California Department of Education
Taking Center Stage – Act II

Professional Learning Activities

Recommendation 1—Rigor

Implementing High Expectations for the
Success of Every Student

IV. Interact: Deepen Understanding

Learn more about key concepts of Recommendation 1 – Rigor by completing the following activities. Discuss experiences and share knowledge as you deepen your understanding.

To begin:

  1. Activity: In teams, discuss the following questions:
    • As you implemented the new practice, what challenges and opportunities did you discover?
    • What else do you need to learn now that you have completed research, created a plan, implemented a new practice, and evaluated the results?
    • How can you and your colleagues broaden your understanding about improving your professional practice?
    • What did you learn from the data you collected while implementing the new practice?
    • How did the new practice affect rigor at your site?
    • What new questions emerged from the changes made?
    • Was the new or improved practice effective?
    • Did the strategies work? If so, what evidence can you provide of its effectiveness?
    • What were the shortcomings? If so, what evidence can you provide of its lack of effectiveness?
    • What new or additional issues did your team uncover?
    • Which new questions or issues will the team address next using this process?
    • If you identified any low expectation messages, brainstorm ways to change the messages or behaviors into high expectations.
    • If you do not work together with your subject-matter team to develop coordinated lessons so that all students receive the same challenging content, discuss ways you might begin doing this.
    • Once you discover that students are not learning the content, how do you currently adjust instruction?
  2. Activity: Watch the TCSII video Leading the Way to Academic Excellence (WMV; 6:50) | MOV
    1. Consider the best practices described by the principal of Toby Johnson Middle School (consistent syllabi for the same course offered in the same grade and taught by different teachers) and described by a teacher at Rio Norte Junior High School (backwards mapping).
    2. Discuss which of these best practices would translate well to your school.
  3. Activity: Go into more depth regarding Recommendation 1 – Rigor by scheduling a series of staff meetings to complete the following TCSII Professional Learning Activity.

 

Professional Learning Activities Index

Back to Top