Phase II: Analyzing the System

Describe the Ideal State

1.How do you help districts and schools focus on specific school improvement efforts?

2. How can districts and schools visualize how they would operate if the problems were solved?

Session Questions:

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Phases of the Working Systemically Approach

Phase I

Phase II

Phase III

Phase V Phase IV

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• Organize the campus leadership teams, if needed

• Collect and organize additional data

• Conduct a gap analysis

• Formulate a problem statement

• Describe the ideal state

Phase II: Analyzing the System

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Teachers do not collaborate on lesson plans or use research-based practices, and the reading instruction and assessments are not aligned to standards.

Problem Statement

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A description of how the system would function if the problem were solved

What Is an Ideal State?

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Individually, review the problem statement again, underlining aspects of the problem that need to be solved.

Describing the Ideal State

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With your table group, brainstorm words, phrases, or symbols to express how the system would operate if the problem were solved. Chart and discuss your the ideas with your group.

Describing the Ideal State

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Convert the words, phrases, and symbols into one or more sentences. Write each sentence on a sentence strip (one sentence per strip).

Describing the Ideal State

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Describing the Ideal State

Edit the sentences until you agree on 1-2 sentences that describe how the system would function if the problem were solved.

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Problem: Teachers do not collaborate on lesson plans or use research-based practices and the reading instruction and assessments are not aligned to standards.

Ideal State: The ABC school district has a system to ensure that teachers know and use research-based reading practices. Teachers collaborate regularly to plan lessons using these practices to align instruction and assessments to state standards.

Problem Statement (example)

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• The ideal state represents the shared vision for improvement

• Trust the process; it is sometimes messy

• Use concise and specific language for your ideal state

• Remember, the ideal state describes the problem statement as solved

Reminders for Describing the Ideal State

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Reflection on Creating an Ideal State

What are the benefits, potential challenges, and ways to overcome the challenges in the process of describing the ideal state?

What did you observe the facilitator doing that you want to remember for your own work?

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