Breaking With Tradition. Brian M. Stack

Grace, Garrett, and Will, for being the beautiful and wonderful people you are. You each inspire me to be the best person I can be, and I am blessed to learn from and grow with each of you every day. Thank you, as well, to my mom, Linda, my sisters, Wendy and Amy, and to Brian, Nathaniel, James, and Judith for your unending support and love. And to Dad, who still guides me and always will.

      —Jon

      Solution Tree Press would like to thank the following reviewers:

      Rick Bell

      Assistant Principal

      New Prague Middle School

      New Prague, Minnesota

      Paul Cone Jr.

      Middle School Principal

      Canisteo-Greenwood Central School

      Canisteo, New York

      Julie Delaney

      Principal

      St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School

      Davenport, Iowa

      Tim Garcia

      Principal

      McCook Elementary School

      McCook, Nebraska

      Brig Leane

      Principal

      Fruita Middle School

      Fruita, Colorado

      Michael Roberts

      Principal

      Desert View Elementary

      Hermiston, Oregon

      Ryan Rydstrom

      Associate Principal

      Prairie Point Middle School and Ninth-Grade Academy

      Cedar Rapids, Iowa

      Justin Syroka

      Principal

      Cheshire Elementary School

      Delaware, Ohio

      Cindy Washinowski

      Principal

      West Middle School

      Sioux City, Iowa

      Visit go.SolutionTree.com/PLCbooks to download the free reproducibles in this book.

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

      Reproducible pages are in italics.

       About the Authors

       Foreword

       by Chris Sturgis, Cofounder, CompetencyWorks

       Introduction

       1 Understanding the Components of an Effective Competency-Based Learning System

       A Definition of Competency-Based Learning

       Competencies That Address Important Skills and Dispositions

       Reflection Questions

       2 Building the Foundation of a Competency-Based Learning System Through PLCs

       The Foundation of a PLC

       The Four Critical Questions of a PLC and Competency-Based Learning

       The Three Big Ideas of a PLC

       Reflection Questions

       3 Developing Competencies and Progressions to Guide Learning

       The Relationship Among Competencies, Standards, and Learning Progressions

       Grain Size

       Multiple Pathways

       Competency Development

       Learning Progressions and Grading

       Embedded Professional Development to Support Understanding of Learning Progressions

       Shared Understanding Through Vertical Teams

       Project-Based Learning and Competencies

       Reflection Questions

       4 Changing to Competency-Friendly Grading Practices

       The Flaws of the Traditional Grading System

       Essential Grading Practices of a Competency-Based Learning System

       The Need to Change Grading Practices Over Time

       Reflection Questions

       5 Creating and Implementing Competency-Friendly Performance Assessments

       The Need for Change in Performance Assessment Practices

       The Difference Between Competencies and Standards in Assessment Building

       Components of Competency-Based Performance Assessment

       Collaborative Action

       Validation

       The Student’s Role in Assessment

       Instructional Alignment

       Build Common Summative Performance Assessments

       Assessment of Skills and Dispositions

       Student Self-Reflection

       Reflection Questions

       6 Responding When Students Need Intervention and Extension

       Focusing on the Why of the Intervention and Support

       Setting the Stage for Scheduling

       Asking Four Questions to Guide Scheduling

       Beginning to Build the Schedule

       Understanding the Tiers of Intervention

       Extending the Learning

       Including Special Education

       Transitioning to a New Process

       Supporting Teachers

       Reflection Questions

       7 Sustaining the Change Process

       Building the Case for Change

       Learning From Penguins

       Reflection Questions