MTSS/RTI: The Power to Transform Schools and Districts

Noted Response-To-Intervention leader and PCG subject matter expert Dr. Evan Lefsky has written a blog post that helps get behind the question of why even some research-based interventions sometimes fail. His answer? Implementation!

The importance of implementation is even greater when it comes to the upcoming rollout of CCSS and the ways it will impact even a solid framework with well-integrated Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS) and Response-to-Intervention components.

Here are a few highlights from the blog post—take a look at the full post here!

“ In many cases, the same set of supports produces great results in one school or district and poor results in another. Many of these supports are often discontinued when they “fail” without problem-solving to determine “why” they didn’t achieve the desired result. In my experience, the “implementation” of those supports is often the distinguishing feature in successful schools and districts.”

“Before we say that the instruction, intervention, approach, or teacher failed, it is critical to ensure through problem-solving that…implementation factors [have] not undermined our success.”

“The increased rigor of college and career-ready standards (i.e. CCSS) and the assessments that measure student success with those standards (i.e. PARCC and SBAC) will stress even the most sophisticated system of supports. These include supports to ensure student and teacher success. Will your school and district be ready…?”

Assessment Literacy -- FREE WestEd Webinar

If you're a middle school or high school educator, this webinar is for you! We all know that assessment is a critically important part of instruction. Recently, there has been increasing emphasis on the ways that formative assessment in particular can help you meet your students' needs.

This free webinar from the experts at WestEd helps clarify the different kinds of assessments and how you can make the best use of them. Plus, it takes a closer look at aligning ELA assessments with Common Core State Standards. Click here to check it out!

Ed Tech To Help Support Formative Assessments

By now every educator is familiar with the importance of formative assessments when it comes to understanding and meeting student needs in a flexible, ongoing way. Making good use of formative assessments is a huge part of the the transition to Common Core State Standards (CCSS)--but what are some ways that educators can do this in the midst of busy days and dense lesson plans? Check out this review by ed tech expert Jeff Knutson on graphite.org. He gives a great run-down of ten useful tools and applications that may help support efforts to incorporate formative assessment practices into the classroom--effortlessly!

(Please note that PCG does not endorse or have ties to any of these products).

Q & A on Professional Development with Jonathan Raymond

Jonathan Raymond is the former Sacramento City Schools Superintendent and now a leader of PCG’s efforts to support improved student learning outcomes. Here are some highlights—for the complete Q & A, click here!

What is your philosophy about teacher professional development? What role should educational technology play?

"Professional learning needs to be ongoing and collaborative, and not be a moment in time. We don’t want drive-by professional learning –- the ‘sit and get’ variety. Professional learning needs to be embedded in teachers’ and principals’ daily work… The work is the learning, and the learning is the work…

What we need to do is provide the technology infrastructure, devices, and resources for professional learning that embeds technology in lesson plans and uses it to enhance learning and engage students… Teachers and administrators can figure this out if we give them resources. It doesn’t have to look the same at every school. That’s what makes it fun and creative."

The LAUSD Common Core Fellowship Program Kicks Off!

The nation's second largest school district - with more than 650,000 students and 37,000 teachers – is working with WestEd and PCG Education to help implement Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics.

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) recently launched its Common Core Fellowship program and is using Pepper to support teachers in 1,200 schools that are implementing new, national teaching and learning standards. 

On April 5, Dr. Jack McLaughlin provided training to the first of several teacher-leader cohorts. LAUSD Fellows are using Pepper to take courses online, create and share portfolios of work, and create small, personal online communities to promote hands-on learning and collaboration.  As academic coaches, the LAUSD Fellows will use Pepper's instructional resources, classroom teaching videos, and lessons to help teachers implement the Common Core.

Built on the belief that learning is social, educators in Pepper can create collaborative learning groups, share portfolios of work, build personal peer networks, engage in debate and discussion, and work as a team as they implement new standards. Check out the “About Pepper” section here on the blog to see a video about what Pepper offers! 

Welcome to our blog – PepperPCG!

Come on in and check out the PepperPCG blog! We’re excited to be part of the conversation around the Common Core State Standards, and we want to help educators find information and share news and resources that will help them succeed.

Check out this blog for webinars, new ideas, links to helpful information, and how to use Pepper to find great ways to be even more successful in the classroom!