Volume 13, May 2006
Turbo-Charged Meetings
by Jan O'Neill & Anne Conzemius
Positive changes within a district are the result of an intensive amount of professional staff development. The way development is being implemented has as much to do with the changes as the specific focus of the development.
Our own commitment to best practices in professional development led us to look for a job-and-improvement-embedded development approach we could use with our clients within the SMART goals process. We were thus inspired when we discovered Mike Schmoker's (1996) "33 minute meeting agenda," which provides structure for teams of teachers interested in using student data to help achieve group goals. We have expanded this notion into a series of "30+ Minute Meetings."
Many of the schools, departments, and grade-level teams we work with are finding this structured process to be a very effective way of building professional competency and improving student learning. Each meeting capitalizes on the power of combining a focused agenda with data-based reflection and collaborative skills to drive improvement of student results. Briefly, the 30+ Minute Meeting Series breaks down like this:
- First meeting: The group identifies a student learning need. Between the first and second meetings: A study team gathers data to verify the need.
- Second meeting: The group develops SMART goals. Between the second and third meeting: Study teams review literature and best practice research about the student learning area.
- Third meeting: The group identifies what members are already doing that is best practice and determines further staff development needs. Between the third and fourth meetings: A study team investigates staff development delivery alternatives.
- Fourth meeting: The group discusses the methods, and individuals identify their preferred mode for learning new "best practices." Between the fourth and fifth meetings: Implement staff development activities. Implement "best practices" in classrooms and monitor results.
- Fifth meeting: The group reflects on the data and decides on the next steps.
ITEMS IN VOLUME 13:
Issue HOME
Tips from the Toolbox: Turbo Meetings
SMART Goals at McFarland Schools
Special Springtime Saving Deals
SIGN-UP / RECENT ISSUES PAGE
Click here for sample agendas to institute your own 30+ Minute Meetings for School Improvement
