News and Updates Rambam Day School

Curriculum, coaching, and supervision are the pillars of a successful school. A well-crafted curriculum ensures students experience a robust education. Coaching equips teachers to work with students effectively, and supervision guarantees that standards are consistently upheld. These responsibilities are managed by a dedicated team, including the Curriculum and Professional Development Coordinator, an Instructional Coach, and the Elementary School Director.

Last month, we had the pleasure of presenting our collaborative efforts to the school board. As a team, we prioritize the continuous development and revision of our curriculum, providing teachers with the necessary support to implement it effectively and ensuring supervision to maintain accountability in our daily work. We would love to share what this work looks like in practice so that we can demonstrate the impact this has on student success and the overall learning environment.

CURRICULUM

The Curriculum and Professional Development Coordinator’s priority is to ensure that the school’s curriculum and programs align with our mission. This member of the leadership team leads the faculty through a process to actively and continuously evaluate and revise our curriculum and programs to meet the evolving needs of Rambam Day School students.

Inspired by the work of Jay McTighe’s Understanding By Design curriculum framework, we begin by identifying the key understandings we want students to take away from their learning. These understandings can range from concepts like “In a community, each member can impact the others in the community” (from a kindergarten social studies unit we titled, “Excuse Me, May I Sit Here? – Finding My Place in My Community”) to broader ideas such as “Reading expands understanding of the world, its people, and oneself” (from a third-grade language arts unit on realistic fiction).

Once these key understandings are established, teams of educators collaborate on lesson planning to align with unit goals and student needs. They integrate a variety of programs, such as The Writing Revolution, while consistently celebrating our Jewish values and fostering connections to the United States and the State of Israel.

This collaborative approach to curriculum development is incredibly exciting, as it allows our faculty to engage in meaningful dialogue and share unique insights. By aligning our curriculum with our mission and values, we empower our teachers to create impactful learning experiences.

COACHING

The instructional coach’s primary responsibility is to support teachers in creating engaging and effective learning environments that address the diverse needs of their students. They collaborate closely with educators to implement research-based teaching strategies, develop well-structured lesson plans, and utilize student data to guide instruction. By providing ongoing feedback and modeling best practices, they help teachers refine their instructional approaches, ensuring that all students receive high-quality learning experiences. Through this partnership, they strive to foster a culture of innovation and creativity in the classroom, where students are motivated to explore, inquire, and grow.

In addition to working directly with teachers, they facilitate on-the-spot professional development opportunities through an instructional coaching menu. Teachers select an option from the instructional coaching menu by completing a Google form. The instructional coach then arranges a meeting and may initiate a coaching cycle. They aim to empower teachers with the tools and confidence they need to enhance student outcomes and meet academic and social-emotional goals. By building strong, collaborative relationships with educators, they help create a positive, nurturing school environment where both teachers and students can thrive. Together, they are committed to cultivating a community of lifelong learners who are prepared for future success.

SUPERVISION FOR GROWTH

Our faculty is deeply committed to professional growth and setting measurable goals to work toward throughout the year. These goals are developed collaboratively between each teacher and the leadership team, drawing from classroom observations and feedback. The goals are guided by the Marshall Rubrics, encompassing six key domains of all aspects of a teacher’s performance: planning and preparation, classroom management, instruction, monitoring and assessment, family and community outreach, and professional responsibilities.

Once goals are identified, teachers create a Goal and Action Plan outlining the steps they are taking, documenting evidence of progress, and identifying specific markers of success. They receive ongoing support from the Curriculum and Professional Development Coordinator as well as the Instructional Coach. The Elementary School Director ensures accountability by conducting written observations and meeting with faculty to review and discuss their progress.

Throughout the year, our teachers reflect on their practice, culminating in a final reflection that evaluates how well they met their goals, contributed to the team, and advanced in their professional development. Commendations and recommendations from this process inform goal-setting for the following year.

IT ALL FITS TOGETHER

The partnership between curriculum work, coaching, and supervision forms a comprehensive framework that fosters teacher and student growth. Each component is interconnected, and together, these elements not only enhance teaching practices but also cultivate a rich learning experience for our students, ultimately driving their success and the overall mission of Rambam Day School.

Maura Hollub
Curriculum and Professional Development Coordinator

Kim McWilliams
Instructional Coach

Suzy Novak
Elementary School Director