Day in the Life
Every moment with our students - who we call PREPsters - is precious and valuable. Educators invest as many hours as it takes to be exceptional instructional leaders creating exceptional student results because we know every one of our PREPsters is on a path to college. PREPsters are on campus from 7:45 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. and Kauffman School teachers often come early to and stay late to role play lessons, give and receive lesson feedback and collaborate with other staff. Take a look at a day in the life of a Kauffman School teacher.
A Day in the Life of a Kauffman Teacher
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7:00-7:15 PREPARATION
Teachers arrive to make copies and prepare their classrooms to ensure that everything is ready for the PREPsters arrival.
Teachers arrive to make copies and prepare their classrooms to ensure that everything is ready for the PREPsters arrival.
7:15-7:30 MORNING PRACTICE
Teachers meet with coaches or colleagues to role play lessons; this internalization ensures that teachers are maximizing instructional time with students.
Teachers meet with coaches or colleagues to role play lessons; this internalization ensures that teachers are maximizing instructional time with students.
7:30-7:45 STAFF HUDDLE
Instructional Staff meet in Huddle, which is a time for announcements and shout-outs to start the day off successfully. Having all staff on the same page means consistency for our school team and for our students.
7:45-7:50 STUDENT ARRIVAL
School leaders greet each student with a handshake as they enter the school building. Every student deserves to be greeted with a smile and support, confirming that staff will do whatever it takes to prepare them to be college graduates.
7:50-8:10 BREAKFAST
Students eat breakfast and teachers use this time to check-in, collect homework data, and make announcements. Teachers set our students up for success by building positive relationships and celebrating success.
School leaders greet each student with a handshake as they enter the school building. Every student deserves to be greeted with a smile and support, confirming that staff will do whatever it takes to prepare them to be college graduates.
7:50-8:10 BREAKFAST
Students eat breakfast and teachers use this time to check-in, collect homework data, and make announcements. Teachers set our students up for success by building positive relationships and celebrating success.
8:10-9:02 TEACH
Kauffman School teachers aim to be responsive to students' academic needs during instruction. They use a variety of engagement techniques, which they strengthen and practice in weekly workshops, to ensure they are meeting the needs of students.
9:04-9:55 TEACHER DEVELOPMENT
Kauffman School teachers have multiple opportunities to develop skills and mindsets that will support them in their success as an instructional leader. During the day, teachers engage in content-related development time, which might include role plays of lesson plans,
Kauffman School teachers aim to be responsive to students' academic needs during instruction. They use a variety of engagement techniques, which they strengthen and practice in weekly workshops, to ensure they are meeting the needs of students.
9:04-9:55 TEACHER DEVELOPMENT
Kauffman School teachers have multiple opportunities to develop skills and mindsets that will support them in their success as an instructional leader. During the day, teachers engage in content-related development time, which might include role plays of lesson plans,
observing colleagues on their content team, or meeting with an instructional leader for content coaching
.
9:48-10:48 TEACH
Lessons at the Kauffman School are aligned to the daily learning objective and informed by data. Teachers plan differentiated lessons based on data that they analyze from rigorous assessments.
Lessons at the Kauffman School are aligned to the daily learning objective and informed by data. Teachers plan differentiated lessons based on data that they analyze from rigorous assessments.
10:50-11:05 MORNING BREAK
Breaks are built into the school day to provide students with snacks and a brain break so they are refueled and can continue learning.
Breaks are built into the school day to provide students with snacks and a brain break so they are refueled and can continue learning.
11:08-11:58 TEACHER DEVELOPMENT
Observation and feedback are key structures that allow the staff to develop into strong instructional leaders. Teachers complete short, weekly observations to give feedback to one another. Peer observations encourage best practices and ensure consistency among classrooms.
Observation and feedback are key structures that allow the staff to develop into strong instructional leaders. Teachers complete short, weekly observations to give feedback to one another. Peer observations encourage best practices and ensure consistency among classrooms.
12:01-12:24 PREP
The Kauffman School's culture is defined not only by high academic expectations, but also by our set of shared beliefs that serve as tools for current and future success. Teachers use this time to teach and develop PREP values - perseverance, respect, empathy, and passion - within their students.
12:28-12:51 LUNCH
Teacher use lunch to chat with students, eat lunch themselves, and track homework completion to show students their progress toward earning a various incentives. We believe it's important for all teachers to be part of daily lunch time with students.
12:54-1:44 TEACH
All teachers focus on Accountable Talk strategies in their classrooms, which promote strong academic discussions among students. These skills include the ability to respond confidently to content questions, build off another student’s answers, and use life experiences or text-based knowledge to explain their thinking.
1:47-2:37 TEACHER DEVELOPMENT Each week, teachers engage in a one-on-one or a small group coaching session with an school leader that is driven by the teacher’s development goals. Teachers might focus on building skills in instructional delivery, practicing or role playing a lesson, or diving into content to plan enriching lessons for students.
2:40-3:30 TEACH
Teachers check for understanding using different methods throughout the lesson, test for mastery using exit slips, and base their teaching on data.
Teachers check for understanding using different methods throughout the lesson, test for mastery using exit slips, and base their teaching on data.
3:30-3:50 DISMISSAL/CLUBS
Teachers wave goodbye as students head home to complete their lifework, or homework. Some students stay later to participate in clubs such as newspaper, cooking, gardening and dance. Additionally, Kauffman School offers middle school and high school sports options.
4:00-5:00 AFTER SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT
After student dismissal, teachers in their first or second year at Kauffman School engage in additional development ranging from support on setting up strong togetherness/organization systems, to practicing how to lead student discussions in their classrooms, to workshops on how to write and internalize lesson plans.
After student dismissal, teachers in their first or second year at Kauffman School engage in additional development ranging from support on setting up strong togetherness/organization systems, to practicing how to lead student discussions in their classrooms, to workshops on how to write and internalize lesson plans.
Teachers who have been at Kauffman School for three years or more use this time to complete any outstanding duties or work needed to be ready for the next day of instruction. As teachers find their routines and maximize planning time during the day, they leave campus when they are done with work for the day.
EVENINGS
Kauffman School staff members work a robust day, which may include closing out tasks from the day - grading, phone calls, data entry. Our staff also prioritize personal fulfillment through spending time with families and loved ones, exercising, attending grad school classes, volunteering, etc. Our staff strives to have both professionally and personally fulfilling lives.
Kauffman School staff members work a robust day, which may include closing out tasks from the day - grading, phone calls, data entry. Our staff also prioritize personal fulfillment through spending time with families and loved ones, exercising, attending grad school classes, volunteering, etc. Our staff strives to have both professionally and personally fulfilling lives.