Improving Student Improving Student Performance in Middle School Performance in Middle School

MathematicsMathematics

The Year in ReviewThe Year in Review

Facilitators: Facilitators: Mike Klavon (Ottawa Area ISD)Mike Klavon (Ottawa Area ISD)

and and

Kendra DeYoung (Hudsonville Public Kendra DeYoung (Hudsonville Public Schools)Schools)

About this ProjectAbout this Project

• What? What? – To Improve Student Performance in To Improve Student Performance in

Middle School Mathematics that will be Middle School Mathematics that will be measured by next falls MEAP results. measured by next falls MEAP results.

– What must happen to improve student What must happen to improve student performance?performance? We must change some variable!We must change some variable!

About this Project About this Project

• How?How?

As a professional learning community, we will . . .As a professional learning community, we will . . .

– Work one step at a time to develop and implement Work one step at a time to develop and implement assessment and instruction plans that are recommended by assessment and instruction plans that are recommended by the research. the research.

– Record good ideas and how they can be implemented in your Record good ideas and how they can be implemented in your classroom. (Handout)classroom. (Handout)

– Choose one idea, based upon the research or strategies that Choose one idea, based upon the research or strategies that we explore each day, to put it into practice and using we explore each day, to put it into practice and using observation to document the results of that change. (Action observation to document the results of that change. (Action Research H.W.)Research H.W.)

Day 1 GoalsDay 1 Goals

• Form learning communitiesForm learning communities

• Deepen our understanding of the benefits Deepen our understanding of the benefits of a learning communityof a learning community

• Deepen our understanding of assessmentDeepen our understanding of assessment

• Create an assessment planCreate an assessment plan– Rewrite GLCEs with student-friendly languageRewrite GLCEs with student-friendly language– Determine words to know for each GLCEDetermine words to know for each GLCE– Create Pre and Post-AssessmentsCreate Pre and Post-Assessments– Create Answer Keys showing alignment to Create Answer Keys showing alignment to

GLCEsGLCEs

HomeworkHomework

• ChooseChoose one or two ideas, based upon the one or two ideas, based upon the research or strategies that we explore each research or strategies that we explore each day.day.

• DevelopDevelop a plan on how you intend to put a plan on how you intend to put your choice(s) into practice.your choice(s) into practice.

• Use observation to Use observation to documentdocument the results of the results of that change.that change.

• WriteWrite a summary describing your change(s) a summary describing your change(s) and the classroom effects of that change.and the classroom effects of that change.

Oprah Moment - Study Oprah Moment - Study IslandIsland

• Online resource for assessment Online resource for assessment models.models.

• Class subscription.Class subscription.

Day 2 GoalsDay 2 Goals

1.1. Develop an understanding of Marzano’s 9 Develop an understanding of Marzano’s 9 Essential Instructional Strategies.Essential Instructional Strategies.

2.2. Develop an understanding of teaching Develop an understanding of teaching through problem solving.through problem solving.

3.3. Develop an awareness of Develop an awareness of Understanding Understanding by Design by Design that can be used as we begin to that can be used as we begin to develop unit plans for our topicsdevelop unit plans for our topics..

HomeworkHomework

• DevelopDevelop a plan to implement the a plan to implement the content content literacy strategyliteracy strategy, the , the graphic organizer,graphic organizer, the the rubricrubric or any combination of these to or any combination of these to enhance the problem solving process in your enhance the problem solving process in your classroom. (You may modify any of these to classroom. (You may modify any of these to better meet your needs, but be sure maintain better meet your needs, but be sure maintain the essence of each tool.the essence of each tool.

• Use observation to Use observation to documentdocument the results of the results of that change.that change.

• WriteWrite a summary describing your change(s) a summary describing your change(s) and the classroom effects of that change.and the classroom effects of that change.

Oprah Moment!Oprah Moment!

• Teaching Student Centered Teaching Student Centered Mathematics: Grades 5-8Mathematics: Grades 5-8– My favorite resource…filled with lot’s of My favorite resource…filled with lot’s of

great information, ideas and activities!great information, ideas and activities!

Day 3 GoalsDay 3 Goals

1.1. Use Released MEAP Items to Edit Use Released MEAP Items to Edit and Revise the following:and Revise the following:

• Assessment PlanAssessment Plan• Pre/Post-AssessmentsPre/Post-Assessments• Pre/Post Answer KeysPre/Post Answer Keys

2.2. Begin creating instructional plans Begin creating instructional plans and lesson Plansand lesson Plans

HomeworkHomework

• Continue searching for resources to Continue searching for resources to support your topics instructional support your topics instructional plan.plan.

Oprah Moment!Oprah Moment!

• Gel BoardsGel Boards

Day 4 GoalsDay 4 Goals

• Complete Instructional PlansComplete Instructional Plans

• Work on supporting Lesson PlansWork on supporting Lesson Plans

HomeworkHomework

• Please read the article, “Narrowing the Please read the article, “Narrowing the Language Gap: The Case for Explicit Language Gap: The Case for Explicit Vocabulary Instruction”Vocabulary Instruction”

• Highlight or write notes in the margins Highlight or write notes in the margins with things that you were surprised by, with things that you were surprised by, had questions about, and or what to know had questions about, and or what to know more about.more about.

• We will be discussing this article during We will be discussing this article during our last session in May.our last session in May.

Day 5 GoalsDay 5 Goals

• Summarize Research on Direct Summarize Research on Direct Vocabulary InstructionVocabulary Instruction

• Creating a Word WallCreating a Word Wall

• Concept CirclesConcept Circles

• Verbal and Visual Word AssociationsVerbal and Visual Word Associations

• The Frayer ModelThe Frayer Model

What’s Next?What’s Next?

• Summer work extension opportunity Summer work extension opportunity on August 1 and 3 to create more on August 1 and 3 to create more assessment and instructional plans assessment and instructional plans to support more topics.to support more topics.