ABSTRACT
The Hunches: If you are not using data to solve your "problem;' your staff is probably using these hunches, because this is what the staff believes is the reason the problem exists. The first few hunches in this exercise will be excuses or frustrations, like "the parents don't care" and "the kid is not trying."It is very good to get these out in the open. Youultimately will be able to collect data to determine if these hunches are fact or fiction. (Hopefully, you will be able to put the fiction to rest and concentrate on the facts.) As staff members continue to brainstorm, you start hearing things like,"but that is not the way we teach reading" and "maybe we should agree on what we are doing to teach reading" - very powerful discussions.
