Pyramid of Acceleration
Pyramid of Acceleration: A Roadmap to High Levels of Learning for All Students Darin L. Fahrney, PhD Solution Tree Associate
About Me…. Session 1
About Me….
My Journey – Tragedy & Triumph ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
A Military Kid Naturalist Science Teacher Assistant Principal Gifted and Talented Coordinator K-12 Support Services Coordinator Principal, Researcher & Author
Representation A show of hands … ■ High school ■ Middle school ■ Elementary ■ Central administration ■ Continents ■ From outside? Turn and introduce yourself.
Turn and Talk Introduce yourselves If you could have accelerated your learning in high school what topic would you have chosen?
Objectives 1. Understand the concept of “educational synergy” and how it impacts learning for all students 1. The pyramid of acceleration: how to build a template for accelerating learning 1. Evidence of success to support your work
Amy’s Story
Before Synergy and Pyramids Some prep work
Amy’s Story
Pyramid of Acceleration Foundational Work ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Attend to mindsets Provide clarity on learning targets Ensure a clear grading policy Redefine excellence Provide social emotional support
Roadmap to Acceleration
From good to great – Synergy The Pyramid of Acceleration defined Acceleration in practice Acceleration exemplars
Why “Acceleration?” Acceleration for kids works! Out of 138 teaching practices that improved student learning, acceleration ranked #5. Visible Learning (Hattie, 2009)
Pyramid of Acceleration Foundational Work
■ Attend to mindsets
Foundational Work – Ensure Mindset Growth vs. Fixed Mindsets – The Building Blocks for Maximizing Learning
Pyramid of Acceleration Foundational Work
■ Attend to mindsets ■ Provide clarity on learning targets
Foundational Work – Clarity of standards and assessment Absolute clarity on your standards ■ The “Buffum” challenge ■ Standards based grading helps promote clarity
(Mattos, Buffum and Weber, 2011)
Pyramid of Acceleration Foundational Work
■ Attend to mindsets ■ Provide clarity on learning targets ■ Ensure a clear grading policy
Foundational Work – Establish a clear grading policy Create a grading policy ■
O’Connor – A repair kit for grading
■
Learning leaders led the work
■
Common Syllabus mandated
■
No grading of behavior
■
Late homework
■
Extra credit
■
Absenteeism
Pyramid of Acceleration Foundational Work ■ ■ ■ ■
Attend to mindsets Provide clarity on learning targets Ensure a clear grading policy Redefine excellence
“The knowledge economy is a thing of the past. We have entered into the new era of an innovation economy.” Dr. Tony Wagner - Author: The Global Achievement Gap
Foundational Work – Redefine excellence •
Reconsider what academic excellence looks like – ■ ■
•
future ready kids – not just A’s, B’s and/or AP/IB Scores
Desired Student Learning Outcomes (DSLO’s)
The next step for most of our students has changed: College Admission
The top colleges according to U.S. News and World Report (Ivy’s plus)...
For our students to stay competitive we must look for ways to accelerate and provide differentiators (DSLOs)
Pyramid of Acceleration Foundational Work ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Attend to mindsets Provide clarity on learning targets Redefine success Ensure a clear grading policy Provide social emotional support
"What avail is it … to win the ability to read and write, if in the process the individual loses his own soul?" —John Dewey, Experience and Education (1938)
The Gunn High School Story
Students must feel safe to fully realize accelerated learning
Abraham Maslow, “Hierarchy of Needs” in A Theory of Human Motivation, 1943
Systems for safety & esteem Advisory/House/Home-base/Counseling: • Addressing students’ social-emotional needs of safety and esteem
• Based on relationships with these themes: o o o o
Relationships Academics Cultural competence Character
Educational Safety and Esteem Student Life Center Separate social emotional counseling and college counseling
•
•
The living room of the school Personal and Academic Counselors PAC reside there
Social emotional learning is the foundation for acceleration and learning at high levels!
Pyramid of Acceleration Foundational Work ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Attend to mindsets Provide clarity on learning targets Ensure a clear grading policy Redefine excellence Provide social emotional support
Roadmap to Acceleration
From good to great – Synergy
Beyond the Foundation – Excellence is a game of inches for high performing schools
Synergy “Synergize is the habit of creative cooperation. Together, we can produce far better results than we could individually. It is the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. One plus one equals three, or six, or sixty—you name it.” —Stephen Covey, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change (1989)
Synergy Applied SAS Program Synergy: Social Emotional Learning + PLCs + Academic Program + Engaging Co-Curricular Activities = Maximized Student Performance
Reflection Does your school currently have: ■
A growth mindset about learning?
■
Clear learning targets and aligned assessment?
■
A consistent grading policy?
■
A broad definition of excellence?
Pyramid of Acceleration Foundational Work ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Attend to mindsets Provide clarity on learning targets Ensure a clear grading policy Redefine excellence Provide social emotional support
Roadmap to Acceleration
From good to great – Synergy The Pyramid of Acceleration defined
Putting It All Together: The Pyramid of Acceleration The pyramid of acceleration helps to organize your school’s systematic approach to ensuring all students learn at high levels … so that synergy can be achieved.
Why “Acceleration?” Acceleration for kids works! Out of 138 teaching practices that improved student learning, acceleration ranked #5. Visible Learning (Hattie, 2009)
Why not “enrichment?” Enrichment vs. Acceleration (.4 = 1 yr gr) Enrichment effect size - .39 (68th in impact) Acceleration effect size - .88 (5th in impact) John Hattie (2009)
Pyramid of Acceleration ■ Basis in response to intervention theory ■ Typically three tiers ■ As you move down the pyramid the interventions intensify ■ Approximately 90% of issues resolved in tier 1
Pyramid Word Search Universal screening Core program Tier 2 T1 + T2 + T3 (Whatever it takes!)
What the Pyramid Is … The acceleration pyramid is: ■ ■ ■
A talent development approach An outline to guide your work A framework for organizing your programs
And What It Is Not … The acceleration pyramid is not: ■ A gifted and talented program, but it serves the needs of gifted and talented kids ■ A cookbook for success ■ Universally transferable to any context (you have to build your own)
Pyramid of Acceleration Foundational Work ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Attend to mindsets Provide clarity on learning targets Ensure a clear grading policy Redefine excellence Provide social emotional support
Roadmap to Acceleration
From good to great – Synergy The Pyramid of Acceleration defined Acceleration in practice
Examples of the pyramid in practice
Tier 1 – Question 1
(Mattos, Buffum and Weber, 2011)
Tier 1 – Question 1
Simple classroom scaffolding techniques: • Regroup based on ability on standards • Model - Fishbowl or think alouds • Tackle material in chunks • Tap prior knowledge: What do you know, not know and want to know? • Give time to talk: Think pair share, walk and talk • Use visual aids
Tier 1 – Question 2
Classroom Standards Report Student Name
Number Correct Percent Correct
LS 2.d
LS 2.c
LS 2.a
LS 2.b
LS 2.e
Student 1
30
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Student 2
29
96%
100%
67%
100%
100%
100%
Student 3
13
43%
33%
0%
100%
100%
100%
Student 4
30
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Student 5
19
63%
33%
33%
100%
100%
100%
Student 6
30
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Student 7
27
90%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Student 8
28
93%
67%
67%
100%
100%
100%
Student 9
25
83%
67%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Student 10
25
83%
100%
33%
100%
100%
100%
26.2
87%
82%
78%
100%
97%
100%
Averages
Common Assessment Reflection Examine data, and identify areas for discussion. Ask: - As a team, which targets from the assessment require more attention? - As a team, which students did not master which essential learning? - As a team, which classrooms require additional support? - As an individual teacher, which area was my lowest, and how can I improve?
What will be your team's plan of action to address the results?
What happened during the conversation you just had? - How was it helpful to teacher success? - How was it helpful to student success?
Classroom Teacher Report Teacher Teacher Teacher Teacher Teacher Teacher F A B C D E LS 2.d
82%
89%
90%
90%
79%
86%
LS 2.c
100%
75%
80%
82%
71%
82%
LS 2.a
100%
100%
100%
100%
73%
95%
LS 2.b
97%
93%
96%
100%
82%
94%
LS 2.e
100%
83%
86%
91%
80%
88%
Class Averages
96%
91%
90%
88%
77%
89%
Tier 1 – Question 4
Extend, enrich, accelerate • Ask your PLC team for help • Provide deeper cognitive challenge – Role play, create, analyze, model…
• Group based on ability (not the tutor) • More cognitively engaging not difficult • Provide greater student autonomy Consider next steps
Tier 2 – Question 4
Champion the student’s engagement Subject clubs ■ Mentors ■ Teacher assistants, fellows ■ Greater acceleration within the class ■
Tier 3 – But they can still handle more!
Student Services Meeting Team •
Chief worriers about kids –
Structure explained
–
Systematic – Run assessment and grade reports
•
Caretakers of the pyramid
•
The SSM can help structure further supports
•
Override pre-requisites
•
Unlock additional resources –
Find mentors, internships, college courses, online courses
–
Whatever it takes
Why does this matter?
A tail of two students: Alex (2002) John (2017)
Reflection Turn and talk to a neighbor. ■ What are things you are currently doing that help create opportunities for acceleration and talent development at your school? ■ After hearing this, what are some things you might do differently?
Pyramid of Acceleration Foundational Work ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Attend to mindsets Provide clarity on learning targets Ensure a clear grading policy Redefine excellence Provide social emotional support
Roadmap to Acceleration
From good to great – Synergy The Pyramid of Acceleration defined Acceleration in practice Acceleration exemplars
Some Examples of Acceleration •
A note about Stonefields school
The future of acceleration in the classroom •
•
Progressions by which a student can accelerate through the curriculum at their own pace (standards must be in order) Pathways by which students have voice, choice and agency in their learning
Some “Marque” Exhibitions of Acceleration •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Quest Advanced Topic courses Executive Service Council SAS Catalyst Hyper Catalyst Independent Learning Global Online Academy Space Lab Self-Paced Economics Tri-Time Genius Hour 6A Hub Regio Emilia inspired Clubs (MUN, Debate, Harvard Model Congress)
Turn and Talk What innovative things are you doing at your division or school to help students accelerate or find synergy?
Supporting Evidence So is this approach working?
Program Results Qualitative:
■ Equally strong admissions to hyperselective universities ■ Increased competence in our DSLOs ■ Addressing social-emotional and academic needs ■ World exemplar in AP Seminar (twice)
Program Results - Quantitative
SAS Supporting Evidence
SAS Supporting Evidence
Implementation Ideas
3 Action Steps for Monday ■ Educate yourself and your students on the power of mindsets ■ Clarify learning targets and plan for acceleration or extension at the beginning of the unit ■ Begin to outline your programs in a Pyramid of Acceleration so you have a system to do whatever it takes
Reflection Time Consider the blank copy of the Pyramid. What items from your context could you immediately start adding into the Pyramid?
Objectives 1. Understand the concept of “educational synergy” and how it impacts the learning for all students 1. The Pyramid of Acceleration: how to build a template for educational synergy 1. Evidence of success to support your work
The end!
About Me…. Session 1
About Me….
My Journey – Tragedy & Triumph ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
A Military Kid Naturalist Science Teacher Assistant Principal Gifted and Talented Coordinator K-12 Support Services Coordinator Principal, Researcher & Author
Representation A show of hands … ■ High school ■ Middle school ■ Elementary ■ Central administration ■ Continents ■ From outside? Turn and introduce yourself.
Turn and Talk Introduce yourselves If you could have accelerated your learning in high school what topic would you have chosen?
Objectives 1. Understand the concept of “educational synergy” and how it impacts learning for all students 1. The pyramid of acceleration: how to build a template for accelerating learning 1. Evidence of success to support your work
Amy’s Story
Before Synergy and Pyramids Some prep work
Amy’s Story
Pyramid of Acceleration Foundational Work ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Attend to mindsets Provide clarity on learning targets Ensure a clear grading policy Redefine excellence Provide social emotional support
Roadmap to Acceleration
From good to great – Synergy The Pyramid of Acceleration defined Acceleration in practice Acceleration exemplars
Why “Acceleration?” Acceleration for kids works! Out of 138 teaching practices that improved student learning, acceleration ranked #5. Visible Learning (Hattie, 2009)
Pyramid of Acceleration Foundational Work
■ Attend to mindsets
Foundational Work – Ensure Mindset Growth vs. Fixed Mindsets – The Building Blocks for Maximizing Learning
Pyramid of Acceleration Foundational Work
■ Attend to mindsets ■ Provide clarity on learning targets
Foundational Work – Clarity of standards and assessment Absolute clarity on your standards ■ The “Buffum” challenge ■ Standards based grading helps promote clarity
(Mattos, Buffum and Weber, 2011)
Pyramid of Acceleration Foundational Work
■ Attend to mindsets ■ Provide clarity on learning targets ■ Ensure a clear grading policy
Foundational Work – Establish a clear grading policy Create a grading policy ■
O’Connor – A repair kit for grading
■
Learning leaders led the work
■
Common Syllabus mandated
■
No grading of behavior
■
Late homework
■
Extra credit
■
Absenteeism
Pyramid of Acceleration Foundational Work ■ ■ ■ ■
Attend to mindsets Provide clarity on learning targets Ensure a clear grading policy Redefine excellence
“The knowledge economy is a thing of the past. We have entered into the new era of an innovation economy.” Dr. Tony Wagner - Author: The Global Achievement Gap
Foundational Work – Redefine excellence •
Reconsider what academic excellence looks like – ■ ■
•
future ready kids – not just A’s, B’s and/or AP/IB Scores
Desired Student Learning Outcomes (DSLO’s)
The next step for most of our students has changed: College Admission
The top colleges according to U.S. News and World Report (Ivy’s plus)...
For our students to stay competitive we must look for ways to accelerate and provide differentiators (DSLOs)
Pyramid of Acceleration Foundational Work ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Attend to mindsets Provide clarity on learning targets Redefine success Ensure a clear grading policy Provide social emotional support
"What avail is it … to win the ability to read and write, if in the process the individual loses his own soul?" —John Dewey, Experience and Education (1938)
The Gunn High School Story
Students must feel safe to fully realize accelerated learning
Abraham Maslow, “Hierarchy of Needs” in A Theory of Human Motivation, 1943
Systems for safety & esteem Advisory/House/Home-base/Counseling: • Addressing students’ social-emotional needs of safety and esteem
• Based on relationships with these themes: o o o o
Relationships Academics Cultural competence Character
Educational Safety and Esteem Student Life Center Separate social emotional counseling and college counseling
•
•
The living room of the school Personal and Academic Counselors PAC reside there
Social emotional learning is the foundation for acceleration and learning at high levels!
Pyramid of Acceleration Foundational Work ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Attend to mindsets Provide clarity on learning targets Ensure a clear grading policy Redefine excellence Provide social emotional support
Roadmap to Acceleration
From good to great – Synergy
Beyond the Foundation – Excellence is a game of inches for high performing schools
Synergy “Synergize is the habit of creative cooperation. Together, we can produce far better results than we could individually. It is the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. One plus one equals three, or six, or sixty—you name it.” —Stephen Covey, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change (1989)
Synergy Applied SAS Program Synergy: Social Emotional Learning + PLCs + Academic Program + Engaging Co-Curricular Activities = Maximized Student Performance
Reflection Does your school currently have: ■
A growth mindset about learning?
■
Clear learning targets and aligned assessment?
■
A consistent grading policy?
■
A broad definition of excellence?
Pyramid of Acceleration Foundational Work ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Attend to mindsets Provide clarity on learning targets Ensure a clear grading policy Redefine excellence Provide social emotional support
Roadmap to Acceleration
From good to great – Synergy The Pyramid of Acceleration defined
Putting It All Together: The Pyramid of Acceleration The pyramid of acceleration helps to organize your school’s systematic approach to ensuring all students learn at high levels … so that synergy can be achieved.
Why “Acceleration?” Acceleration for kids works! Out of 138 teaching practices that improved student learning, acceleration ranked #5. Visible Learning (Hattie, 2009)
Why not “enrichment?” Enrichment vs. Acceleration (.4 = 1 yr gr) Enrichment effect size - .39 (68th in impact) Acceleration effect size - .88 (5th in impact) John Hattie (2009)
Pyramid of Acceleration ■ Basis in response to intervention theory ■ Typically three tiers ■ As you move down the pyramid the interventions intensify ■ Approximately 90% of issues resolved in tier 1
Pyramid Word Search Universal screening Core program Tier 2 T1 + T2 + T3 (Whatever it takes!)
What the Pyramid Is … The acceleration pyramid is: ■ ■ ■
A talent development approach An outline to guide your work A framework for organizing your programs
And What It Is Not … The acceleration pyramid is not: ■ A gifted and talented program, but it serves the needs of gifted and talented kids ■ A cookbook for success ■ Universally transferable to any context (you have to build your own)
Pyramid of Acceleration Foundational Work ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Attend to mindsets Provide clarity on learning targets Ensure a clear grading policy Redefine excellence Provide social emotional support
Roadmap to Acceleration
From good to great – Synergy The Pyramid of Acceleration defined Acceleration in practice
Examples of the pyramid in practice
Tier 1 – Question 1
(Mattos, Buffum and Weber, 2011)
Tier 1 – Question 1
Simple classroom scaffolding techniques: • Regroup based on ability on standards • Model - Fishbowl or think alouds • Tackle material in chunks • Tap prior knowledge: What do you know, not know and want to know? • Give time to talk: Think pair share, walk and talk • Use visual aids
Tier 1 – Question 2
Classroom Standards Report Student Name
Number Correct Percent Correct
LS 2.d
LS 2.c
LS 2.a
LS 2.b
LS 2.e
Student 1
30
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Student 2
29
96%
100%
67%
100%
100%
100%
Student 3
13
43%
33%
0%
100%
100%
100%
Student 4
30
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Student 5
19
63%
33%
33%
100%
100%
100%
Student 6
30
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Student 7
27
90%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Student 8
28
93%
67%
67%
100%
100%
100%
Student 9
25
83%
67%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Student 10
25
83%
100%
33%
100%
100%
100%
26.2
87%
82%
78%
100%
97%
100%
Averages
Common Assessment Reflection Examine data, and identify areas for discussion. Ask: - As a team, which targets from the assessment require more attention? - As a team, which students did not master which essential learning? - As a team, which classrooms require additional support? - As an individual teacher, which area was my lowest, and how can I improve?
What will be your team's plan of action to address the results?
What happened during the conversation you just had? - How was it helpful to teacher success? - How was it helpful to student success?
Classroom Teacher Report Teacher Teacher Teacher Teacher Teacher Teacher F A B C D E LS 2.d
82%
89%
90%
90%
79%
86%
LS 2.c
100%
75%
80%
82%
71%
82%
LS 2.a
100%
100%
100%
100%
73%
95%
LS 2.b
97%
93%
96%
100%
82%
94%
LS 2.e
100%
83%
86%
91%
80%
88%
Class Averages
96%
91%
90%
88%
77%
89%
Tier 1 – Question 4
Extend, enrich, accelerate • Ask your PLC team for help • Provide deeper cognitive challenge – Role play, create, analyze, model…
• Group based on ability (not the tutor) • More cognitively engaging not difficult • Provide greater student autonomy Consider next steps
Tier 2 – Question 4
Champion the student’s engagement Subject clubs ■ Mentors ■ Teacher assistants, fellows ■ Greater acceleration within the class ■
Tier 3 – But they can still handle more!
Student Services Meeting Team •
Chief worriers about kids –
Structure explained
–
Systematic – Run assessment and grade reports
•
Caretakers of the pyramid
•
The SSM can help structure further supports
•
Override pre-requisites
•
Unlock additional resources –
Find mentors, internships, college courses, online courses
–
Whatever it takes
Why does this matter?
A tail of two students: Alex (2002) John (2017)
Reflection Turn and talk to a neighbor. ■ What are things you are currently doing that help create opportunities for acceleration and talent development at your school? ■ After hearing this, what are some things you might do differently?
Pyramid of Acceleration Foundational Work ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Attend to mindsets Provide clarity on learning targets Ensure a clear grading policy Redefine excellence Provide social emotional support
Roadmap to Acceleration
From good to great – Synergy The Pyramid of Acceleration defined Acceleration in practice Acceleration exemplars
Some Examples of Acceleration •
A note about Stonefields school
The future of acceleration in the classroom •
•
Progressions by which a student can accelerate through the curriculum at their own pace (standards must be in order) Pathways by which students have voice, choice and agency in their learning
Some “Marque” Exhibitions of Acceleration •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Quest Advanced Topic courses Executive Service Council SAS Catalyst Hyper Catalyst Independent Learning Global Online Academy Space Lab Self-Paced Economics Tri-Time Genius Hour 6A Hub Regio Emilia inspired Clubs (MUN, Debate, Harvard Model Congress)
Turn and Talk What innovative things are you doing at your division or school to help students accelerate or find synergy?
Supporting Evidence So is this approach working?
Program Results Qualitative:
■ Equally strong admissions to hyperselective universities ■ Increased competence in our DSLOs ■ Addressing social-emotional and academic needs ■ World exemplar in AP Seminar (twice)
Program Results - Quantitative
SAS Supporting Evidence
SAS Supporting Evidence
Implementation Ideas
3 Action Steps for Monday ■ Educate yourself and your students on the power of mindsets ■ Clarify learning targets and plan for acceleration or extension at the beginning of the unit ■ Begin to outline your programs in a Pyramid of Acceleration so you have a system to do whatever it takes
Reflection Time Consider the blank copy of the Pyramid. What items from your context could you immediately start adding into the Pyramid?
Objectives 1. Understand the concept of “educational synergy” and how it impacts the learning for all students 1. The Pyramid of Acceleration: how to build a template for educational synergy 1. Evidence of success to support your work
The end!
