Results Now book review

1. RESULTS NOW
MIKE SCHMOKER
Christy Nash
Dr. Jane Huffman
University of North Texas

2. Results Now - Book Review
About achieving exceptional change and improvements in
teaching and learning
Some assertions in the book are innovative and somewhat
controversial
 First section: Discusses the “buffer”
protective barrier
discourages close inspection of classroom
instruction/the supervision of instruction
culture of “noninterference, privacy, and harmony “
crippled the advancement of school improvement initiatives
those most important to the schools from within and outside do
not actually know what occurs within the schools

3. Results Now - Book Review
Partner to the buffer is teacher isolation
Empowered under the term “Professionalism”
Other professions, new employees part of teams that produce results
Like in law or medicine
Allowed Teaching to become Safe and very Secure professions
Buffer also affects Leadership
Improvement cannot occur until leaders evaluate the
quality of instruction
Combat the status quo, barrier, and isolation
Make Strategic Decisions

4. Results Now - Book Review
Second section focuses on Literacy
Literacy Education: greatest opportunity for educators
to improve performance
Authentic Literacy: Generous amounts of close,
purposeful reading, rereading, writing, and talking
Critically examine text, Consider multiple viewpoints,
Imagine alternatives, and Understand relevance
Develops the Educated Mind
Crayola Curriculum: the time Cutting, Pasting, and Coloring in schools
Literature based Arts and Crafts

5. Results Now - Book Review
In Section III, Schmoker discusses Professional Learning Communities
“the surest and quickest manner” to Instructional Improvement
“the most promising strategy for sustained, substantive
school improvement.”
PLCs deserve more attention than any other Charge we
Complete in the name of School Improvement
Fundamental concepts according to Schmoker
PLCs set common curricular standards and time-tables for implementation
must meet regularly and be laser focused
Teachers must also spend their time speaking in concrete explicit terms.
must focus on common assessments and analyze their data to better inform
instruction

6. Results Now - Book Review
The Experts are Among us
Staff members should Devote time to learn from each other.
Teachers can pool Practical Knowledge and Expertise to
recognize the best of what they are doing and what they already know
Engage in the work of Collective follow up, Assessment,
& Adjustment of Instruction
Results in the best kind of Professional Development,
not one-stop workshops
Teamwork fosters Continuous Improvement
Targeted attention to details through Analysis and Brainstorming
Less resistance can be expected in Implementing Changes

7. Results Now - Book Review
Leadership must also adapt for PLCs to grow
Principals must become “Learning Leaders”
Must support and discuss Learning with their Teachers
Must be an Increased Emphasis on Learning so Improvements can
occur in Teaching
Leader’s central focus
to support and equip teams to do their work
allow the “other stuff” to be not as important

8. Results Now - Book Review
Schmoker concludes with a thought-provoking question: Why Delay?
Teachers and Leaders must immediately begin to Share, Examine, and
Engage in dialogue
Must erase past failures and put Schools on the path to Incredible
Achievement
Benefit far outweighs any negative
Children are at risk if we continue to do
what we have always done
We must be bold; we must be brave.

9. Schmoker Interview
Asked several questions that were of interest to me
Questions came from further intrigue after reading Result Now
Asked Mr. Schmoker about the Buffer?
Referenced Dr. Richard Elmore’s description
an invisible barrier between the classroom and the public, district, state, and
even principal
An invisible protection from “outside inspection,
interference, or disruption.”
Buffer is also political in nature
it can be very unpopular to challenge
“the way we do things around here.”

10. Schmoker Interview
Why isolation continues within most schools?
Being by yourself is easier than collaborating with your peers
Not enough “forces to bear” on the practice to cause a change
More positive pressure needed for the practice to cease and
collaboration to begin
Feels Professional Learning Communities
are the answer

11. Schmoker Interview
Why curriculum chaos continues in schools?
Wanted to know how do we ensure what is intended actually gets
taught?
Teachers must work in professional learning communities to ensure
what is intended actually gets taught
Teachers in common core areas should meet twice monthly for thirty
to forty-five minutes; at minimum
Must maintain a laser focus
Determine the power standards

12. Schmoker Interview
Most critical factor in increasing student achievement in schools today?
Schmoker could not pick one; has a “top three” list
Every teacher must understand what a “good” lesson should contain
Teacher must use formative assessment to determine if the majority of the
students understand the concept or step
Teachers must adhere to a “guaranteed and viable curriculum.”
To ensure that all curriculum is laced with
loads of text
Should ensure reading and critical thought
Opportunity to write and evaluate the text
Further develop critical, thoughtful reflections

13. Schmoker Interview
What are the characteristics of effective school leaders?
 school leaders must focus on the “top three” list
 administrators must “repeat, clarify, practice, and monitor”
How should central office function to assist increasing student
achievement at the campus level?
 Must resist requiring administrators to do anything other than focus on the “top three”
 Must do all things possible to support the campus, teacher and administrator, efforts to teach and
monitor these objective (top three)
PLC model best supports implementation and
complete understanding of “top three” for
increasing overall student achievement

14. Schmoker Interview
How Professional Learning Communities assist with the school
improvement process?
Vital to ensuring that the best instruction occurs
Teachers must meet on a regular schedule for a
minimum amount of time to “do the work.”
The experts are among us
Teachers have the opportunity to learn from their peers on a regular
basis, practice what they learn, and reflect as a member of the PLC
PLCs should center their work and focus around how best to teach and
deliver the agreed upon curriculum
Without PLCs, teachers will continue to work in isolation & the buffer
continues to interfere with optimal instruction, curriculum, & practices