Post - Assignment #6

Creating Cultures for Learning

Action Plan for Application- Take shared leadership concepts to build that culture within our two vertical groups (ELA/Math) to build a collaborative Culture.

What did I do? For Vertical ELA/Math meetings, the agenda will be collaboratively designed and the teacher leaders will be asked to take ownership of one of the agenda items and be responsible for the discussion around it. This was done for the first time on Sept. 30th for our first vertical ELA meeting of the year. I sent the initial email with some ideas that needed to be discussed (see attached) and then make a call of additions of the agenda and for teachers to own pieces of it for the meeting. What happened? I had three teachers respond to the email taking ownership of items on the agenda and provided me with what their thoughts were regarding it and the questions they intended to ask the group (see attached example). No one however added anything to the agenda at this point. The meeting was less than perfect, the leaders were prepared with their questions and each began their respective topic, but many did not have a clear vision of where they wanted the conversation to lead. What's next? I need to work with my leaders that stepped up to lead those topics and work with them individually to help them develop a clear picture of where they want things to head and how they might make that happen. Or, work with them on how to have the appropriate conversations that allow enough openness for their own reflection so they can change their thinking midstream if need be.

Artifact attachments:
Artifact #1- My email to the vertical team: From: Heather Kortlandt Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 12:33 PM To: Vertical ELA TEAM Cc: Subject: ELA Leadership Meeting

Good Afternoon to our vertical ELA team members! I keep having and hearing conversations and questions about ELA related items. We would like to meet with you next week before school (in an effort to not pull you out of class so much this year) to discuss the items listed below. Please feel free to add any agenda items to this list by replying to this email with your ideas. Eventually we would like most of the agenda creation to come from you with our guidance instead of all from us :)

District prompt? Where are we? Who gave it? What are our next steps? Details! Writing across the curriculum, where are we with our matricies that we created last year to attempt to see how and where all types of writing was occurring in all buildings in all subjects. Curriculum Mapping- HS can you explain briefly where you are at during the meeting and then MK and I can explain next steps to move forward? Linda Jordan Anything else?

Would anyone like to volunteer to run one of each of those pieces above at the meeting? For example, does someone want to lead the discussion, fact finding dealing with the Vertical prompt and someone else lead the discussion on writing across the curriculum and next steps for the matricies? Just an idea...Let me know if you are interested and then I will create an agenda for us to follow.

We will meet in the board room, next Thursday, the 26th from 7am-7:35am. Coffee and donuts provided to fuel us up for the day :)

Heather Kortlandt Director of Secondary Instruction Otsego Public Schools

Artifact 2- document sent to me by a teacher volunteer to lead one of the agenda items: Hi there- I put together some leading questions for the meeting Monday. Feel free to add to or eliminate. I hope this is what you are looking for. I may not have a lot of time during the day tomorrow, my planning is consumed with other things. Thanks, Gina See you soon!

Matrix Discussion (this was the attached document in the email) Lucy Calkins Are the three types of writing being exposed to kids 12 times a year k-12? Did all grade levels complete their matrix collection of info. on when, and where they are doing the three types of writing? Were these all turned in? How do we compile and use this info.? How do we implement the three types of writing outside of what our curriculum offers to ensure exposure 12 times a year? When should we start a Curriculum map that encompasses this info.? Should the map include reading, writing, spelling, rewiring, etc.?

Artifact 3 - agenda for the meeting Vertical ELA Leadership Meeting September 30, 2013 Agenda Topic District prompt? Where are we? Who gave it? What are our next steps? Details Leader SK

Writing across the curriculum, where are we with our matricies that we created last year to attempt to see how and where all types of writing was occurring in all buildings in all subjects.

GW

Curriculum Mapping What has HS done? Where are we headed?

HS?

Linda Jordan Write-Steps Survey Need a lead here...

MK & HK MK & HK