What I Learned Today

Today is the first day of our Summer 2009 term.  Wow.  Hard to believe it.

I was thinking yesterday about those conversations around the dinner table, the whole "what did you learn in school today?" approach that was part of my life growing up.  We didn't label it as such then, but it was a form of reflection, by learners, about their learning. 

So today, the start of our new term, I've decided to start a series of "What I Learned Today".  How regular will this series be?  Who knows - I've not got the best track record for regular and consistent blogging.  But we'll see how it goes.  Much of it will be simply for my own good, my own acknowledgment and growth.  But hey, if it provides any thinking or ideas or feedback from others, that's a happy bonus.

So what did I learn today?

Today I learned about Florida's updated School Improvement Plan template.  It's more complicated than prior templates - they do seem to get more and more complex every year! - but it was also helpful to learn of the ways in which the district offices will provide assistance in the completion of the plan.

There are some interesting pieces to it - a request for a narrative of the history/background of the school (a nice touch, I think, as it makes the plan, and the school, more than merely its numbers and test scores); the addition of information about how the school pursues the Continuous Improvement Model (Plan/Do/Check/Act); and a section on the implementation of RtI, which is certainly going to be a key focus for all schools this coming year.

One of the unfortunate things about the plan is that, because of its complexity, it's very long.  That's unfortunate because it makes it difficult to use the plan day-in, day-out, with all staff familiar with it, as something to guide improvement.  In response to that challenge, our district leadership has developed a far-more-simplified, School Focus Plan, that will flow from the SIP and be something that could be used with all staff, on a regular basis, to keep us focused on our targets.  I was pleased to see that document - I think it will be a useful template for us.

And so, with the wrap up to the 08-09 year, with the feedback from staff in our end-of-year meetings, and with the data on the performance of our students, we now turn our focus toward 09-10, and what we'll do to continue to improve our students' achievement and success.

Comments

[Aparna Vashisht-Rota]

I don't see a way to contact you, we would love to interview you for our blog.

www.parentella.com/blog

I think you are outstanding!

[Jeanette Johnson]

Hi there - thanks for checking this blog out, and your kind words. Sorry not to have replied back before now - the start of the school year has temporarily put my blogging on hold! I can be reached at [email protected] if you would like to reach me. - Jeanette