Eight Steps to Success A Framework for Improved Student Performance

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Eight Steps to SuccessA Framework for Improved
Student Performance
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• Youve got to think about big things while
  youre doing small things, so that all the small
  things go in the right direction.
• -Alvin Toffler, US business futurist and
  writer

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• The BIG thing is STUDENT PERFORMANCEand its
  impact on accountability

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Speaking of Accountability

• State Performance Standards (AEIS)

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Federal Performance Standards (AYP)
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I am convinced that if the rate of change inside
an organization is less than the rate of change
outside, the end is in sight.
- Jack Welch, US business executive
The Eight Steps to Success model will ensure
that the momentum is going so that No Child (or
teacher) gets Left Behind !
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• Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
  concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed,
  it is the only thing that ever has.
• -Margaret Mead, U.S. anthropologist and writer

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Simply put, the Eight Step Model is about the
instructional cycle. It looks like
this
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Eight Steps to Success

• Step 1 Step 5
• Disaggregate Test Scores Tutorials
• Step 2 Step 6
• Develop Timelines Enrichment
• Step 3 Step 7
• Instructional Focus
  Maintenance
• Step 4 Step 8
• Assessment
  Monitoring
  

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Step 1 Data Analysis

• When looking at data it would be wise to keep two
  things in mind
• One ought not reject the data merely because one
  does not like what the data implies.
• Conduct autopsies without blame.
• -Excerpts from GOOD TO GREAT, Jim Collins

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Step 1

• One ought not reject the data merely because one
  does not like what the data implies.
• Data does not lie. There are many pieces of data
  that a school can study to make decisions about
  different issues. It is important to remember
  that data is unemotional in its presentation,
  therefore, we too ought not be emotional when
  studying it. It may be uncomfortable to look at
  but it must be done if we are too improve our
  delivery for the benefit of our students.

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Step 1

• Conduct autopsies without blame.
• Data analysis should be done with an emphasis
  placed upon pattern identification. While data
  certainly does reveal if a teachers productivity
  level is optimal, we should be more concerned
  with identifying strengths and weaknesses in the
  curriculum and our organization as a whole.

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Step 1

• Disaggregate Test Scores
• TAKS Results
• AEIS IT
• Longitudinal Summary Reports
• Cohort Summary Report
• Item Analysis
• Local Objective Mastery
• Class Profile
• SE Performance Analysis Longitudinal SE

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Step 1

• There are two main goals for conducting the
  Autopsy
• To determine and develop what needs to be taught
  and when.
• To form instructional and remedial groups.

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Step 2Develop Instructional Timelines

• Scope and Sequence issues need to be determined.
  (The What When of instruction)
• Develop a campus timeline that encompasses all
  objective areas and time allocations based on
  the needs of the students and the weight of the
  objectives. It is important for every teacher to
  know every High Stakes SEs.
• The timeline is subject to change due to mastery
  of target areas.

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Whats all the talk about SEs? First you must
understand the relationship between the Texas
Essential Knowledge and Skills, the TAKS
objectives and the SEs. The easiest way to
understand this is to look at an example.
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The state curriculum fits together like the
pieces in a puzzle. TAKS Objective 1 The
student will demonstrate an understanding of
numbers, Operations, and quantitative
reasoning. TEK 3.1 Number, operation, and
quantitative reasoning. The student uses place
value to communicate about increasingly large
whole numbers in verbal and written form,
including money. The student is expected to A.
Use place value to read, write (in symbols and
words), and describe the value of whole numbers
through 999,999.
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Step 3 Instructional Focus

• The instructional focus should always revolve
  around the Student Expectations NOT TAKS
  OBJECTIVES. The student expectations tell us
  what in the curriculum (TEKS) students need to be
  able to do once the instruction has taken place.
  Student Expectations can perform no magic by
  simply being written in the teachers lesson plan
  book. Students must see the language written out
  on the board and dissected apart by the teacher
  with the students! There is 100 alignment
  between the SEs and the TAKS questions.

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Step 3 Instructional Focus

• Weekly department or grade level meetings
• Biweekly subject meetings (Algebra, Geometry,
  IPC, Chemistry, )
• Lesson plans should be developed and be
  consistent across the grade level, subject level,
  etc., to ensure equitable delivery of the
  curriculum to all students.
• Word Walls dissecting the verbs from the concepts
  in the SEs

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Step 4 Skill Checks Assessments

• After the focus SEs have been taught, a simple
  4-10 question assessment is given to students to
  determine progress. The teacher will then move
  to the next SEs on the timeline, however, the
  student instructional groups will change its
  membership based upon need.

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Step 4 Skill Checks Assessment

• There needs to be an understanding between a
  Skill Check and a Benchmark. A skill check is
  410 questions based upon the two week chunk of
  information. A Benchmark is a much heftier exam.
  Example 6 week or semester exam.

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Step 4Skill Checks Assessment

• Mastery on SEs is determined by three or four
  correct items on a four question test (75 or
  higher). Provide these students with enrichment
  regarding the focus SEs.
• Non-Mastery- These students need to be re-taught
  in a new way!
• It is at this point that tutorial groups will
  change.

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Step 5Tutorials

• Tutorials should be very prescriptive. The groups
  should be homogeneous in their composition.
  Meaning that students with comparable scale
  scores would be grouped together. The
  Longitudinal Objective Mastery Report (AEIS it)
  is an excellent tool for tutorial assignments.
  Tutorials should be devoted to re-teaching the
  SEs that were not mastered during the designated
  instructional time during the regular school day
  NOT A HOMEWORK HALL.
• Tutorials should have a curriculum and assessment.

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Step 6Enrichment

• Enrichment targets the SEs that are being taught
  during the regular instructional period. This
  time is for enhancing the knowledge of the
  student who reached mastery level. Keep in mind
  the depth and complexity of the curriculum when
  trying to raise the level of understanding.
• Examples of enrichment are
• Inviting Guest Speakers enhance student
  learning
• Provide Enrichment Opportunities through Higher
  Ed. Institution
• La Costa Grant Texas State Univ.
• UCHEM UT Austin
• Univ. Rep. visit Campus (Harvard, Princeton)

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Tips for Tutorials Enrichment

• Never remediate OUTSIDE of the curriculum!
• Make sure that teachers are assigned by their
  strengths as proven by data
• Begin tutorials the second week of school (dont
  wait to see)
• Keep tutorials on the same day of the week all
  year
• Make tutorials and extended day sessions
  mandatory

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• Keep groups at a minimum
• Never pull a student from a class to tutor them
  in that subject.
• Be ready to change the group make-up as needed
• Make sure that each struggling student has staff
  who knows the students strengths and weaknesses

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Step 7 Maintenance

• This is the notion of USE IT or LOSE IT!
• The use of transperancies, centers, games,
  maintenance booklets, etc., help the student
  revisit previously acquired information.
  Scaffolding or spiraling previously taught SEs
  helps ensure automaticity!
• There are products available that help review
  students and keep the information fresh. Make
  sure that the products are written to match the
  Rigor of TAKS. Understanding the four levels of
  questions that are presented on the TAKS is
  imperative.

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Step 8 Monitor

• Consider this definition of Rigorous
• To be rigorous means consistently applying
  exacting standards at all times and at all
  levels. Good to Great, Jim Collins
• Instructional leaders must be rigorous at all
  times in the educational process. All
  stakeholders should be consistently held
  accountable for applying these steps.

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Step 8 Monitor

• WARNING
• Every step in the process is important, however,
  time and time again, I see this the step that
  people try to bypass. Why? Because it is time
  consuming.
• This is the step that administrators must be
  committed to.
• Key Point Everyone must have clearly defined
  roles and timelines.

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• Principal/ Administrator Accountability
• Walk-throughs
• Monitoring assessments at-risk kids progress
• Instructional Leader for the building (keeping up
  on the latest researched based practices)
• Scheduled meetings with teachers and faculty
  related to 8 Steps
• Teacher Accountability
• Implementation of 8 Steps to Success
• TAKS talks with students parents
• Grade level, departmental, vertical team meetings
  (scheduled)
• High Expectations and Insistence for students to
  be successful
• Student/ Parent Accountability
• Commitment to learning
• Regular attendance

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Putting the Pieces TogetherLeadership and
Administrative Support

• Serve as an advocate for student success
• Provide funds and resources
• Serve as a broker for professional development
• Facilitate curriculum selection or development
• Set goals and monitor progress
• Coach teachers
• Troubleshoot problems

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SUCCESS

• Teamwork
• Motivation
• Innovation
• Preparation

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Question Answer Period