Konawaena Elementary Data Teams and the Use of Formative Assessments

Information About Konawaena Elementary  K-5 School  Projected Enrollment: 571 students  67% Free / Reduced Lunch  100+ English Language Learners  47 SpEd Students  4 Section 504  124 Migrant Education Students

Information on Konawaena Elementary Certificated Staff  26 Classroom Teachers  1 Reading Coach, 1 Math Coach  1 ELL Teacher, 1 Student Services Coordinator, 1Counselor, 1 Librarian  1 Principal

Konawaena’s Academic Plan  Improving our Core Reading and Math Programs  Improving our Alternate Core Reading and Math Programs  Developing Systems to Support Student Learning a. Data Teams (reading and math) b. Coaching by reading and math coaches – negotiating goals, observations and data collection to see if goals are met

Konawaena’s Academic Plan  Developing Support Systems to Support Student Learning c. Student Teacher Assist Team (Reading Coach, Math Coach, Counselor, Student Services Coordinator and Principal) meet with classroom teachers quarterly to provide assistance. d. Response to Interventions Classroom, Grade Level and School Interventions to support struggling learners.

Konawaena’s Academic Plan  All efforts work to strengthen teaching, instruction and most importantly student learning.  All of the above are works in progress.  Today, we’re sharing our journey in developing our data teams.  We’re still learning, improving and changing every year.

Professional Learning Communities / Data Teams  Sometimes we use the two phrases interchangeably because of our journey.  Three parts to our journey. a. Providing Time for teachers to meet b. Developing a Structure for the meetings c. Developing Teacher Leadership for the data teams

Time  5 years ago, we attended a Richard DuFour Professional Learning Communities workshop  Used Wednesday Administrative Meeting Time for Grade Levels to work on their implementation of Investigations in Numbers, Data and Space a. Experienced varying degrees of success. b. Found that we needed to provide structure so teams could maximize the use of allotted time.

Structure  Went to a Doug Reeves workshop.  Began using the Doug Reeves data teams protocol.  We found the process cumbersome.  We went through several modifications.  Currently, we are using a combination of Doug Reeves and Success For All reading protocol.  We use the same protocol for both reading and math.

Teacher Leadership  Worked with South Kona Complex, our School Renewal Specialist and the Professional Development and Educational Research Institute to tailor a Teacher Leader Academy for the South Kona schools.  Our Grade Level Math Data Team leaders participated to help them develop skills for running their data teams.

Math and Reading Data Teams  We added Reading Data teams this past school year.  We used school days (with substitutes), our 1 day converted into 6 hours and the 6 preps per semester allowable in the contract to provide time for our reading data teams.

Plans for SY  Reading Data Teams will be on Wednesdays. We will use the Wednesday Administrative Meeting times, 1 day converted into six hours and prep time allowed in the contract. Some Wednesdays will be used for inservices and faculty meetings.  Math Data Teams will be on a rotating schedule the last hour of the day (1:00 – 2:00 p.m.) Our Librarian, ELL teacher, Counselor, Admin Aides, KAP Aides will provide coverage in the classrooms.

Capturing the Journey  From the Fish Bowl to an Aquarium  Evolving from “me” to “we”  Witnessing the transformation From mandates to meaning From mandates to meaning  Rip Currents & Tidal Surges Staying the course Staying the course

Teacher Testimonials Speaks Volumes... “I am on a cooperative learning kick! Through team talk and team learning... students are getting better... it helps with their learning, and it allows me the freedom to circulate through the classroom listen to discussions and to do quick formative checks on understanding of specific concepts.” “I am on a cooperative learning kick! Through team talk and team learning... students are getting better... it helps with their learning, and it allows me the freedom to circulate through the classroom listen to discussions and to do quick formative checks on understanding of specific concepts.” Thelina O’Daniel (grade 3 teacher), Konawaena Elementary School, SY Thelina O’Daniel (grade 3 teacher), Konawaena Elementary School, SY

“The Data Team process... was very new, difficult, and confusing at the beginning of the year for me. Now I can honestly say I am able to enjoy and appreciate the collaboration that occurs... the willingness of my team members to share their great techniques has helped me hone my teaching skills. This time has also been very productive in terms of working together to learn how to implement the common core standards in math and reading. It is good to know that the teaching going on in the Kindergarten classrooms are consistent and research-based.” “The Data Team process... was very new, difficult, and confusing at the beginning of the year for me. Now I can honestly say I am able to enjoy and appreciate the collaboration that occurs... the willingness of my team members to share their great techniques has helped me hone my teaching skills. This time has also been very productive in terms of working together to learn how to implement the common core standards in math and reading. It is good to know that the teaching going on in the Kindergarten classrooms are consistent and research-based.” Karen Wong (Kindergarten teacher), Konawaena Elementary School, SY 2011 – 2012.

New Opportunities Professional Development Course Refining the Data Team Process