Teaching & Learning
Learning Initiatives
The Big Three
Three “Big Ideas”, which are based on our strategic commitments, are guiding our work in Ferndale School District.
1. Advancing Core Instruction
Creating a school improvement plan for every school
Developing and implementing a consistent program to deploy the Common Core State Standards into all classrooms at all grades
Completing a revision of the Elementary Report Card and Progress Report
2. Increasing the Graduation Rate
Putting in place an electronic early warning system of dropout indicators
Implementing a one-to-one mentorship program for students
Starting a campaign that connects our entire community to the efforts of a PreK-12 graduation process
3. Improving Communication, Culture and Sense of Community
Redesigning the district website
Implementing Best Year Ever strategies like being more present in schools and in the community, reporting good news stories, and developing new holiday procedures
Conducting an education equity audit of our policies, practices and programs
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports
PBIS is our framework for talking about student behavior. In 2013, our administrative team made a long term commitment to bring the PBIS framework to all Ferndale Schools. In 2014 our school board made adoption and implementation of PBIS a policy. We are now engaged in the long term process of developing and refining PBIS best practices at all schools.
Teacher Principal Evaluation Project
TPEP is our evaluation and professional development aged in the long term process of developing and refining PBIS best practices at all schools.
The Five Dimensions of Teaching and Learning
In 2011 we adopted the Five Dimensions of Teaching and Learning Framework as our tool for talking about teaching. Developed by the Center for Educational Leadership at the University of Washington “The 5D+” is designed to give teachers and instructional leaders the precise language they need to talk about and refine teaching practices in every classroom.