Improving Schools through Proven & Improving Schools through Proven & Practical SolutionsPractical Solutions

Dr. Janice Scott CoverDr. Janice Scott CoverEducatorEducatorAuthorAuthorPresident & CEOPresident & CEO

Define Best PracticesDefine Best Practices

Turn and TalkShare descriptive words

VideoVideo

Opportunity To LearnOpportunity To LearnOpportunity to learn

35%Time 15%Monitoring 12%Pressure to Achieve

11%Parental Involvement

10%School Climate

8%Leadership 4%Cooperation 2%

Robert Marzano, 2002

Direct TeachingDirect Teaching

Culture of Best PracticesCulture of Best PracticesAssess and analyze dataKnow the curriculumMaximize instructional time Establish safety and orderInvolve and engage the villageTeach test taking skills and strategiesCelebrate SuccessCollaborate for successMake win/win teacher assignmentsStudents take ownershipLead from the Front

Assess & Analyze DataAssess & Analyze Data

Student PerformanceTeacher PerformancePerformance Across gradesPerformance Across SubjectsSchool-wide PerformanceSimilar School Performance

Know the curriculumKnow the curriculumBuild content knowledgeUnderstand subject & grade expectationsDevelop measurable goals and objectivesOrganize relevant professional

developmentDifferentiate instructionUse textbook as resourceTest what you teachOrganize classroom spaceStudents take ownershipProvide practice/feedback/re-teach

opportunities

Staff Participating in Staff Participating in Professional Development Professional Development ActivityActivity

Maximize Instructional TimeMaximize Instructional Time

Avoid distractions/interruptionsBe PreparedBe organizedProvide adequate instructional

timeProvide adequate practice timeOrganize tutorialUtilize technologyGive homework

Students Participating in Students Participating in “Book In Reading”“Book In Reading”

Instructional TechnologyInstructional Technology

Tutoring SessionTutoring Session

Prioritize Order and Prioritize Order and DisciplineDisciplineShow students daily expectationsEstablish unified discipline codeTeach and Model expectationsAssess progressBe consistent and FairEngage the Village

Walking In Line - Walking In Line - “Loving Ourselves”“Loving Ourselves”

Focus creates DisciplineFocus creates Discipline

Involve & Engage The VillageInvolve & Engage The Village

Engage & Involve ParentsPartner with neighboring vendorsRecruit volunteersRecruit mentorsSeek sponsorshipPartner with other schools

Community Involvement – Community Involvement – Guest Speaker – Andrew Guest Speaker – Andrew YoungYoung

U.S. Serviceman Speaking to U.S. Serviceman Speaking to StudentsStudents

Saying Thanks to Community Saying Thanks to Community RepresentativeRepresentative

Local Author Presents to Local Author Presents to StudentsStudents

Local Attorney Speaking to Local Attorney Speaking to StudentsStudents

Partnering with McDonald’s Partnering with McDonald’s RestaurantRestaurant

Teach Test Taking Skills and Teach Test Taking Skills and StrategiesStrategiesIdentify skills & strategiesInclude skills and strategies in daily

lessonsPractice skills & strategies (test

protocols)Inform parentsReview before testing Survey students about test concernsGenerate sense of urgencySet goals to challenge and motivate

students

Session with Guidance Session with Guidance CounselorCounselor

Celebrate SuccessCelebrate Success

Establish Fair & Equitable SystemReward students and staffMake rewards tangible &

immediateAcknowledge individuals &

groupsPublicize achievementsInclude parents & community

Teachers Celebrating Teachers Celebrating TogetherTogether

Celebrating Outstanding Celebrating Outstanding Student AchievementStudent Achievement

Principal’s Honor Roll Principal’s Honor Roll CelebrationCelebration

Students Going on Limo Students Going on Limo RideRide

School Participating in School Participating in ParadeParade

Faculty SocialFaculty Social

Collaborate for SuccessCollaborate for Success

Establish system for collegial support

Be organizedFocus on students’ needsLook at samples of student workMonitor student progressFocus on instructional practicesBuild-in professional

development

Principal Modeling for Principal Modeling for TeacherTeacher

Principal & StudentsPrincipal & Students

Make Win/Win Teacher Make Win/Win Teacher AssignmentsAssignments

Identify strengths and weaknesses

Create win/win situation Listen & act

Teacher with EmpathyTeacher with Empathy

Students Take OwnershipStudents Take Ownership

Identify strengths & weaknessesBe preparedComplete assignmentsSupport each otherPeer tutorsGraph progressTake responsibility

Students Helping Each Students Helping Each OtherOther

Progress Monitoring GraphProgress Monitoring Graph

Lead from the FrontLead from the Front

Establish levels of leadershipLead & manage by exampleBe fair & consistentLearn togetherCommunicate effectivelyEmbrace and encourageAssess & monitor

Mission & VisionMission & Vision

Principal Setting Principal Setting ExpectationExpectation

What can you do now?What can you do now?21st Century Practices

Assess and analyze dataKnow the curriculumUse instructional time wiselyEstablish safety and orderInvolve and engage the villageTeach test taking skills and strategiesCelebrate SuccessCollaborate and planStrategically assign teachersStudents take ownershipLead from the front

Action Plan

Identify at least 1 take away best practice

Identify implementation steps

Identify challenges & solutions

How will you stay focused?

How will you share with others?

Related SourcesRelated Sources Bennett, Carol, (2013) What is balanced literacy? www.wresa.org/ERR/Module

%201 etools4Education. (2013). Effective teacher. www.online-distance-learning-

education.com/effective-teacher.html Fogarty, Robin. 1999. How to raise test scores. Skylight Training and Publishing Horton, Henry W. Kodak. Thirteen traits of effective leaders.

www.au.af.mil/au/awcgate/au-24/horton Payne, Ruby K. 2005. A framework for understanding poverty. Ahaprocess.com Stanbury, Meris. (2011, September 9). Five characteristics of an effective 21st

Century educator. www.eschoolnews.com Strauss, Valerie. (2013, May 2). Why collaboration is vital to creating effective

schools. www.washingtonpost.com Swenson, Paula. (2013). Characteristics of effective teaching. www.ehow.com The Holden Leadership Center. (2009). Leadership characteristics.

http://www.leadership.uoregon.edu/resources/exercises The Hunt, (2013, June 30). 11facts about education and Poverty in America.

www.dosomething.org Using Student Achievement data to Support Instructional Decisions. NAESP.org

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