Day 1 - Setting some goals

**So I meant to post this at the end of August but somehow forgot and left it in draft mode. Sorry!**

Yesterday was the first official day back.

I was amazed by an inspiring speech by our new superintendent, who was able to show both vulnerbility and vision while remaining authentic, calm and approachable. We formed Profeessinonal Learning Teams (PLT's) that will work quarterly over the year to improve student learning through our work with Assessment. 

This year's PLT is a little different as we will be engaging in action research. I'm excited by this prospect as I've heard the term but actually know very little about it. From what I can gather, we will be trying to use research to improve our practice. I feeling pretty positive about it right now, because it feels like something my colleagues and I have been doing naturally over the last couple of years. 

The goal for our PLT: How can we demonstrate that the process of giving and recieving, gathering and using feedback is a more effective approach for student learning?

  This goal is esspecially important to me this year in light of some conversations and opinions that I have encountered this summer. Some parents are struggling with our school's approach to learning; they dont' understand why we are doing what we are doing and they worry that their children are being negatively impacted by it.

I whole-hearted believe that what we are doing at our school is working with students to help them become the best learner they possibly can. It is my hope that we will be able to use action research to start the process of informing others how empowering our approach to learning is for students.