Standard 3
As you review the responses to the indicators and rubrics, what major trends, themes, areas of focus, or goals emerge that cut across this standard?
How will you use the insights gained from this self-assessment to inform and enhance your improvement efforts related to this standard?
Learning within our school system is aligned to our state standards as documented within our curriculum. Lesson plans will indicate that the learning is progressive. We have worked hard over the past few years to create a seamless PK-12 curriculum that ensures there are no gaps or overlaps. This curriculum is reviewed at the conclusion of each school year to keep it current. The curriculum is additionally cross-referenced with the Nebraska table of specifications and depth of knowledge levels. Students are also given opportunities to extend their learning in a variety of ways. High ability students participate in summer programs and activities such as Quiz Bowl. Struggling students have their needs met through our special education program, Title I services, summer programs, and our Advantage program. Our motto is to Educate, Encourage, and Empower, and we strive to do that for each individual student. We are excited about the way we will be able to use our new assessment system to individualize learning even further. The assessments will provide immediate feedback to both students and teachers, and create opportunities for individualized goal setting.
Teachers are encouraged to attend professional development activities that address school improvement needs. Early research indicated that the LtoJ program would be an excellent fit with our existing programs. Therefore we implemented a pilot team for LtoJ after sending teachers to the training over the summer. Now we are looking to those teachers for leadership in implementing the program schoolwide. We also use Accelerated Reader and Accelerated Math throughout our school, encouraging students to develop reading and mathematics skills at their level. In reviewing reading scores of our junior high students as well as working with our junior high teachers, we discovered there was a need for intervention. Based on this data, our Student Assistance Team made a recommendation to provide time to enhance reading instruction for a small number of struggling readers.
Our technology team has involved several stakeholders in doing extensive research into a 1:1 learning environment. As we move that direction, teachers are working to integrate more technology into their classrooms. We believe that technology integrated into the classroom not only engages students, but empowers them. To be truly prepared for their future, they need to have a strong foundation in technology. We are continuing to update our website as more people are using it as a source of information. We now have a class that has students involved in the process. Eventually, we would like to move away from classes that teach technology to a small percentage of students and create an environment that allows students to learn technology as they utilize it in their regular educational classrooms.
We strive to keep students and parents involved in the learning process. Student requests are taken and considered when building the master schedule. Counseling is provided for students as they make decisions about which classes to take, based on their strengths and their future plans. Teachers regularly contact parents regarding student performance, both with concerns and praise.
Our district works hard to ease the transition from elementary to secondary school. One way to do this is to have our grades 5-8 teachers work together to make sure the curriculum flows smoothly. We also have a Student Assistance Team in place to monitor any student concerns and find ways to address them. Additionally, we have a Sixth Grade Move Up Day every spring. We bring the sixth graders over to the junior high and take them through a practice day that lets them know what junior high will be like. Those students also take a placement test to evaluate where they are with their math skills so that we can put them into the class that is appropriate. On this day parents meet with the administration, counseling staff, and school nurse during that day to discuss their six-year educational plan, including course offerings, and review graduation requirements.
We have also endeavored to make sure new teachers have the support they need to be successful by pairing them with a mentor teacher and creating a learning community with all mentors/mentees.
Overall, the area of teaching and learning is one in which we take great pride. We try to make every decision based on what is best for students, and try to reach each student who comes through our system.