WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE ROLE EXPECTATIONS?

October 25, 2011

Tamara Bashore-Berg&

Pamela Miller-Thompson

Curriculum Leadership…What’s it all About?

Welcome Back!

Revisiting 1st SessionToday’s Purpose & OutcomesPre-assignment ReviewSystemic View – Context & ComponentsThe Role of Curriculum LeaderWhat it takesYour Vision & Action PlanResources & ReviewMASCD Wrap Up

Reflections from 1st Session

At your tables, revisit the concept of good core instruction and the systems needed to sustain it.

As a group, identify: Essential components of good core instruction One or two systems requirements needed to ensure

good core instruction Two key “take-aways” you got from the first session

Today’s Purpose & Outcomes

Purpose:Provide a context for the ever-evolving role of

curriculum leadersEngage with key components of the curriculum

leader’s roleApply learning and information to your role as a

curriculum leader

Outcomes:Big picture understanding of the current contextClarification on major role componentsDefined next steps for your role as a curriculum

leader

Pre-assignment for Today’s Session

Let’s Talk… Question 1: Read the Introduction of Align the Design:

A Blueprint for School Improvement, and identify the key message you took away from the reading.

Question 2: What information (reports, data, websites) would be essential for you to review in order to get a “lay of the land” and develop your “Curriculum Vision” for the district?

Question 3: How could you use the School Improvement Process, in terms of the key stages and steps, to create a “Curriculum Vision, Mission and Process” for your school district as the Curriculum Leader?

The Ever-Changing Context

Federal ESEA (NCLB) Common Core Response to Intervention (RtI)

State Implementing/embedding Common Core Michigan School Improvement Framework MI Excel, Persistently Low Achieving schools Continuous Improvement and Monitoring System, RtI School Code & PA 25

Local District Strategic Plans/Improvement Plans/Board Goals Building School Improvement Plans

GIVEN: Accountability

Shifting Paradigms

Access/Participation Progress/Success

Legal CompliancePerformance/Results

Teaching Content Ensuring Student Learning

Multiple Initiatives ALIGNMENT

Systemic View

Effective curriculum leadership requires: Big picture view Strong vision Ability to align initiatives, resources A “blueprint” or process Tools to implement the process

9

One Common Voice – One Plan School Improvement Planning Process

DoImplement Plan

Monitor Plan Evaluate Plan

PlanDevelop Action Plan

StudyAnalyze Data

Set Goals and Measurable Objectives

Research Best Practice

StudentAchievement

GatherGetting ReadyCollect DataBuild Profile

Michigan School Improvement Framework

Connecting to Pre-Assignment

Individually review the Introduction of Align the Design: A Blueprint for School Improvement

In your small group, create a visual representation of how the 5 core processes outlined in the Introduction connect to the 5 Strands of the Michigan SI Framework

Share one key connection with the large group

• Getting Ready• Collect Data

• School Data Profile• School Process Profile

• Build Profile• Analyze Data

• School Data Analysis• School Process Analysis• Summary Report

• Set Goals & Measurable Objectives• Research Best Practice• Develop Action Plans• Implement Plan• Monitor Plan• Evaluate Plan

One Common Voice – One Plan School Improvement Process

Comprehensive Needs Assessment

School Improvement

Plan

Importance of REAL School Improvement

Fundamental Aspects: EVERY student benefits from the improvement

initiatives Plan is realistic, and based on data Plan focuses on instructional needs Clear alignment within the plan; resources and

professional development align with goals & strategies – represents the “real work”

Plan is implemented, goals and strategies are monitored and evaluated for progress

Clarifying the Role of Curriculum Leader

Key Components:

Curriculum, Assessment, and Instruction

Professional Development

Leadership and Working with Others

Focused on SYSTEMIC ALIGNMENT

Three Key Questions for Curriculum Leaders…

and Really, ALL Educators

What do we need to teach our students? (Curriculum)

How do we know they are learning it? (Assessment)

What will we do when they don’t (or if they already get it)? (Instruction)

- Rick DuFour

Key Aspects of Curriculum Leader’s Role

with Curriculum

Articulating the district curriculum focus Written Tested Taught

Ensuring alignmentEnsuring that the written curriculum is

consistently taught & testedStaying abreast of coming changes (Common

Core) and how that will impact curriculum, instruction and assessment

Tested

Written

Taught

Example of Misalignment

WrittenTaughtTested

Alignment Focus

State curriculumDistrict curriculum

Grade Level CurriculumLesson Plans

Written Curriculum

MEAP/MME/ACTDistrict Assessments

Grade Level TestsClassroom Tests

Tested Curriculum

Taught Curriculum

Lesson Design Lesson Delivery

Best PracticeDifferentiated Instruction

Vertical and Horizontal ARTICULATION

Align Curriculum at Classroom Level

Align Curriculum at Grade Level

Align Curriculum with Grade Level Before &with Grade Level After

Common Core State Standards

Common Core“Fewer, clearer, higher”College and career ready standardsInternationally benchmarkedAdopted by Michigan State BOE June 5, 2010 Adoption requires common core to represent at

minimum 85% of state standards in mathematics and English language arts

This will mean changes to our state assessments – “proficiency” will be at a much more stringent level!

www.corestandards.org

Common Core State Standards

Processing ActivityHow would you use the Common Core Standards to impact curriculum, assessment and instruction in your district K-12 for all subject areas (technology, science, social studies, electives, math and ELA)?

Review pages 1 – 4 in Appendix A under ELA Read paragraph 2 in this section – what are the

implications for curriculum, assessment, instruction and student learning?

Key Aspects of Curriculum Leader’s Role with Instruction

Ensure a common understanding of, and clear expectations for, quality instruction are established

Ensure building principals know and can do what is required of them as instructional leaders

Establish common procedures for monitoring what is happening with instruction in classrooms

Key Aspects of Curriculum Leader’s Role with Instruction

Key Aspects of Curriculum Leader’s Role with Instruction

Processing Activity:How might you use “The Teaching and Learning Cycle” to guide all instructional staff throughout your school district/school in focusing on quality instruction?

Reflect & document individually Pair/share

Key Aspects of Curriculum Leader’s Role with Instruction

Build understanding of the need to ensure success for 80-85% of students in General Education classrooms, and what it takes

Provide support/allocate resources for teacher instructional collaboration and training

Provide guidance for comprehensive systems of prevention and intervention

Key Aspects of the Curriculum Leader’s Role with Assessment

Require a balanced assessment system Summative Assessment – Assessment OF Learning Formative Assessment – Assessment FOR Learning

Understand effective assessment practices & ensure all teachers are effective at creating and using assessments

Require common assessments within grade levels and subject areas

Ensure assessment results drive instructional changes, improvements, and student interventions

Key Aspects of Curriculum Leader’s Role with Student Learning Data

Knowing your school & district data

Modeling data-driven decision-making

Allocating resources & ensuring access to data

Fostering a collaborative, data-driven culture

Requiring data-driven school improvement plans

Ensuring comprehensive systems of prevention & intervention based on data are in place in every building

Key Questions About the Use ofStudent Learning Data

What systems do we have in place for timely access to student data?

Do staff have the skills necessary to analyze student learning data and make decisions based on that data?

How do we ensure decisions are data-driven and designed to enhance student achievement?

How are we using data to ensure student success in the general curriculum and to identify those needing interventions? Is this consistent across staff/schools?

How are we using data to monitor student progress based on interventions? Is this consistent across staff/schools?

Clarifying the Role of Curriculum Leader

Key Components:

Curriculum, Assessment, and Instruction

Professional Development

Leadership and Working with Others

Focused on SYSTEMIC ALIGNMENT

Key Aspects of Curriculum Leader’s Role with Professional Development

Being knowledgeable of Best Practice for Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, and PD

Ensuring alignment and intentionality of PD

Providing effective, ongoing, job-embedded, data-driven PD for classroom teachers

Allocating resources

Fostering a culture of collaborative learning focused on ensuring the success of all students

Professional Development

Alignment & Intentionality What does are data suggest we need to focus on? What do SI Plans, CNAs, Comprehensive Audits state?

Quality Instruction Instructional Leadership Ensuring effective instruction in EVERY classroom Best Practice/Evidence-based strategies)

Balance New Initiatives Job Embedded

Modeling the Commitment to Continuous Learning

“What distinguishes outstanding leaders is the clarity and persuasiveness of their ideas, the depth of their commitment and their openness to continually learn more.”

Peter Senge

Clarifying the Role of Curriculum Leader

Key Components:

Curriculum, Assessment, and Instruction

Professional Development

Leadership and Working with Others

Focused on SYSTEMIC ALIGNMENT

Key Aspects of Curriculum Leader’s Role with Leadership

Having a clear process to ensure efforts/initiatives are aligned and intentional –make the “big picture" clear

Maintaining relentless focus on student learning and success and quality instruction

Consistently focusing on, reinforcing and modeling the district vision

Key Aspects of Curriculum Leader’s Role with Leadership

Modeling and expressing the professional expectation that everyone is part of a learning team

Ensuring that building school improvement plans are implemented, monitored and evaluated

Building principals’ capacity to be instructional leaders

Building the district staff capacity by requiring shared leadership

Key Aspects of Curriculum Leader’s Role

with Leadership

Staying up to date on state and federal initiatives and sharing information

Acting as a coach, facilitator, gate keeper, traffic controller, journalist….

Fall 2008

Walk and Talk

Find a partner from another table

Have a 3-5 minute conversation around this question:

How do I define “Shared Leadership” and why would it be important in schools today?

Personal Reflection on Shared Leadership

What do I currently do or could I do to help influence shared leadership and responsibility in my district around success for every student?

What does it take?

Simulation Activity – “Getting the Lay of the Land” Identify focus area (math/ELA) Review key documents provided for the focus area Discuss and document trends, areas of concern, areas

of celebration, and questions you still have Respond to Guiding Questions As a group, identify 2 top priorities you would

recommend as curriculum leaders for the school, and your rationale for those recommendations

Each group will partner with another group to share their recommendations and rationale

Your Vision

Vision…What is it, really?

A picture of what we can become that guides decision-making and actions

Provides a compelling sense of direction for a better future

Represents core beliefs and values

Is collective, clear, feasible and focused

“To create real change in this world, you have to have a vision…”

Marguerite Sallee, CEO, Frontline Group

Importance of Personal Vision

“Shared visions emerge from personal visions. This is how they derive their energy and how they foster commitment…

If people don’t have their own vision, all they can do is “sign up” for someone else’s. The result is compliance, never commitment.”

~ Peter Senge The Fifth Discipline

Making it Real for YOU –Importance of Personal Vision

Identify your personal vision in response to the following prompt:

If I am truly able to use my influence as Curriculum Leader to support success for all students in my district, what would be different in my district five years from now?

Action Steps for Personal Development

Based on your personal vision, identify key focus areas you want to focus on for your personal development

Reflecting on today’s information, identify key concepts you want to investigate further

Use the key focus areas and key concepts to outline an action plan for next steps: What do you need or want to know more about

immediately?

Are there key leverage point topics that would benefit you in your current role?

Wrapping Up

Journal:As you think about the key components of curriculum

leadership discussed today, what is your overall reaction?What do you feel really good about in terms of your

preparation and expertise? What do you need to know more about?

Post Assessment:Based on your increased understanding of the key aspects of

curriculum leadership, what will be your initial primary focus? Why?

Would your responses to questions 2 & 3 in the pre-assignment be any different based on today’s learning? Why or why not?