District administrators are focusing on strengthening instructional strategies in the classroom. Principals and directors have been charged with providing professional development and support to teachers regarding a number of high leverage instructional practices. Evaluations of teachers will include observations and targeted feedback related to five core instructional strategies the administration identified as the school year opened. Those instructional practices are:
- Establishing and communicating learning outcomes and objectives to students
- Checking for understanding by utilizing all levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy hierarchy (remembering, understanding, applying, evaluating, and creating)
- Developing lessons and activities that engage learners
- Consistent use of formative assessment (Are my students learning what I am teaching?), and summative assessment (Did my students learn what I wanted them to learn?)
- Effective use of instructional time
The intent of the administration is to provide a laser focus on strategies that are likely to improve student performance. This effort is consistent with our belief that the classroom is the heart of the school, and that rigorous focus on practice is the most effective way to improve achievement. This effort is underway in every district school. Please feel free to speak with a building principal about this initiative.
