The COW Model

When I saw the question, "What specific ideas do you have for increasing our MAP scores?" I wasn't sure how to respond. There are so many factors that contribute to assessment results and I am by no means an expert on Renner data (yet). I do, however, have three very specific ideas and suggestions for improving scores that are based on research and best practices. By sharing these ideas I am not assuming they are not being implemented at Renner. If they are - that's great! We can explore next year how to build upon them. If they're not, I'll be excited to talk to you about how we can systematically and appropriately start implementation.


One of my favorite authors on the topic of high performing schools is Douglas Reeves. He is best known for his research on 90/90/90 schools. These are schools that are 90% combined minority; 90% free and reduced; and 90% successful on standardized tests. Douglas Reeves found 90/90/90 schools have five things in common:

1. There is a strong emphasis and focus on achievement.
2. There are clear curricular choices.
3. There are frequent assessments and multiple opportunities for students to show improvement.
4. There is a a strong focus on writing in all academic areas.
5. There is external scoring of student work.

For each of these areas, Douglas Reeves drills down to specific strategies and suggestions for implementation. I have evolved the suggestions of Douglas Reeves (along with a little influence from Robert Marzano, Harry Wong, and Fred Jones) into my very own COW Model. (Actually, I don't have an official COW Model, but COW is an easy acronym to help you remember the three suggested strategies. Hmmm....maybe I should develop a COW Model and market it!)

C: Continuous Improvement Classrooms

O: Orderliness and Management

W: Writing...Writing...Writing

Park Hill, thanks to the groundwork of staff at Graden Elementary and through Dr. Miles' office, has begun the journey towards Continuous Improvement Classrooms. These classrooms have a strong focus on achievement and provide students with frequent assessments and opportunities to demonstrate learning. Implementing each element of a Continuous Improvement Classroom effectively and with fidelity can have a significant impact on student achievement and create enthusiasm for learning.

According to Reeves, Wong, Marzano and Jones, classroom management has a significant impact on student achievement. Marzano's research specifically found that of all the classroom level variables, classroom management had the largest effect on student achievement. For me, Harry Wong and Fred Jones are the fathers of classroom management. Wong's work on procedures and routines and Jones' work on teacher skill development in lieu of classroom managment systems are the cornerstone of sustainable and effective classroom management.

You may have figured out that I love to write. That, however, is not why writing is one of my top three recommendations. Writing daily and across the curriculum is recommended by most every researcher. Think about it this way....if you can subtract, you can add. If you can write, you can read. Could it be that we're putting too strong of a focus on the wrong things? Rather than saying to ourselves, "I can't move on to subtraction until they master addition." Maybe we should move on and use the teaching of subtraction to support the development of the concept of addition. The same can be said about writing. By putting a strong focus and emphasis on writing you address multiple learning needs - reading, processing information, organization of thought, spelling, effective communication, comprehension, vocabulary development, etc....

Next year I look forward to working with you to further develop and implement the COW Model. I'm eager to hear your thoughts on whether or not a systematic focus on these three areas might improve achievement at Renner.

On another note, next week you will receive an interest survey from me. Please take time to fill out the survey and return it to Sherri Verner. Once all surveys have been collected, Sherri will forward them to me. The purpose of the survey is to gather information on your interest in different leadership opportunities at Renner.