US+Meeting+2012+01+23

=Agenda for January 23, 2012=


 * 1) Rubicon Curriculum Mapping
 * 2) Raj Chetty
 * 3) Accountability
 * 4) Professional development and expertise within field(s)
 * 5) Teacher communication with students/families/colleagues
 * 6) Engagement in the classroom.
 * 7) Environment/culture


 * Teacher evaluation system that holds teachers accoutable for student learning.
 * Teacher mentoring of other teachers.
 * High expectations and standards for students. Students need to believe that they can be their best. They can be better than who they are right now.
 * Engage the students. Talk with them, not at them. Discussion-based classes
 * Developmentally appropriate strategies for student learning. Knowledge of the pedagogy regarding student ability
 * Teacher content knowledge: Passion about the content and serious about continuing learning within the field(s) of expertise.
 * Constant search for the perfect lesson plan. Committment to changing/tweaking courses to make each lesson better.
 * Nobody overlooked.
 * Knowing how to package content. What do the kids really have to know? Selecting content.
 * Always refining assessments to make expectations more clear.
 * Teaching writing.
 * Working with students in multiple contexts--coach, advise, lunch, etc.
 * student-centered learning, but everybody knows that teacher is in charge because
 * Affective side: The Hook. Every teacher has something personal that we can use to get student buy-in. Lack of personality means students can't relate to you.
 * Effective communication with parents and relationship with parents: parental buy-in is very important.
 * Managable class-size
 * Collaboration with Collegiality


 * 1) Recommendations for next year.
 * Freshmen recommendations for Sophomore Honors
 * need to have clear standards that apply across all students
 * minimum requirement A-
 * Others can take a placement test. Sign-up for B students and above.
 * Soph. recommendations for Junior AP US History
 * 1) Courses/Staffing 2012