Teacher Study Groups Teams of teachers meet to become students again. They identify books to read, reports to summarize, research or theory to explore. They devise a meeting schedule and assign reading assignments. At each meeting, they act on their plan by having one or two members assume responsibility for leading a discussion on the text or handouts that everyone agreed to read prior to the meeting. This period of observation is followed closely with reflection.
Participants identify implications for action that emerge from their conversation.
These implications may be framed as recommendations for changes in school organization, curriculum, assessment, or instruction. Their report may contain recommendations based on their observations and findings. Shadowing a Student for a Day Teachers identify students at each grade level to observe, PLAN for a day when their classes can be covered, and ACT by following the designated student to his or her classes all day long. Analyzing School Records Teachers identify data that represents vital signs for student success in their school, and develop a PLAN for collecting that data in a systematic way. They ACT by ensuring that the information is collected in objective, accurate, and confidential ways.