Maintaining Best Practices Through Back to Basics

Julie Schwartzbauer contributed this post. Click here for more of Julie's thinking.

As our district continues to focus on implementing best practices through a Back to Basics model, we are faced with the question of how we maintain the work that has been done.  I can say with confidence that all of our 16 elementary schools have participated in a roll-out pertaining to the various back to basics components (Read-Aloud, Shared Reading, Independent Reading, Minilessons, and Conferring).  What I am unsure of is whether or not the best practices surrounding these components are being implemented.  It makes me uneasy to think that all of the hard work our building coaches have done is not being implemented and maintained across grade levels and buildings.

I recently shared my uneasiness with our coaches.  Together we brainstormed ways to  ensure that Back to Basics are not only being implemented, but maintained throughout the year and in the future.  Some questions that arose were surrounding new teachers and how to meet their needs and support them throughout the year.  Below is an organizer we created.  Even with this chart, we all know that our crazy schedules can easily get in the way of good intentions.  How can we make the items below a priority?  I hope to revisit this topic with our coaches at the end of the year.

How will we implement Back to Basics with new teaching staff and how will we support them throughout the school year? Set aside time to meet with new teachers throughout the year. Review shared beliefs surrounding Back to Basics components. Visit classrooms to observe student learning and engagement. Create a new teacher support checklist that includes Back to Basics components. Survey new teachers to determine areas of needs. Use the coaching continuum. Implement new teacher collaboration time during lunch and include a  monthly email regarding the topics being addressed. Incorporate learning opportunities during PLCs. Implement weekly check-ins.

How will we maintain the implementation of Back to Basics components in the future? Survey ALL staff regarding the implementation of Back to Basics. Implement classroom walkthroughs with principals, based on each building’s vision for classroom visits. Provide a survey to determine needs. Use the coaching continuum. Use PLCs to revisit and dig deeper into the components. Create checklists for self accountability.