The Situation Room

At school, there is a special classroom called the Situation Room. That title comes from our President's working organization, and being very Washingtonian, I was attracted to the concept immediately. Finally this week, I had a chance to visit the Situation Room. I was impressed.

Around the four walls of the room were pinned the names of every student enrolled in the school. On each student’s card were notations indicating their respective academic goals for that school year. The student’s were divided into grades, and each class of each grade was a different color. Further, the walls were divided into numerical columns, titled with numerical ranges representing test scores.

Several times a year, the teachers meet in the Situation Room and move their respective student cards along the columns according to the student’s achievement. The teachers actually move their own class cards. There is something very positive about that; they are actively involved in the process, and they get to see how their class compares to the other 5 classes in their grade level. The classroom teachers, administrators and resource teachers discuss those students that have not met their goals. They then design strategies, called tiers, to assist those students in need. I was very impressed.

And then on the wall, I read four Key Questions. I was thoroughly impressed, and started copying the questions, while visions of application to our children’s ministry ran through my mind.

1. What is it we want all students to learn?
2. How will we respond when a student experiences difficulty in learning?
3. How will we know when each student has mastered the essential learning?
4. How will we deepen the learning for students who have already mastered essential knowledge and skills?

These questions are going on the wall in my office when I return to church next week. And I am going to look for space or some creative way to develop a Situation Room, for I do not want to lose track of any child who attends my church.

Thanks for reading,

AL