Wolcott's Weekly "What's Up"
Office of Teaching and Learning Update 3.24.2014
Quote of Note
"Mind frame 1: Teachers/leaders believe that their fundamental task is to evaluate the effect of their teaching on students' learning and achievement."
- John Hattie, Visible Learning for Teachers: Maximizing Impact on Learning
What's Your Effect?
The major argument John Hattie makes in his book, Visible Learning for Teachers, is that teacher mindset matters. Hattie outlines a set of eight mind frames "that underpin our every action and decision in a school; it is a belief that we are evaluators, change agents, adaptive learning experts, seekers of feedback about our impact, engaged in dialogue and challenge, and developers of trust with all, and that we see opportunity in error, and are keen to spread the message about the power, fun, and impact we have on learning."
Hattie goes on to say, "teachers and school leaders who develop these ways of thinking are more likely to have major impacts on student learning."
So, for reflective purposes, I have adapted mind frame 1 above and rephrased it from a leadership perspective and developed a few questions for each of us to think about in order to better measure our own effectiveness.
- Mind frame 1: Leaders believe that their fundamental task is to evaluate the effect of their leadership on teachers' learning and achievement.
- How effect are your Principal PLC meetings? What evidence (qualitative or quantitative) supports your response?
- What impact have your classroom walk-throughs had on teacher improvement? Student learning? What evidence (qualitative or quantitative) supports your response?
- What payoffs have been noted due to the implementation of Playworks and daily collaboration at your building? What evidence (qualitative or quantitative) supports your response?
- What positive outgrowth has come from utilizing the Rising Star school improvement planning process?W hat evidence (qualitative or quantitative) supports your response?
- What effect has new learning during Monday/Wednesday Meetings had on staff and students? What evidence (qualitative or quantitative) supports your response?
- What positive outcomes are associated with the implementation of building wide expectations/7 Keys and other social emotional interventions had at your school? What evidence (qualitative or quantitative) supports your response?
- What impact have weekly and monthly communique to parents had on increasing parent engagement? What evidence (qualitative or quantitative) supports your response?
Instructional Coach Assignments 2014-2015
Edgewood
- Shelli Reetz (0.5 FTE)
Goodrich
- Stephanie Delgrosso (0.5 FTE)
Meadowview
- New (0.5 FTE) interviews on April 10
Murphy
- New (0.5 FTE) interviews on April 10
Sipley
- Shelli Reetz (0.5 FTE)
Willow Creek
- Stephanie Delgrosso (0.5 FTE)
Jefferson
- Kelly Neylon (0.5 FTE)
Gifted Specialist
- Kelly Neylon (0.5 FTE)
Building Expectation Review
ECRA Update
Seven Keys Discussions
Tom Hierck will be in town on April 24th and 25th. Over the two days I would like principals and school social workers to set a time to check in with him on how 7 Keys and Significant 72 implementation is going and what next steps are for 2015. Please contact me indicating which of the time slots below works for the meeting and whether or not you want to come to PDC or have Tom come to your building.
April 24
- 8:30
- 10:00
- 12:30
- 2:00
April 25
- 8:30
- 10:00
- 12:30
- 2:00
Curriculum Writing with Tom Hierck
- Elementary Math Curriculum
April 25
- Kindergarten Math
- Gifted
- JJHS Science
- JJHS PE
- JJHS Social Studies
Grade Level ELA & Math Planning Meetings for 2014-2015
Grade level teams across the district will meet for a half day in late April to take part in the carousel activity from Friday's Teaching and Learning Team Meeting and to share Common Core Math Curriculum resources and needs. "B" Week activities may need to be rescheduled in order to accommodate this schedule. Substitutes will be provided via the Office of Teaching and Learning.
ELL and Special Education staff members will be invited to these meetings based on the grade level assignments listed in the Master Calendar document. Retiring staff members are encouraged to stay at school and enjoy their final days with students.
Please note: Kindergarten will meet on April 25.
April 28
- 8:00- 11:00 First Grade
- 12:30-3:30 Second Grade
April 29
- 8:00- 11:00 Third Grade
- 12:30-3:30 Fourth Grade
April 30
- 8:00- 11:00 Fifth Grade
- 12:30-3:30 Sixth Grade
GIfted Identification Meetings
In order for principals to better understand the gifted identification process, Kelly will be bringing the identification panels to each building. A half day has been allocated for her to meet with the building principal, gifted specialist and one classroom teacher who is GES (Gifted Education Seminar) certified. Further questions should be directed to Kelly Neylon at extension 2891.
Wednesday, May 7th
- 8:00-11:00 Meadowview
- 12:30-3:30 Willow Creek
Thursday, May 8th
- 8:00-11:00 Edgewood
- 12:30-3:30 Murphy
Friday, May 9th
- 8:00-11:00 Goodrich
- 12:30-3:30 Sipley
On the Radar
- Scheduling for 2014-2015 (to include DEB, Gifted Collaboration/Support, Art, Music, PE, Collaboration, LRC)
- Cluster Grouping
- ACCESS scores available by May 1
Greg Wolcott
Email: wolcottg@woodridge68.org
Website: www.woodridge68.org
Location: Woodridge, IL, United States
Phone: 630.967.2035
Twitter: @TeachLearn68