Transforming Learning In Your School

Cindy Riedl
Jul 28, 2008

Is what you are doing today going to positively impact learning? If your answer is no or even maybe, are you willing to change your behaviors to impact student achievement?

Since education continues to be a 'chaotic' work environment, educators must slow down and align research-based interventions with instructional practices that accelerate achievement and abandon those practices that have minimal impact on student learning.

How do you get motivated to change what you are doing? It is not just about making AYP but determining and verifying the root causes of the problems that contribute to low achievement. The closer you can get to the 'root cause', the closer your school will be to solving the problems that cause the achievement gap.    

Implementing a 'root cause' analysis is the first step in this process. The instructional team, which is made up of selected teachers representing each grade level or course, with specialists and the administrative leaders, brainstorm and create a list of all the reasons why their school is not reaching AYP. After categorizing this list, they must identify those things that they can influence and then prioritize this list. The collaborative effort allows everyone to participate in the establishment of clear goals using assessment data to determine their targets and then identify their intervention plan. This approach is process based rather than personality based, where individuals independently do their own thing. Getting everyone to use a common approach based on high quality implementation of research-based exemplary practices will lead to sustaining results. In the highest performing schools, teachers believe they are part of a team that will make an incredible difference in how their students learn and excel. The key to success is that everyone is focused on what is most critical. Teachers implement exemplary practices consistently and pervasively.

The Learning-Focused Catching Kids Up Model includes an Acceleration component. Acceleration for 'at risk' students is planned and implemented so that these students get the 'double dose' they need to be successful with grade level curriculum. Previewing vocabulary and advance organizers, as well as designing scaffolds for learning and building prior knowledge become a common practice of all teachers before for classroom instruction occurs.

Growth is monitored and success is celebrated. Celebration becomes a part of the culture. As a result, teachers come to believe in their capacity to teach and students come to believe in their capacity to learn and excel. Teachers and students are excited about coming to school to participate in a rich curriculum and succeed because instruction is engaging making students want to learn more.

Learning-Focused strategies and practices make the difference, causing a typical school to become an exceptional school by creating an instructional climate where balanced achievement thrives, and ALL students are provided the opportunity to excel.

Visit the Learning-Focused website and check out the Catching Kids Up Solutions