My Leadership Role –In Improving Student

Achievement through

“Theory of Action” Toronto Regional SIM SessionOct 16-17, 2012

Welcome to this Break-Out SessionAgenda:

(i) What is LSA? Quick overview(ii) Viewing of LSA video (Ken Leithwood)

(iii) Let’s investigate the 4 paths(i) Rational(ii) Emotional(iii) Organizational(iv) Family

(iv) What is a THEORY OF ACTION(v) Connecting our SIM Work to:* a Theory of Action* a LSA path

Your Reflection Template On your table you

will find a template

Please use it to record your thinking during the session.

Overview of the LSA Project Goal: to improve student learning by

building the instructional leadership capacities of principals

WHO: OPC, CPCO, ADFO in partnership with and funded by LNS and CSC

WHAT: guided by an evolving theory of action about what the LSA project needs to do to improve instructional leadership of principals

5

Leadership and Student Learning

5

After teaching, the second most

influential factor on student learning is

leadership (shared; formal and

informal).Ken Leithwood

The Principal’s Role

LSA THEORY OF ACTION

Theory of Action Overview

Video available

https://www.box.com/s/l4fpz9vn0u1x2glvraov

LSA Theory of Action Paper

How the Leading Student Achievement Project Improves

Student Learning: An Evolving Theory of Action

February 2010 Kenneth Leithwood

Let’s Investigate 4 Paths… Number off at your table 1,2,3,4…

1’s – gather at Table 1 – Rational Path 2’s – gather at Table 2 – Emotional Path 3’s – gather at Table 3 – Organizational Path 4’s – gather at Table 4 – Family Path

* Read your section of the article* Discuss what that path is all about* Return to your “home table”* Each person shares the path with which they are now more familiar

Let’s uncover the meaning of “Theory of Action” ?

GOAL ( intended outcome )

+ Problem of practice (inquiry)

Theory of Action(If… Then…)

Algorithm for “Theory of Action”

Roadway = Leithwood’s 4

pathways

car = vehicle

travelling down the

roadway = the theory of

action

Destination = improved student

achievement

Road conditions =our daily reality of the world

of education

Our Analogy…

We rideour theory of action

down one of the 4 pathways / roadways towards our destination

of improved student learning.

Our GPS guides our journey = our data and other evidence

(e.g., student learning, conditions for learning,

IF... THEN…

IF descriptive feedback is provided that is specific to individual student work and highlights next steps, THEN students will be able to improve the content and clarity of their written work.

Cause & Effect IF What teachers

are going to do/have students do…

THEN What students

are going to learn and/or

demonstrate

4 Corners Think about your SIM plan Connect

To which path might your learning need / inquiry/ theory of action be most tightly connected? Discuss

A theory of action and an associated path Determine

How might school/system leaders influence positive student learning?

Reality Check

Is our inquiry question focused? Is our inquiry tied to regular classroom

practice? Is our inquiry realistic

in terms of time & opportunity? How will we measure what we treasure?

GUIDING QUESTIONS…

IN MY ROLE AS A LEADER IN MY BOARD: What might my theory of action be? How might it be worded? How might I implement? What evidence might I gather to support my

theory? How will I track and receive feedback on the

Path upon which i have selected to work? (Monitoring)

In closing…

If you want to go fastgo alone

If you want to go fargo together…

African Proverb

Questions/Answers/Feedback Are there any outstanding questions?

Was this session helpful in framing your work within your school/board?