Re: How to show 4 Blocks is working after just one year???
Posted by brad on 6/27/08
On 6/26/08, L. in K-3 School - admins worried they don't see
better scores wrote:
> Our admin is supportive but seems to understand only
numbers
> when it comes to measuring our success. this year our
> reading & writing scores didn't show much difference from
> prior years. Is there something else we could be looking
at?
>
> We look at high frequency word assessments, two writing
> scores one for mechanics and one for message and the DRA.
I would look, first, at two things:
1. Quality of training
2. Fidelity of implementation
Obviously if the quality of training is low, then there may
be many misconceptions and incorrect techniques that
teachers are using rather than more powerful strategies that
may get the scores you need a little sooner. Does your
training "go deep?" Did your training have follow-up and
coaching in the classroom? Are teachers being held
accountable for implementation?
If you are looking at whole-school scores, then fidelity of
implementation is a must. You cannot have Teacher A using
Four Blocks and Teacher B using some of the techniques while
Teacher C has been doing what she's always done (and getting
what she's always got!) (sic) The
trainer/administration/faculty should develop an
implementation form with SPECIFICS that can be seen EASILY
in the classroom. The form should be used in a coaching and
teaching way, NOT in an evaluative, you're-not-doing-this-
you'll-be-put-on-a-plan-of-improvement kind of way.
Also, what are you comparing this to? Are you using the
same assessments to determine growth that you always have?
Are they quality assessments? (There is some doubt with
informal reading inventories, such as DRA). Do you have
trend data? Also, you may be comparing this year's results
(with Four Blocks) to zero, when in reality, you should be
comparing it to "what-we-did-before."
In my estimation, one year is too short of a time to be
debating on whether or not to keep or dismiss a
framework/program. Any expert would tell you that 3-5 years
of commitment is a must with continued training and high
accountability. This doesn't mean that you won't begin to
see results in the first year, but it does mean that you may
not see how high of a mountain you've climbed until you
reach the top.
brad
Posts on this thread, including this one
- How to show 4 Blocks is working after just one year???, 6/26/08, by L. in K-3 School - admins worried they don't see better scores.
- Re: How to show 4 Blocks is working after just one year???, 6/27/08, by brad.
- Re: How to show 4 Blocks is working after just one year???, 7/09/08, by sla.
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