Week Ahead: Nov. 20-24

I got the best email ever today:
May I Introduce Myself?

With the excitement of a new life joining us, here is what’s up next week:

Monday, Nov. 20
Day 1, ABCD (Adv)
*Happy Vietnamese Teachers’ Day
Administer Tripod in Blocks B and D
7:15 Tripod Survey Review Session
12:20  PTA Teachers’ Day Lunch, Auditorium (don’t miss it … and come hungry!)
1:30-3 Admin Mtg

Tuesday, Nov. 21
Day 2, EFGH (DEAR)
Administer Tripod in Blocks F and H

Wednesday, Nov. 22
Day 3, BCDA (DEAR)
*Happy Birthday Gary Bertoia
Administer Tripod in Blocks C and A
3:15-4:30 Divisional Meeting, Library (WWW Focus)

Thursday, Nov. 23
Day 4, FGHE (Adv)
Administer Tripod in Blocks G and E
10-12 Admin Mtg

Friday, Nov. 24
Day 5, CDAB (DEAR)

Upcoming (on the radar)

• Nov. 27-Dec.1 – WWW
• Dec. 5-7 – Book Fair
• Dec. 7 – MS Music Concert, 6-7:30ish (expect an off-timetable rehearsal around this date)
• Dec. 9 – SSIS Christmas Party, 6-11
• Dec. 13 – MS Drama Production, 6-7:30ish (expect an off-timetable rehearsal around this date)
• Dec. 15 – Special Schedule: Christmas Extravaganza

Tripod Surveys:  I apologize for the late notice, but we were notified that the Tripod survey must be given before WWW.  This is a survey completed by students that teachers use to reflect upon their practice.  This is same survey given last year.  I will have a review meeting for those new to the division (and anyone who wants a refresher) on Monday at 7:15 in the MS conference room.  Please be sure to be prepared to deliver the survey first thing Monday morning.  I highly recommend that you explain to students the purpose and your desire to have the best, most accurate feedback possible.  This will (hopefully) help them to take the survey seriously as well.

Tripod Administration Guidelines
Tripod Reporting Formats

You will be given slips of paper with access codes to open the survey.  These are being prepared by Ha and will be in your mailbox by Friday afternoon.  Make sure you hand out the correct slips to the correct class.  A-H block is printed in the bottom left corner.  Please anticipate that each survey will take 20-30 minutes to administer.  Return all unused tickets to Ha.  The schedule is listed above and here:
Monday: Blocks B and D
Tuesday: Blocks F and H
Wednesday: Blocks C and A
Thursday: Blocks G and E

It is best to give the survey at the beginning of the period rather than rush them at the end.  Please stick to this schedule, so we can avoid survey fatigue.  I also highly recommend you truly read the administration script prior to each survey (especially the last few when survey fatigue might be setting in).  If you are already scheduled to give an assessment that will take the entire block scheduled, make sure to share communicate this right away to me so we can find a way to give the survey within the allotted time.

Background on the Survey:  The Gates Foundation published the Measures of Effective Teaching (MET) project’s brief “Asking Students about Teaching: Student Perception Surveys and Their Implementation.”  That brief suggests:

1. The Tripod Survey is one of the oldest and most widely used off-the-shelf survey instruments, and the only one studied by the MET project. Some school systems have drawn from Tripod items included in the MET project as they adopt student surveys.

2. Tripod (www.tripodproject.org)  Developed by Harvard researcher Ronald Ferguson; distributed and administered by Cambridge Education  Online and paper administration  Grew out of study of student engagement and related teaching practices  Versions for three grade bands: K–2; 3–5; 6–12  MET project study found Tripod predictive of achievement gains and able to produce consistent results for teachers (see MET project’s Learning about Teaching)

3. The core questions include approx. 36 items in the “Tripod 7 Cs” at the secondary level; fewer at earlier grades  Additional items ask about student’s engagement, background, and academic beliefs  Full versions includes 80+ items; shorter forms available

4. The survey is organized around 7 constructs, or the “7 C’s”:  Care, Control, Clarify, Challenge, Captivate, Confer, Consolidate.