On Page 78, 4Dx defines accountability in the following way...
"Accountability means making personal commitments to the entire team to move the scores forward and then following through in a disciplined way." Pages 93 - 94 go on to describe a different kind of accountability. After reading this section and focusing on accountability, what implications do you see for yourself and your team in supporting the achievement of our campus academic/proficiency WIG?
Academic/Proficiency WIG:
Using the 4 Disciplines of Execution
as a goal setting continuum to improve student achievement and close
achievement gaps, students will move from their beginning of year reading level
to meet or exceed identified proficiency standards by the end of the year.
As a team, we recognized that our students did not have ample time to work on their WIG for the 1st grading period. By the time all students had a WIG, they only had a short period of time to work toward meeting their goal during HH, LEAD time, and instructional time. We were held accountable and took ownership in the fact that the majority of our students did not meet their WIG. It hurt. The wound was deep. We cleaned out the wound and provide wound care. Rather than complain or blame, we immediately took action for recovery. Performance from grading period 2 was unacceptable to us. We brainstormed some ideas that will cause our kids to win. We conferenced with all students and celebrated their growth. My students who met their goal had a bell ringing ceremony. For those who did not, we discuss the roadblocks and next steps. Students now have a WIG for this next grading period and are doing what they need to do that is within their circle of influence. Of course, we are making sure that we are intentional with our planning. My team and I are maximizing instructional, HH,and LEAD time for the Wildly Important. Students are now checking in more with their accountability partner(s). We have revamped our LEAD time to allow for reflection and tracking of LEAD measure. In math, my students are now doing more HOTS activities on the math menus that I created that support reading WIGS. They enjoy working on their menu and don't see it as "work". I believe that all students want to meet or exceed their goal. I believe that all teachers want their students to meet or exceed their goal. There is now a cadence of accountability created. For grading period 3, we expect to see at least 90% of our students achieve their WIG. The students know that they are an integral part of the process in helping the class, grade level, and campus achieve our goal. I do want us to improve on the lag measure. By doing these things, our students will win.
ReplyDeleteAs a team, it was important for us to see and truly understand the mountain before us. We see the mountain and know the work and steps we need to take in order to ensure success for our students. The accountability piece really comes in following through on those action steps. It can be so easy to get caught up in the whirlwind and forget about the commitments we've made to ensure our students are successful. When we hold each other accountable to purposeful reading groups and lead time, we help all of our students win.
ReplyDeleteWe must remember that we are committed to our team and therefore each of us are committed to our students. Being accountable means that we are always reflecting on our actions and making adjustments where needed.
ReplyDeleteIt is so easy to get caught in the day to day whirlwind but we must hold our kids accountable and keep them excited about their WIG. As an interventionist, I can help hold our kids accountable by keeping our kids working towards their WIG during our time in small group. Make it a priority to ask them about their WIG to keep it fresh on their mind. I can ask them how have they worked on reaching their WIG today? We practice with them in small group every chance we get and celebrate even the smallest success.
ReplyDeleteThe different kind of accountability is on a more personal basis, in other words, what commitments am I holding myself accountable for towards our WIG. I personally hold myself accountable to meeting with my students, planning effective lessons, and working on areas that will assist in moving students to reach their WIGS and the school's WIG. As a team, we need to work together and collaborate on what we can commit to that would work toward the WIG. We need to do our part and great things will happen!
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed working with a variety of grade levels and teams through this process. There is so much power in collaboration and I have loved learning with and though each of you. I feel that the shift from "same/similar goals for all" to intentionally scoping out where the student is now and where they need to be in order to make or exceed end of year literacy expectation has empowered t's and s's. T's have been mindful and intentional when selecting their lead measures for students. Students buy in and we support one another in order for them to achieve and grow.
ReplyDeleteI believe accountability has multiple layers. We are accountable to ourselves, our loved ones, our colleagues, our individual teams, and especially our students. When the students have the opportunity to hold us accountable for our WIGS, they see that every part of the community is a part of achieving the goal. Therefore, the process is far less scary for them to embrace and way more meaningful.
ReplyDeleteOn page 95 it talks about how people will work hard to avoid disappointing their boss but they will do almost anything to avoid disappointing their teammates. When we-students and teachers-are held accountable and are responsible for holding others accountable we can see how our piece of the puzzle completes the whole picture. What I do is not just helping me-others are counting me and I am counting on them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with many of the posts. I also appreciate the page that Kelly pointed out in that people will work the hardest to not disappoint their team mates. For our student's this is their class mates and the rings true for them as they will sometimes work harder not to let their peers down versus being concerned with letting me down. I think that accountability is key, for some just the commitment in what they are doing is accountability enough and they will not allow themselves to fail. However some need others for accountability so that they keep moving forward. I think that we so quickly get caught up in the whirlwind and let the accountability go which is why it is so important that we hold one another accountable as well.
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ReplyDeleteWe have some very big mountains to climb with meeting or exceeding end of year expectations. Some students come in multiple grade levels behind. However, with our intentional goal setting and planning, ALL our students have the ability to reach their goals. The personalized WIGs are such a big part of this whole campus achievement. When we discuss student motivation, having personal goals that contribute to the success of the class is a huge motivator for students. They may not be motivated by a grade, but they are motivated by their peers. Everyone wants to make a positive contribution to the team. We must figure out how to help students feel that this is achievable and not out of their reach... then support them in their quest to reach that summit. We will have bad days, just like Erik and his team. And like Erik and his team, we will need to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps, stop the pitty party, dig deep and keep going. We must be real with our students. Page 96 "real accountability inspires the team to engage at the highest level of play." Every person matters. Every person's success matters.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of what under my control.. I have to hold myseld accountable to not get stuck int he whirlwind of things I cannot control, and focus on the things I can. Not just for myself, but for my students. I have to model to them I can hold myself accountable for my own actions, as that can engage them in theirs, too. It is important for us to emphasize how important it is for our students to hold themselves accountable for their WIG, and that they are following their action steps to meet their goal.
ReplyDeleteI have to remind myself that I HAVE to help of students stay accountable so that they can achieve their WIGs. One of the most rewarding and meaningful times is when I can conference with them and see the light bulb moment happen. It is more of an impact to see how they feel in the whirlwind and the lead measures they can take to get out of the cycle of craziness. :)
ReplyDelete"Instead of accountability to a broad outcome you can't influence, it's accountability to a weekly commitment that you yourself made and that is within your power to keep." This is turning our mountains into molehills. We make commitments to our team to make improvements based on need and hold each other accountable to making those improvements, thus moving our molehill and ultimately moving the mountain!
ReplyDeletePLC's foster team collaboration which in turn helps to minimize what seems to be an overwhelming amount of responsibility because of the power of divide and conquer. Also, when your team is depending on you, you are more likely to complete the task and support your team by performing to the best of your ability.
ReplyDeleteWhen we work together to achieve our goals, we can all move mountains together!! We all play a critical roll in moving these mountains; students, teachers, and teams. EVERYONE! By doing our part in holding ourselves and our students accountable, we can achieve great things. We have to keep our goals in focus and have a constant reminder of what we need to do to accomplish them.
ReplyDeleteWhen you work with a team, you hold yourself accountable so that you don't let your team down. The team also holds each other accountable in a positive way - we are there for each other and help each other in order to achieve our common goal(s).
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