POP Spring 2010 Question 1

On April 30th the superintendent network will be making another visit to Valley as we continue to learn and practice our skills in this process. Please review the email sent out on April 19th about the characteristics of a good POP. I would like to use the network visit to collect "evidences" that WE would like to have baseline data upon (possibly anticipating a year from now after the 1:1 initiative implementation) and repeating the experience to assist us in guiding our next level of work.

Please reflect on the questions posted here to get us started:

Question 1: We have implemented many strategies to improve student achievement, yet we seem to be "stuck" in providing an effective learning environment for each student that allows the "last" 20% or of our students to be proficient? What is it that is puzzling our progress? Think of our observations from our Rounds visit; think about your own classroom...what is it that 'stumps' or is just out of our grasp to "see" the "problem in our practice?"

Problem of Practice Spring 2010

Question II: WHY are districts implementing the 1:1 laptops initiative?

[Post your answer, then ask again "Why?" to your answer. And again three more times...Why? Posting your answer each time.]

Rounds Reflection

Revisit the Problem of Practice. What revisions would you suggest?

Rounds Reflections

After Classroom Rounds, what reflections do you have? What was difficult? What was your new learning?

Problem Of Practice (Draft 1)

Here is the First Draft of the Problem of Practice we will use for our first classroom visit on March 2nd. We didn't talk about keeping the POP for our visit just within our DLT group; in other words, not telling the teachers the POP for our visit. I would recommend that we do not tell the POP for our first visit. Please comment here on that thought and also if you have any further thoughts and/or revisions to the POP for March 2nd.Thanks.
CONCEPTS CONSIDERED:
Differentiated Instruction
Learning Styles
Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS)
Questioning
Engaged Students
Student-Centered Instruction
Motivated Students
Getting students to THINK
Guided learning
Use of technology tools to support HOTS
Who is shouldering the "work" of learning

Draft #1:

Are students engaged in active learning? Are students able to apply, connect, evaluate, create for meaning/new learning and are they able to express, share, explain, justify, demonstrate new learning?

Problem Of Practice Highlights

Directly observable
Striving to improve
Common understanding of effective practice
A POP is something you care about, that makes a difference in student learning
Focuses on the instructional core
Focuses on questions, task, talk, etc.
Data, dialogue, current work
Need time, dialogue, data to develop one
Sticky notes
Strengths & weaknesses
Something already working on to improve, but concerned about
A POP is not an implementation audit
A POP is a focus for the Network Learning
A POP needs time to "simmer" (reflect/pause)
Needs to be refined, revised (reiterative) and in plain language

Add additional thoughts as you finish reading Chapter 5:

"Shot in the Arm" Session 2/22/10

List a WORD or Phrase that holds signifcance in this Work/Learning:
Observation
Scripting
Non-judgment
Only what you see
Student Engagement
Reflection
Team
P.O.P.
Eye-Opening (watching self/videos)
New perspective of teaching/learning

Add Comments/Reflections:

Session #2 Reflection

What are the implications for your own work?
*What is one protocol, question, idea, or practice you might bring to your own work?

Session #2 Reflection

What did the facilitator do that contributed to your experience?
*What could be done to help your learning in the future?

Session #2 Reflection Question

What was your experience as a learner today?
*Content: Insights into teaching and learning?
*Questions?
Process: When were you most alert? What kind of learning worked best for you?
*Challenges?

Session #2
January 28, 2010

The Instructional Core
Hopes, Fears, Norms
The Discipline of Seeing
Reflection