Instructional Improvement Plans
The teaching staff at St. John's Academy participates in a cooperative professional learning community. On our recent professional day, teachers studied the development of curriculum based on TerraNova score reports, class achievement scores, and teacher observation, also known as the practice of researched-based instructional improvement plans.
The day began with a review of subject area scores. Looking at each subject area profile provided by the TerraNova reports helped teachers determine which areas in each grade needed closer examination. A summary of the data included answering such questions as:
· Where are the scores the lowest? (Subject areas, grade levels) · Where are the "dips" or areas of concern? · Is this pattern repeated from year to year? · How does this year's score for the group compare to the group's score at the previous grade level? · How does the obtained score compare to the anticipated score?
After this process, the discussion turned to possible causes such as gaps in the curriculum, scheduling issues, or prior knowledge/mastery level. Improvement goals were developed based on these discussions, and action plans to implement the improvement goals were put into place.
An on-going assessment of instructional improvement plans will take place at monthly level meetings at which time teachers will use class achievement scores and observations to either keep the current instructional improvement plans or change them to meet the growing needs of the students.
New this year, the TerraNova will be administered to both the kindergarten students and 8th grade students. This will enable teachers to further implement the practice of researched-based instructional improvement plans.
Sharon Gallagher Assistant Principal
|
 |
|