English+Department

DEPARTMENT MEETINGS ESSENTIAL DISCUSSION/QUESTIONS There are 5 essential supports for reform to organize and improve schools, leadership, parent communities, professional capacity; student centered learning climate, and instructional climate. As a department team begin to discuss and list your ideas and strategies to improve in these areas and to strengthen our instructional core (culture, structure, systems, resources, stakeholders) LEADERSHIP: (i.e. vision, distributive leadership) test PARENT COMMUNITIES: (i.e. family engagement/supports learning) PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY: (i.e. right people on the right bus/skills in the right seat) STUDENT CENTER ACTIVITIES:(i.e. give and take in the classroom, relationships) INSTRUCTIONAL CLIMATE: (i.e. teacher support, mentors, PD, active demand teaching/culture of accountability, relationships)
 * Decision making will be collaborative. The order of points of contact will be Bailey and then Tran. Individuals will volunteer for duties that need to be completed. Department chair will delegate any remaining duties.
 * If the English department has essential information, we will include it in school-wide mailings, monthly calendar, and the school website.
 * For those English teachers that have their own web page on schoolnet, information for parents will be posted as needed.
 * Teachers utilize and share their strengths by taking leadership in department activities such as writing contests, grant writing, professional development, and fostering community ties.
 * During grade-group meetings, discussion will especially focus on interdisciplinary learning and projects.
 * Create opportunities for students to take ownership and showcase their learning, i.e. project-based activities, interdisciplinary projects, and community-based projects.
 * Teachers observe one another within the department.
 * Teachers share best classroom practices and resources.
 * Teachers discuss lesson plans and learning activities at each grade level.