Sweetwater ISD believes in experiential learning through managed instruction and earned autonomy during instructional facilitation. SISD has developed partnerships with local manufactures which support and enrich the experiential learning practices for SISD teachers and students. SISD teachers will develop an understanding of their student’s unique needs within their optimal learning environment. This understanding will be based upon general knowledge of the student, individualized student data, and the student's individual learning style(s). Instructional autonomy is earned overtime based upon student achievement results and fidelity to the course expectations. Both managed instruction and earned autonomy work together to enhance the optimum experiential learning environment for the student and the teacher.
Sweetwater ISD manages the instruction or the taught curriculum, through the Curriculum Map and Guides, across the district in order to provide consistent and equitable content to all students by setting the scope and sequence for each subject and grade level. The scope and sequence is continually adapted after each grading period depending on student academic achievement and results. Teachers are expected to follow and implement the scope and sequence with fidelity. Based on student academic achievement and results, autonomy is earned as teachers modify their instructional facilitation and delivery using a variety of learning styles, classroom arrangements, and techniques.
Classroom instruction will follow the gradual release model; as teachers progress through the instructional period/lesson there will be a transition from teacher taking responsibility of learning to the student taking an increased level of ownership and responsibility. Resources for learning are the tools which students can use to accelerate learning. Using the C4B4ME model of Tier 1 instruction, classroom teachers are expected to leverage the four levels of resources to build our students capacity to become independent learners.
Classroom walkthroughs which are aligned to SISD Curriculum Map, Curriculum Guides, Gradual Release model, and C4B4ME resources are utilized to ensure the taught curriculum is aligned to the written curriculum. Campus administrators will receive training and calibration practice on the completion of walkthrough forms (and T-TESS observations) to ensure consistent feedback is provided to teachers and achieve a high degree of inter-rater reliability. The final step of alignment is to ensure the written and taught curriculum are created at the same level of rigor and with a focus on the same TEKS found in tested curriculum, STAAR and EOC exams.
Classroom Walkthrough Evaluation Form