Tools Developed in OPP Phase 1 at AIS Woodburn

While implementing proficiency-based education during the 2009-10 school year, the Academy of International Studies (AIS) in Woodburn, Oregon, developed a lot of tools along the way to help with various aspects of building the capacity of staff to adapt this work to their classrooms. Because there was an intensive focus on instructional coaching in the Language Arts classroom of one teacher, there are a number of tools specific to writing and Language Arts. The AIS principal also received intensive instructional leadership coaching and a number of tools were developed in that aspect of the work.

The tools also reflect the collaborative efforts of the Language Arts Department teachers and other staff to reach shared understanding and agreement about how to implement the new practices so that students would have consistent learning experiences across the department and school.

The tools are organized in sections according to which AIS staff individuals or groups created them and should be useful to anyone interested in pursuing this work, to see by role where a teacher, principal, department, professional learning community (PLC) or whole school staff might start.

Website visitors please note: The Proficiency Project work at AIS spanned an entire school year, and a lot of progress and development occurred between August 2009 and June 2010. Tools, notes and other documents developed early in the year started at a basic level compared to those developed by the spring of 2010 and beyond. Anyone wishing to use these tools and materials should take this into consideration when selecting materials to apply in their own settings, particularly concerning the tools containing proficiency/learning targets and outcomes for students, as the rigor increased in later documents.

Sections:

Tools for All Staff:

•    Classroom Observation tools
•    Grading Policy and Practice
•    AIS In Service Agendas
•    Guiding Questioning Activity for Writing Initiative
•    Professional Learning Community (PLC) Flow Chart

Tools for Language Arts Teachers:

•    Language Arts Proficiencies – Learning Targets
•    Teaching Tools, Protocols, Strategies
•    Language Arts PLC Meeting Minutes and Notes

Tools for Instructional Coaching

•    AIS Proficiency Implementation Narrative 2009-10 – contains 13 planning and teaching tools with explanations by the CEL – UW Instructional Coach

Tools for AIS Instructional Facilitator

•    Menus, schedules and other planning templates for an internal school coach to work with other teaching staff in their classrooms on developing specific teaching practices

Tools for Principal – Instructional Leadership

•    Teacher Outcomes Benchmarks
•    Observational Rounds Tool
•    Instructional Focus Action Plan
•    Principal’s Walkthrough Tool
•    Coaching Notes