I've been working on a state school improvement grant. Our school is already at improvement or restructuring status and could be headed toward state restructuring without major changes. It's really got me pumped to think about changing instructional practices, intense professional development, teaching to standards instead of covering chapters in a book, and etc. I know we are probably behind the times but this is the reality of small town America.
How did your school improve?
What helps your school meet AYP consistently?
What is working at your school?
How do you change/implement curriculum?
Would incorporating a math and reading coach in the high school help to improve their standardized test scores in those areas?
What kinds of professional development have changed your beliefs and methods of teaching?
I don't really know what questions to ask. I haven't started teaching yet and I'm working on a grant that would totally revamp the school, and I'm getting in on it early. This is a transitional time for me. I feel like this could really help the students and make a huge difference.
Of course, the most change would have to be in the teachers. If it was up to me, there are a handful I would just get rid of because of their negativity, resistance to change, and lack of teaching skill. But alas, that is why I am not an adminstrator. How do you make teachers want to care about students? (Ironic that this is a problem considering teachers work with students ALL.DAY.LONG) How do you make teachers want to improve themselves, want to change? We need better teachers but the chances of finding or hiring them are slim. So how do you improve what you already have?
I guess the point of this entire post is, how do you improve? Period.
Here are some previous posts with tips on school success: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.
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