Leading the Learning and Leading the Learning and Creating High Expectations Creating High Expectations for Student Achievement-for Student Achievement-

Make AYP Now!Make AYP Now!

Theresa WestTheresa WestNAESP Convention NAESP Convention April 11, 2010April 11, 2010

Tip #1: Align Your Tip #1: Align Your PracticesPractices

• How do I ensure that teachers align their How do I ensure that teachers align their practice with standards, benchmarks, and practice with standards, benchmarks, and indicators published by our state indicators published by our state department of education?department of education?

• How can I work with teachers to unpack the How can I work with teachers to unpack the standards?standards?

• Am I highly visible in the classrooms?Am I highly visible in the classrooms?

• Do I model what I expect to see?Do I model what I expect to see?

Tip #2: Analyze Your Tip #2: Analyze Your PrioritiesPriorities

• What is getting in the way of learning?What is getting in the way of learning?

• How do I get teachers to focus on essential- How do I get teachers to focus on essential- to-know aspects of the curriculum?to-know aspects of the curriculum?

• How do I communicate that teachers are to How do I communicate that teachers are to make learning challenging and engaging make learning challenging and engaging while also focusing on the essential-to-while also focusing on the essential-to-know standards?know standards?

• Am I open about discussing issues facing Am I open about discussing issues facing our school with faculty, parents, and our school with faculty, parents, and supervisors? supervisors?

Tip #3: Amend Your Tip #3: Amend Your PlanningPlanning

• Have I created a master schedule that Have I created a master schedule that allows time for ‘PLC’ teams to meet?allows time for ‘PLC’ teams to meet?

• How do I ensure that teams develop How do I ensure that teams develop and submit agendas and outcomes for and submit agendas and outcomes for all meetings?all meetings?

• How skillful are teachers at using the How skillful are teachers at using the Standards-Based Education Planning Standards-Based Education Planning Process? Process?

Tip #4: Assessing Your Tip #4: Assessing Your ProgramProgram

Based on achievement data, is the current Based on achievement data, is the current instructional program working?instructional program working?

Does our program meet the needs of all Does our program meet the needs of all students?students?

Are teachers teaching the right curriculum?Are teachers teaching the right curriculum?

Are assessments clearly linked to the Are assessments clearly linked to the learning goals in all classrooms?learning goals in all classrooms?

Tip #5: Accommodating Your Tip #5: Accommodating Your PupilsPupils

How can teachers make purposeful How can teachers make purposeful instructional decisions so that each instructional decisions so that each and every one of their students will and every one of their students will experience success?experience success?

Do teachers discuss what students Do teachers discuss what students need to know to reach the learning need to know to reach the learning outcomes? Do teachers provide outcomes? Do teachers provide multiple pathways to learning and multiple pathways to learning and differentiate for all students?differentiate for all students?

ChallengesChallenges

My greatest challengeMy greatest challenge

My greatest successMy greatest success

Tip #6: Adjust Your Tip #6: Adjust Your PacingPacing

Do I make sure we use available pacing Do I make sure we use available pacing guides or create them with the teachers guides or create them with the teachers to assure that all standards are being to assure that all standards are being taught?taught?

How do I provide leadership to help How do I provide leadership to help teachers adjust instructional planning?teachers adjust instructional planning?

In what ways do I identify and nurture In what ways do I identify and nurture teacher leaders?teacher leaders?

Tip #7: Advance Your Tip #7: Advance Your PedagogyPedagogy

• How do I create an environment where all How do I create an environment where all educators are expected to be continuous educators are expected to be continuous learners? learners?

• What does it look like when teams are What does it look like when teams are structured where ideas are shared and structured where ideas are shared and honored?honored?

• How might Learning Walks help teachers How might Learning Walks help teachers explore a variety of ways to make content explore a variety of ways to make content accessible and meaningful?accessible and meaningful?

• Are all faculty meetings used as Are all faculty meetings used as professional development opportunities? professional development opportunities?

Tip #8: Approach Your Tip #8: Approach Your ParentsParents

• What methods can I use to communicate What methods can I use to communicate with parents?with parents?

• What are the various ways that parents can What are the various ways that parents can be involved and contributing members of be involved and contributing members of our school community?our school community?

• What are the possibilities for reducing What are the possibilities for reducing barriers for involvement of second barriers for involvement of second language parents? How about families of language parents? How about families of children living in poverty?children living in poverty?

Tip #9: Assemble Your PeersTip #9: Assemble Your Peers

How have I created and engaged in my How have I created and engaged in my own Professional Learning Community? own Professional Learning Community?

How do I build and nurture an How do I build and nurture an administrative and teacher leader team?administrative and teacher leader team?

Who is on my personal board of directors? Who is on my personal board of directors?

Tip #10: Acknowledge Your Tip #10: Acknowledge Your ProgressProgress

How do I make acknowledging How do I make acknowledging and celebrating accomplishments and celebrating accomplishments a priority?a priority?

In what ways can I provide a In what ways can I provide a vehicle for teachers to celebrate vehicle for teachers to celebrate each other?each other?

Additional ResourcesAdditional Resources

From Just ASK Publications:From Just ASK Publications:

Leading the Learning, A Field Guide to Supervision Leading the Learning, A Field Guide to Supervision and Evaluation,and Evaluation, Paula Rutherford Paula Rutherford

Instruction for All StudentsInstruction for All Students, Paula Rutherford, Paula Rutherford

Why Didn't I Learn this in CollegeWhy Didn't I Learn this in College?, Paula Rutherford?, Paula Rutherford

Meeting the Needs of Diverse LearnersMeeting the Needs of Diverse Learners, Paula , Paula RutherfordRutherford

Just for the ASKing!Just for the ASKing! e-newsletters e-newsletters

www.justaskpublications.comwww.justaskpublications.com

From NAESP:From NAESP:

Leading Learning Communities: Standards for What Leading Learning Communities: Standards for What Principals Should Know and Be Able to DoPrincipals Should Know and Be Able to Do

Theresa Westtheresa@justaskpublications.com