october

1. Who are We & Why are We Here?
• We care deeply about students and about each other.
• We model and promote a growth mindset.
• We focus on learning in and beyond the classroom.
• We understand that fair is different than equal.
• We work hard and persevere.
• We value people, not programs.
• We make choices—big and small—that reflect who we
are and who we want to become.
• We strive to be the people we want our students to be.
PHS Inservice—October 30, 2015
When We Learn, Students Learn

2. All Students Prepared for Success
Academics, Extra-Curricular, Community, Finances
Increased Student Engagement
Curriculum (course/unit development, backwards
design, summative assessments)
Learning Environment (transition, soft skills,
relationships)
Instruction (critical thinking, differentiation, feedback,
formative assessment, best practice)
RELEVANT~CHALLENGING~AUTHENTIC

3. Curriculum: What & Why?
• Curriculum = “the course to be run”
• Guides teaching and learning by defining and
organizing what learners should know,
understand, and be able to do
• Unites educators in pursuit of common goals
without limiting the “educational imagination”
(Eisner)
• Not a script, but a collaboratively designed
vision for learning

4. What advice do you have for educators
using Understanding by Design?
• Teaching & assessing for understanding and transfer
– What’s most worth understanding?
– What do you want students to be able to use, explain, or
teach others?
• Backward Design
– Beyond “coverage”
– Way of Thinking/Framework for Planning
• Think Big, Start Small, Go for an Early Win
– Units
– Collaboration
– Favorites
http://jaymctighe.com/

5. What Resources will Support &
Challenge Us?
• Fast Fire Menu
• Coaching Stations
• Colleagues
• Reflection Breaks
www.earlyrelease.weebly.com
Go Panthers!