I.             My Philosophy of Education

A.          Notes:  What I believe about education and how children learn, brain-based learning

II.           District Information

A.          Mission Statement

B.          Vision Statement

C.          Belief Statement

D.          District Goals  (Note:  changes yearly)

E.          Student Learning Goals

F.           Mission for Leadership

G.          Policy Manual

H.          Philosophy/Goals for Each Curricular Area/Program Descriptions

1.            Reading

2.            Language Arts

3.            Math

4.            Social Studies

5.            Science

I.             District Standards (Note:  how relates to state standards – tie into SAS)

J.           District Assessments

III.         Standards Aligned System (SAS)

A.          Clear Standards (Standards Based Teaching and Learning) – NOTE:  possibly tie in with District Standards

B.          Fair Assessments – (i.e. - DRA’s, PSSA’s, Keystone, etc.)

1.            Testing and grading

C.          Curriculum Framework

D.          Instruction

E.          Materials and Resources

F.           Interventions

IV.        Examples of Exemplary Teaching Practices

A.          Best Practices in Each Curricular Area (Note:  research on Internet and through text)

1.            Reading

2.            Language Arts

3.            Math

4.            Social Studies

5.            Science

V.          21^st Century Skills (Note:  might incorporate with other sections?)

VI.        Understanding by Design

VII.        Students with Special Needs - (including ESL)

VIII.     Characteristics of Optimal Learning Environments (Note:  tell what it looks like – has timelines, globes, computer access, reference library, etc.)

A.          Walk Throughs

IX.        Indicators of Positive Classroom/School Culture (Note:  what does it tell you about what is valued there?)

X.          Technology Connections/Integration

XI.        Staff Development, Classroom Support, Teacher Evaluation/Accountability, Mentoring

XII.       Parent Communication/Reporting

XIII.     List of Literature in Each Curricular Area (Note:  organizations and their magazines)

XIV.    List of Coordinators from area districts for each subject area and their contact information

Notes to Dr. McGovern:

I know you wanted this manual to be useful for us.  I had some ideas of what else to include in this handbook.  I felt as I if I did not know what else to add.  I asked my three mentors for their advice.  (George Mehler, Bridget O’Connell and Anna Rabberman) and Richard Coe.  They gave me some great ideas, which I included.  I want this binder to be comprehensive.  Some areas will change and I am aware of that.  This is only a rough draft.

Thank you,

Lisa J