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Mechanisms to Support Shared Expectations, Language and Approach:
Nearly all instruction at UPCS is grounded in the school-wide literacy program which emphasizes reading and writing in nearly every class, every day. The school-wide initiative creates an organizing structure that cuts across all subject areas and focuses teachers on the core skills that students need to develop in order to be successful in all classes. Teachers can share practice, develop common language, and align their expectations through this school-wide focus.
Common Planning Time | | During common planning time, teachers often address the question of "what does an 'A' look like?" As they collectively define their grading standards, they review student work samples and discuss strategies to help students reach that 'A' level. Younger teachers see the standards of their more experienced colleagues and all teachers borrow activities from one another.
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Teachers develop a shared portfolio of activities including literature circles, journal writing, exit cards and "dear confused letters" that are used in multiple subject areas. They align expectations through a shared writing rubric (based on the one used for the MCAS exam) and by sharing student writing from across the disciplines.
Its collaborative staff culture and weekly common planning time offer the faculty at UPCS a forum to arrive at a shared language and align expectations across all subject areas and grade levels. The common vocabulary and teaching strategies ensure that student expectations and instructional approaches are consistent across content areas and grade levels.
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