Eight Behaviors for Smarter Teams

Mind Set and Core Values -

• How much to we protect our empires?  Do we really think all kids can achieve and learn to high standards?
• Do we think "high standards" means something different for different kids?
• Have we really done all we can to implement our programs with high fidelity?
• Do we really make effective use of the time we are expected to be "at work"?
• How do we feel about the amount of time it might take to do "supplemental work"?  Should we be accountable to the time it takes or the task and its outcomes?
• What if our sense of success was linked to a staff survey?  Would we, could we embrace success that way?

1. State Views and Ask Genuine Questions.  
2. Share All Relevant Information.  Do we present information we have clearly?  Do we discount what we don't like?
3. Use Specific Examples and Agree on What Important Words Mean.  "When you give specific examples, name people, places, things, events, and report on what people said and did."  Accountability seems an important aspect but shouldn't be used as a weapon.  Are we afraid of that?  I like that discussions about how or why something didn't happen could follow.  Accountability can be used as a way to showing respect for our work and each other.
4. Explain Reasoning and Intent.  Are the reasons we do things at school clearly stated?  Are our intents clearly related to a 'clear and shared focus'?  Do we keep too much private?  I think we have many private agendas at work.  We need to have a more 'public face' for our organization.
5. Focus on Interests, Not Positions.  Hmm.  We generate solutions that are based on our own needs.  It's presumptuous to expect that a solution will work for others until their interests are known.
1. Identify interests
2. Clarify and agree on interests
3. Generate potential solutions that meet the interests.
4. Select a solution and implement it
6. Test Assumptions and Inferences.  Work toward transparency.
7. Jointly Design Next Steps.  Involving all with informed choices.  Avoid unilateral decision making.  Good questioning and honest and open sharing of positions and interests makes better sense.  Doesn't mean the decision has to be consensus.
8. Discuss Undiscussable Issues.  Trying to avoid embarrassing or provoking someone?  Should be discussed IN the team.  Many people overestimate the risk in raising a sensitive issue.  There are negatives in NOT raising the sensitive issue.  Avoiding such an issue does not show compassion for the impact.  Is emotionally challenging for those involved.

Mutual Learning Approach Link to Mutual Learning Approach webpage

Mutual Learning mindset:

The Mutual Learning values

• Transparency
• Curiosity
• Informed Choice
• Accountability
• Compassion

The Mutual Learning assumptions

• I have information and so do other people
• People may disagree with me and still have pure motives
• I may be contributing to the problem
• Each of us sees things others don’t
• Differences are opportunities for learning

Mutual Learning behaviors:

• State views and ask genuine questions
• Share all relevant information
• Use specific examples and agree on what important words mean
• Explain reasoning and intent
• Focus on interests, not positions
• Test assumptions and inferences
• Jointly design next steps
• Discuss undiscussable issues

Mutual Learning results:

• Shorter implementation times
• Increased commitment
• Higher quality decisions
• Increased learning
• Improved working relationships
• Greater personal satisfaction and well-being

International Reading Association comments re: RTI - Principles

They state collaboration is one of the most important, effective strategies to be able to implement a strong RTI model.  At this point, I believe our collaboration is weak.

This article seems like a lead-in to be able to talk to each other about RTI with some background.  Also focuses on the language we use with each other as RTI may be implemented.

Coordinated planning is essential.  We do not focus on the basic instructional plans and strategies that Journeys presents.

"RTI calls for deliberate, intentional, and ongoing collaboration".  At Chimacum, we've wasted so much time that was set aside for collaboration.  Rarely do we attain intentional focus.

For each concept:

1. Underlying realities
2. Possible differences to discuss
3. Conversation starters

ELA: Readers, writers, speakers, and listeners

Fidelity of Implementation -- The linchpin of RTI

Child Study Team?  RTI team.  Problem Solving Team.  Data Review Team.  Assessment and Instruction Collaborative.

My Insights to "Response to Intervention: Key Components"

Response to Intervention: Key Components

• Basic guidelines about how to set up a system of accountability for an RTI system.
• Lists criteria that need to be satisfied before an RTI system can function
• Strategies about how to determine next steps and how decisions are made to be able to move ahead productively to address student learning challenges
• States the considerations about how to catch learning problems early 
• States the considerations about how to set up a system to determine how to help students before they fail

Insights from "Four Steps to Implement RTI Correctly" - Education Week

From "to Implement RTI Correctly.  "When there is a systemwide problem, it is foolish to try to provide interventions to all of those children children as a first step in RTI...When large numbers of children are at rish, the first step should be core-instruction improvements and effectively delivered classwide intervention."

"The most pernicious threat - the Achilles Heel of all promising practices in education - is poor implementation."