This week has been a week of reflection, one in which both BrooklynNewSchool and BrooklynSchool for Collaborative Studies have the opportunity to review work, share teaching practice, and receive thoughtful feedback from visitors.Yesterday and today, BNS has hosted teachers and parents from the EarthSchool, while on Thursday and Friday, BCS is hosting a reviewer from the School Quality Review.
Two years ago in response to the School Progress Reports, the BNS SLT began to think about developing a self-study system that would allow the school to reflect on its work.Since then, the SLT has met monthly to discuss many aspects of education and to create such a system.This week we finally were able to act on our plan.Using a focusing question around the differentiation of mathematics instruction for a range of learners, we asked our visitors from the EarthSchool to spend two days looking at the work that we do.In these two days, they are sitting in on complete math lessons, one in a sample room per grade level (including two CTT rooms) and as well, a music class and a 12:1 class.They are also looking at student work and reading teachers’ reflections on how they differentiate instruction.In addition, our six visitors have the opportunity to talk with parents and interview students and staff.There is also a great deal of time devoted to debriefing and discussion.Finally, this afternoon will be spent with the writing of a descriptive document of the visit.The thought process that has already gone into to this pilot project has been quite evident.We look forward to reading the visiting team’s ideas and to continuing to work together to improve instruction for our children.Next year, the EarthSchool and the BrooklynNewSchool will reverse roles and we will visit them and no doubt, learn just as much in the role of observer.
While we have been preparing for and participating in our self-study, BCS has been preparing for today’s School Quality Review.This is the fourth year that New York City has had a school review process and each year, its format has changed.Four years ago, it began with a heavy focus on data, with schools having to prove to the reviewer that they were aware of the progress of each child and had systems in place to move instruction.Reviewers came from England and were outside evaluators.Today, the reviewers are from within the system, and the focus of the review is broader.The SQR is interested in how schools systematically organize around improving student achievement and teacher practice. The changes in the SQR process make sense and its focus allows schools to really share with the evaluator the work the school has been doing.BCS has worked hard to prepare for this visit.
Many of the structures of the SQR are similar to the structures of the self-study.Staff, parents, and students are interviewed.Classes are visited and work is looked at.At the end of the visit, the evaluator prepares a document with feedback for the school.The main difference is that the process is evaluative as opposed to descriptive. One person reviews the work of many in the SQR process while in the self-study, a group of people gathers to observe, reflect, and give feedback.With one person doing the school quality review, the process can feel rushed.With the self-study, there is a lot of time devoted to group discussion and group reflection.And of course, in the self-study, the school develops the focusing question while the focusing question for the SQR is a universal one, used for all schools.
These few days at 610 Henry Street are clearly going to be ones in which we all learn more about the work that we do, but we need to think deeply about the difference between assessment that is placed upon people as opposed to assessment that comes from within.We are talking now about schools, but this same dichotomy is related to many aspects of education and life. It is our hope that students will internalize self-assessment processes, and that they will work harder, not because you failed them, but because in their quest for knowledge and understanding, they feel the need and the will to work harder.
Congratulations to all at BNS and BCS for their efforts.
All for now,
Anna and Alyce
Reminder:
Please remember that after 3:10 pm, BNS parents cannot enter through the main doors and should pick up their children from the cafeteria.
