Today there was no school but all teachers attended a staff meeting in the morning from 8:30 to 10:30. By the end of that meeting, we had devised a SIP (School Improvement Plan) and had the subsequent task of gathering in our grade-level bands (K-1, 2-3-4, 5-6) to discuss and write down the ways in which the SIP will be implemented in our classrooms. I can’t remember the exact wording of the SIP, but its main focus is language development. Our school has so many ELL students, and there is a definite need for a focus on vocabulary and comprehension of text so that our students will be on their way to higher-level thinking. So, for the next few years, White Center Heights will be working on improving in that area.
When we met in our bands, we talked about how to incorporate language development in math, reading, and writing. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade teachers relied on a book called Comprehension through Conversation to create their basic reading plan for the year. Our literacy specialist also mentioned a book called To Understand that she loves and highly recommends. I love hearing about excellent books, and I always immediately want to run out and buy them to add to my growing collection of teacher resources.
I can see now why teacher in-service days are important. They allow helpful planning to take place. I, for one, feel more confident about this coming year now that we’ve come up with concrete ways in which we can teach the three main subjects.
Monica….inservice days are important if they are done in a spirit of collaboration and improvement for your students…which it looks like happened last week. The most effective schools are those where all participants have a voice.