This article is from Willard Daggett that I had the priviledge of hearing back in January.
Here are my rather sketchy notes on his speech. Reading the full article will provide the background.
A partnership with K-12, higher ed and the businsess community is the ONLY model for effective change
Study based on examining the 30 top achieving High schools in the US
- We need to spend more time explaining WHY we need to change
- if you start with the HOW the majority will respond with, “this too shall pass”
- make change voluntary
- understand your three groups :
- lunatic fringe…never heard an idea they didn’t like
- realists
- those who will always say, “this too shall pass”
- spend your first year explaining why
- year two the realists will move over
- year three some of the “this too shall pass” group joins
Main Characteristics of these schools
- Learning Communities
- High Expectations…espescially in the area of literacy (see the article for his definition)
- 9th Grade is different
- 20-40% weren’t ready for 9th grade
- Research does not validate remediation
- Core subjects taught in context of electives
- looping of 8th grade teachers to 9th grade
- 12th Grade…kids that were ready got all requirements by 11th grade and used 12th grade to acquire AP classes
- Data at the classroom level revealed curriculum was too heavy. Pared it down to essentials. Critical benchmarks taught in multiple subjects
- Emphasis on Relationships and Reflective thought…looping teachers develops relationships with students. Reflective thought cannot take place with no relationships.
- Professional Development is NOT mandated.
- Strong Leadership
He gave me lots to think about. What are your thoughts???