1. Reviewed basic umbrella question we are focusing on: "If we use alternate instruction or assessment strategies, in what ways will it affect our students at-risk?"
  • Shared some examples of what different instruction or assessment strategies might look like in different classrooms, and shared some examples of how we might determine the impact the change has had.
  • Reviewed 4 areas to consider in student response: Academic Confidence, Academic Engagement, Social Engagement, Awareness of Strengths and Talents
2. Introduced (to new members) the concept of a case study. Showed an example of a finished case study from last year's group.
3. Group members shared out what strategies teachers have recently tried, and what is working and what they are struggling with. 
4. Goal for next meeting: Continue to share experiences (blogging). Commit to reading other group member blogs and be prepared to share something you have tried at the next meeting (the whole meeting will be sharing out)

 
  • Reminder that this project doesn't have to be about HUGE changes in the classroom. Lots of little strategies to change things up that can make a big difference for kids (low prep/high prep sheet)
  • Most of the meeting was spent introducing the rubric and the 4 areas teachers can focus on when observing their classes: academic confidence, academic engagement, awareness of strengths and interests, social engagement
  • Last part of the meeting was spent in the lab blogging and reading other blogs as well as the district blog.