Overview of

FLBA
ELD279
Innovation Fair

Meghan Dwyer
 Blind Spot Area: Communication
Problem:
We need a system for better communication between
administrators and staff. With moving into a brand
new building, staff has often been expected to to do
things without any direction or expectations. This is
causing frustration among staff and wasted PD time
trying to correct the misunderstandings.
Innovative Solution: Rounding
I believe the first step into learning for improvement
is the recognition of the lack of communication. Then
implementing staff input and feedback to take steps in
improving communication. Setting goals using staff
feedback will also help to turn the learning into action.
Results can be replicated through a system of
routinely checking for staff input over building wide
communication and having a system for using the
feedback. (Rounding)
 1. Shared an example of how my innovative strategy is
working in my classroom connecting back to our school
wide student-well being goal. In my classroom, we
identified a problem (63% of students treat me well)
Then we brainstormed ideas as to why this could be a
problem using the affinity diagram. I implemented
rounding to start making deeper connections with
students so they feel comfortable sharing good and bad
things, and positively recognizing other students!

My Current Reality 1. I then shared this work with lead teachers on my ILT in
the following presentation.

1. Working through the same process - identifying

problems through an affinity diagram - (communication
arising?)

1. Making the connection of how rounding is working in

my classroom and why it is beneficial to how this
strategy might work for an innovative solution to a
problem in our building
How I would’ve approach this area of improvement as
an administrator...
Step 1: Staff survey over communication (google forms, survey monkey)

Step 2: Evaluate the results

Step 3: Use staff input to set goals

Step 4: Share results and goals with staff as a foundation for implementing rounding
 Student Well-Being
Opportunities for Improvement 2018-2019
Our data from last year…. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/
d/1-
x_pnoxfhtsmURhsQbjluh0uWekDw8Gx6
SUiIFta7qA/edit?usp=sharing

Opportunities for Improvement

● 43% of students treat me well

● 71%of students say teachers and
students care about each other
● 78% of students said they feel
like they belong at Wallace
● 90% of students say their
classroom teacher cares about
them
 MTSS Google form in my classroom
My students took this survey again this year and here are my results:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScpBWRWgxah5gLeIxJskLQxvZq2u2aQrvD
UJS-wckqrIAS4og/viewform?usp=sf_link
63% of my 4th graders said
that sometimes students
treat me well.
 Affinity Diagram - Students
Students brainstormed how students can treat each other well at Wallace independently on post-it
notes for 5 minutes. Then, in their groups, they found similar ideas and put them into categories.

Categories included:

1. Including others
2. Greeting others
3. Being kind
4. Sharing
Affinity Results
Here is what I am doing because of my classroom data...

Rounding - Strategy for Improvement

→ What is rounding?!

→ Organization

→ Results

→ Recognition
 What is Rounding?

Purpose
★ Builds/strengthens relationships
★ Allows/promotes open communication
★ Finds opportunities to recognize others
Studer Education
Organization
Results

Results
Recognition
 Let’s gather data quickly as a staff on opportunities for
improvement at Wallace using the Affinity Diagram!
1. What are some problems we are having? (5 minutes independently write different
ideas on post-it notes)

1. Now, get together and group similar ideas and give them a category. For example,
students listed: say hi, welcome others, say hello, all into the category “greeting others”

1. Look at categories and determine a category you can use as an opportunity for
improvement.
 Is communication an opportunity for improvement?
If so what can we do?
A strategy I am using in my classroom is rounding to improve my relationships with
students in order to meet our building student-well being goal.

How can we use rounding as a solution in our building to a problem?

 WHY use this?
● Trust
○ Rounding builds increased levels of trust by demonstrating interest in thoughts and opinions. It also allow us to get to know and build
relationships which can help us to understand what is really important to others.

● Instruction
○ The first-hand knowledge gathered through the rounding process provides invaluable opportunities to monitor, identify and make
improvements.

● Communication
○ Rounding facilitates two-way communication. Messages can be reinforced, explainations of what’s behind decisions and procedures. It
also allows staff to communicate in ways that might otherwise be impossible due to various barriers to communication.

● Reality
○ In spite of best efforts and good intentions, it’s nearly impossible to know what’s really happening in all our students/teachers lives.
Rounding allows teachers/administrators to spot problems early on and move quickly to fix them before they grow into major issues with
harmful consequences.
Questions?

THANK YOU!