2A: Focus on Learning and Teaching, Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
The school executive leads the discussion about standards for curriculum, instruction, and assessment based on research and best practices in order to establish and achieve high expectations for students.
The school executive leads the discussion about standards for curriculum, instruction, and assessment based on research and best practices in order to establish and achieve high expectations for students.
Professional Learning Communities
Our EOC course teachers have common planning periods so that they can conduct their Professional Learning Communities during school hours. They use the time to analyze data, discuss classroom instruction and align instruction to the curriculum.
Staff Development
Staff are exposed to research-based instructional practices during staff meetings. In March 2016, I facilitated staff learning on asking higher order thinking questions. In April 2016, we reviewed what we learned and took the time to reflect on application.
|
|
Rookie Induction PLC
|
"Rookie" teachers at Northern Vance High School are identified as teachers new to the profession and teachers new to NVHS in their first three years. Rookie meetings take place each month, during which time teachers are exposed to instructional strategies. The leadership team used walkthrough and survey data to determine the objectives and goals of each PLC. At least three times, teachers were invited to facilitate all or a large portion of the PLC.
|
Vikings Walkthroughs
To gather data more efficiently and provide timely feedback to staff, I created this walkthrough form. All of our school leaders use this form during walkthroughs. We discuss data from the walkthroughs during out Monday morning Administrative PLC.
2B: Focus on Instructional Time
The school executive creates processes and schedules which protect teachers from disruption of instructional or preparation time.
The school executive creates processes and schedules which protect teachers from disruption of instructional or preparation time.
In December 2016, the leadership team took a critical look at our master schedule, particularly in reference to our math courses. The document above shows the changes we made based on observational data and EOC results. We decided to increase the number of Math I sections in the schedule and expand the number of Math 1 teachers from two to six. This led to a stronger Math I Professional Learning Community and resulted in smaller Math I class sizes, which allowed teachers to use more small group instruction.
|
|
Northern Vance High School bell schedules maximize instructional time. The leadership team revisits them frequently to ensure they are best for our students and teachers.
|
In January 2015, the leadership team decided to increase the frequency of all staff meetings from once per month two twice per month. A goal in this adjustment was to incorporate time as a Professional Learning Community .
|
I participated in analyzing our master schedule and making adjustments. I also was a part of the beginning discussions of creating a master schedule for the 2016-2017 school year.