Indian Lake Central SchoolMiddle School

AdvisoryToolbox

Robin Brand, Sandra Bureau, James Pine, Kristin Sherwoodand Superintendent Mark Brand NYS Middle Schools AssociationOctober 2012

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INVITING, SUPPORTIVE AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT

Middle School classes concentrated in one hallway, Lockers all together. Eat lunch together.

Small school—small community—everyone knows everyone else and keeps track of them!

Middle School bulletin board

Multi-age color teams

5th grade parent night—First Day--Middle School Trip

Cracker Jack award—recognizes the “surprise in every student once a week throughout the year.

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HIGH EXPECTATIONS-OPPORTUNITIES TO EXCEL

• Honor Rolls

• Academic All-Stars

• Gold Card

• Academic Pep Rally

• Countdown to “ Show

What You Know”

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Students and Teachers Engaged in Active Learning

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ADULT ADVOCATE FOR EVERY STUDENT

Color team advisors

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School Initiated Family and Community Partnerships

• Help out at community events—Fall Festival, Haloween Parade, Flag Day, Memorial Day, Christmas Country Tour• Dinner Party for Senior Citizens• Food Drive• Rummage Sale• PTSO

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CURRICULUM THAT IS RELEVANT, CHALLENGING, INTEGRATIVE, EXPLORATORY AND FUN!

At ILCS we still have Home and Careers, Technology, Wiki to Wacky, Keyboarding, Band and Chorus, Art, Phys Ed, Project Alert

Project Based Learning: Natural Disasters

Middle School Trip

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ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE QUALITY LEARNING

Formative and Summative Assessments– we no longer grade “practice”

AimsWeb: RTI

Ticket out the door: Sign Outs

Bell Ringers: Morning Hikes

Mid-terms and Finals project-based

Student-led conferences

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ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES THAT SUPPORT MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS AND LEARNING

• Advisory

• Color Teams

• Town Government

• Student Led Conferences

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SCHOOL-WIDE EFFORTS AND POLICIES THAT FOSTER HEALTH, WELLNESS, AND SAFETY

• School-wide wellness policy

• School garden

• Project Alert

• Morning Walk

•“Boot Camp”

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Multifaceted Guidance and Support Services

• Banana Splits

• Home Run

• CCSI

• Girl’s group

• Guidance at team meetings

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Advisory Communication Academics Goal Setting Character Building Team Building

1st 20 minutes—depending on the day students rotate thru a math lab, an ELA lab and a quiet study hall2nd 20 minutes---check learning logs, work with advisor3rd 20 minutes—quiet study hall or “Fun Zone”

• Everyday• 60 minutes• Advisor• Multi-age grouping• <10 students• other middle school teachers available that same period

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Middle School Concept at ILCS Inviting, Supportive and Safe Environment High Expectations-Opportunities to Excel Students and Teachers Engaged in Active Learning Adult advocate for every student School Initiated Family and Community Partnerships Curriculum That Is Relevant, Challenging, Integrative,

Exploratory and Fun! Assessment and Evaluation Programs That Promote

Quality Learning Organizational Structures That Support Meaningful

Relationships and Learning School-wide Efforts and Policies That Foster Health,

Wellness, and Safety Multifaceted Guidance and Support Services