2013-16 Executive Summary School Improvement Plan School Name: Piney Grove Middle School AdvancED Standards FCS Departments Purpose and Direction Governance and Leadership Teaching and Assessing for Learning Resources and Support Systems Using Results for Continuous Improvement Academics & Accountability Educational Leadership Facilities and Operations Finance and Operations Food and Nutrition Services Human Resources Public Information and Communications School Safety and Discipline Special Education Student Support Services Superintendent Technology and Information Services Transportation Continuous Improvement Goal AdvancED Standards Support from FCS Department(s) Focus on classroom instruction by: Planning & implementing research instructional strategies; Working in collaborative planning teams to leverage the “collective IQ” of our faculty; and, Analyzing disaggregated data from multiple assessments of student learning to continuously improve instruction and move each student’s learning to a higher level. Standard 3: Teaching & Assessing for Learning Indicator 3.3: Teachers engage students in their learning through instructional strategies that ensure achievement of learning expectations. Indicator 3.5: Teachers participate in collaborative learning communities to improve instruction and student learning. Indicator 3.2: Curriculum, instruction, and assessment are monitored and adjusted systematically in response to data from multiple assessments of student learning and an examination of professional practice. Academics & Accountability --- Specifically ELL Coordinator --- and Special Education: To help provide professional learning for general education teachers, and special education and ELL teachers, on best instructional practices for meeting these students’ learning needs. Academics & Accountability --- To continue to provide professional learning and support for helping our teachers understand how to design and implement performance-based tasks and assessments. Human Resources, Academics & Accountability, and Special Education--- Continue to provide the personnel allotments needed to effectively work with and meet the needs of our growing English Language Learners, Students with Disabilities, and Economically Disadvantaged students populations. based –
MATH Teaching & Assessing for Learning Math Literacy classes (6th, 7th & 8th grades) Co-taught classes (ELL & Special Ed. --- 6th , 7th, and 8th grades) If students in subgroups receive extra support in the form of an additional math class and/or an additional teacher, they will improve their math achievement and perform at a higher level on the Spring 2014 CRCT. Throughout the 2013-2014 School Year beginning of the year and the same assessment will be given at the mid and end points of the year. All math teachers and co-teachers (ELL & Special Ed) Literacy teachers will communicate about
MATH Teaching & Assessing Learning Pre and Post Test analysis (6th grade) If teachers analyze test data for each unit and adjust instruction accordingly, students will improve their math achievement and perform at a higher level on the Spring 2014 CRCT. Throughout the 2013-2014 School Year student progress to flexibly move students based upon their needs. Primary math teachers will recommend literacy for struggling students. 6th grade math teachers will administer a pre and post-test for each unit
MATH Teaching & Assessing for Learning Manipulatives and tools (7th grade) If teachers place a strong emphasis on manipulatives (hands-on and virtual) then students will improve their math achievement and perform at a higher level on the Spring 2014 CRCT. Throughout the 2013-2014 School Year 2nd Semester and adjust instruction to fill gaps and provide enrichment as needed. 7th grade math teachers
Teaching & Assessing for Learning multiple genres. If we provide students with the tools and the instruction to cite evidence from a variety of text and media sources, then students will be able to prove and support their ideas while reading, writing, and speaking. monitor and evaluate results with pre/post tests, summative evaluations, writing evaluations, performance tasks, and frequent formative assessments. would like time to collaboratively plan and time to evaluate writing assessments.
LANGUAGE ARTS Teaching & Assessing For Learning 8th Grade Language Arts Graphic Organizers Higher-order questioning (open-ended questions) Close Reading/Citing evidence from a text 8th Grade Language Arts If we use graphic organizers as an instructional tool for literary elements, then students will be able to 8th Grade ELA Students' performance will be evaluated at the end of each unit through summative 8th Grade Language Arts 8th grade ELA teachers Collaborative planning time Time to grade mock writing tests and analyze results as a
LANGUAGE ARTS Teaching & Assessing For Learning analyze and explain the relationship between the characters, setting, conflict, themes, and plot development. If we use higher-order questioning strategies, then students will be able to make inferences and support their ideas while reading, writing, and assessments and projects. We will monitor and evaluate results with pre/post tests, summative writing assessments, school district collaborative team.
SCIENCE Teaching & Assessing for Learning blooming sentences. Field Trip to 4-H Wasega Center in Dahlanega, Ga. Use of Quizlet with visual aids in flashcards. Performance Based Assessments with connections to real world and interdisciplinary units. and teachers will be able to more readily identify struggling students. If teachers provide students with academically oriented, real life experiences such as a field trip to Wasega 4-H Center, then students will have more experiences that provide avenues to better through class observations and closing and summarizing activities. Field trip to Wasega 4-H Center will be planned for Spring 2014. standards. 6th Grade Science teachers are responsible for planning and implementing the trip. Students are responsible for registering on Quizlet and reviewing
SCIENCE EPALS Project: Global outreach to other classrooms on weather unit. comprehend the standards (Spenger 2013). If students use Quizlet to review and learn vocabulary, then they will have a visual and accessible tool to use anywhere there is internet connection. If teachers develop and create performance-based Students register for Quizlet during the month of August and practice vocabulary with visual images throughout the year. assessments vocabulary regularly. Teachers are responsible for modeing and implementing performance-based assessments per PGMS guidelines. 6th Grade Science teachers will
Teaching & Assessing For Learning assessments that are connected to the real world and interdisciplinary in content, then the students will find more relevancy to Earth Science and their other subjects. If students communicate and make a real world connection with other students outside of GA will be modeled during September & October 2013 and practiced with students from October thru May. EPALS project will be part of the Weather unit during Spring collaborate with EPALS classrooms to form lasting connections and enhance students’ learning.
SCIENCE Teaching & Assessing For Learning 7th Grade Science In Literacy Classes --- Focus on different Science domains Vocabulary Strategy: Use Foldables on a more frequent basis with students. For ELL students and then they will be more culturally aware and sensitive to other students of all different backgrounds and cultures. 7th Grade Science If each Science teacher takes responsibility for teaching and enhancing the content of a CRCT Science domain in Literacy class, and uses semester. 7th Gr. Science Throughout School Year 7th Grade Science Bohn - Genetics Galligan – Cells/human body Kulikowski -
SCIENCE Teaching & Assessing For Learning Students with Disabilities --- Increase student accountability for mastering the standards with increased co-teacher support in Science classes For ELL students and Students with Disabilities --- Implement the use of graphic organizers on a more frequent basis different instructional strategies to help students analyze informational text, then students will improve their science achievement and perform at a higher level on the Spring 2014 CRCT. If students create Foldables with key vocabulary terms & student-created Throughout Evolution Witalis – Biomes/Ecosystems All 7th Grade Science teachers
SCIENCE Teaching & Assessing For Learning illustrations on a more frequent basis, then improved mastery of science vocabulary will occur and students will improve their science achievement and perform at a higher level on the Spring 2014 CRCT. If ELL students and Students with Disabilities School Year Throughout All 7th Grade Science teachers and
SCIENCE Teaching & Assessing For Learning are placed in co-taught science classes with an ELL teacher or special ed. teacher co-teaching in each respective class, then students will improve their science achievement and perform at a higher level on the Spring 2014 CRCT. If Science teachers emphasize the use of graphic organizers with School Year Throughout All 7th Grade Science teachers
SCIENCE Teaching & Assessing For Learning students on a more frequent basis to help students organize their thoughts and learning, then students will improve their science achievement and perform at a higher level on the Spring 2014 CRCT. School Year, with an emphasis in Literacy classes and reinforced in Science classes.
SCIENCE 8th Grade Science More use of informational texts (to use for citing evidence from) for writing assignments in Science classes. Increased focus on creating and implementing more performance-based tasks and assessments. 8th Grade Science If students use articles as evidence to support their ideas in performance-based tasks and assessments, then students will improve their 8th Grade Science Throughout the 2013-2014 School 8th Grade Science All 8th Grade Science teachers, utilizing pre and post tests. 8th Grade Science
Teaching & Assessing for Learning Creation of a new 8th grade Literacy Science class for students who are struggling in Science. Creation of a new Connections Science Enrichment class for 8th grade students. Students who failed the Science CRCT in the 7th grade will take this class during the year, along with other students science achievement and perform at a higher level on the Spring 2014 CRCT & EOCT. If ELL students and Students with Disabilities who are struggling in Science have the opportunity to participate in the new Literacy Science Year Throughout the Teachers need time to collaborate and create Science performance- based assessments. Ability for Science teachers to move students in and out of these classes as individual students’ progress is assessed and monitored.
SCIENCE Teaching & Assessing For Learning who are identified by their Science teacher this year as benefitting from taking this class. Different approaches to teaching Science will be utilized in this Connections class. Focus on the use of higher order questions more frequently in class discussions with students in order to allow students to class and/or the new Connections Science Enrichment class, then these students will have “the gift of time” and more opportunities to improve their science achievement and perform at a higher level on the Spring 2014 CRCT & EOCT. If teachers plan for and use higher order questions in 2013-2014 School Year Throughout the 2013-2014 School Good and frequent communication between Literacy Science teacher, Connections Science Enrichment class teacher, and 8th Grade Science teachers. 8th Grade Science teachers
SCIENCE Teaching & Assessing For Learning utilize their critical thinking skills on a regular basis. Provide more opportunities for students to design Science labs and create procedures for carrying out these labs. their class discussions more frequently, then students will have more opportunities to use their critical thinking skills to understand the Science concepts at a deeper level. If students actively participate in lab design and procedures while utilizing the scientific process in tasks, then students Year Throughout the 2013-2014 School Year 8th Grade Science teachers need time to collaborate to design labs that require students to use higher order thinking skills.
SCIENCE Teaching & Assessing For Learning 7th Grade Social Studies Focus on utilizing Graphic Organizers on a more frequent basis. gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of the 6th grade Social Studies content, develop better writing skills, and improve their social studies achievement and perform at a higher level on the Spring 2014 CRCT. 7th Grade Social Studies If teachers use more graphic organizers with 2014 will use unit assessments to measure progress and student understanding. 7th Grade SS This strategy will be implemented during the school year. 7th Grade SS evidence-based writing prompts 7th Grade Social Studies 7th Grade Social Studies teachers Resources Needed: Examples of different kinds of graphic
SCIENCE Teaching & Assessing For Learning Students with disabilities, English language learners and Economically disadvantaged students to help these students better organize and make meaning of the information and concepts they are learning, then struggling students in these subgroups will improve their social studies achievement and perform teachers will measure progress through unit summative assessments, the winter 7th Grade Social Studies Benchmark Exam and CRCT results. 8th Grade SS organizers 8th Grade Social Studies 8th Grade Social Studies teachers Resources Needed: Additional
SOCIAL STUDIES 8th Grade Social Studies Focus on giving students more Performance-based Tasks and Assessments Focus on utilizing Graphic Organizers on a more frequent basis. at a higher level on the Spring CRCT. 8th Grade Social Studies If teachers create and implement more Performance-based Tasks and Assessments, then students will have a deeper knowledge and understanding of Georgia Studies, and will improve their social studies This strategy will be implemented during the 1st semester and 8th Grade SS teachers will use the FCS winter Performance- based assessment to measure students’ progress. This strategy will information on types of PBA and writing prompts. Resources Needed: Examples of different kinds of graphic organizers.
Teaching & Assessing For Learning achievement and perform at a higher level on the Spring 2014 CRCT. If teachers use more graphic organizers with Students with disabilities, English language learners and Economically disadvantaged students to help these students better organize and make meaning of the information and concepts they are be implemented during the school year. 8th Grade SS teachers will measure progress through unit summative assessments and the winter 8th Grade Social Studies Benchmark Exam. 8th Grade Spanish 8th Grade Spanish Teachers Resources Needed: Examples of different writing strategies,
SOCIAL STUDIES Teaching & Assessing For Learning learning, then struggling students in these subgroups will improve their social studies achievement and perform at a higher level on the Spring 2014 CRCT. 8th Grade Spanish If Foreign Language 8th Gr. Spanish This strategy will be implemented throughout the 2013-2104 school year. Results will be measured such as writing frames and summary frames. All Connections
SOCIAL STUDIES Teaching & Assessing For Learning 8th Grade Spanish Focus on implementing more and different kinds of writing strategies in class assignments and on assessments teachers implement more reading and writing strategies to help access student knowledge of culture and current events, then students will develop better writing skills and be able to write more complex sentences that include evidence and citations in their writing. midyear with the 8th Grade Georgia Writing Test and also through the Foreign Language Midterm, which will be administered in January. teachers Resources Needed: Examples of different kinds of graphic planning time allotted weekly…..time to collaborate with core content teachers…..more examples of learning
SOCIAL STUDIES Teaching & Assessing For Learning If teachers analyze data to monitor students’ understanding and mastery of the concepts being studied, then teachers can adjust the instruction accordingly so that more students master the Throughout the 2013-2014 School Year experiences, Performance-based assessments, and differentiation strategies
SOCIAL STUDIES Teaching & Assessing For Learning Analyze classroom Pre and Post Assessment Data Project-based Learning and Performance-based Assessments in all classes Focus on implementing research-based Differentiation strategies. standards. If teachers use Learning and Performance-based assessments, students will develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of the curriculum and a better retention rate of concepts studied through authentic experiences.
SOCIAL STUDIES Teaching & Assessing For Learning Use of various graphic organizers Collaborative Planning Team meetings on a weekly basis If teachers use a variety of differentiation strategies to meet various student needs, then students will improve their mastery of the standards. will improve their mastery of the standards.standards. If teachers use graphic organizers as a strategy to link information, then