Chuck Potosnyak, Sharon Boeckenhauer -- Co-Chairmen
Judy Peters--Recorder

Members: Marc Bathke, Carol Clark, Jim Clark, Jill Hoesing, Karla Pippitt, Audrea Klassen, Melissa Haisch, Ed Brogie, Sue Koch, Terri Haselhorst, Carol Manganaro, Clayton Steele, Maggie Huetig


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES

The committee was charged with studying three areas:

1. High Ability Learners
2. APL
3. Alignment with State Standards

Using the Expert Development Process, as taught by ESU #1 representatives Betty Heier, the committee reviewed 8 articles dealing with gifted education. The Laurel-Concord High Ability Learners Plan was explored in depth with guidance from Carol Hilker of ESU #1, who had helped to develop the plan. Mary Hansen and Maggie Huetig were invited to share information with the committee that they had obtained from a 2-day gifted workshop led by Nancy Johnson at the ESU.

Chuck Potosnyak and Sharon Boeckenhauer met with both Carol Hilker and Betty Heier to clarify the duties of the committee and to seek their assistance in guiding the committee through this year of study.

All members of the committee attended the APL in-service for school staff on 4/6/00.

RECOMMENDATIONS

On April 28, 2000, the Instruction Committee met with Carol Hilker and made the following recommendations for future committee work:

1. Research the identification process used in a variety of other schools for high ability learners. Carol Hilker stated that she has several other examples we could look at.

2. Solicit bell ringer ideas from colleagues and share these ideas with staff.

3. Seek ongoing feedback regarding progress on the seven designated APL strategies from the Administration.

4. Continue curriculum alignment with the State Standards during the curriculum study years.

5. Amend our curriculum study schedule to align with the state's rotation/cycle. (Rationale: If we are studying the subject during the same year as the state reviews it, we would have workshops, in-services, materials, etc. from the State Department of Education available to us.) This recommendation was made after Carol Hilker shared that the state schedule and Laurel-Concord's do not presently match, and she pointed out how this change would be beneficial to our curriculum committees.

Respectfully submitted,


Chuck Potosnyak
Sharon Boeckenhauer
Co-Chairmen, Instruction Committee

INSTRUCTION COMMITTEE
Final Report
May 25, 2001

Chuck Potosnyak, Sharon Boeckenhauer -- Co-Chairmen
Judy Peters--Recorder

Members: Marc Bathke, Carol Clark, Jim Clark, Jill Hoesing, Karla Pippitt, Audrea Klassen, Melissa Haisch, Ed Brogie, Sue Koch, Terri Haselhorst, Carol Uldrich, Clayton Steele, Maggie Huetig


The Instruction Committee met to continue the work begun during the 1999-2000 school year. Because 1999-2000 was a year of study, it provided the background knowledge in the three areas the Instruction Committee was charged with studying:

1. High Ability Learners
2. APL
3. Alignment with state standards

The committee used this year to provide structure to our work for inclusion on the school's web page. Five strategies were identified to address the target area of Improvement of Instruction of Reading and Language Arts. The five strategies are:

1. Implementation of seven APL strategies,

2. Alignment of K-12 reading and language arts grade level and course level expectations with Nebraska L.E.A.R.N.S. state standards,

3. Training and implementation of "6-Traits Writing Process",

4. Utilizing HAL (High Ability Learner) plan to improve reading
instruction, and

5. Exploring the feasibility of developing on-line lesson plans for Power School for possible implementation in the future.

The committee determined that goals 1 & 2 have been completed, and information regarding the strategies, who is responsible, due dates, related staff development, and evidence of success were recorded in all 5 Activities/strategies for inclusion on the web page.

Because strategy #5 dealt with the "feasibility" of on-line lesson plans, the committee raised several questions/concerns/comments regarding this topic. These issues were presented to administration at the end of the school year.

The Instruction Committee plans to meet with the External Evaluation Team in the fall of 2001, and looks forward to further guidance in the School Improvement process following that visit.

Respectfully submitted,

Chuck Potosnyak
Sharon Boeckenhauer
Co-Chairmen, Instruction Committee

Chuck Potosnyak, Sharon Boeckenhauer -- Co-Chairmen
Judy Peters--Recorder

Members: Marc Bathke, Ed Brogie, Carol Clark, Jim Clark, Melissa Haisch, Terri Haselhorst, Jill Hoesing, Maggie Huetig, Audrea Klassen, Sue Koch, Karla Pippitt, Clayton Steele, Carol Uldrich

The Instruction Committee met early in the 2001-2002 school year to review and edit the portion of the School Improvement Plan which deals with Instruction. With the changes suggested, this plan was incorporated into the school's web page. Members of the External Evaluation Team were able to view this plan in advance of their visit to Laurel-Concord on October 23, 2001. During that visit, Co-Chairmen Chuck Potosnyak and Sharon Boeckenhauer met with members of the External Evaluation Team who were reviewing Instruction.

The Instruction Committee has not yet received a written report from the External Evaluation Team. Therefore, the committee met on May 16, 2002, to review the existing plan and make suggestions for work to be completed when school begins in the fall. The following recommendations were made, with numbers correlating with the 5 strategies in the School Improvement Plan for Instruction:

1) Under the strategy of "Implementation of Seven APL Strategies", the committee will develop a teacher survey asking about the use of the APL Input from Dave and Jean, APL trainers, will be solicited in creating this survey. The one-page form would be able to be used in place of one teacher self-evaluation.

2) ESU#1 training in the summer of 2002 will be added to "Related Staff Development" for the strategy relating to "Alignment of K-12 Reading and Language Arts Grade Level and Course Level Expectations with Nebraska L.E.A.R.N.S".

3) The committee recommends changing the date due to "Annually" under the strategy of "Utilization of 'Six-Traits Writing Process". In addition, the committee wishes to review the section entitled "Related Staff Development" for this strategy in the fall.

4) Under the strategy to "Utilize HAL (High Ability Learner) Plan to improve reading instruction", several additions will be made to the activities column. An effort will be made to include every activity which currently exists, including Science competitions, Quiz Bowl, Math contests, NENAC Academic Contests, STAR competitions, and any other Art, Science, or Math activities.

5) Under the strategy to "Explore On-Line Lesson Plan Project", the committee agreed to look at this in the fall.


Respectfully submitted,

Chuck Potosnyak
Sharon Boeckenhauer
Co-Chairmen, Instruction Committee

MEMO

DATE: April 17, 2003

TO: All Teachers

FROM: Instruction Committee--Chuck Potosnyak & Sharon Boeckenhauer - Co-Chairmen

RE: APL Anecdotal Self-Evaluation

The Instruction Committee is seeking anecdotal information regarding the use of APL strategies in Laurel-Concord Public Schools. To gain such information, the attached form has been developed and approved by our committee. It has been approved by the Adminstration and the Steering Committee. This form may be used in place of one of your two self-evaluations each year.

Please note that if you complete this form as one of your self-evaluations the information will be shared with the Instruction Committee.

Thank you!

APL Anecdotal Self-Evaluation
Laurel-Concord Public Schools

Chuck Potosnyak, Sharon Boeckenhauer -- Co-Chairmen
Judy Peters--Recorder

Members: Marc Bathke, Ed Brogie, Carol Clark, Jim Clark, Melissa Haisch, Terri Haselhorst, Jill Hoesing, Maggie Huetig, Audrea Klassen, Sue Koch, Karla Pippitt, Clayton Steele, Carol Uldrich, Jennie Danner


The Instruction Committee met early in the 2002-2003 school year to review and edit the portion of the School Improvement Plan which deals with Instruction. Because a written report from the External Evaluation Team had not yet been received, the committee members reviewed the previous External Evaluation Team Report, from 1999. Activities of the Instruction Committee's portion of the School Improvement Plan were aligned with the 1999 report.

The Instruction Committee researched the pros and cons of block scheduling, but did not make any recommendations.

The Instruction Committee created the "APL Anecdotal Self-Evaluation" form which was approved by Jean (of APL), the Steering Committee, and the Administration. The forms were given to all certified staff members, and copies of any which have been completed as self-evaluations have been collected by the Instruction Committee. These forms will be tabulated for anecdotal information regarding how many APL strategies are currently being used and what positive outcomes are reported by the respondents.

The Committee received and reviewed the External Team Report from the October, 2001, visitation and implemented and/or planned for the implementation of the recommendations in that report. Those recommendations are included in italics with the following committee decisions/suggestions:

1. Continue to conduct annual evaluations of your curriculum (as planned) and make appropriate changes as necessary and appropriate to meet the needs of your particular students.

In May, 2003, representatives from the Elementary Language Arts Committee, including members of the Instruction Committee, presented information concerning the purchase of a new Language Arts curriculum and also information about the recommendations for Language Arts assessment. These recommendations have been made based on the most recent district-wide assessment information.

2. Use all assessment results to guide instruction. It may be helpful for your Assessment Committee and Instructional Committee members to meet after test results are received to discuss results to be shared with all teachers. Some type of systematic process to achieve this should be established.

The Instruction Committee will request a meeting with the Assessment Committee at the beginning of the 2003-2004 school year, as recommended in the most recent External Evaluation Team Report.

3. Areas of strength could be celebrated and plans made to address areas where improvement may be needed. In time, you may wish to consider using teacher-made tests to help measure student growth as these tests most closely match instruction.

The Instruction Committee will informally assess the use of teacher-made tests to measure student growth.

4. Continue to develop writing portfolios including rubrics as student guides to writing, as well as for teacher/student evaluation purposes and guides to focus future instruction. Consider charting these writing results to ensure growth over time.

The Instruction Committee will make a request to the Language Arts Committee to explore the use of rubrics as student guides to writing.

5. Continue to seek the input of staff volunteers as well as the Instructional Committee regarding your on-line lesson plan project.

The Instruction Committee concurs with the External Evaluation Team recommendation that we should seek input from staff volunteers as they continue implementing the on-line lesson plan project. The Instruction Committee also recommends that continued support of these staff volunteers should be given.

Respectfully submitted,

Chuck Potosnyak
Sharon Boeckenhauer
Co-Chairmen, Instruction Committee