Working on the Work- An initiative of the Muscogee County School District
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Connecting the Dots
After looking over the Muscogee Way Observational Tool, discuss strategies you can employ at your school to "Connect the Dots" for your colleagues so that WOW does not become one more thing.
Previously developed units can be correlated with MCSD Way Observation Tool and the 10 Design Qualities of WOW. (See what you have done and how it fits).
By using the observational tool to design and correlating existing lesson plans will help teachers to connect the dots and understand that it is not more work. By assisting teachers to connect the dots using what they are already doing in their classroom and help them tweak and define areas to fit into the observational tool will help their classrooms become more engaging and meeting the demands of their customers.
I would model how the design qualities are already being used in our classrooms by having teachers bring work samples and practice identifying the qualities they see in these lessons.
WOW and Standards-Based Classroom go hand-in-hand with regard to the goal of education, which is student learning. They are not independent of one another. Standards-based classroom merely guides teachers in classroom setup and design. Wow, provides effective tools for teachers to design and deliver content in ways that are more likely to bring about the BEST results.
The first thing would be to introduce the Muscogee Way and let teachers see that they are probably already designing lessons that are WOW lessons. It has to be introduced as nonthreatening and shown as another tool to help student learning and not just another "idea" or "program". The way we teach and the standards-based classroom fit easily into the WOW idea so if teachers can see the connection, I feel that WOW will not just become "one more thing" on our plate!!!
I started using the Observation Tool a month or so ago. My administrator and I just explained to the teachers that the "elements" on the tool are just best practices that they already do. We made sure that they noticed the notation at the bottom that says not ALL items will be observed in one visit. They seem to feel better knowing that it's practically impossible to have the majority of the "elements" present in ALL lessons that we pop in to see. Our goal right now is just to get better and better in ALL that we are trying to do as we go along.
Allow a self assessment using the tool to serve as a point of reference for each teacher to be kept confidential. Grade levels can create an action plan for improving any areas that need attention. Celebrate the positives as a faculty and encourage growth through accountability partners.
I think it is important to show the teachers at my school that all the puzzle pieces fit together. WOW, Cornerstone, Thinking Maps and the Standards all work together for our students.
To connect the dots we all have to grasp the concept that BEST PRACTICES are the strategies/tools we use to guide students to become life long learners. WOW, Cornerstone, 5 Easy Steps to Balanced Math, etc are all strategies/ideas/philosophies of Best Practices.
Start by stressing to teachers two important facts...1) they are already implementing many of the strategies and design qualities from the observation tool and WOW, and 2) it is not necessary (or even appropriate) that ALL of the strategies and design qualities exist in every lesson. Then give teachers TIME to collaborate so that the work that needs to be done can be shared and divided rather than duplicated and multiplied.
The observational tool is just that, a tool to help. When designing a lesson use the observational tool to help guide you and your students. It will help you stay on track and provide your students with the spice of life (Variety).
I think that Protocol sessions that help colleagues design engaging work for students help teachers buy in to the Muscogee Way. Having the opportunity for collaborative discussions and sharing ideas helps teachers imporve their performance in the classroom.
The Muscogee Way Observational Tool intertwines Cornerstone practices, as well as Class Keys and standards based classrooms which is what most of us are already implementing. The Observational Tool brings all the components together for us, and helps us focus on what is most important. If we point this out to teachers, I do not think WOW will be as overwhelming. Emphasis can be made on integrating WOW strategies into our thinking as we write and plan lessons.
The integration of the Design Qualities into the Muscogee Way Observational Tool takes out the "one more thing" for both the observer and person receiving the feedback.
15 comments:
from Barbara, El, Sharon K, Jean, and Lorrie,
Previously developed units can be correlated with MCSD Way Observation Tool and the 10 Design Qualities of WOW. (See what you have done and how it fits).
By using the observational tool to design and correlating existing lesson plans will help teachers to connect the dots and understand that it is not more work. By assisting teachers to connect the dots using what they are already doing in their classroom and help them tweak and define areas to fit into the observational tool will help their classrooms become more engaging and meeting the demands of their customers.
I would model how the design qualities are already being used in our classrooms by having teachers bring work samples and practice identifying the qualities they see in these lessons.
WOW and Standards-Based Classroom go hand-in-hand with regard to the goal of education, which is student learning. They are not independent of one another. Standards-based classroom merely guides teachers in classroom setup and design. Wow, provides effective tools for teachers to design and deliver content in ways that are more likely to bring about the BEST results.
The first thing would be to introduce the Muscogee Way and let teachers see that they are probably already designing lessons that are WOW lessons. It has to be introduced as nonthreatening and shown as another tool to help student learning and not just another "idea" or "program". The way we teach and the standards-based classroom fit easily into the WOW idea so if teachers can see the connection, I feel that WOW will not just become "one more thing" on our plate!!!
I started using the Observation Tool a month or so ago. My administrator and I just explained to the teachers that the "elements" on the tool are just best practices that they already do. We made sure that they noticed the notation at the bottom that says not ALL items will be observed in one visit. They seem to feel better knowing that it's practically impossible to have the majority of the "elements" present in ALL lessons that we pop in to see. Our goal right now is just to get better and better in ALL that we are trying to do as we go along.
Allow a self assessment using the tool to serve as a point of reference for each teacher to be kept confidential. Grade levels can create an action plan for improving any areas that need attention. Celebrate the positives as a faculty and encourage growth through accountability partners.
I think it is important to show the teachers at my school that all the puzzle pieces fit together. WOW, Cornerstone, Thinking Maps and the Standards all work together for our students.
To connect the dots we all have to grasp the concept that BEST PRACTICES are the strategies/tools we use to guide students to become life long learners. WOW, Cornerstone, 5 Easy Steps to Balanced Math, etc are all strategies/ideas/philosophies of Best Practices.
Start by stressing to teachers two important facts...1) they are already implementing many of the strategies and design qualities from the observation tool and WOW, and 2) it is not necessary (or even appropriate) that ALL of the strategies and design qualities exist in every lesson. Then give teachers TIME to collaborate so that the work that needs to be done can be shared and divided rather than duplicated and multiplied.
The observational tool is just that, a tool to help. When designing a lesson use the observational tool to help guide you and your students. It will help you stay on track and provide your students with the spice of life (Variety).
I think that Protocol sessions that help colleagues design engaging work for students help teachers buy in to the Muscogee Way. Having the opportunity for collaborative discussions and sharing ideas helps teachers imporve their performance in the classroom.
Emily Wilson
The Muscogee Way graphic organizer is given to teachers as a visual to see how everything fits together.
The Muscogee Way Observational Tool intertwines Cornerstone practices, as well as Class Keys and standards based classrooms which is what most of us are already implementing. The Observational Tool brings all the components together for us, and helps us focus on what is most important. If we point this out to teachers, I do not think WOW will be as overwhelming. Emphasis can be made on integrating WOW strategies into our thinking as we write and plan lessons.
The integration of the Design Qualities into the Muscogee Way Observational Tool takes out the "one more thing" for both the observer and person receiving the feedback.
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