tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898527418224949692.post8309154756798469953..comments2023-12-28T06:30:43.004-08:00Comments on Figuring It Out: Changing the Rules of the Game?J Bevacqua @jvbevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04310639769232238058noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898527418224949692.post-89558991377960666042011-04-21T10:00:45.342-07:002011-04-21T10:00:45.342-07:00Thanks Darcy - Relationships are so important. My...Thanks Darcy - Relationships are so important. My sense is that the conversation is growing louder and louder. How we harness this chatter into something meaningful is the question. Thanks again for the comments!J Bevacqua @jvbevacquahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04310639769232238058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898527418224949692.post-45608580838547825742011-04-21T08:53:08.377-07:002011-04-21T08:53:08.377-07:00Johnny, thoughtful post. I agree - change must be...Johnny, thoughtful post. I agree - change must be well researched and purposeful. As Chris said, we are a high performing entity in BC. Sometimes moving from good to great is the hardest leap. I am excited about the conversations that are happening in BC...all stakeholders are part of the conversations. Change can happen when there are positive relationships and trust - it's what will allow us to make the leap.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898527418224949692.post-22674418078483797842011-04-21T08:15:22.290-07:002011-04-21T08:15:22.290-07:00Exciting indeed. Your point about where we will g...Exciting indeed. Your point about where we will go first is interesting - structures or curriculum? Whichever it is, I would hope that it would cause the a major shift in thinking. I can only give a local school example. When we embarked on reforming our grading practices the decision to "keep grade books open" and not average terms had a profound impact on teachers' attitudes. It was a tipping point for broader changes!<br /><br />I do appreciate the comments and insights!J Bevacqua @jvbevacquahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04310639769232238058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898527418224949692.post-85688019943086306222011-04-21T06:51:21.582-07:002011-04-21T06:51:21.582-07:00Nicely said. It is a challenge of how do we meani...Nicely said. It is a challenge of how do we meaningfully engage everyone who needs to be included in the conversation, while moving the conversation along quickly enough to ensure it translates into real change. It will be interesting where we go first - do we look at structures: school calendar, reporting, class size rules or do we look first at curriculum and assessment. We do have the great challenge of being a very high performing system - for some their success (or lack of success) can create urgency. Our urgency is coming from what we know and are learning about our changing world and also from what we see in other top jurisdictions whether that is Alberta, Singapore or Finland - even when you are at the top of your game you have to look where you go next.<br /><br />Exciting Times!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898527418224949692.post-3508883136118709532011-04-21T06:31:15.698-07:002011-04-21T06:31:15.698-07:00Thanks for the comment Dan. The project you menti...Thanks for the comment Dan. The project you mention is a noble one - good luck with creating new "rules" to benefit many more students. When I wrote the post, I was focussed on those stakeholders at the government and Ministry levels of the system - but than again, after reading your comments - I shouldn't be quick to pass the buck! Thanks for taking the time.....J Bevacqua @jvbevacquahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04310639769232238058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1898527418224949692.post-57655507281111657402011-04-20T21:07:03.890-07:002011-04-20T21:07:03.890-07:00Great post! How are others changing the rules of t...Great post! How are others changing the rules of the game? What does that look like in your school? We all encounter road blocks, but what sorts of solutions are working already (don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater, right?)?<br />I might have little impact on "the system" or the big picture, but I can start at my school. One example is trying to provide an alt. style learning environment in-house for those students who aren't succeeding in the regular classroom. We're working on designing a system and funding model that will allow those students to stay with us, in their neighbourhood and with their peers, but receive intensive supports. They will be able to move in and out of the room we're envisioning, depending on their need. Currently, we don't have anything like this in our district, and students younger than 12 yrs with severe behaviour issues are difficult to fit in "the system." I'd sure like to hear how others overcome this sort of difficulty, or others like it.Dan Watthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05103569818429066474noreply@blogger.com