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Focus on Learning
Translating Student Outcomes into
Instruction
& Assessment
Program Overview:
In order to successfully meet the demands of a
changing educational environment, schools and districts must be prepared
with the knowledge, skills and expertise to effectively adapt and transform
their organizations. As educational institutions, schools can no longer
afford to ignore the challenge of preparing every student to be a successful
participant in their own future.
The Focus on Learning program provides schools
with an opportunity to acquire the tools and strategies of an adaptive
organization, the resources to facilitate needed changes and the capacity to
lead their institution into the 21st century. Life Long
Learning & Associates believes that by focusing on the teaching and
learning process, schools and districts will become the highly effective
institutions our communities have come to expect.
Program
Outcomes:
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Alignment of curriculum, instruction and classroom assessment practices to
improve student achievement.
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Development of a shared conceptual model of “powerful teaching and
learning” and strategies for using this model to improve achievement.
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Development of internal support structures which incorporate observation,
reflection and feedback through the cognitive coaching process.
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Integration of an assessment and accountability system to provide feedback
for the curricular and instructional decisions.
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Building of the staff’s capacity to examine and utilize student work as
data for monitoring, adjusting and improving student learning
opportunities.
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Institutionalization of continuous improvement as a process for building
organizational capacity and sustaining momentum towards improvement
efforts.
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Documentation and completion of the school’s accreditation report, program
quality review document, or strategic plan.
Program
Delivery Systems:
The metamorphosis of schools into dynamic
student-centered collaboratives can be accomplished utilizing either a whole
school approach or leadership team delivery system. Either structure
provides a viable option for schools or districts seeking systemic change
and
ongoing improvement for the organization.
Whole School Model:
Working collectively with teachers, students and
parents our work has proven to be effective at building a shared vision for
the school which is reflected in the curricular and instructional decisions
made daily in the classroom. Our program is highly successful at shifting
the focus of school improvement efforts from procedural and/or structural
modifications in the system to changes which result in improving the quality
of the teaching and learning process.
Leadership Team
Institute Model:
Schools within the same district or schools within a
network may wish to consider a team approach to this process. Leadership
teams will attend intensive in-services in an institute setting designed to
build the capacity of the team to effectively lead their organization.
School teams will participate together in five core experiences during the
first year. These experiences will provide the foundation for work at the
individual sites along with school coaches ready to assist leadership teams,
individual teachers, or departments as needed. The Focus on Learning
program incorporates a cognitive coaching component to ensure the work at
the site is consistent with the organization’s vision for students. It is
recommended that the school team includes parents, students and at least one
site administrator.
Administrative
Support:
Life Long Learning & Associates welcomes the opportunity to work
directly with school and/or district administrators in building the
organization’s capacity to ensure all students are successful. Our
consultants represent committed professionals with a broad range of
experience ranging from building level administrators to assistant
superintendents. We can provide personal coaching and assistance to one or
several administrators working to improve the instructional program at their
sites. Our past experience includes working with large groups of school and
district administrators, involved leadership programs such as the California
School Leadership Academy, Utah’s Principal’s Academy and the
Superintendent’s Leadership Program sponsored by the California State
Department of Education. Our consultants are willing to provide technical
assistance in guiding schools and districts through meaningful and
significant organizational change which will positively impact student
achievement.
Program
Highlights:
The following core experiences represent areas for
collective study over the course of two or three years. They should not be
viewed sequentially or as individual in-service programs. Rather, each
experience represents a thematic unit of study which has been thoughtfully
crafted and interwoven with other core experiences to create a compelling
vision for schooling. Taken individually, each provides a point of entry
for engaging school commitment in taking collective action
Core Experience # 1: A Vision of the
Future
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Articulating a shared vision of schooling in the 21st century
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Exploring effective collaborative work cultures
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Establishing norms of collegiality within the organization
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Assessing the climate and culture for change
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Understanding the change process
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Forming agreements on a set of schoolwide learning outcomes
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Strategic planning for the future
Core Experience #2: Examining Best Practices “Powerful Teaching”
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Developing a conceptual model of Powerful Teaching and Learning
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Using indictors of Powerful Teaching to inform instructional decisions
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Designing powerful learning experiences for students
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Analyzing student work for evidence of powerful learning
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The
power of student voice in the learning process
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Practicing what we preach...becoming instructional leaders
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Using cognitive coaching to refine the art of observation, reflection, and
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feedback
Core Experience #3: Classroom Assessment Practices
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Aligning student achievement goals and assessment tools
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Using assessment to improve student achievement
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Transforming classrooms with the “J” curve
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The
power of rubric development as a teaching strategy
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Examining student work to inform instructional decisions
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Exploring and creating performance tasks and assessments
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Articulating standards, criteria, and indicators for student achievement
Core Experience #4: Extending & Refining Learning
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Strategies and tools that promote critical thinking and problem solving
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Instructional strategies that create collaborative learning environments
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Teaching to the diversity of learners in the classroom
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The
power of integrating curriculum as a teaching and culture building
process
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Using technology to support Power Learning Experiences
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Piloting innovations – Teacher as Researcher – Action Research
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