separate PODs and tasks so easily and may need to work with several PODs at a time. Either is an acceptable practice -- how you implement the standard, its PODs and tasks will depend on your content and instructional practices. The important thing to remember is that the task is student focused and the feedback is continuous to move the student towards mastery.
Regardless, the tasks you ask students to complete to master the learning target(s) that result in a standard MUST be similar to the tasks you assign on an assessment. If you recall from last week's discussion, "Evidence of learning is using skills in new situations" (Vatterott, 2015, p. 28). Presenting the student with the same task in a new situation is the premise of an assessment. The student is assessed on how well he or she can complete the assessment based on what he or she knows and can do with the content and POD. The assessment of the single or grouped PODs ultimately determines the student's proficiency of the standard.
In summary, using backward design, the standard is the result with which teachers determine what learning targets are necessary to achieve the level of proficiency and design learning tasks to show mastery of those targets.
STANDARD . . . PODs/Learning Targets . . . Learning tasks . . . Assessment of proficiency
Using standards and learning targets allows for students to know what they are supposed to learn (PODs/learning targets), how they are going to learn it (learning tasks on assignments and activities), and how they will be assessed (a level of proficiency based on evidence of a skill in a new situation) for what they know and can do.
SBG is a process -- not a prescriptive measure for teaching. SBG requires reflective thinking, new learning, and a change in practice. It is difficult work but rewarding because of what it does for our students' learning and better deliberate practice as a teacher.
"What is the end goal for student learning?" -- By learning and working with each other, we can put in action our answer. Together, this shift is possible.
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Website (Tools or to Peruse)
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Suggested Reading
Trending Tweet
Douglas Reeves @DouglasReeves Sep 30
A6: To encourage risk-taking &creativity, we MUST allow students to try & fail - and then replace the grade #sblchat http://CreativeLeadership.net
26 retweets 19 favorites
Quote of the Week
I mentioned last week how grateful I am for the feedback on the survey and for the time that you are taking to work with me in this new role. I want to share my perceptions of the data from the survey and the goals I set for the next 30 days of service as an Instructional Coach.
My PERCEPTION:
- The responses are honest and realistic;
- Respondents show candid consideration through explanations;
- Confidentiality and transparency are definite strengths;
- Respondents are receiving more help and guidance with SBG than ELA standards or literacy;
- The majority of my work has been in the Appetizers of the Coaching Menu.
My GOALS:
Through professional learning, personal meetings and weekly communication items, I will increase the awareness of ELA standards -- specifically, Write Tools I/E & O/A writing;
I will schedule 5-10 classroom observations on average per week to allow for a clearer big picture of ELA standards in use and for support with literacy;
I will discover more entry points for entrees, specialties, and desserts, while maintaining work with the appetizers;
I will use more student-centered language when working with teachers;
- I will conduct more research and increase personal knowledge of literacy to be more informed when working with staff.
Last week's quotation from Mike Schmoker, "What gets measured (and clearly defined) does get done," addresses the need to clearly define the things we want to accomplish -- our goals. I have combined last week's quotation with this week's used the data from the survey to clearly define my goals and go to work for you. To ask you to take a survey and not use the results to better myself and my intentions as the instructional coach would be the "insult" of which Andrews speaks.
So, when I drop in to your classroom or request a visit, or stop you in the hall for a brief moment of conversation, or you drop in to my room with a question or just for a break from your day, know that my actions are for the betterment of our students at CPU and for the betterment of you.
Thank you, again, for taking the survey and giving such clearly defined feedback to put into action. #spp
Coaching Schedule -- see Google Calendar for specific "Busy" times **schedule subject to change**
Monday, 05 October -- NO SCHOOL
- Professional Learning SBG -- Erikka Vosmek
- Serve Teachers & Students
- Research & Resources
Tuesday, 06 October
- Serve Teachers & Students
- Classroom Observations
- Research & Resources
Wednesday, 07 October -- 9 AM LATE START
- Data Team Meetings 7:30
- Serve Teachers & Students
- Classroom Observations
- Research & Resources
Thursday, 08 October
- IC Training w/ NTC in North Liberty -- ALL DAY
Friday, 09 October
- IC Training w/ NTC in North Liberty -- ALL DAY
Contact Information
Center Point - Urbana CSD
Email: epopenhagen@cpuschools.org
Phone: 319-849-1102+91015
Twitter: @Epopenhagen