Schools Around the World

The Evidence to Excellence (E2E) Process

Reflection and Questioning

Central to the Academy is the Evidence to Excellence (E2E) process of reflection and questioning that guides small discussion groups of mathematics, science, and reading teachers in taking apart their own assignments, assessments, and student work for critical analysis. Examining student work from their own classrooms allows teachers to see the firsthand evidence about whether or not students understand the lesson and provides information for teachers on how to structure their assignments so that students can grasp the content of the lesson.

Teachers Examine Their Students' Work

By asking a series of specific questions about the assignment, student work, and assessment, teachers can determine how their assignment relates to the academic standards, uncover gaps in content knowledge for both their students and themselves, and examine the overall intellectual quality of the assignment. Through discussions using the protocol, teachers begin to grasp what they have not yet achieved in their teaching and how they can teach for a deeper understanding of their subject. Teachers who have practiced the E2E process find that it becomes second nature as they develop new lessons.

In the E2E process, teachers:

• Identify the standard and essential understandings of the lesson.
• Explain how the lesson fits into the unit addressing the standard.
• Share the assignment to address central teaching and learning goals.
• Examine student work for evidence of essential understandings.
• Question how many students "got" the lesson.
• Reflect on discussions with colleagues to improve the lesson and raise student achievement.
• Intervene with students requiring extra assistance.

For more detail, take the E2E Tour on this web site.

Read about the E2E 1-Year Option. [Next]