Date: 3-19-2014 Basic Information Monitoring Visit: District: School: IDOE Outreach Coordinator: Priority Visit #1 South Bend Community Schools Nuner Primary Lisa Dercach 1
Site-Visit Observations and Interviews Classroom Observations *Turnaround Principles posted in the hallway for students to see #1 135 math resources posted Students seated in groups Student goal sheets posted Student Learning Objective posted High expectations to use synonyms for common words Student used such as and for example instead of LIKE Relationship from LA teacher to math lesson-students wanted to share their use of the synonyms with the LA teacher so the math teacher invited her over Rules and routines evident by student action Respect both teacher and students Strategies for checking work in math-reverse operation to check work Problem of the day-students explain their answer Students correct errors and identify mistakes they made Higher order thinking-how do you know 19/19 on task and engaged Students asked to reword check your work into child friendly definition (objective) #2 136 student resources posted Student centered room High expectations for all students evident by teacher response Relationship-teacher used student example Respect Rules and routines are evident Phonics-strategies for multisyllabic words Dictionary work-teaching students how to use a dictionary and read Faculty/Student Group Interview Responses Turnaround Principle 1: Ensuring that the principal has the ability to lead the turnaround effort. 1. Describe how you are implementing your interventions? Student selection sheets were used in the Fall to determine student need, updated with MOY of data, spreadsheet with Acuity windows and ISTEP results for 3 rd and 4 th determined those grade levels as a focus. After school bottom 10 in reading and math in 3 rd and 4 th grade receive basic foundational work 2 days per week. 2. Since the beginning of the year, what is your daily routine? Morning announcements with PBIS statement, hallways at arrival with a cheery greeting, some walk throughs. 3. Describe how you addressed a sign of not making progress per your improvement plan. Assigned support staff to those students 4. What are you doing differently this year? 4 th grade departmentalized at the end of the first semester, flexible intervention groups, created a focus on building reading and writing capacity across the grade levels. 5. What examples do you have to demonstrate principal flexibility in the areas of scheduling, hiring staff, curriculum, and budget? The scheduled changed for 4the grade and special, lunch, and planning favor 3 rd and 4 th grade this year due to high need of 2
the pronunciation of the words Scaffolding Apply what you know used by students as they decode words and find meaning. 17/17 on task IDOE Monitoring Feedback Template students. 6. How many years has the current principal served at this school? 4 th year #3 was a Substitute that was called for a teacher that tried to come to work sick- The substitute did a pretty good job of explaining the lesson to the students for point of view and had good explanations and modeled the work on the graphic organizer. #4 226 student work examples posted Student resources posted Student centered work space ISTEP writing rubric posted in 2 nd grade! Guidelines posted for listening Rules posted Transitions-rules/routines evident Teacher said, I see a non- listener that needs to find their way to redirect off task student Practice using movement for spelling-identify vowels-snaps, consonants getting a jumping jacks Scaffolded Earth Lesson using an apple to show the relationship to the inside of Earth White boards for student practice 16/16 on task 14/16 egaged Turnaround Principle 2: Establish a school environment that supports the social, emotional, and learning needs of all students. 1. How do you create a culture of high expectation? Operation A, 3 rd and 4 th graders have binder for data and work samples showing growth. Looking at data, next steps, set math nights. Set the goal high 2. How do you foster a positive school environment? Encourage parents to come in, assisting families, making support possible for students 3. What is in place to assist with student and staff safety? District plan, plus welcome parents and build trust 4. How do you support at-risk students and meet their needs: academically, emotionally, and socially? FACCS and parents are a partnership, work together to help students Turnaround Principle 3: Ensure that teachers utilize research-based, rigorous effective instruction to meet the needs of all students and aligned with State Standards. 1. How do you stay informed with classroom teaching? Walkthroughs, PD, student teachers bring ideas to the table 2. How do you support at-risk students and meet their needs: academically, emotionally, and socially? Bring in parents to work 3
with students 3. How do you ensure that teachers utilize research-based instructional strategies aligned with State Standards? The district has curriculum guides and calendars that align to the state standards. Turnaround Principle 4: Ensure that teachers have the foundational documents and instructional materials needed to teach to the rigorous college-and career- ready standards. 1. How do you stay informed with teaching/learning? Tom, the reading coach, gives resources, Gene gives grade levels a ½ day for collaboration time, common plan time during the day, internet, workshops, team meetings, colleagues, L.A. training and common core PD 2. How are formative assessments used to gauge student progress? Learning Logs, district common formative assessments, acuity to see where student need additional support. 3. What intervention plans are in place to meet the needs of students academically, emotionally or socially? Conversations with staff members to identify those students and their specific needs. FACCS, and district personnel develop a plan for those students who need emotional support or family assistance. Turnaround Principle 5: Develop skills to better recruit, retain and develop effective teachers. 1. How are staff members evaluated? South Bend Growth and Proficiency model/modified Rise 2. How are staff members recognized and celebrated? Knight Award for classrooms that are recognized for proper behavior 4
weekly, breakfasts, picnic, donuts from Rise N Roll, teacher of the year, staff meetings, 3. What opportunities are provided for PD and how is it supported? Number Talks book study, in-service and coaching by principal, PD for new reading adoption with alignment vertically to standards Turnaround Principle 6: Ensure the school-wide use of data focused on improving teaching and learning. 1. How do you use data to inform decision making? What data do you use? Identify needs and then make changes necessary to address those needs, Acuity, ISTEP, and Mclass 2. What evidence do you have from your current data to indicate progress and/or next steps? Grade Level and Title 1 attend learning logs together so they are all on the same page 3. How do teachers collaboratively use data? 4 th grade used it to regroup students, collaborate and plan next steps. Turnaround Principle 7: Redesign time to better meet student and teacher learning needs and increase teacher collaboration focusing on improving teaching and learning. 1. How have you redesigned the school day to better meet student and teacher learning needs and increase collaboration focusing on teaching and learning? 4 th grade changed the schedule and are now departmentalized to meet the needs of students, additional adults such as student teachers, field experience students, and mentors are used to help small groups. 2. How are students provided additional time for intervention? 5
After school tutoring program being implemented. 3. Are all students who are two or more years behind enrolled in intervention programs? Yes, they receive Success, IAs pull Kindergarten students who are at risk, Coach also pulls groups. Staff husband tutors kids 1 day per week, new tutor pulls kids for 2 hours per week, mentors also work with kids. Turnaround Principle 8: Increase academically focused family and community engagement. 1. How do you involve stakeholders in decision making? Community Advisory group, IUSB, Bethel professors. 2. How do you actively engage family and community in meaningful involvement? River Park United Methodist church read to students, math night-district math coordinator for 5 events per year, parent teacher conferences, Holy Cross retirement village volunteers, Dinner and a Book-4 th grade read for fun and have dinner, PTO supports the school and also provides Time for Kids, Education Foundation grant Recommended Action Steps As you continue to plan, how will you Encourage all teachers to post student learning objectives and student work examples in the classroom? How will you plan to set aside time for daily walk throughs of every classroom? 6
Resources Teach Like a Champion by Dave Lemov www.learningconnection.doe.in.gov learning communities for reading and math ideas www.marooneyfoundation.org -resources for data analysis, reading intervention The Highly Engaged Classroom by Robert Marzano and Debra Pickering 7