Celebrate Good Times - Come on!

Today's post is brought to you by Julie Schwartzbauer.

This month’s post is about celebrations.  I would like to be celebrating the coming of Spring and warmer weather, but apparently that does not occur in Wisconsin.  Luckily there is much to celebrate in my district.

There is a K-12 Steering Committee in the Appleton School District that explores a range of topics. Over the past three years the committee has focused on examining how the district has been implementing Wisconsin’s Common Core State Standards.  In Appleton, we use Curriculum Companion as a vehicle in which to teach the standards.  The transition to focusing on the standards through Companion has been quite difficult at times.  Our Steering Committee performs a SWOT (Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities/Threats) analysis each year to assess how things are going across the district.

Last week we brought the committee together to do the analysis.  

I would like to share some of the Strengths and Opportunities from the K-6 teachers, because I see them as things to celebrate.

Teachers have…

• a better understanding of the standards and how to teach the standards
• a better understanding of the workshop model and how to implement it with fidelity
• a better understanding of how to integrate Science and Social Studies across the day
• been able to integrate the use of technology across all content areas
• been effectively working together in PLCs along with specialists
• been using the writing continuum with fidelity
• increased the amount of time kids spend independently reading
• been differentiating instruction and being more responsive to individual student needs
• appreciated the staff development that occurs on late start days
• been progress monitoring
• creating and using common assessments to guide instruction
• been providing authentic reading and writing experiences for students
• been looking forward to teaching

Now of course, there were also some weaknesses and threats, but that’s not what this post is about.

Today is a good day here in Appleton.  Hard work pays off!