Skyline Co-Labs

The Skyline Co-Labs consist of highly articulated protocols that any team of teachers can easily follow, extending learning that begins at Unit Launch and Practice Workshops. School-based teams have the flexibility to schedule Skyline Co-Labs within their existing meeting structures, including grade level meetings, whole school professional development, and flex time. Each Skyline Co-Lab is designed to take approximately 45 minutes and can include optional extension activities.  

Why Co-Labs?

Collaborative Labs (Co-Labs) are also designed to support teacher team leaders in leveraging their expertise to lead their peers. The main protocols embedded within the Co-Labs are: Unit Study, Lesson Study, and Data Study (emphasizing student perspective data and student work analysis.)

Research shows that teachers learn and grow when their professional learning:

• Is content-specific

• Is curriculum-specific

• Focuses on improving teachers' content knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge, and/or understanding of how students learn

• Includes “follow-up," which is better than “one-and-done” professional development days

• Includes the following formats, which allow for follow-up:

  • summer workshops

  • group professional learning sessions

  • teacher meetings (i.e., PLCs) to troubleshoot and discuss classroom implementation

  • same-school collaboration

• Includes coaching for teachers or observation and feedback cycles 

The Co-Labs are designed to support educators in putting this research into practice. 

• Engaging in Co-Labs

• Key Resources

• Learning Cycle Materials (Skyline Co-Labs)

• Related Links

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS ELA

Skyline Literacy Co-Lab Guidance Document

Big Picture Planning

• Annotating the TFG (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• The Literacy Block (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Unit Planning (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Assessment Analysis (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

Digging Into Literacy Content

• Reading Conferences (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Extensive Discussion (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Think-Alouds (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Strengthening Reading Comprehension (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

Tailoring Skyline for Your Students

• Planning for Differentiation (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Subtractive Planning (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Mini-Lessons (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Learning from Student Work (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

Reflecting and Sharing Learning With Others

• Planning for a Peer Observation (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Reflecting on a Peer Observation (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Instructional Routines Reflection (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

Math

• Grades K-5 Math Co-Lab Guidance and Roadmap

• Grades 6-12 Math Co-Lab Guidance and Roadmap

Quarter 1

Grades K-5

• BOY Course Study (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Unit Study (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Lesson Study (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Data Study (choose one of the two options)

  • Lesson Level Data Study (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

  • Unit Level Data Study (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

Grades 6-12

• BOY Course Study (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• 6-12 Unit Study (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Lesson Study for Peer Observation (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Data Study (choose one of the two options)

  • Lesson Level Data Study (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

  • Unit Level Data  Study (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

Quarter 2

Grades K-5

• Unit Study (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Lesson Study for Peer Observation (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Debrief of Peer Observation (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Data Study (choose one of the two options)

  • Lesson Level Data Study  (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

  • Unit Level Data Study (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

Grades 6-12

• Unit Study (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Lesson Study for Peer Observation (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Debrief of Peer Observation (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Data Study (choose one of the two options)

  • Lesson Level Data Study (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

  • Unit Level Data Study (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

Quarter 3

Grades K-5

• Unit Study  (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Lesson Study for Peer Observation (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Debrief of Peer Observation (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Data Study (choose one of the two options)

  • Lesson Level Data Study  (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

  • Unit Level Data Study (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

Grades 6-12

• Unit Study (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Lesson Study for Peer Observation (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Debrief of Peer Observation (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Data Study (choose one of the two options)

  • Lesson Level Data Study  (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

  • Unit Level Data Study (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

Quarter 4

Grades K-5

Guidance: Repeat Unit Study, Lesson Study, and Data Study as time permits

• Unit Study (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Lesson Study for Peer Observation (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Data Study (choose one of the two options)

  • Lesson Level Data Study (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

  • Unit Level Data Study (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• End of Year Co-Lab Reflection (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• EOY Course Study (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

Grades 6-12 

Guidance: Repeat Unit Study, Lesson Study, and Data Study as time permits

• Unit Study (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Lesson Study for Peer Observation (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• Data Study (choose one of the two options)

  • Lesson Level Data Study (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

  • Unit Level Data Study (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• End of Year Co-Lab Reflection (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)

• EOY Course Study (Participant Agenda | Facilitator Version)