UT3 UToledo. UTeach. UTouch the Future. is a University of Toledo program preparing science and math educators for teaching in urban schools. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education through Teacher Quality Enhancement Grants program, Title II of Higher Education Amendments of 1998. For more information call us at 419-530-2060
Problem Statement: Using data to inform, modify and improve instruction.
Working to improve student learning one student at a time is the issue of
substandard math achievement in many elementary schools. This was the focus of
the action plan that addressed student achievement as well as instructional
methods, strategies and techniques. Data was analyzed and utilized to better
meet the needs of the students. Data was taken from the cumulative file,
looking and evaluating previous math test scores, the practice half tests
scores, the quarterly assessments scores. This information was used to drive
the instruction of the students as close to their level as possible focusing to
get as much growth as possible versus getting up to grade level. Results from
the 2008 OAT will be reviewed and analyzed for strengths and weaknesses as well
as growth. Value-Added analysis will also be utilized as soon as the training
for the staff is available.
HELPFUL TIPS:
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Learn to love assessment. Learning to love assessment means to take the fear out of it so that it can be seen as a friend rather than the enemy.
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Dr. Carol Ann Tomlinson states that “informative assessment is not an end in itself, but the beginning of better instruction”. This too, can be applied to formal assessment.
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The idea is to find out where we are going, where we are currently, and how to close the gap. (Chappuis and Chappuis, 2008)
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Shift our OAT score perceptions from who made it and who did not to using the information to better inform instruction along the way to our destination in order to up the odds of meeting our goals.
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Use relevancy as a key component in making sense of the data at which we will be looking.
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Acknowledge and celebrate our successes. We all have successes in our schools on a daily basis. Take note of the small successes and make time for classes or teachers to stop and celebrate. Sometimes the overall feelings in our schools are continued failure or just being attacked continuously.
Workshop in Principal Leadership in Science and MathematicsThe purpose of this seminar is to provide school level administrators with an opportunity to enhance their instructional leadership skills in the areas of science and mathematics in urban schools while participating in collaborative professional learning communities. Relevant issues and research in leadership in science and mathematics are investigated and teacher retention strategies are emphasized. Participants have hands-on experiences in inquiry learning in order to develop content-oriented coaching skills; an understanding of the standards in science and mathematics; and an idea of how the standards should be played out in actual classroom practice and how to enable teacher success.
Course Information [Click Here]
Course Brochure [Click Here]