We celebrate students who are doing well, note changes in student behavior or learning, and discuss students at risk. A team can also develop consistent standards for assessment, behavior, and classroom procedures. That way, students know that a late paper in social studies is treated the same as a late paper in English. That consistency is another benefit to students. Kubicki, a social studies teacher, says that sharing information about students with other teachers helps him see kids through a multicolored prism.
Teams also provide a much faster alarm mechanism for interventions.
And that's important. Part of the challenge with this age group is to keep kids on the edge from sliding down the hill with kids who are already running down the hill. Mikkelson, who teaches social studies, English, and reading, and Moore, the math and science team member, share two groups of 32 students for five hours a day. We know these kids intimately. It's a transitional time for them, and we provide some stability in their lives.