Owen J. Roberts Middle School

Owen J. Roberts Middle School Dr. Robert Salladino, Jr., Principal Focused Study Visit February 8, 2011 By PresenterMedia.com

Focus Study Visit February 8, 2011 Welcome - Dr. Robert Salladino Remarks - Dr. DiBartolomeo Connections Assumptions and Goals for the day

Key Assumptions of Participation Participating schools will… Work together so each participant feels valued, motivated, and accountable to contribute to collective outcomes. Observe in a reflective, analytical but non-judgmental manner. Learn from the critical perspectives, description and impact of practice. Contribute to an account of practice as the recorded and usable outcome of the shared inquiry.

Goals for the Day Make practitioner knowledge or practice visible and transferable. Enable practitioners to connect with, adapt and share what they know. Facilitate disciplined, collaborative inquiry. Identify leadership practices and other school conditions that support the development of the focus area. Provide an authentic account of the practice that is directly helpful to the host environment. Inform next steps for the host school.

A Focused Study Visit is NOT… About a classroom A checklist A once a year event An evaluation A Focused Study Visit IS collaborative, school-based inquiry that involves practitioners in the investigation of a particular practice and the conditions that best support its implementation in a classroom.

The success of a Focused Study Visit is tied to the commitment level of participating schools to learning from, with, and on behalf of each other.

Review of Middle School Goals and Vision - Dr. Salladino

Goals & Continuous Improvement Plan Increase the use of technology (teachers and students) as part of classroom instruction, while also examining the potential implementation of a one-to-one laptop initiative for students. Culture of Rigor/Meaningful & Relevant Instruction Increase the level of challenge (rigor) for all students as evidenced by lessons, activities, and assignments that address the higher levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy & Webb’s Depth of Knowledge. Classroom instruction will provide opportunities for cross-discipline collaboration, integration, and connections.

Goals & Continuous Improvement Plan cont… Teachers will begin to work in vertical (7-12) teams as a way to coordinate curriculum, instruction, and assessment at the secondary level. Culture of Rigor/Meaningful & Relevant Instruction Teachers will utilize instructional strategies in the classroom that promote active student engagement and that reflect developmentally-appropriate practices for middle level learners. Begin to investigate the efficacy of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program for possible implementation beginning in the 2012-2013 school year.

Vision Owen J. Roberts Middle School P. R. I.D. E. P - Promoting a caring environment R - Responsible for our learning I - Interacting collaboratively D - Devoted to challenging our minds E - Excellence in all that we do

Focus Areas for the day… Higher-level Thinking Skills - Mrs. Kristin Colfer Active Engagement - Mrs. Krista Venza

MS Professional Development Overview 5 Dysfunctions of a Team Higher-Order Thinking Skills Webb’s Depth of Knowledge Levels Active Engagement Strategies

Data Collection Instrument Review of Data Collection Instrument – Mrs. Lisa Jones

Classroom Visits and “Hall Talk”

Lunch Please enjoy lunch from 11:30 – 12:00

Debrief

Debrief Review HS Focused Study Visit - Account of Practice - Dr. DiBartolomeo

Debrief Discussion Questions - Mrs. Lisa Jones

Debrief Discussion Questions What did you see regarding Higher Level Thinking? What did you see regarding Active Engagement?

Debrief Gallery Walk As you walk around the room, read the reflections on the chart papers. Use your marker to make comments or ask questions. Write directly on the chart paper.

Debrief What conditions of learning (clear standards, fair assessments, curriculum framework, instruction, materials and resources, and interventions) support what you saw today?

What questions can you pose for OJR Middle School? • If you were a student in this school and you did everything you were expected to do, what would you know and be able to do? • What causes the learning we want to see? • What specific teaching moves, what kinds of tasks, what forms of student engagement lead to powerful learning for students?

Debrief What are the next steps for the OJR Middle School Leadership Team? • How is leadership practice shaped by the interactions (regular connections) of leaders and followers and aspects of the situation or context? • What role can boundary practices and objects such as tools, structures, routines and protocols play in mediating (serve as go-betweens) leadership practice and influencing instruction?

Debrief What key learning points are transferable to other leaders in the District?

Debrief Writing an Account of Practice & Participant Reflection - Dr. Joel DiBartolomeo

Closure Thank you for participating in the OJR Middle School Focused Study Visit!

Owen J. Roberts Middle School