Short-term Success for Long-term Results

Last year, I worked with a school that had 4 different grade-level teachers consistently meeting long-term goals. We spoke to the teachers and closely reviewed instructional support in the classroom. All those teachers understood student-level needs and targets. 

They identified a standard for the lesson and taught those standards in line with their pacing guide. They saw student-level needs and found ways to support those needs throughout the lesson and in small groups. In every lesson, they built in “checks for understanding” to ensure that those students (and all students) understood what was required. Weekly, they celebrated student success and mastery. 

When we visited other classrooms, we saw that other teachers taught the lesson without checks for understanding. Unlike the first group of teachers, they were not able to provide details about their students.

We learned from successful teachers the power of short-term success for long-term results! We started this year with a plan to help other teachers select the data that they will use to identify student needs. With those needs in mind, we discussed strategies to check for understanding and tracking short-term progress. They will bring back their results to the next meeting. 

School leaders also had a plan to celebrate the teachers’ successes to create momentum and build excitement!

Once you have clearly defined goals and data to measure progress towards those goals, it is important to identify the quick wins you can accomplish. Getting these quick wins done can help you build upon the next tasks. Using these successes, everyone can gain momentum by using these as stepping stones to achieve greater results.

I like to refer to the “Breakthrough Strategy by Richard Schaffer. It helps you to understand the importance of short-term success for long-term results”.

Any change in your data practices requires a new start and new habits. They are much like a rocket ship. When a rocket ship lifts off, it requires a considerable amount of energy to get off the ground, break the atmosphere and enter space. But after that, the resistance-free momentum of space helps carry that rocket ship over huge distances. 

The location of the launchpad is critical for a successful mission. For example, what if you tried to launch on a frozen lake? The blast-off would melt the ice, causing everything to sink before it could get off the ground. The same will happen if you pursue a goal without a solid foundation.

Classroom instructional knowledge is a key foundation for success. This means knowing what to do and how to help students reach their goals. Given the complexity of the classroom, there is no way to succeed without clear instructional strategies and targets. Start small and pick one. Which one? 

Look at your teachers who are getting consistent results. What are they doing? 

The next level for Data Steps 2.0 is to reflect on the prior year’s successes and challenges. 

• For teachers who are achieving their goals, what are they doing to make an impact? 
• For teachers who are not achieving their goals, what short-term practices and goals can you identify to create momentum and build excitement within the first month or quarter of school? Remember the key is to identify quick wins!
• How will you celebrate those quick wins?

Acknowledging short-term successes is a powerful step towards long-term achievement. Each small win builds confidence and creates momentum, helping us move steadily toward our bigger goals. By recognizing and valuing these smaller accomplishments, we set ourselves up for continued progress and eventual success. Remember, it's these small steps that often pave the way for lasting results. Stay focused on each milestone, and let each success guide you toward your ultimate objectives.

If you are looking for support analyzing your data and identifying your next leadership steps in this new school year, request a FREE consultation call with me. Fill in the Contact Form Link: https://debradurma.com/contact-us 

Type in “Yes” for “Are you Interested in STAR Leadership Data Solutions?” You will receive a follow-up email with the next step to schedule a phone call to discuss your needs and questions.

Are you unhappy with your results or feeling overwhelmed by data? If so, contact me for more information on STAR Leadership School-Student Data Solutions Training. This training will guide you through the 4 data steps and give you a blueprint for achieving results. This training is individualized and tailored to your data, your needs, your staff, your students, and your best route to achieve results.