Well-deserved Break!
School Visits - I see...
By mid-month, I will have completed at least one cycle of visits to schools in our network. As the weeks have progressed, I have observed students and teachers focused on content learning supported by routines that maximize learning time. General observations:
Over the next week, I will be drafting another cycle of visits and sharing it for your review. I will then send invitations to confirm. I really appreciate your flexibility when I have had to reschedule visits. With Enrollment Projections, Pre-Probable Org, Budget Collab and Probable Org coming up, I plan to build in some flexibility in the schedule (open spots). In general OSs Ted Lombardi or Ed Lee will be attending most of these meetings, and I will attend your school's meeting upon request.
- Our students are eager to learn; they are respectful, all around amazing, and just so beautiful. There do exist challenges with trauma, behavior and/or families, but for the most part, I see each school treating all students as our students.
- You and your staffs are working exceedingly hard to meet the needs of every student.
- Lived learning targets are not consistently visible across the network.
- The primary mode of instruction is teacher-led in most instances.
- The level of expectations for learning are uneven between programs within and across schools.
When visiting classrooms, we will focus on observing evidence or progress towards your school's IF, explicit and lived learning targets, and whether students are doing the "heavy lifting."
Planning Future School Visits
Over the next week, I will be drafting another cycle of visits and sharing it for your review. I will then send invitations to confirm. I really appreciate your flexibility when I have had to reschedule visits. With Enrollment Projections, Pre-Probable Org, Budget Collab and Probable Org coming up, I plan to build in some flexibility in the schedule (open spots). In general OSs Ted Lombardi or Ed Lee will be attending most of these meetings, and I will attend your school's meeting upon request.
October 1 Enrollment Is Important
One of the reasons why you have not received your targets or list of students in the lowest 25% is partly because the information is based on October 1 enrollment. Your accountability data for next year are based on the students enrolled from October 1, 2017 to October 1, 2018 and who have taken MCAS in your school in the spring of 2018 and 2019.
PLCS I-IV have met, PLC V on Tuesday
Some themes that have emerged from PLC sessions have been about creating greatness/culture of achievement in our schools, talking about race, expectations, and access to opportunities. Each PLC involves videos, readings, plenty of discussion/processing, and application to your common goal #3 on your QSP. I am excited by how each group has come together to address thorny challenges and adaptive change. Principals have been engaged in learning through text-or video-based discussions and applying their thinking to actions in their QSP.
Chronic Absenteeism Is Different from Average Daily Attendance
Your school may have earned a certificate for attendance that is based on your average daily attendance. However, you may have earned zero points for chronic absenteeism. This is because the DESE is looking to decrease the percent of students missing 18 or more days of school per year. We have collected many questions about transitional housing, door-to-door transportation problems, medically fragile students, etc... and are working with several departments to ask questions of DESE and find district-wide solutions to the issues out of the control of schools.
Need something to do over the weekend? Below, find an interesting read and interesting video series.
TNTP Opportunity Myth
"We’ve been telling students that doing well in school creates opportunities—that showing up, doing the work, and meeting teachers’ expectations will prepare them for their futures. Unfortunately, that’s a myth.""Opportunity Myth: What Students Can Show Us About How School Is Letting Them Down—and How to Fix It" (TNTP)
"America to Me" - Starz, Amazon Prime Video
Not Separate, Unequal Experiences
Looking for something to watch over the long weekend?Quote from New York Times Review "[The film maker] spent a year with students, teachers and parents at Oak Park and River Forest (O.P.R.F.) High School in suburban Chicago. In this integrated, progressive school he finds a community of white and black students whose education is not separate, but whose experience is not equal."
Recent Photos
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| Laura Perille at Russell 3rd Grade with Derrick Ciesla and Ed Lee |
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| Third Grade Math Expectations |
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| Multiplication representations |
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| Comfy Independent Reading in Second Grade |