Targets

The headteacher will ensure consistency in teaching standards throughout the school, focusing
on a topic-based approach to learning.   

Success

Differentiated  Teachers will use a variety of strategies to  The implementation of differentiated

Instruction increase student learning. Instruction will instruction will be measured by
include differentiation of content, principal observation and/or completed
processes, and products. Classroom Study Group Action Plans over time.
characteristics in evidence will be: (1)
instruction is concept focused and
principle driven; (2) on-going assessment
of student readiness and growth are part
of the curriculum; (3) flexible grouping is
consistently used; and (4) students are
active explorers.
Cognitive  Teachers will focus instruction on seven  On-going assessment of students’
Strategies cognitive strategies used by proficient abilities to internalize and self-initiate
readers to increase comprehension. cognitive strategies will be done
Strategies will be taught in depth, over an through small group conferencing and
extended period of time, in a variety of examining work samples.
texts. Instruction will include the gradual
release of responsibility model.

Reading  Reading specialists at seventh and eighth  Pre/post testing with the Gates-
Workshop grade levels will provide daily reading MacGinitie Reading Test, ISAT and
intervention to increase student MAP.
vocabulary and comprehension skills.

Study Groups:  Through study groups, teachers will use  Successful implementation of these
Select from book data to assess areas of need. They will nine strategies will be determined by
list for studying use the four keys consistent with research completed Study Group Action Plans
strategies to close to teach struggling ELLs. used over time and/or principal
the achievement o Engage students in challenging, observation.
gap among theme-based curriculum to develop
subgroups academic concepts.
o Draw on students’ background and
“funds of knowledge”
o Organize collaborative activities and
scaffold instruction to build academic
English
o Create confident students who value
school and value themselves
University of  The Learning Strategies Curriculum  Students are given a pretest before
Kansas Learning focuses on making a student a more instruction to determine how much
Strategies and active learner by teaching students how to students already know about the
Content learn and how to effectively use what has strategy. Teachers discuss the value
Enhancement been learned. It includes strategies for of a strategy that will help students
Routines acquiring information from the printed perform more successfully in the
 word, strategies for organizing and
memorizing information, and strategies for
expressing information in writing.
Schoolwide Test  The Standardized Time Curriculum
Preparation (Twin achieves dramatic increases r in student
Falls) K-6 performance on standardized tests by
preparing students with test-taking skills
and by timing the curriculum sequence to
coincide with ITBS. Effective, frequent
instruction and student mastery of the
computation math sub-test content and
skills are the focus of this intervention.
TESA, Teacher  TESA is designed to heighten teacher
Expectation and awareness of how they interact with
Student students and sharpen their perceptions of
Achievement how that interaction affects their
expectations of students. TESA strategies
include 15 interactions designed to
encourage equitable interaction with all
students. Results of classroom research
show that TESA interactions improve
student academic performance, gender
and diversity awareness, attendance,
classroom climate and reduces student
discipline problems.
future. Modeling the strategy is an
essential component of strategy
instruction. Initial guided practice is
designed to check for understanding.
As practice continues the level of
difficulty of the materials gradually
increases. Feedback that teachers
give student on their use of the
strategy is a critical component of the
SIM model. A post test is given
requiring a student to achieve 80%
accuracy. Students then generalize
the use of the strategy to specific work
assignments.
 Standardized test results will be used
to assess academic growth with
respect to national and state
standards.
 Student growth will be measured
through a classroom participation
observation checklist and content
assessments each grading period.
State test results will be used to assess
academic growth with respect to state
standards.
 Peer Mediation  Teachers and students establish a
(Peaceable Peacemaker Club that focuses on
Schools) strategies to resolve conflicts utilizing peer
mediation techniques and guidelines.
Instruction includes direct instruction,
active group work, and role-playing
activities.
 Data on discipline referrals are tracked
and compared to previous data
collected over time. Mediation logs will
indicate the number of mediations
monthly as well as any reoccurrence.
Monthly, data will be recorded on a bar
chart according to discipline areas of
fighting, disrespect, defiance, gang-
related activity, profanity, harassment,
teasing, and threats. A student climate
survey indicates improvement.

This course offers educators the opportunity to reflect on their teaching practice and network with
peers to improve instruction. The Illinois Professional Teaching Standards, “Best Practices” in lesson
planning and delivery, assessment strategies, managing anti-social behavior of students, teacher
expectations, brain compatible strategies for effective instruction, and classroom
environment/management will be covered in depth.

Participants may pair “Reflections on Teaching” (2 credit hours) with “Reflections on Learning” (2 credit
hours), to meet the 4 credit hour Self Assessment of the Teaching Practice option for certificate renewal.
Both courses must be taken for college credit in the same renewal cycle.

Creative Teaching Strategies

Description:
***Please note $10 Registration fee is non-refundable.***
Session is divided into elementary and secondary sections in separate rooms. Topics:
• Finding strategies you can put into your classroom tomorrow
• Utilizing technology in your classroom-whether you have it or not
• Utilizing the Internet to expand your classroom
• Strategies for maximizing student understanding and achievement
http://www.usethekey.org.uk/popular-articles/keyboard-skills-programmes-and-games

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/

Typing

Fidelity

Scrutiny