Retreat

Prior to the CASE conference in August, the SMET retreat was held in Breckenridge. People attending were able to earn .5 graduate credits. Participants received information on District 11's lesson design and studied portions of Michael Schmoker's book Results Now. We also had an opportunity to see a PLC in action in designing short term assessments and a lesson. Check out these links -
Newsletter
http://www.fileden.com/ http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/8/8/1331261/SMET%20Newsletter.doc
Ron's Notes from Schmoker's Book
http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/8/8/1331261/Rons%20Notes_for_the_SMET_Retreat%20Results%20Now.doc
PLC Lesson
http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/8/8/1331261/PLC%20lesson%20design%20steps%20%20sample%208.1.07.doc
Blog and Wiki notes
http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/8/8/1331261/SMET_blog_info_7[1][1].26.07.doc

Re-edited Welcome

Weblog (dialogue)

SMET Blog (Re-edit of Welcome, continuing dialogue)

SMET = Standards Made Easy for Teaching

Blog definition: "A Weblog is an easily created, easily updateable Website that allows an author (or authors) to publish instantly to the Internet from any Internet connection. Weblogs are comprised of reflections and conversations that in many cases are updated every day (if not three or four times a day). Blogs engage readers with ideas and questions and links. They ask readers to think and to respond. They demand interaction." pp. 18-19, Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and other Web Toolos for Classrooms, Will Richardson.

The blog for the SMET Partnership is designed for SMET Partners to share ideas and information on how to work cooperatively and collegially to improve student learning and student growth so students can become well rounded, responsible, productive citizens.

The SMET blog is an easy, living communication tool for teachers to carry on an ongoing dialogue with one another over the internet about a wide range of topics -- for example:


1) Is supervision of the curriculum being conducted in my building to see what is actually being taught (substance) -- is what is being taught connected to an essential, common, agreed upon curriculum or an essential standard – or, is what is being taught mostly about disconnected activities and busy work --- can I pretty well teach whatever I personally decide, or is the curriculum defined and articulated both up and down grades and across grades:

2) How well is the substance being taught (general quality) -- do I consistently have the most basic elements of an effective lesson -- do I get help in continuing to improve my instructional methods and instructional strategies -- do I as a teacher get honest, timely, constructive feedback from other education professionals on how my lessons go and how I can continue to get better at teaching -- do I take time to reflect on the effectiveness of the lessons I teach:

3) While teaching do I observe whether most of the students are attentive and on task -- are students challenged to learn the most vital reading and writing standards – do students think and discuss at higher order levels:

4) How well do I provide constructive feedback to students -- how well are students and I responding and relating to one another -- what is the quality of relationships between all students and between me and all students:

5) Is time arranged for me to work in teams so we can work on clear, agreed-upon curriculum standards and on other agreed upon vital areas (e.g., assessments, communications, etc.):

6) Can the SMET blog be a helpful tool to assist SMET partnership teachers in various parts of the state to communicate with one another as part of a virtual Professional Learning Community (PLC) in sharing hopes, dreams, aspirations, questions, comments, ideas, resources, etc.?


These are some of the vital questions and reflections that a blog can address. There are many more areas. What do you think about SMET setting up a blog for those teaches who may want to use the blog to communicate and to have an ongoing dialogue with one another?


Bill Powell can be reached at wpowell955@aol.com


SMET Blog: www.smetpartnership.blogspot.com (running dialogue)

SMETwiki: http://smet.pbwiki.com; password: smetpartner (document that can be edited by anyone at anytime)

Welcome

SMET = Standards Made Easy for Teaching

Blog definition: "A Weblog is an easily created, easily updateable Website that allows an author (or authors) to publish instantly to the Internet from any Internet connection. Weblogs are comprised of reflections and conversations that in many cases are updated every day (if not three or four times a day). Blogs engage readers with ideas and questions and links. They ask readers to think and to respond. They demand interaction." pp. 18-19, Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and other Web Toolos for Classrooms, Will Richardson.

The blog for the SMET Parternship is designed for SMET Partners to share ideas and information on how to work coperatively and collegially to improve student learning and student growth so students can become well rounded, responsible, productive citizens.

The SMET blog is an easy, living communication tool for teachers to carry on an ongoing dialogue with one another over the internet about a wide range of topics -- for example:

• Is supervision of the curriculum being conducted in my building to see what is actually being taught (substance) -- is what is taught connected to an essential, common, agreed upon curriculum or an essential standard -- or is what is being taught mostly about disconnected activities and busy work --- can I pretty well teach whatever I personally decide:
• How well is the substance being taught (general quality) -- do I consistently have the most basic elements of an effective lesson, and do I get help in improving my instructional methods and instructional strategies -- do I as a teacher get honest, timely, constructive feedback from others education professionals on how my lessons go -- do I take time to reflect on the effectiveness of the lessons I teach:
• Observe whether most of the students are attentive and on task -- are students challenged to learn the most vital reading and to writing standards and to think and to discuss on higher order levels:
• How well is the teacher providing constructive feedback to students -- how well are students responding and relating to the teacher:
• Is time arranged for teachers to work in teams so they can work on clear, agreed-upon curriculum standards:
• Can the SMET blog be a helpful tool to assist some of the partnership teachers in various parts of the state to communicate with one another as part of a virtual Professional Learning Community in sharing hopes, dreams, aspirations, questions, comments, ideas, resources, etc.?

These are some of the vital questions and reflections that a blog can address. There are many more areas. What do you think about SMET setting up a blog for those teaches who may want to use the blog to communicate with one another?

Bill Powell can be reached at wpowell955@aol.com