What is school culture?A school’s culture is one of the most difficult to describe and yet one of the most important

elements in its success or failure in educating its students.

The School Culture?

CULTURE AND CLIMATE described as the sum of all perceptions & emotions attached to the school, both good & bad, held by students, faculty, administrators, parents, & the community at large.

The School Climate?Climate refers to the emotional atmosphere we generate around us; some people refer to climate as the “context” of school.

Three Key Talking Points

SCHOOL IMPROVE

MENT

Talking Point One

1

What do we know about

School ImprovementWe knew that to make long term changes on a large-scale we all must be part of a systematic change where all parts of the planning process is focused on the whole instead of in fragmentation.

(Michael Fullan)

Student LearningThe biggest effects on student learning occurs when teachers become learners of their own learning and when students become their own teachers.

Influences on student learning John Hattie

We found that to obtain mastery of a goal feedback must be given and sought as teachers and students are engaged in learning.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

Key Talking ThreeSTUDENT LEARNING

CULTURE OF

SUCCESS

12 3

What do we know about

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

Talking Point TwoSTUDE

NT LEARNI

NG1 2

What do we know about

Culture of Success Individually and

collectively understand the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset .

(Carol Dweck)

What Is A

Fixed Mindset ?

“We are the way they are”

FORCES THAT CREATE FIXED MINDSETS

A climate that makes teachers believe in their basic qualities as fixed traits

external forces that spend time documenting school improvement initiatives instead of developing individual talent

Data Is Not More Important

Than Developing Individual Talent

FIXED MINDSETS & EXTERNAL FORCES

strive to make others believe that the lack of talent will drive individual efforts to create success

influence a fixed climate mindset by using data to initiate a need for improvement.

Do Not Use Data As

External Motivators

The Data Tells Me That With EffortI Can ?

Wrong Drivers

Wrong Driver

I am wrong you are right

Wrong Driver

You’re Right I Need to Improve

Wrong Driver

Blame it on students not

me

We determined that there are differences in classes where teachers believe that achievement (and intelligence) is difficult to change because it is fixed and innate compared to teachers who believe achievement (and intelligence) is changeable

Fixed & Growth Mindsets

(Carol Dweck 2006).

Embrace Challenges

Recognizing Obstacles

It Takes Effort

to Grow

Criticism Means Change

Success is

Inspiration

Growth Mindset ?

What Is A

GROWTH MINDSET SCHOOLS believe in continual

school improvement work as a team to

solve problems Improvement is

based on reliable data that drives professional development

Embrace Challenge

s

Recognizing Obstacles

It Takes Effort

to Grow

Criticism Means Change

Success is

Inspiration

Why Growth Mindsets

Are Important

There are differences in schools where teachers aim to select talent for different pathways (such as schools with tracking) compared with those where achievement cultures aim to develop talent in each child.

Embrace Challenge

s

Recognizing Obstacles

It Takes Effort

to Grow

Criticism Means Change

Success is

Inspiration

EmbracingThe culture and

climate of a school can be affected by factors from

disciplinary problems and classroom rowdiness to educator pessimism or student apathy.

TEACHERS AS CHANGE AGENTS

Believe that all students can learn

Believe that achievement for all is changeable

Demonstrated to all students that they care about their learning

Embrace Challenges

Recognizing Obstacles

It Takes Effort

to Grow

Criticism Means Change

Success is

Inspiration

School & CommunityRecognizing obstacles means looking at how the school is viewed by the community

Obstacles of Collaboration

Established a building leadership team (BLT) and site council to HELP solve problems for school improvement that is based on reliable data that will drive professional development and student centered learning.

STUDENT ADVOCACY OBSTACLESDevelop a warm

socio-emotional climate in classrooms

Foster student effort

Improve conceptions about progress, & student relationships

Embrace Challenges

Recognizing Obstacles

It Takes Effort to Grow

Criticism Means Change

Success is

Inspiration

STUDENT IMPROVEMENTS Center team

meetings on student improvement

allow teachers and staff to compare notes on what is working when it comes to At Risk Students

BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION Make a stance against

violence, gang related behavior and bullying

Rules and expectations are taught, modeled, and coached

Rules are consistently and ethically enforced

Behavior is positively normed

Embrace Challenges

Recognizing Obstacles

It Takes Effort

to Grow

Criticism Means Change

Success is

Inspiration

CRITICISM FOR DEVELOPMENT Criticism is a mindset

for development Criticism is integrated

within the school improvement process

Establish a means for improvement through reflective data

Criticism means analyzing quality

APPROACHING CRITICISM Work together Prioritize, and

selected an issue Gain consensus

among staff for interpretation

Identify specific practices to teach

Determine desired outcomes

Embrace Challenges

Recognizing Obstacles

It Takes Effort

to Grow

Criticism Means Change

Success is

Inspiration

YOU MATTER Send out a message

that everyone is important

No one will be left behind.

Focus on the success of others as a source of inspiration

A MESSAGE OF SUCCESS send a message of

growth positive relationship

with students continuous

recognition of appropriate behaviors

Teach each student what is expected

DEFINING SCHOOL CULTURE

A Mindset for School Improvement

A Mike King Presentationhttps://twitter.com/digitalsandbox1