Tuesday Teaching Point October 8

Tuesday Teaching Point

October 8, 2013

·       Equitable Access to Rigorous, Standards-based Instruction

·       Results-focused Professional Learning and Collaboration

·       Strong Partnerships with Families and Community

·       A Culturally-Responsive Organization

Teaching Point:

Last week I asked you to identify the Standard Set upon which you will build your classes for the year. I found that most of you have something in mind, but few could actually show me their standards. One of your colleagues has his standards printed out and posted in his room. Happily, anyone who enters this room can see exactly what is taught throughout the year, and to what level instruction occurs. I’ve seen standards in a teachers flip file for planning, or bound in a book on a shelf by the door.

You need to be familiar with the standards for which each of your classes and lessons are based. This is important because having a standards base helps you identify relevant and rigorous learning objectives. This sophisticates, yet simplifies, writing your learning objectives. As we move toward more clarity in how we communicate teaching points in each of your classes, you will find that your standards can be a most valuable reference and tool!

Standards are written by the experts with clear outcomes about what students should know and be able to do. The student, knowing the standard by which he or she is assessed, can be assured they are being taught to the level which is deserved in any content area.

Having a standard, and teaching to such published expectations, will assure you and others that your class is of no lesser quality, or expectation. When we are standards-based, your teaching objectives and points will be of excellent, and expected, quality. All of our students will get the level of precise teaching due to them, and what they would get in any other high caliber school.

More importantly, knowing your standards simplifies deciding what it is you are going to teach each day. With standards in hand, you can begin to build learning objectives and connecting them to the larger concepts and smaller ideas which represent the learning that occurs in your classroom. Know your standard set. Get it in your hands and on your wall! If you are not sure what I am requesting here, please talk with me.  

Teaching Standard:

The distinguished teacher has all outcomes stated and written in terms of rigorous and important learning for students. Objectives are clearly linked to standards and permit viable methods of assessment. (Charlotte Danielson 1C Setting Instructional Outcomes) In the dimension of Purpose of the 5Ds, Standards allow the lesson to be intentionally linked to other lessons. Which is exactly what I will write about next week, Connecting Standards. 

Teaching Assessment:

I will continue to come around to your classes in search of the standards upon which your classes are based. I will take pictures of our exemplars and share with you what I find. It is assuring to me, and to your fellow teachers when we all have certifiable and adopted standards to base our classes upon. So show your standards, loud and proud, so we all can see you are a standards-based teacher! (Which is a lot better than being a non-standards based teacher.)

Professional Collaboration and Learning:

There is no building level PCT this Friday in lieu of State In-Service Day. This means you can use Friday for collaborative and Professional Learning in a larger sense at various workshops in the region, state conferences or other district PD. We are sending our PBIS team to the National PBIS conference in Chicago this weekend. Please let me know what you will be doing toward your professional learning on this day.

Your Instructional Leader,

Mike