Instructional+Rounds

= Instructional Rounds =

Prairie Ridge will host an instructional rounds visit on Monday, February 1, 2010. There are 2 main purposes for the visit:

1. To grow the instructional rounds team's learning in regard to this process and effective instructional practices 2. To provide data and reflective questions for the Ridge team related to our POP (Problem of Practice)


 * Key Points About Instructional Rounds**:


 * · Our staff has conducted lesson study and collaborative walkthroughs for many years in an effort to study our practice and improve student learning. Instructional rounds is the natural next step to deepen our learning. This practice is being explored by states, districts, and schools around the country.**
 * · ****As we develop our understanding of 21st learning, we found that we don’t have a common vision. For example when we say "engaging" or "rigor", we might mean different things for different people. (engage with attention vs. engage cognitively) Instructional rounds will help us dialogue and formulate a common vision about effective instruction.**
 * · ****Our focus will be __on student learning__, not about strategy implementation or teacher evaluation. We will look at what students do or say.**
 * · ****We need to develop our knowledge from real settings. You can't drive a car just by reading about it.**
 * · ****We will share what we learn with you. The data will help us reflect about our students' learning.**
 * · ****Over the next few years we will continue to grow the practice of instructional rounds across the district.**


 * __What is this all about?__**
 * Elmore's book talks about The Instructional Core**.

//The heart of the instructional core is the interaction between teachers and students in the presence of content.//


 * I will share additional details about the rounds process with the cadre during our January 7 meeting.
 * We will share this plan with our staff at the beginning of our January 13 PL meeting.
 * We need cadre members to be thinking about what we are grappling with as professionals. What do we want want more data about? This question will most likely be connected to our action plan in some way. We can also think about connections to ICC and 21st Century Skills. We will ask for specific input regarding the POP at our January meeting.
 * We are attempting to explore the next level of the process by including Ridge teachers are part of the team. We are looking for one additional cadre volunteer in addition to Linda Leggat to contribute to the team. Responsibilities will include:
 * 1) Securing and preparing for a sub on February 1
 * 2) Assisting with the communication to staff on January 13
 * 3) Attending a Rounds 101 session led by ESC staff from 7:30-9:30 on February 1
 * 4) Adhering to the Rounds Norms and Protocols developed by the team
 * 5) Actively participating in the rounds process and sharing your thinking
 * 6) Sharing data and reflective questions with the school team


 * DO WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER TO JOIN THIS EXCITING PROFESSIONAL ADVENTURE**?