District Improvement Planning Ideas

Strategies (Activities) for Improvement: Reading(All Courses)

  1. RtI/Interventions (SEE RtI Pyramid - Aides, remediation, specialized materials, Best-Practice Teaching Strategies, PLCs, progress monitoring, community/ISD agencies)
  2. Professional Development (Best-practice research, technology, CCSS, Core Enhancement, school improvement)
  3. Parent Involvement (Parent/family nights, PTOs, advisory teams, volunteers, committees, Donuts for Dads/Muffins for Moms/Grandparents’ Day, Veterans Day)
  4. Professional Learning Communities (Strategies, data review, vertical/horizontal)
  5. Aligned Curriculum with Common Core, GLCE, HSCE across departments & grade levels (PLCs, PD, teacher/grade level/aides/department teams, ISD collaborative team)
  6. Curriculum with Fidelity Paced Appropriately (PLCs)
  7. Balanced Assessment Plan (National, state, district, & PLC’s common assessments)
  8. Quick Checks for Understanding (dry erase boards, walking around/observing, conferencing, summarization, exit writing, buddy share, getting the GIST)
  9. Increase reading/writing time & opportunities (reading workshop, leveled books, additional informational texts, online/articles, book clubs)
  10. Review of data from individual to district (TLCs, PLCs, buildings, teachers: quantitative, qualitative, & perception)
  11. Progress Monitoring (DIBELS, DRA, common assessments, quick checks, observation)

______

  1. Pre-Teach Vocabulary (not sentences & definitions, word walls, discussions)
  2. Listen to another Reader (peer, teacher/aide, administrator, mentor)
  3. Know the Purpose for Reading (By genre, by assignment, gain knowledge, for pleasure)
  4. Make Connections (Text to self, text to text, text to world- This reminds me, KWL)
  5. Visualizing (Drawing/finding pictures, mind mapping, iPad apps)
  6. Retell/Summarize (Story maps, picture cards,clips, New York Times Learning Network)
  7. Predictions (Brainstorm about the title, pictures, graphs, charts, table of contents)
  8. Drawing Conclusions(Talking to the text)
  9. Take Notes that Actually Help (2 column notes, highlighted reading)
  10. Determining Important Ideas (The text was mostly about, characters, plot, setting,)
  11. Rich, At-Level Narrative & Informational Texts(Lending library, online, text-to-speech)
  12. I Wonder (Reader asks questions and looks for them while reading.)
  13. Questioning Higher Level (Question webs, Socratic)
  14. Inferring (When author doesn’t exactly come out and say it, perhaps)
  15. OWL (Observe, wonder, & link it to your life.)
  16. Fix-Up Strategies (Context clues, reread, make connections….)
  17. Combine Texts with Similar Themes or Main Ideas
  18. Teacher Modeling (Questions, think aloud, discussions, exemplars, gradual release)
  19. Find Important Information (Highlight, underline)
  20. Think about It (Sticky notes or in margin thoughts or questions).
  21. Reader’s Workshop
  22. Café/Daily Five Strategies (Stamina….)
  23. Shared Book Reviews (Blogs….)
  24. Author Studies (Research through various media types, share through technology)
  25. Online Tutorials & Resources (A-Z, RAZ Kids SuccessMaker,
  26. Before-After-During Reading (Blending strategies)
  27. Adaptive Technology (To access & enhance curriculum)
  28. Fluency (Sight words, practice out loud, use technology)

Strategies (Activities) for Improvement: Writing(All Courses)

  1. RtI/Interventions (SEE RtI Pyramid - Aides, remediation, specialized materials, Best-Practice Teaching Strategies, PLCs, progress monitoring, community/ISD agencies)
  2. Professional Development (Best-practice research, technology, CCSS, Core Enhancement, school improvement)
  3. Parent Involvement (Parent/family nights, PTOs, advisory teams, volunteers, committees, Donuts for Dads/Muffins for Moms/Grandparents’ Day, Veterans Day)
  4. Professional Learning Communities (Common strategies/activities, data review, vertical/horizontal meetings)
  5. Aligned Curriculum with Common Core, GLCE, HSCE across departments & grade levels (PLCs, PD, teacher/grade level/aides/department teams, ISD collaborative team)
  6. Curriculum with Fidelity & Paced Appropriately (PLCs)
  7. Balanced Assessment Plan (National, state, district, & PLC’s common assessments)
  8. Quick Checks for Understanding (dry erase boards, walking around/observing, conferencing, summarization, exit writing, buddy share, getting the GIST)
  9. Increase reading/writing time & opportunities (reading workshop, leveled books, additional informational texts, online/articles, book clubs)
  10. Review of data from individual to district (TLCs, PLCs, buildings, teachers: quantitative, qualitative, & perception)
  11. Progress Monitoring (DIBELS, DRA, common assessments, quick checks, observation)

______

  1. CCSS- Argument, Informational, & Narrative (Workshops, ISD, online tools)
  2. Six Trait Writing Strategies
  3. Lucy Calkins Writing Strategies
  4. Red Cedar Writing Strategies
  5. Writer’s Workshop (Extended writing opportunities, authentic audiences)
  6. Mentor Texts (Review, discuss, text-to-text comparisons)
  7. Summarization
  8. Strengthen Vocabulary (Increase reading, rich classroom discussions, in context)
  9. Styles Used in Different Types of Writing (Web, essays, positions, argument, informational, research, labs)
  10. Developing a Topic (Reachable goals, inquiry activities, discussion, I wonder….)
  11. Studying Models (Whole group discussion of good writing, teacher do and talk,gradual release)
  12. Planning & Prewriting (Modeling, direct instruction, exemplars)
  13. Organizing (Graphic organizers, pictures, notes, modeling, direct instruction, exemplars)
  14. Stages of Writing (Modeling, direct instruction, exemplars)
  15. Revision/Proofing(Collaborative arrangements, modeling, direct instruction, exemplars)
  16. Citing Evidence (Direct quotes, MLA, modeling, direct instruction, exemplars)
  17. Using Transitions (Modeling, direct instruction, exemplars)
  18. Complex Sentences (Combining sentences, thesaurus, vocabulary building)
  19. Grammar & Punctuation (Online tools, modeling, direct instruction, exemplars)
  20. Spelling and Word Choice (Modeling, direct instruction, exemplars)
  21. Idea Generators (Telling stories, linking with other writers, books/magazines/article, I wonder….)
  22. Writing Fluency (Quick writes, practice)
  23. Adaptive Technology-Access & Enhance Learning (Tablets, computers, text to speech)
  24. Use of Technology to Enhance Writing (Word processing, blogs, research, projects)
  25. Writing for Content Area Learning (Quick writes, research, lab reports, articles, projects)

Strategies for Improvement: Math(Reading & Writing)

  1. RtI/Interventions (SEE RtI Pyramid - Aides, remediation, specialized materials, Best-Practice Teaching Strategies, PLCs, progress monitoring, community/ISD agencies)
  2. Professional Development (Best-practice research, technology, CCSS, Core Enhancement, school improvement)
  3. Parent Involvement (Parent/family nights, PTOs, advisory teams, volunteers, committees, Donuts for Dads/Muffins for Moms/Grandparents’ Day, Veterans Day)
  4. Professional Learning Communities (Common strategies/activities, data review, vertical/horizontal meetings)
  5. Aligned Curriculum with Common Core, GLCE, HSCE across departments & grade levels (PLCs, PD, teacher/grade level/aides/department teams, ISD collaborative team)
  6. Curriculum with Fidelity & Paced Appropriately (PLCs)
  7. Balanced Assessment Plan (National, state, district, & PLC’s common assessments)
  8. Quick Checks for Understanding (dry erase boards, walking around/observing, conferencing, summarization, exit writing, buddy share, getting the GIST)
  9. Increase reading/writing time & opportunities (reading workshop, leveled books, additional informational texts, online/articles, book clubs)
  10. Review of data from individual to district (TLCs, PLCs, buildings, teachers: quantitative, qualitative, & perception)
  11. Progress Monitoring (DIBELS, DRA, common assessments, quick checks, observation)

______

  1. Numeration (Cover basics well, technology, Khan Academy/online review )
  2. Computation (Increase Fluency through time drills, online-math gaming tools like TimezAttack)
  3. Use formulas (Real-world problems)
  4. Essential Vocabulary (Pre-teach, modeling, using same terminology consistency)
  5. Explicit Instruction & Modeling (Use of mobi device, think alouds, peer mentors)
  6. Solving Word Problems (Apply to real world, make a drawing or table, collaborate/discuss)
  7. Problems Solving (4-Step Approach- understand, devise a plan, carry it out, and look back)
  8. Errorless Computation (Provide an answer key, break into shorter assignments, real-life applications, math talk/collaboration)
  9. Interactive Lectures (Guided pauses, response cards, clickers, white board responses, mobi)
  10. Wrap-Around Instruction to Repeat & Support Learning (Khan Academy clips, online resources, pre-teaching, flipping the class)
  11. Test Preparation (Teach review strategies, time management, resources)
  12. Writing for Content Area Learning (Quick writes)
  13. Adaptive Technology-Access & Enhance Learning (Tablets, computers, text to speech)
  14. Student Engagement (Deeper thinking, questioning, choice, real-world

application)

(See reading, writing, & science.)

Strategies for Improvement: Science(Reading & Writing)

  1. RtI/Interventions (SEE RtI Pyramid - Aides, remediation, specialized materials,

Best-Practice Teaching Strategies, PLCs, progress monitoring, community/ISD agencies)

  1. Professional Development (Best-practice research, technology, CCSS, Core

enhancement, school improvement)

  1. Parent Involvement (Parent/family nights, PTOs, advisory teams, volunteers,

committees, Donuts for Dads/Muffins for Moms/Grandparents’ Day, Veterans Day)

  1. Professional Learning Communities (Strategies, data review, vertical/horizontal)
  2. Aligned Curriculum with Common Core, GLCE, HSCE across departments &

grade levels (PLCs, PD, teacher/grade level/aides/department teams, ISD collaborative team)

  1. Curriculum with Fidelity & Paced Appropriately (PLCs)
  2. Balanced Assessment Plan (National, state, district, & PLC’s common

assessments)

  1. Quick Checks for Understanding (dry erase boards, walking around/observing,

conferencing, summarization, exit writing, buddy share, getting the GIST)

  1. Increase reading/writing time & opportunities (reading workshop, leveled books,

additional informational texts, online/articles, book clubs)

  1. Review of data from individual to district (TLCs, PLCs, buildings, teachers:

quantitative, qualitative, & perception)

  1. Progress Monitoring (DIBELS, DRA, common assessments, quick checks,

observation)

______

  1. Inquiry & Scientific Method(Questions, think alouds, discussions,

exemplars, gradual release model)

  1. Research(Use of mobi device/technology, think alouds, peer mentors,
  2. exemplars, gradual release model)
  3. Varied Informational Text (Articles at various reading levels, text to

speech)

  1. Use formulas (Earlier grades, think alouds, peer mentors, gradual release)
  2. Essential Vocabulary (Pre-teach, modeling, same terminology

consistently, word walls)

  1. Explicit Instruction & Modeling (Use of mobi device, think alouds, peer

mentors, gradual release)

  1. Interactive Lectures (Guided pauses, response cards, clickers, individual

white board responses)

  1. Take a Stand (Debate, cite evidence, role play)
  2. Read Tables, Charts, Graphs (Learn/use Excel, model, think alouds)
  3. Wrap-Around Instruction to Repeat & Scaffold Learning (Khan Academy

clips, online resources, pre-teaching, flipping the class)

  1. Test Preparation (Teach review strategies, time management, resources)
  2. Writing for Content Area Learning (Quick writes)
  3. Adaptive Technology-Access & Enhance Learning (Tablets, computers, text to

speech)

  1. Student Engagement (Deeper thinking, questioning, choice, real-world

application)

Strategies for Improvement: Social Studies(Reading/Writing)

  1. RtI/Interventions (SEE RtI Pyramid - Aides, remediation, specialized materials,

Best-Practice Teaching Strategies, PLCs, progress monitoring, community/ISD

agencies)

  1. Professional Development (Best-practice research, technology, CCSS, Core

Enhancement, school improvement)

  1. Parent Involvement (Parent/family nights, PTOs, advisory teams, volunteers,

committees, Donuts for Dads/Muffins for Moms/Grandparents’ Day, Veterans

Day)

  1. Professional Learning Communities (Strategies, data review, vertical/horizontal)
  2. Aligned Curriculum with Common Core, GLCE, HSCE across departments &

grade levels (PLCs, PD, teacher/grade level/aides/department teams, ISD

collaborative team)

  1. Curriculum with Fidelity & Paced Appropriately (PLCs)
  2. Balanced Assessment Plan (National, state, district, & PLC’s common

assessments)

  1. Quick Checks for Understanding (dry erase boards, walking around/observing,

conferencing, summarization, exit writing, buddy share, getting the GIST)

  1. Increase reading/writing time & opportunities (reading workshop, leveled books,

additional informational texts, online/articles, book clubs)

  1. Review of data from individual to district (TLCs, PLCs, buildings, teachers:

quantitative, qualitative, & perception)

  1. Progress Monitoring (DIBELS, DRA, common assessments, quick checks,

observation)

______

  1. Inquiry (Questions, think alouds, discussions, exemplars, gradual release

model)

  1. Research (Use of mobi device/technology, think alouds, peer mentors,
  2. exemplars, gradual release model)
  3. Varied Informational Text (Articles at various reading levels, text to

speech)

  1. Expository Text (Use text features to promote understanding-titles,

headings, captions; find patterns in the organization & provide an advanced organizer)

  1. Take a Stand (Debate, cite evidence, role play)
  2. Read Tables, Charts, Graphs, Maps (Learn Excel, gradual release model)
  3. Essential Vocabulary (Pre-teach, modeling, same terminology

consistently, word walls)

  1. Explicit Instruction & Modeling (Use of mobi device/technology, think

alouds, peer mentors, exemplars, gradual release model)

  1. Interactive Lectures (Guided pauses, response cards, clickers, individual

white board responses)

  1. Wrap-Around Instruction to Repeat & Scaffold Learning (Khan Academy

clips, online resources, pre-teaching, flipping the class)

  1. Test Preparation (Teach review strategies, time management, resources)
  2. Writing for Content Area Learning (Quick writes)
  3. Adaptive Technology (To access & enhance curriculum)
  4. Student Engagement (Deeper thinking, questioning, choice, real-world)