Final Blog

"It's Your Turn of p. 126: How do you want to change the culture in your room?What do you want out of your class (words such as "can't")? What do you want in your class?

I definitely related to these questions because my school is currently in the process of changing our culture as a whole and in each classroom. We are utilizing the case studies and philosophy of The Power of ICU by Danny Hill to help transform our culture. In short, we will no longer support an environment that allows students to say, "I can't" or "I forgot". The focus is on student learning and growth and not allowing students to continuously take the easy way out by earning zeros for assignments. Our administration has organized this well for our staff so that it is not cumbersome, and I have already seen an impact on some students within this first 9 weeks. Students are asked to complete the incomplete or missing work during various times of the day, and I have heard several students comment on the fact that they know we believe in their ability to do their best and will provide support for that to happen. We have stressed to our students that learning is the priority. Testing re-takes for students with failing test grades are also given during these times. Our assistant principal has even been completing study guides and working with some of these students failing tests to prepare them for the re-take. I definitely can't go into the whole premise or plan here, but it was certainly a challenge at first for all of us teachers to not focus on "the way we've always done things" or "deadlines" and focus on student learning being the primary focus.

Relating to this issue is also the discussion of assignments (p. 121) in Chapter 7. I do agree that we are sending a message to our students through the type of work we assign. Students can see the value of an assignment and respond accordingly. "If something is important enough for you to assign it, then it should be important enough for a student to complete it." That is a very valid point, and we also have to provide the structure and support to ensure they finish. The above reference to the ICU Program certainly has changed my actions and views in this area as well. Students will basically perform to the level that I communicate through my expectations (verbal and non-verbal). So, if I do not value their completed work and care enough to assign relevant, valid assignments, then some of my students will reflect that notion.