Who needs lesson plans?

Read Case Study b1 Who needs lesson plans? pages 1-5 in the attached Kowlaski textbook and answer questions 1-11 on pages 5.
Problem Framing

1. Assume you are Principal Hulbert. First determine the main issue (problem) in this case. Then describe the current state and the desired state of this issue. (The sec-tion on problem framing in the introduction section of this book defines the problem framing process.)
2. Based on evidence provided in the case, describe the dif-ficulty associated with eliminating the gap between the present state and desired state.
   Questions and Suggested Activities
3. Share and critique the problem statements prepared by students in your class.
4. Describe the nature of the school culture at Buchanan Elementary School.
5. Why do Mr. Osborne and presumably the other Buchanan teachers have such a negative attitude about NCLB?
6. Evaluate Principal Hulbert's decision to have the teach-ers rewrite the lesson plans.
7. Mr. Osborne implies that experienced teachers do not need lesson plans. Do you agree? Why or why not?
8. Mr. Osborne believes that many of the Buchanan stu-dents will not succeed academically because of the negative social and economic conditions they face outside of school. Do you agree? Why or why not?
9. Buchanan employees indicate that they supported the previous principal, Mr. Sampson, and they criticized the decision to remove him from the school. Is this fact relevant to shaping a plan to improve student learning? Why or why not?
10. How have teachers and principals across all districts and schools responded to NCLB? What evidence do you have to support your response?
11. No Child Left Behind requires administrators and teachers to collect assessment data, disaggregate those data by student groups, and develop explicit plans for meeting the needs of students, especially those exhibit-ing low achievement. Is this a realistic expectation for an elementary school teacher who has 20 or more pupils in class? Is it a realistic expectation for secondary school teachers who have over 100 pupils in their classes?
12. What actions could Principal Hulbert take to improve employee morale at Buchanan?
13. To what extent does the school's culture affect teacher behavior?

Sample Solution