Cultural Proficiency to close Achievement Gap

I recently read an article on the importance of cultural proficiency to close the achievement gap. This study focused on teachers perceptions of cultural proficiency of themselves and the schools they serve. It analyzed the current cultural practices, beliefs and values of teachers, cross referenced with the perceptions of students. It used theory to examine the social context of schools and analyzed how culture is intertwined and correlates with student success and the connection between school.
The significance of this research was to study the performance of culturally diverse groups and why the gaps exist in the first place. The school systems currently established were based on the values and beliefs of the existng culture at the time and do not take into account the diversity existing in our school systems today.
The major findings of this study in the article included:

*teachers perceive themselves and the school to be more culturally proficient than the students
*teachers perceive students home as a support
*teachers perceive themselves as culturally proficient
*teachers recognize cultural differences

The findings suggest that achieving cultural proficiency is a journey. We need to be aware it exists to begin to understand how far from proficiency we acturally are. It is important that students are connected to their school and their education. Educational leaders need to engage teachers in positive conversations to support the communities they serve.

My take away...
If we truly want to close the educational gap in the state of California with the complex diverse culturals we have the priveledge of serving...we need to rethink, restructure and redesign our current systems. Students need to be a part of this process along with teachers. We need to look to the future and how we can organize our systems to sustain our student population and grow this upcoming generation. The task is too big for one but together we can make a difference!

Classroom Expectations

I have been researching simple solutions to classroom management and creating ways to support students and staff during these challenging times in education. I was concerned about this last school year as we experienced the first phase of the possibility of school day reduction, furlough and/or cuts in pay.

Given that, my staff thought ahead of the stress that the children may come to school with resulting in a difficult learning environment. They researched possible ways to support students and our site implemented the first phase of Lesson One.

This year we are about to begin our second phase of Lesson One. This program assists students and staff with establishing policy and procedure to be followed school wide. It helps consistency on the campus, through the grades and on all areas of the school campus.

I am by far, not claiming to be an expert in this area. I am interested if anyone has information on Lesson One or any other suggestions for educators on how to become better at what we do. As we grow and change we need to be proactive and know our classroom expectations need to grow and change as well.

Shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you'll land among the stars!

Simple Solutions to Complex Challenges

I am reading a book by Annette Breaux and Todd Whitaker called 50 Ways to Improve Student Behavior. There are 50 chapters and a workbook focusing on simple solutions to help teachers in the classroom. I am sharing this information because I wish I had access to this book when I was in the classroom. My plans for it currently are to have book club on my campus. My intentions are to break the 50 chapters into 5 weeks of professional development.

"Life could be so wonderful if my students would just behave
But at the rate they're going right now, I'll see an early grave
They talk, they laugh, they hit, they throw
What will I do? I do not know
I beg, I plead, I punish, I scream
Oh help me, please, I'm losing steam

What? You have the answers to get students to behave?
Some simple things that I can do? My sanity you'll save?

Yes, we think that we can help to ease your needless pain
We write this book with you in mind. Allow us to explain
That if you take our words to heart and do what we suggest
We think you'll soon be witnessing behavior at its best!

Annette Breaux and Todd Whitaker

I am excited to work with my staff to help relieve some stress in the classroom during these challenging times in education. Teachers and students are expected to rise to many challenges and I hope this book will give us a few more tools in the teaching toolbox!

Prometheus Technology

Prometheus Boards or Smart Boards? We recently began the implementation of installing Prometheus Boards school wide. We have 15 of them on campus including 4-6 grades, the primary computer lab, special education classrooms and resource. In the next few months we will have them in second and third and have started conversations on how to implement kinder and first.

What we have found from the P Boards vs. the S Boards is that the P Boards are very durable and dont need to be recalibrated if bumped etc. If anyone has any other information please share.

The students use this technology daily and answer questions with clickers. The teacher can tell immediately if the students understand the concept being taught. The teacher has the ability to reteach a concept with a certain student if they get the answer incorrect.

Students appear engaged and have discussed how they like using this technology. The teaching possibilities are amazing and we are just in the beginning stages of using it to full capacity.

Fly on the wall!

This afternoon I sat watching my youngest son play an awesome game of football! He is the half back and almost scored the last touchdown of the season. As the game was long and went into overtime, I sat watching and listening to the conversations in the stands.
What I learned...
Parents were discussing why schools havent starting using iphones in classrooms. They discussed the signing of acceptable use policies and how it would have to be managed. They passed around phones with apps...for music etc. They discussed how schools couldnt afford to keep up with this tech and how they would support each child and purchase the needed apps etc.
I have blogged on this subject in the last few weeks and was pleasantly surprised to know parents are thinking this way as well.
So, I really think education is not a "broken" system! I think we are already reframing our organization and need to start giving our students, parents and teachers more credit than we have been giving them!
The future school I thought I would be designing already has the frame in place...we just need to extend this vision!
All students are capable of great things!

What is possible in education?

The fact is that education is going to be around. Our job is what are we going to do with it as leaders? With this project we can manipulate what it should look like in the future. We need to re-frame our thoughts making a shift in our thinking. I keep reflecting on building on prior knowledge. We know we arent being successful so how, who, when are we going to be willing to step up and make the change needed for the future of education.
This generation deserves more and I believe through the tech project we will come up with a variety of solutions.
Is this the rubber hitting the road?

Multitouch Desks

As I continue researching educational reform I am interested in classrooms of the future and how technology will be an integral part of moving students forward and bridging the educational gap. At Durham University in the UK they are researching "interactive multi-touch desks" in classrooms.

With budget constraints a program like this would have to be funded through some form of a grant and be a pilot until all aspects are worked out.

We could start thinking outside of the box...how about tapping into some of the technological resources we already have. For instance...students have cell phone, ipods and know how to navigate the technological terrain at a more proficient rate than many adults.

So, we dont have multi-touch desks at our fingertips today...but we do have access to technology. Are we doing our job as educators and tapping into all our resources? I think we should link what we have and figure out how to keep moving it forward!

Thinking, viewing, listening, speaking....tvls....tvls

Steller Colleagues,

First as far as The Executive Summary for Race to The Top...
December 2009 100 LEA's agreed to join
Accelerated initiative to drive growth (student achievement)
Best chance in educational reform
For workforce to fuel future innovations
Only through unprecedented collaboration between state and LEA's
All children reach potential
Jan 19, 2010 Deadline...

Monitoring Needs...
refine current rigorous standards
new support for teachers and principals
requires MOU

Perspective...
Chance for students and districts to survive and thrive in hypercompetitive global economy

First Round of money...
Awarded to Delaware and Tennessee
Cant appy for second round...

Application Process...5 Areas
Great Teachers and Leaders 138 points
State Success Factors 125 points
Standards and Assessments 70 points
General Selection Criteria 55 points
Turning Around Lowest Achieving Schools 50 points
Data Systems to Support Instruction 47 points

Only California, Texas, Florida and New York eligible for highest buckets of award

*Note, this info is from research and not my opinion. I will add as I understand the second phase of the application process and its deadlines.

*For your consideration...
1. Why do some states feel prepared to move forward with change and others not so much?
2. If we are agents of change, how should we react to this initiative?
3. We have to do something...

Leading by blogging!

Hi C7,
It was great to connect with such an awesome group of people. I look forward to the next two years and the changes we will make together in the best interest of the future generation!
Respectfully,
Shannon