GDOE Empowers SSIP Teachers
The Guam Department of Education (GDOE) in partnership with Guam CEDDERS, continues to advance its State Systemic Improvement Project (SSIP) through a half-day SSIP professional learning session that took place on August 6 at the Westin Resort Guam. The session was part of GDOE’s Continuous Improvement Road Map for Improving Reading Achievement. The purpose of this session was to provide an overview and review of SSIP focus areas: Data Literacy, Science of Reading, Continuous Improvement, and Explicit Instruction.
The session was facilitated by Guam CEDDERS Training Associates Rachel Duenas and Debra Whitt, and consultants Nieves Flores, EdD, and June Quitugua. It was attended by over 100 teachers in grades K-3, including resource room teachers from the four SSIP Target school sites, Captain H.B. Price Elementary School, Chief Brodie Elementary School, M.U. Lujan Elementary School, and J.M. Guerrero Elementary School, as well as the four SSIP Scale-Up school sites, Finegayan Elementary School, D.L Perez Elementary School, M.A. Ulloa Elementary School, and Merizo Martyrs Memorial School.
Teachers began the session by completing a data analysis activity. They were seated with their grade level colleagues along with other schools. The data was from the Reading AIMSWEB assessments which included participation, performance data, and school median percentile graphs. Teachers conducted a 5-Whys Root Cause Analysis, which is a problem-solving method to dig deep and identify the underlying cause of a problem by asking “Why” five times. They selected one measure to target for improvement, identified the problem, and completed the “5 Whys” worksheet until they arrived at a solution that could be implemented within the school’s control. Each group of teachers then shared their solution with the larger group.
A review of the SSIP goals was conducted which includes a multi-year, achievable plan, increasing the capacity of districts to implement scale-up, sustain evidence-based practices, and improve the outcomes for children with disabilities and their families. The review of goals included the steps of the Continuous Improvement plan as well as the Five Components of Reading and the 13 components of Explicit Instruction. Teachers reviewed the Five Components of Reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. There were examples given for each component so that teachers could identify each one. Also reviewed were the 13 components of the Explicit Instruction framework. Explicit instruction makes lessons clear and structured, provides prominent levels of guidance and support, and actively engages students.
Overall, the professional learning session successfully equipped educators with essential tools and strategies to enhance their instructional practices and drive continuous improvement in reading achievement. The collaboration between GDOE leadership, SSIP schools, and Guam CEDDERS demonstrates a strong commitment to fostering educational growth and ensuring that all students, particularly those with disabilities, have access to high-quality instruction.
