73 The most promising and effective teacher professional development process supports teacher grade level or course-based collaboration, provides expert coaching and support, incorporates active and ongoing teacher engagement, uses research-affi rmed models of practice, and is of sustained duration. This exact process for improved student achievement is used by our Mathematics in a PLC at Work® leaders, associates, and preK–12 schools and teams. Our success stories are on full display at our annual national Mathematics in a PLC at Work Summit, representing over 100 preK–12 teams, schools or districts across more than 35 states. Overcoming these odds stacked against improving student mathematics performance, developing student agency and disposition to do mathematics is the primary reason I started the Mathematics in a PLC at Work professional development program at Solution Tree in 2010. To personally experience the sustained implementation processes for improvement to a district’s mathematics units’ standards, tasks, instruction, assessments, homework, and interventions has been beyond my greatest expectations. It is both humbling and rewarding when teachers work collectively, to achieve the following actions, and then watch as student performance soars! 1. Tier 1 Instruction: Implement daily classroom learning routines and actions with Tier 1 interventions during student engagement activities. 2. Common Assessments with Tier 2 Interventions: Create and use high-quality unit-by-unit assessments, formative feedback routines, and targeted plans for a Tier 2 intervention response. 3. Essential Standards and Rigor: Create unit-by- unit plans with appropriate rigor and common pacing guides. 4. Team Data Analysis: Analyze, respond, and use unit-by-unit data to impact student continuous learning and teachers’ daily decision making. 5. Grading routines: Implement grading practices that accurately measure, inspire, and improve overall student performance and profi ciency. It is exciting to think about the success stories ahead, knowing students will be the benefi ciaries of our joint efforts with these schools and districts. When teachers work collectively, student performance soars By Timothy D. Kanold Timothy D. Kanold, author, educator, creator of Mathematics at Work Timothy D. Kanold, author, educator, creator of Mathematics at Work LEARN MORE NOW SolutionTree.com/Evidence
