Hunter Street Elementary has been hard at work building the desire for personal growth and excellence in our students and staff. This year our focus was on refining collaborative practices in our classrooms by stressing academic language and self-reflection. As students discussed strategy and process in collaborative groups, they were encouraged to use appropriate terminology and academic vocabulary as they spoke. At the end of collaborative activities, students debrief to identify areas in which they did well and areas in which they should improve the next time. Through this process, many students have discovered their own voice and are becoming more confident in their learning.

This year we have also challenged our teachers to not just plan lessons and student work, but to intentionally design them with a specific purpose in mind. A change in mindset was required in reading instruction which had teachers rethinking strategies for the classroom. PLC work targeted to unpacking and applying the new ELA standards has helped teacher deliver rigorous grade level instruction to ensure all students succeed.

As we move forward, we will continue to deepen our understanding of the new Math standards to strengthen Tier 1 instruction, while sustaining our focus on ELA standards and collaborative practices. Additionally, we will introduce common assessments and data analysis to inform instruction and guide meaningful discussions during PLC meetings, ensuring our practices remain aligned, intentional, and impactful.

“Expert teachers are more focused on solving problems with respect to individual students’ performance in the class, whereas experienced teachers generally focus their decision on the entire class.”  John Hattie

Jane Wallace, Principal

Mariah McCarter, SIC Chair