REPORTS TO THE BOARD

Teaching and Learning Report

To: Michael Green

From: Asha Riley

Date: April 19, 2017

Re: Teaching and Learning

At our next board workshop, we will discuss school improvement principles 4, 5, and 6. Below I have included a brief description of these topics. A more complete description of each principle is attached.

Principle 4 places focus on strong instructional programs that implement research based practices and deliver aligned academic content standards.  In Woodland, we frequently refer to Danielson's Instructional Framework as our research base for effective instructional practice and will likely be referred to during the next workshop.

Principle 5 places focus on the using data to inform instruction and drive improvement. Assessment terms that may come up during our workshop conversation are below with brief definitions. 

• Diagnostic Assessments: Is a form of pre-assessment that allows a teacher to determine students' individual strengths, weaknesses, knowledge, and skills prior to instruction. It is primarily used to diagnose student difficulties and to guide lesson and curriculum planning.
• Screeners: Screening is a method of collecting data for determining how each student is performing in a given area. Screening reveals the low and high performing students. Screening is an initial step in instructional decision-making and is necessary to identify needs early.
• Progress Monitoring: Progress monitoring is used to assess students' academic performance, to quantify a student rate of improvement or responsiveness to instruction, and to evaluate the effectiveness of instruction. Progress monitoring can be implemented with individual students or an entire class.
• Summative Assessments: Assessments of learning, typically used to evaluate student learning, skill acquisition, and academic achievement at the conclusion of a defined instructional period—typically at the end of a project, unit, course, semester, program, or school year.
• Formative Assessments: Assessments for learning, typically refers to a wide variety of methods that teachers use to conduct in-process evaluations of student comprehension, learning needs, and academic progress during a lesson, unit, or course.
• SBA: State test known as the Smarter Balanced Assessment of English Language Arts and Math content standards.

Principle 6 places focus on the school environment which includes student safety, discipline, and non academic factors that impact a child's social, emotional, and health needs. The topic of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) may enter the discussion. This framework is designed to establish and sustain safe, positive and inclusive learning environments for all.