Teacher Study Group for Deposit Elementary School

Improving teaching through teacher articulation and collaboration

Powerpoint Presentation
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Describe the initial goal of the group noting any adjustments that had to be made as time passed.

The initial goal of the group was to improve teacher practices through articulation and collaboration.
The original goal as not changed as we continued the process.

Describe the Action plan that the group followed.

The action plan that the group followed was to do “light research” on the topics as outlined below.
We also were each responsible for finding and/or creating a lesson or activity that would be a good
example of good teaching in relation to the topic.

Topics:

1/16/02        Writing

1/23/02        Reading/vocab development/spelling

1/30/02         Intrinsic/extrinsic motivation

2/6/02           Math/problem solving

2/20/02         Using/building context as a teaching tool

2/27/02         Pulling it all together

Describe how the action plan was implemented.

For each meeting teachers were responsible for doing light research on the pedagogy behind the
given topics.  In addition to this, they were to find or create a lesson or activity that would promote
or be a good example of good teaching practice for the given topic.

At the meeting, the first hour was devoted to discussion and development of ideas and beliefs
about the given topic based in the research done by the teacher/members. The second hour was
devoted to the sharing and discussion of good lessons or activities based on the given topic.

Evaluation of the impact of the study group effort on teacher/student performance .

What evidence is there that teaching practices have changed?

Lessons that have been created are included in the final project, which is a compilation on PowerPoint
of the lessons that be created and/or found. Also, many of these lessons have already or are planning
on being used at the appropriate time in the classrooms of the teacher members. These things are
evidence of how teaching practices have changed as a result of the Teacher Study Group.

What evidence is there that student achievement is improving?

In terms of student achievement, teacher observation and reports have been very positive.
Teachers have reported very good success with the lessons that have already been tried.
Teacher observation and positive feedback from the students is the evidence that we have
that student achievement is improving.

What evidence is there that the goals of the study group have/have not been met?

Our final project, the compilation of lessons put together in a PowerPoint presentation is evidence
that the goal of our group has been met. These lessons are examples of the good teaching practices
that our group was to encourage. They are also a result of our collaboration and discussion/articulation
of the topics.

Comment on the value of the study group process.  Did it work for you?

As for the study group process, we all had a very positive experience. This process gave us the
opportunity to get together and discuss good teaching and to share ideas that promote this goal.

We all felt that it was a beneficial and effective tool for communication, teaching skills and thus,
effecting student achievement.