USING THE
INSTRUCTIONAL
BLUEPRINT TO GUIDE
TIER I WORK
Goals of this Webinar
• Provide an overview around the Blueprint for Assessment,
Curriculum, and Instruction
• Explore ways in which DN teams can use the Instructional
Blueprint to guide their work
• Offer an opportunity to ask questions about the
Instructional Blueprint
What is the Blueprint?
The Blueprint for Assessment,
Curriculum, and Instruction lays the
foundation for teaching in learning in
every Diplomas Now classroom.
The Blueprint…
• States the key tenets of DN’s approach to assessment,
curriculum, and instruction—including the critical links between
each area
• Outlines the specific evidence-based practices that bring these
tenets to life in each classroom
• Provides specific criteria for assessing and refining the
approach to teaching in learning in a Diplomas Now school
• Helps understand what teaching and learning looks like and
sounds like in every classroom (not just those implementing TD
Extra Help Curriculum)
Key Tenets of the Blueprint
(What We Believe)
# 1 All decisions surrounding assessment,
curriculum and instruction are informed by a
variety of assessment techniques and data
sources.
# 1 All decisions surrounding assessment, curriculum and
instruction are informed by a variety of assessment techniques
and data sources.
This looks like…
• Teachers considering test scores, grades, anecdotal
information, student input, other sources when developing
lessons
• Using multiple types of assessments (quizzes, papers,
projects, performances, etc.) to determine students’
mastery of standards and content
• Teams discussing multiple pieces of information when
determining an appropriate course performance
intervention during an EWI meeting
Key Tenets of the Blueprint
(What We Believe)
# 2 Collaboration and shared vision for
assessment, curriculum and instruction are
necessary for student success.
# 2 Collaboration and shared vision for assessment, curriculum
and instruction are necessary for student success.
This looks like…
• Principals and teachers articulating what teaching and learning
should look like in their school
• Schools translating this common vision for teaching and
learning into key instructional resources (lesson plan
templates, walkthrough forms, class schedules, course syllabi,
professional development programs, course materials, etc.)
• Regular collaboration among teachers to engage in reflection
and professional development focused on assessment,
curriculum, and instruction
Key Tenets of the Blueprint
(What We Believe)
#3 Ongoing tiers of support with
opportunities to reflect on instructional
approaches are keys to successful
implementation of these practices.
#3 Ongoing tiers of support with opportunities to reflect on
instructional approaches are keys to successful implementation
of these practices.
This looks like…
• Providing students an array of supports (double dose
courses, extra help labs, tutoring, accelerated courses)
• Providing teachers with ongoing, job-embedded
professional development through the use of instructional
coaches
• Utilizing processes for utilizing reflection to modify the
approach to teaching and learning over time
Key Tenets of the Blueprint
(What We Believe)
#4 All curriculum and assessment are
designed to create learning experiences that
build on students’ interests and develop their
strengths.
#4 All curriculum and assessment are designed to create learning
experiences that build on students’ interests and develop their
strengths.
What this looks like…
• Developing relationships with students to learn more about their
interests
• Using our knowledge of our students’ interests to select course
materials, plan instruction, design assessments,
EXAMPLE: Knowing that students were very interested in the upcoming
Presidential Election, a math teacher used polling and other “electoral math” to
teach probabilities
• Providing students with authentic learning activities and assessments
whenever possible
EXAMPLE: To assess students’ mastery of persuasive writing, the teacher has
students write letters to the editor and submits letters to the newspaper
Essential Components
These essential components are explicit
criteria that help define what we consider
effective assessment, effective instruction,
and effective curriculum
Essential Components
• The blueprint outlines essential
components related to each of the three
major areas:
• Assessment
• Curriculum
• Instruction
Essential components of Assessment
The essential components of assessment provide
guidelines on how DN schools should gauge
students’ learning.
HOW COULD WE BRING THESE TO LIFE?
Essential Components of Curriculum
The essential components of curriculum provide
guidelines on how DN schools should construct
courses, units, and individual lessons.
HOW COULD WE BRING THESE TO LIFE?
Essential Components of Instruction
The essential components of instruction provide guidelines
on how instruction should be delivered in Diplomas Now
classrooms.
HOW COULD WE BRING THESE TO LIFE?
Questions About the Essential
Components?
Do you have any clarifying questions about
the Essential Components?
Next Steps for School Teams
In order to utilize the Blueprint as a resource at your
school, an important first step is to ensure that the DN team
understands the Blueprint and how it aligns, compliments,
and/or contradicts with your school.
We strongly recommend finding opportunities in the weeks
to come to work with your DN team—especially your
instructional facilitators—to reflect together on the Blueprint
in your local context
Suggested Reflection Activities
• Comparing the Blueprint to your district’s
standards/guidelines/approach to assessment, curriculum, and
instruction
• Comparing the Blueprint to your school’s instructional
framework
• Review the school’s mission and vision and compare to the Blueprint
• Review your schools tools that support teaching and learning
compared to the Blueprint. Some of these tools might include:
• Lesson plan template
• School Improvement Plan
• PD Calendar/Plan
• Walkthrough/Observation Form
• Grading/Assessment System
Reflective Questions When Considering
the Blueprint
1) How does our school’s vision for
instruction complement or contradict the
Blueprint?
2) In what ways do our instructional
supports (PD, lesson plan templates,
evaluations, walk through forms,
curriculum guides, etc.) reflect the tenets
and essential components in the
Blueprint?
Reflective Questions When Considering
the Blueprint
3) How does our school’s transformation
plan reflect progress towards deeper
implementation of the tenets and essential
components of the Blueprint
4) What’s my individual role in helping our
school progress towards deeper
implementation of the tenets and essential
components of the Blueprint
Reflective Questions When Considering
the Blueprint
3) How might the Blueprint help us refine our
work in tiered intervention settings?
4) How does our vision and strategies
around school culture and climate
complement or contradict the Blueprint?
Q&A