District Professional Development-January 20, 2020

We are looking forward to our day of professional learning on Monday, January 20th. Below is the schedule for the day.  The day will run from 8:00 AM-4:00 PM.

The district focus will be around 4 areas:

• Student Learning
• Standards-Based Learning
• Teacher Resources
• Teacher Learning

District professional development will be held in the HS auditorium. Please bring a charged laptop and something to write with for this session.

Building professional development will be held at each building and will focus on standards-based learning as well as building goals. If you serve multiple buildings, please report to the building you attend on Mondays unless otherwise arranged with your building principal. 

Below are some resources that will help with your work around standards-based learning:

Standards-Based Learning Map

Standards-Based Learning FAQ's


8:00-11:00 AM--District PD for Secondary Teachers
(Please report to the HS Auditorium with a charged laptop and something to write with).

• Student Learning
• ISASP Data
• Standards-Based Learning
• Work Group Updates
• Teacher Resources
• Open Education Resources
• Teacher Learning
• SEP University

8:00-11:00 AM--Building PD for Elementary Teachers

(Please report to the building you attend on Mondays).

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1:00-4:00 PM--District PD for Elementary Teachers
(Please report to the HS Auditorium with a charged laptop and something to write with).

• Student Learning
• ISASP Data
• Standards-Based Learning
• Work Group Updates
• Teacher Resources
• Open Education Resources
• Teacher Learning
• SEP University

1:00-4:00 PM--Building PD for Secondary Teachers

Elementary Collaboration 1.15.20

“Background knowledge plays a key role in students' reading comprehension — our findings show that if students don't have sufficient related knowledge, they'll likely have difficulties understanding text."

--Tenaha O'Reilly

"By reading texts in social studies, science, and other disciplines, students build a foundation of knowledge in these fields that will also give them the background to be better readers in all content areas."

--David Coleman

We are looking forward to our next elementary collaboration on Wednesday, January 15th.  We will meet from 2:30-4:00 and continue our work on building and structuring our curriculum to include a balance and connection between content knowledge and skills. 

K-2 teachers will continue their work with the Inquiry Design Model to support units in social studies.  Please report to the HS Auditorium and bring a charged laptop and something to write with to the session.

3-5 teachers will also revisit the importance of dedicated time and instruction in the content areas and see examples of the Inquiry Design Model for social studies. Please report to the JH Auditorium and bring a charged laptop and something to write with to the session.  Please also read the article Dismantling the Myth of Learning to Read and Reading to Learn prior to our meeting on Wednesday. 

PK Teachers will continue their work on integrating instruction within and across units.  Please report to the Media Center at Centennial Elementary.

All Special Education teachers will be meeting at the Clay Elementary Library, and the nurses will also meet at Clay Elementary.  Art, Music, and PE teachers as well as guidance counselors will meet at Centennial Elementary. Art, Music, and PE teachers may continue their work on standards-based learning.  Counselors will meet with Amy Anderson and Darell Butcher. 

The chart below indicates where all teachers should report: 

Session	2019-2020 Meeting Locations
Preschool	Centennial Media Center
Kindergarten	HS Auditorium
Grade 1	HS Auditorium
Grade 2	HS Auditorium
Grade 3	JH Auditorium
Grade 4	JH Auditorium
Grade 5	JH Auditorium
Teacher Librarians	JH Auditorium
ESOL	JH Auditorium
TAG	JH Auditorium
Elementary Instructional Coaches	HS/JH Auditorium
Counselors	Centennial Elementary
Music	Centennial Elementary
Art	Centennial Elementary
PE	Centennial Elementary
Nurses	Clay Elementary
Title I Math	Assigned by Coordinator
Title I Reading & Reading Specialists	Assigned by Coordinator
K-5 Sp Ed Teachers	Clay Elementary Library

We are looking forward to our learning together next Wednesday! 

Resources to Support Standards-Based Learning

Many school teams across Southeast Polk are implementing practices to support standards-based learning and standards-referenced grading.  It has been exciting to observe, listen, and learn from these stories of implementation and the positive impact on student learning and rich communication opportunities with parents and guardians.

There is a Google site that the Grading and Reporting Leadership Team has been using to house documents, meeting agendas and minutes, articles, and resources.  We are now sharing this site district wide and using this as a location to share resources and ideas. The link to this site is found below.

Southeast Polk Standards-Based Learning Google Site

The left menu bar of this site is organized around the work groups of the Grading and Reporting Leadership Team.  There are links to Assessments and Proficiency Scales, Behavior Reporting, Communication, Feedback, and Letter Grades and Reporting.

Each of the work groups has been developing examples and resources to support teams in implementing practices to support standards-based learning.  These examples may include forms, handouts, booklets, pictures, videos, and student examples. 

These resources may be found on the "Resources" tab, and they are organized by examples from High School, Grades 6-8, and Elementary.

As you meet in your collaborative teams, we encourage you to review the examples for your grade/subject level.  You may want to try some of the resources, or you may want to adapt some of them to meet the needs of your students.

A big thank you to the teacher leaders on the work groups of the Grading and Reporting Leadership Team.  We know that many of you have artifacts from your own implementation.  The intent of this site is to share examples and resources across the district.  If you have any to share, please share them with me and I will add them to this Google site. 

The impact of your work on student learning is exciting!  You are invited to continue to share these experiences so we can share these across the district. 

Data Analysis Protocols

As we continue to review results of ISASP along with data collected from unit assessments, common formative assessments, math and literacy assessments, etc., this is a good time to revisit some of our data analysis protocols.  In a day and age where we have access to more information and data than ever before, the most important aspect is what we do and how we act upon the data we have.  A process of analyzing data can help teams focus their efforts and actions on key ideas.  Robert Eaker and Janel Keating suggest an agenda for a grade-level teacher team looking at the results of an assessment given to all students. They suggest about five minutes for each item, with more time for two toward the end:

-   What are the “priority standards” or learning targets measured by this assessment?

-   In what areas did our students do well?

-   What instructional strategies helped our students do well?

-   What skill deficiencies do we see?

-   What patterns do we see in the mistakes, and what do they tell us?

-   Which students did not master essential standards and which need additional time and support?

-   What interventions will be provided to address unlearned skills, and how will we check for success? (20 minutes)

-   Which students mastered standards and what is our plan for extending and enriching their learning? (10 minutes)

-   Do we need to tweak or improve this assessment?

Every School, Every Team, Every Classroom: District Leadership for Growing Professional Learning Communities at Work by Robert Eaker and Janel Keating (Solution Tree, 2012)

As we began our collaborative work, many teachers were trained in the data teams protocol.  The template below helped guide teams through this process.

Southeast Polk Data Teams Template

As we expanded our structure to include teacher leadership, we revised our process to include the analysis of student work.  This added a support structure that included the instructional coach and model teachers.

SEP Analysis of Student Work Template

As teams implemented these protocols and attended the PLC Institutes, they began to revise and develop their own processes for looking at data.  This is a much encouraged practice as it meets the specific needs of each team/department/building, and contributes to teacher efficacy. It is not what protocol we use, but that we have one.

The work from the PLC Institutes reminds us that there are 2 main questions our data analysis protocols should address:

• What does this data tell us?
• What are we going to do about it?

Our data analysis protocols help us answer PLC questions 3 and 4 and remind us that the impact of gathering data is the extent to which it changes instructional practice.  The purpose of these assessments is to identify what we need to adjust so all students will meet the standards.

• What will we do when students do not learn?
• What will we do if they already know it?

If your collaborative team has a data analysis protocol that works for you and your students, keep using it!  If you have a new team, or are looking at ways to make the process more efficient and/or more effective, you may want to look at some of the protocols below to add to or replace elements in order to strengthen your process.  

These templates and more are available in the folder at the link below:

Data Analysis Protocols

If you have a protocol that you use as a team that you would like to share, please send it to me and I will add it to this folder.  We hope that these resources will continue to support your dedicated efforts to use data to improve student learning. 

ISASP Results

We have received the results from the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress that was administered for the first time last spring.  We are continuing to compile and analyze the information, but there are many celebrations in the data. Given that this is a new assessment, our point of comparison is the state average.  Each focus area examines 21 data points--Grades 3-11 in ELA and Math, and Grades 3, 5, and 10 in Science. These are some of the trends and patterns in the data.

• When looking at all students, we exceeded the state average on 19/21 data points. 
• Of these 19 data points that exceeded the state average, 9 were double digit increases!
• For students on free and reduced lunch, we exceeded the state average on 20/21 data points.
• For students on an IEP, we exceeded the state average on 13/21 data points.
• For students learning English, we exceeded the state average on 19/21 data points.
• Our African American students exceeded the state average on 18/21 data points.
• Our Hispanic students exceeded the state average on 20/21 data points.

These results are a tribute to your commitment and hard work in supporting all students in meeting grade level standards.  These efforts are very much appreciated..give your co-workers a big thank you when you see them this week! 

Many teams are digging deeper into the data to look at results on domains for each subject area.  The ISASP Blueprint will give you additional information in regards to distribution of domain questions as well as frequency of Webb's Depth of Knowledge (DOK) levels. 

As we move forward, we know we will begin to have more comparison and growth data when the test is given again this spring. The content and results of the assessment are both organized around our efforts in standards-based learning, so continuing and growing this work will continue to support teaching and learning.  In addition, below are some districtwide efforts for future work:

• Continue to provide online models for gathering assessment data and evidence of learning.
• Examine delivery models for special education.
• Review texts available and authentic learning opportunities to make sure all students are represented.
• Implement culturally responsive instructional techniques.
• Strengthen and focus MTSS structures.
• Continue professional development for meeting the needs of ALL learners.

Thank you for your continued efforts to support students at Southeast Polk.

Elementary Collaboration 11.13.19

Our elementary teachers will have the opportunity to collaborate with teacher teams across the district this Wednesday, November 13th.  The collaboration time will be from 2:30 PM-4:00 PM.  Based on your feedback from our first collaboration and district professional development in September, we will be providing support for social studies as well as authentic learning.

K-2 Classroom Teachers
Elementary Social Studies

All K-2 classroom teachers will report to the HS Multipurpose Room.  We will be working on the Inquiry Design Model to support Social Studies unit design.  Please bring a charged device and notetaking materials.


3-5 Classroom Teachers
Art Teachers
Counselors
EL Teachers
Music Teachers
PE Teachers
Reading Specialists
TAG Teachers
Teacher Librarians
Title Teachers
Authentic Learning

All teacher groups listed above will report to Clay Elementary.  You will have the opportunity to attend different sessions designed to increase understanding of Southeast Polk's vision, mission, and core values by incorporating authentic learning. These sessions will include learning opportunities around ISASP, Social Emotional Learning, STEM for All, and College and Career Readiness. Due to limited space, teams must split up and attend different sessions for both of the first two rotations.  We will have team time at the conclusion of the afternoon so you may hear the key points from each session.  If a session is full, please choose a different session to attend.  The details for the afternoon may be found here. Please bring a charged device and notetaking materials.


K-5 Special Education Teachers
Assistive Technology 

All elementary special education teachers will report to the Spring Creek Library.  We will be working on assistive technology tools to support all learners.  Please bring a charged device and notetaking materials.

We are looking forward to our afternoon of collaborative learning!

ISASP Results Release

Overview

Last spring, schools across Iowa gave the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP).  This assessment measured achievement in Reading (Grades 3-11), Writing (Grades 3-11), Math (Grades 3-11) and Science (Grades 5, 8, and 10).  Because this was the first administration of the assessment, additional time was taken this summer to work with teacher teams to review data and establish cut scores.

Timeline and Reports

We will receive student scores on Monday, November 4th.  This information is embargoed by the state until November 11th.  Scores will be available through the ISASP testing portal to building principals.  They will distribute and share the information internally.

The results will be available in multiple ways.  Below is a sample of an Individual Student Report. The first page will include a performance meter which is a visual to show where the student scored in the range of performance. There is also a scale score, an achievement level, and a description of performance.

The second page of the report includes domain scores for each of the subtests. The domain scores give additional information regarding strengths and areas for growth within each of the tested areas.

These reports will be printed at the district level and distributed to schools.  You will also have access to these reports electronically at your buildings.  Please do not print these reports--they will be sent to the Print Shop for cost efficiency. These individual reports will be sent home with students on Monday, November 11th. An accompanying district message will be sent to families through Infinite Campus to notify parents and guardians that these reports are coming home.

Additional reports include a School Achievement Level Summary and a Class Roster. The School Achievement Level Summary shows the overall performance of each grade level within a building compared to the district and state.  The Class Roster includes individual student scores by roster grouping.

Data Analysis

As we interpret this data, it is important to remember that this is a new assessment and a fresh start in reviewing results aligned to the standards we teach.  It would not be appropriate for us to compare this data to previous years of the Iowa Assessment.  The percentile ranks and standard scale scores are not aligned and would not serve as an accurate basis for comparison. There are a number of reasons why this assessment should not be compared to previous Iowa tests.  These factors are summarized in the table below.

Performance level descriptors specify the level of performance on a subtest that is required for a student to be classified into a given performance level including proficient, advanced, or not yet proficient.  Cut score ranges were established to determine where student results would fall within these performance categories. Information on these cut score ranges may be found here, and the performance level descriptors for each subject and grade level may be found at the links below.

ELA Performance Level Descriptors

Math Performance Level Descriptors

Science Performance Level Descriptors

Below are some resources for your reference as we review the results and plan actions for further support.

ISASP Information Page (tab for Reporting Resources)

Interpretative Manual for Educators

Interpretation Information for Families (this will be sent home to families through Infinite Campus)

Next Steps

As we receive these results, we can use them to provide summary information to communities and to assist with our curriculum design and school improvement planning. Results will also become a part of the Iowa School Performance Profiles produced by the Iowa Department of Education. 


An equivalent form of the ISASP will be administered in the Spring of 2020. The Performance Level Descriptors and cut scores established in 2019 will be used for the interpretation of the 2020 results. An index of student growth will be available after the spring 2020 results are available. In addition, relationships between ISASP and ACT will be established for college and career readiness as data for Iowa students become available. 

Review of Key Points

• ISASP results will be available to educators through the portal on November 4th.
• This information is embargoed to the public until November 11th.
• Individual Student Reports will be printed at the district level.
• Reports will be sent home on November 11th.
• A district message will be sent to families through Infinite Campus on November 11th.
• This new assessment is a fresh start for looking at data aligned to the Iowa Core.

While the results are delayed for this first administration, we will have results much earlier in subsequent years.  We will also be able to begin some growth comparisons to this baseline data when we test this spring.  We are looking forward to having this data available to continue everyone's hard and collaborative work in supporting all students.