Post by momto4 on Jan 13, 2010 15:02:48 GMT -5
Brooks Families,
As we near the end of the first semester, the time is right for an update about our Professional Development Wednesdays and how the Staff at Brooks has been using our time together. PD Wednesdays affect your schedules as parents and we owe it to you to inform you about our progress.
Please know that we appreciate the time that our new schedule has provided for our staff to collaborate and learn together. Research in the field of education clearly indicates that schools with high-achieving and improving students have consistent characteristics built into their daily function. One of those primary characteristics is a staff that has time devoted on a regular basis to work together, learn as professionals, analyze student data, and tailor instruction to meet the needs of students. Without a system that provides that opportunity it is incredibly difficult for any school to maximize its potential. We are very fortunate that our PD Wednesdays have provided us with the time to do just that.
Our Professional Development Committee works collaboratively to design and execute professional development activities that meet the specific needs of our students and staff. This group meets regularly to evaluate our activities and change course when necessary. The activities for the first semester have included the following:
1. Writing - one of our school improvement goals is centered around the writing skills and performance of our students. We have spent five of our Wednesday mornings engaged in targeted staff development in writing. We are using resources from our own staff as well as from a writing expert named Regie Routman - feel free to Google her if you are interested in what that looks like. Our staff share ideas and experiences - we "try it and apply it" followed by group reflection and sharing on the successes and challenges of an instructional strategy.
2. Professional Learning - this is our catch-all phrase for the activities that foster growth and are timely and important. During the seven Wednesdays we devoted to these needs this past fall we worked on:
*
discussion and learning to apply the new homework statement
*
engaged learning - how to develop truly engaging lessons
*
technology initiatives
*
connections between Art,Music,PE and the regular classroom
*
Small group studies on English Language Learners, Intervention Research, Gender Differences, Book Studies, Technology Resources
3. Data Review - analysis of our student assessment data and placement of students in interventions as needed
4. SMART Goals - each of our teams has developed specific, data-driven, measurable goals focused in the area of writing. With these goals, teams are developing common assessment to utilize with all of the students at a grade-level and using the data from those assessments to help drive instructional methods.
As you can see, we've been busy as we work to teach and learn as effectively as possible. Our growth as professionals and the opportunities for collaboration that are created by this time will clearly impact our students and their achievement over time. In order to keep you further updated, I will share an analysis of our Semester 2 activities and successes at the conclusion of the school year.
Thanks for your support,
Dave Younce
Principal - Gwendolyn Brooks Elementary
Indian Prairie School District #204
As we near the end of the first semester, the time is right for an update about our Professional Development Wednesdays and how the Staff at Brooks has been using our time together. PD Wednesdays affect your schedules as parents and we owe it to you to inform you about our progress.
Please know that we appreciate the time that our new schedule has provided for our staff to collaborate and learn together. Research in the field of education clearly indicates that schools with high-achieving and improving students have consistent characteristics built into their daily function. One of those primary characteristics is a staff that has time devoted on a regular basis to work together, learn as professionals, analyze student data, and tailor instruction to meet the needs of students. Without a system that provides that opportunity it is incredibly difficult for any school to maximize its potential. We are very fortunate that our PD Wednesdays have provided us with the time to do just that.
Our Professional Development Committee works collaboratively to design and execute professional development activities that meet the specific needs of our students and staff. This group meets regularly to evaluate our activities and change course when necessary. The activities for the first semester have included the following:
1. Writing - one of our school improvement goals is centered around the writing skills and performance of our students. We have spent five of our Wednesday mornings engaged in targeted staff development in writing. We are using resources from our own staff as well as from a writing expert named Regie Routman - feel free to Google her if you are interested in what that looks like. Our staff share ideas and experiences - we "try it and apply it" followed by group reflection and sharing on the successes and challenges of an instructional strategy.
2. Professional Learning - this is our catch-all phrase for the activities that foster growth and are timely and important. During the seven Wednesdays we devoted to these needs this past fall we worked on:
*
discussion and learning to apply the new homework statement
*
engaged learning - how to develop truly engaging lessons
*
technology initiatives
*
connections between Art,Music,PE and the regular classroom
*
Small group studies on English Language Learners, Intervention Research, Gender Differences, Book Studies, Technology Resources
3. Data Review - analysis of our student assessment data and placement of students in interventions as needed
4. SMART Goals - each of our teams has developed specific, data-driven, measurable goals focused in the area of writing. With these goals, teams are developing common assessment to utilize with all of the students at a grade-level and using the data from those assessments to help drive instructional methods.
As you can see, we've been busy as we work to teach and learn as effectively as possible. Our growth as professionals and the opportunities for collaboration that are created by this time will clearly impact our students and their achievement over time. In order to keep you further updated, I will share an analysis of our Semester 2 activities and successes at the conclusion of the school year.
Thanks for your support,
Dave Younce
Principal - Gwendolyn Brooks Elementary
Indian Prairie School District #204