Reflections by Steve Gregor https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf The Year in Retrospect en-us 2017-06-21 15:25:49 UTC 2025-10-25 21:54:46 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177118544 This was an exciting year for me.  Part of what made this year's experience so great was feeling supported by colleagues and administrators next to me and above me.  Their valuable insights, advice and suggestions were instrumental in making my year a success!  It was a great experience having people to share ideas with and talk through challenges without feeling isolated.  Thank you!]]> 2017-06-21 16:29:47 UTC https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177118544 This first year at WT has been a great success...thanks to the support of teachers and administrators. I have never worked with such a dedicated, passionate group of teachers before...and it is inspiring mbarnett0126 https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177118871 2017-06-21 16:33:55 UTC https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177118871 Department had another banner year as the collegiality among my staff was collaborative and positive. Our grade level support from each other proved once again supportive of all the students in our district. Also, thank you to those colleagues who have the ability to enhance my departments instructional opportunities as we take advantage of any commitment you make for the instructional demands of our students. https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177119148 2017-06-21 16:37:48 UTC https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177119148 Once again, sometimes, I felt like as administrative leaders we were not in sync. With time, planning will fix that and we will be ahead of the curve. https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177119578 2017-06-21 16:41:45 UTC https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177119578 We need a "roadmap" of the major PD curriculum initiatives for the district. What is our curriculum goal and which areas will we focus on first? For example, how does the PBL workshop/LATI fit in with learning goals and scales? How does all this fit in with Backward Design? The teachers are not seeing the connection. The Supervisors were not part of the PBL at the beginning to discuss our curriculum goals as a district. How does the equity process filter in to all of these? These are questions we need to think through and develop a strategic plan so that PD is coordinated, structured, aligned, understood and effective in practice. rarmstrong5 https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177122427
The teachers need to see the connection and understand the roadmap rather than just be selected for a workshop.  ]]> 2017-06-21 17:18:03 UTC https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177122427 I think it is important to remember that great curriculum only helps close the achievement gap if we couple it with great instruction. Keeping teachers accountable in terms of providing engaging learning activities that incorporate higher order thinking, questioning and collaboration is key. Using the evaluation framework to provide teachers with timely, meaningful feedback is going to help them grow which will ultimately be reflective is student achievement. https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177122477 2017-06-21 17:18:55 UTC https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177122477 All great points. I think a good step in this direction could be, looking from the teacher perspective and identifying what our end goal is for our students and teachers. Then, we can evaluate how individual content/department PD can help support the teachers in their achievement. All of the initiatives started this year, are important. However, individual departments were still using PD time mostly to achieve their individual goals. I suggest, we look to streamline and synthesize all these ideas into an overall purpose and create a plan that helps ALL of us get were we ALL want to be. https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177122943 2017-06-21 17:25:38 UTC https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177122943 We focused on the crosswalk, technology implementation, and some of us focused on curriculum adoption/re-alignment to standards. rarmstrong5 https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177122958
ESL focused on meeting compliance requirements, creating a 3-year plan and sheltered instruction for regular education teachers which will be completed by next year for cohort 1.  ESL also identified a need for SIFE students and focused on creating instruction plans which included more customized apps/programs thanks to our colleagues in Special Education.  ]]> 2017-06-21 17:25:49 UTC https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177122958 Building relationships. Understanding the Township way of doing things. Learning about my students, parents and families who are served by my school. https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177123434 2017-06-21 17:31:35 UTC https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177123434 ESL teachers should be included in all ELA training with regard to reading/writing strategies - especially with regard to new curriculum/programs. We need to be in alignment to support the ELA initiative. rarmstrong5 https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177123457 2017-06-21 17:31:54 UTC https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177123457 Have teachers received I&RS training? Also, what is our policy on students with concussions/anxiety issues. We are getting requests to make accommodations for students without a 504 in place. Is this legal? rarmstrong5 https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177123578 2017-06-21 17:33:22 UTC https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177123578 Differentiated strategies with technology was a focus. Thanks to Josh Hanlon and Liz Pitel who always support us. rarmstrong5 https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177123734
Josh Hanlon created a format for the technology component of the WL AP Speaking exam.  Thank you!]]> 2017-06-21 17:35:08 UTC https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177123734 Appropriate time and meeting space for specific departmental needs were not planned for/included in the professional development calendar. https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177124703 MD offered space at BHMS (B7 lab & A10)
3rd floor of IBPAC available and eliminate obstacles, tables, etc.
G225 or G205?
Create list of spaces/PIC

Notes: flipped PD?]]> 2017-06-21 17:37:27 UTC https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177124703 Consideration for locations that have laptops available for PD for MS teachers is necessary since they did not get 2 in 1 devices. rarmstrong5 https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177125205 2017-06-21 17:42:47 UTC https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177125205 Are we (as a District) or aren't we moving forward with Learning Goals and Scales (Learning Targets and Performance Scales)? https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177125220 Also- new learning map??]]> 2017-06-21 17:42:56 UTC https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177125220 Reminder - we still need to discuss grading consistency at the HS level. We only completed the MS. rarmstrong5 https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177125364 2017-06-21 17:44:57 UTC https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177125364 Co-teaching Strategies and Best Practice. https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177225409 It seems that there is a need for grouping/differentiation now as we look at assessment results now and see a need for it.]]> 2017-06-22 16:39:26 UTC https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177225409 Concern: Teachers pushing in to classrooms...kids have devices, classroom teacher has desktop...what about the support teacher? mbarnett0126 https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177227843 2017-06-22 17:14:22 UTC https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177227843 Rigor Walk... some informal data was collected from participants. Is the district using that data for decisions/planning? https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177231421 2017-06-22 18:06:28 UTC https://padlet.com/sgregor0328/y86tqt3w5wvf/wish/177231421