RSA 2- SMART Goals, SMART Schools

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RSA 2- SMART Goals, SMART Schools

Module 2 focuses on the ways that teams can collaborate together within a PLC so that all students are learning at high levels and student achievement is improved.  In order for this to happen, teachers must create common formative assessments to determine who needs additional support, while also collaboratively creating goals to monitor success.  According to DuFour, DuFour, Eaker, & Many (2010), it is important for teams to create SMART goals to align with district and school goals.  DuFour et al.’s (2010) also states that “one of the most powerful strategies for building the capacity of staff to work effectively in collaborative teams is to create the conditions that require them to work together to accomplish a specific goal” (p.159).  When teachers are collaborating together to reach one main goal and focusing on results, student achievement will be evident. 

The article SMART Goals, SMART Schools (2000) explains the positive impact that creating SMART goals has on a team, individual teachers, and student learning.  The author of SMART Goals, SMART Schools (2000) followed a K-2 school and 3-5 school in Verona, Wisconsin.  She saw how each of the grade levels created their goals, looked at the results of assessments, and evaluated the effectiveness of their goals.  O’Neill (2000) believes that “teachers who are responsible for implementing SMART goals also develop the goals.  Teachers must commit to their goals, and the data for establishing targets come from their review of multiple assessments” (p.48).  O’Neill (2000) continues by saying that SMART goals can help to examine the effectiveness of the instructional practices and process.  The article also discusses the importance of looking at the results and learning valuable lessons from the goals that were created.   

The readings from Module 3 greatly correlate to the information presented in the article SMART Goals, SMART Schools (2000).  Both of the readings talk about the importance of using SMART goals to help students achieve at higher levels.  It is important to collaboratively create the goals and assessments to attain the desired outcome.

References

DuFour, R., DuFour, R., Eaker, R., Many, T. (2010). Learning by doing: A handbook for

professional learning communities at work (2nd ed.). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.

O'Neill, J. (2000). SMART Goals, SMART Schools. Education Leadership, 57(5), 46-50.