Since the Instructional Partners Network online space launched in fall 2011 (with two dozen users) we’ve grown into a robust virtual community where nearly 400 school-based IPs, coaches and other professional learning specialists share and learn together.
Inside “The Ning” (as most of us call our private forum) participants can reflect (24/7) on what worked and what needs improvement; ask for help and ideas; and generally explore the best ways to promote teacher growth with colleagues doing the same work. This summer, we’re sharing several IPN Ning posts from the 2014-15 school year.
By Susan Ogle
Instructional Partner
A.H. Watwood Elementary
Talladega County Schools
We have so much to be proud of at A. H. Watwood Elementary this school year!! We went 1:1 with iPads, started AMSTI math in all grade levels, had Project Based Learning in all grade levels, and became a TLIM Lighthouse School! (Here’s our Facebook post.)
On top of that, we really focused on aligning our goals from the school level all the way down to the student level. We tracked school, grade level, classroom, and student data in various ways. Students owned their individual goals (that contributed to the attainment of school wide goals) by writing and tracking them in their Leadership Notebooks.
As a faculty, we also grew in our knowledge of daily learning targets (in the form of I Can statements), checks for understanding, and formative assessment. Teachers collaborated to plan and implement at least two PBL projects in each grade this year. They had authentic audiences and real world problems to solve. It was amazing to see the students truly being “Leaders of Their Own Learning!”
We showcased this learning at our annual Leadership Day in April. It was a great day! We learned A LOT about iPads and AMSTI and how to use them (iPads and Investigations) to change instruction in the classroom. We have a LONG way to go, but that is a good thing!
Our culture has changed for the better this year, as well. Our faculty and staff really synergized to get us where we needed to be for our Lighthouse Review. We became much closer. We also started secret pals, which was a huge success and good for morale. We are a much happier group!
Thinking about next year (I don’t know where this year went!!)
We have several phenomenal teachers retiring and two others are leaving, so we will have a large number of new teachers in our building next year.
I want to do my part to make sure they have a smooth start to the year, whether it is covering their class for them to observe veteran teachers, or coaching, or just being there for support.
I also want to spend more time building teacher leaders and our Powerful Conversations Network team already has a plan for that.
Our leadership team is meeting twice this summer to plan for embedded PD, so I am excited to hit the ground running next school year, with an even greater focus on instruction.
I am thrilled that we are going through ARI retooling this summer! There will be a focus on Close Reading, which makes me very happy. I will enjoy supporting my teachers with this endeavor! I already have plans to meet with the 3rd grade team this summer to map out their year and begin planning.
More about our tech integration
I could talk all day about our technology integration. It has been amazing! Teachers have embraced the iPads, challenges and all, and have really begun to use them for more than just playing games or doing picture collages. PBL and technology go hand in hand, and all projects this year included technology.
Kindergarteners used a green screen app to create videos to show at our Childersburg Chamber Coffee showcasing their Community Helper PBL. Second grade created timelines and trading cards for their Famous American PBL (they won at our Talladega County Technology Showcase this year).
Teachers in third grade used Discovery Education to conduct research and create board builders for their Natural Disaster PBL. First grade used the Chatterpix app to convince visitors to eat a balanced diet as part of their PBL. Fourth grade used theirs mostly for research.
The iPads are used in lots of other ways, too. All students have an Edmodo account and email. They use the iPads for reading practice on Epic, skill practice on STRIDE Academy, taking assessments, interactive presentations (like Nearpod), etc.
We have an amazing Digital Learning Specialist, and she has introduced us to the SAMR model, as well. In January, we did a sort and discussion at a faculty meeting using it. It was eye-opening for some of our teachers! Many really stepped it up with their 2nd semester PBL. This chart (our group sort) is hanging in our Lighthouse Room, where we have faculty meetings. We will definitely be using it more next year, now that we have a year under our belts!
To sum it all up…
I am proud of our accomplishments, I hope to learn a lot this summer, and I am excited to see what next year has in store for us here at Watwood. I hope everyone has a FANTASTIC summer!
