MMGW Alabama Alabama Department of Education 1 Making Middle Grades Work School We are using an...

1

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama

Alabama Department of EducationAlabama Department of Education

Making Middle Grades Work SchoolWe are using an Enhanced Design

to get all Students to Standards

2

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


We are preparing for a life time journey—not a brief trip

3

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


Improving student achievement is …

about changing the experiences all students receive throughout the school.

not about improving individual student scores.

about closing the gaps in opportunity, expectations, possibilities and achievement for all students.

Closing the Gaps Achievement Gaps

Exist when test scores, classroom grade distribution and failure and retention rates are markedly different between sub-groups of students.

Opportunity Gaps Exist when enrollment in higher-level courses such as

Algebra or honors or advanced classes, foreign languages, etc. is limited to some sub-groups of students.

Expectation Gaps Exist when teachers and/or students do not expect the

same performance from some sub-groups of students.

Possibility Gaps Exist when schools cannot accept that their students can

achieve at higher levels compared to like schools that are performing at higher levels.

5

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


Work Harder Work Harder to Get Smarterto Get Smarter

MMGW requires schools to rethink our beliefs about education and learning. We need to change our thinking and our language from an ability-based learning model to an effort-based learning model.

6

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


Critical Questions

How well are our students doing in ninth-grade? Were they ready to do independent study and rigorous high school work?

What do ninth-grade students believe that their middle grades school could have done better to prepare them for high school?

What percentage of students who enter grade nine fail to graduate in four years?

What percentage drop out?

8

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


What is Rigor?

Rigor is the goal of helping students develop the capacity to understand content that is complex, ambiguous, provocative, and personally or emotionally challenging.

Harvey Strong and Mathew Perini, Teaching What Matters Most: Standards and Strategies for Raising Student Achievement, ASCD, 2001

9

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


How teachers teach matters in middle grades.

Teachers need to use classroom practices that engage students in learning, to integrate technology, and to plan together that enable students to see connections to prior learning and to the world they live in.

Teachers engage students by giving some choices, providing assignments that challenge students to think, using technology, giving student time to share what they have learned, and allowing students to practice and refine skills by

working with partners and in teams.

10

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


Our First StepOur First Step

Site Development WorkshopDesigned for a school team to plan and

present back to whole faculty.

• Identify current effective practices • Use data to determine challenges• Develop a plan to more deeply implement the key

practices and present the results of this workshop to the entire staff

11

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


Continuing the Plan

• Implement Focus Teams or similar groups each responsible for implementation, follow-up, gathering data, evaluation, and monthly presentations to the faculty.

• Continue revising the plan each year for sustaining implementation.

• Participate in professional development aligned with the ten key components

12

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


MMGW Key Practice

1. An academic core aligned to what students must know and be able to do to succeed in mathematics, science, college-preparatory English and social studies. All students need a core curriculum that accelerates learning, challenges them, and appeals to their interests.

13

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


Academic Core

In mathematics, all students satisfactorily complete Algebra I or pre-algebra and use algebra concepts to reason and solve problems.

14

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


Academic Core

In science, all students use laboratory and technology experiences to learn fundamental concepts in the physical, life, and earth/space science.

15

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


Academic Core

Reading instruction is incorporated into all content areas in the academic core curriculum through eighth grade.

16

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


Academic Core

The language arts curriculum requires students to use language correctly and effectively in presentations and writing; to find, organize, and communicate information; write short papers weekly and one or more major research papers yearly.

17

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


Academic Core

The social studies curriculum engages students to learn about their heritage, their world, and economic principles through key issues of the past, present and future.

18

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


Content Indicators for Exploratory CoursesExploratory Courses

• aligned to core academic standards

• reading and writing to learn emphasis

• align to technology competencies/skills

• projects integrating academic standards

• projects that explore different career pathways

19

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


Provide Content That isRigorousRigorous and ChallengingChallenging

• Content that historically has been taught to the top 25% of students

• Content that is compared to state, national and international benchmarks

20

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


Middle Grades ContentNumeracy IndicatorsNumeracy Indicators

Students report…• Developing and analyzing tables, charts and graphs

in their schoolwork often.• Using a scientific calculator weekly.• Solving math problems other than those in textbook

at least weekly.• Working with one or more students in their class on

a challenging mathematics assignment monthly or weekly.

• Working in groups to brainstorm how to solve a mathematics problem monthly or weekly.

SouthernRegionalEducationBoard

21

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama



Students report…• Explaining to the class how they solved a

mathematics problem monthly or weekly. • Explaining different ways for solving mathematics

problems monthly or weekly.• Using their math skills to solve problems in other

classes monthly or weekly.• That their mathematics teaches showed them how

math can be used to solve problems in real life.• That their teachers know their subject and can

make it interesting and useful often.SouthernRegionalEducationBoard

22

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama



Students report…• That their teachers encourage them to help each

other and learn from each other sometimes or often.• Using the internet to find information for

completing assignments often.• Using work-processing software to complete an

assignments or project often.


23

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


Middle Grades ContentScience IndicatorsScience Indicators

Students report• Completing science projects that take a week or

more.• Completing written lab reports once a semester

or monthly.• Working with one or more students to complete

challenging science assignments once a semester or monthly.

• Using equipment to do activities in science labs with tables and sinks once a semester or monthly.Southern

RegionalEducationBoard

24

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


Content IndicatorsScienceScience

Students report• Using word-processing software to complete an

assignment or project often.• Completing short writing assignments of one to

three pages for a grade in science once a semester.• Using a laptop computer, a lab book or notebook to

keep records, logs and comments.• Writing long answers to questions on tests in science

monthly.SouthernRegionalEducationBoard

25

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


Content Indicators ScienceScience

Students report• That teachers know their subject and can make

it interesting and useful often.• That teachers encourage them to help each other

and learn from each other sometimes or often.• Developing and analyzing tables, charts and/or

graphs in their schoolwork often.• Using the Internet to find information for

completing assignments often.


26

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


Team Planning TimeEngaging Science StrategiesEngaging Science Strategies

• Review your current status related to science instruction and determine one outstanding practice in place.

• Determine one action for years 1, 2, and 3 the school can take to get students to:

• Conduct frequent labs in science class and write about what they learn

• Read science-related articles frequently

• Design and conduct scientific investigations in all classes

• Analyze and defend findings from investigations

(Complete pgs. 25-26)

27

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


Content IndicatorsSocial StudiesSocial Studies

• Understand the essential concepts of geography, economics, history and government.

• Analyze conflicts and debate and defend a position.

• Participate in hands-on activities such as:♦ problem-solving and decision-making in the

real world♦ simulations♦ service learning

28

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


MMGW Key Practice 2. A belief that all students matter.

Ensure that each student develops a personal relationship with a consistent mentor--an adult who takes an interest in his or her successful learning, goal-setting, course selection, educational planning, review of progress and personal growth through a structured guidance and advisement system that ensures students complete accelerated programs of study.

29

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


MMGW Key Practice3. High Expectations and a system of

extra help

Students learn in different ways and at different rates.

Schools provide a structured system of instruction and extra help that supports all students become self-directed learners.

– Successful habits

30

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


MMGW Key Practice3. High Expectations and a system of

extra help (con’t)

Teachers communicate to students what is required for A and B work

Students have easy access to opportunities to meet and exceed course standards and advance with their peers.

31

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


MMGW Key Practice4. Classroom strategies that engage

students Young adolescents need varied learning activities

linked to challenging academic concepts in real-world applications.

Teachers need to integrate reading, writing, and speaking as strategies for learning.

Teachers engage students regularly by having them read books and articles, write, make presentations, and use high-level reasoning and thinking skills.

32

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


Why Engaging Practices are Why Engaging Practices are NeededNeeded

The more interesting an assignment is, the more likely students are to complete it.

Students are more engaged when they can build on prior knowledge and see connections to the world they live in.

Even small opportunities for choice give students a greater sense of autonomy.

Students are more engaged when sharing what they are learning is needed by others in the group to complete an assignment.

33

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


Giving students choices in assignments and assessments

Providing assignments that challenge students to develop ideas and to think

Allowing students to share what they have learned

Drill sheets Copying notes from

the board Assignments with

no variety and no choice

Activity for activity’s sake

Student engagement is:

Student engagement is not:

34

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


Giving the Curriculum Giving the Curriculum Meaning and PurposeMeaning and Purpose

Authentic problems, concrete experiences

A problem-solving approach Inquiry-based learning Integrated projects across the

curriculum

35

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


— Activity — Learning PyramidLearning Pyramid

On the following slide is a pyramid of learning activities and their impact on student learning.

Brainstorm which teaching practices correspond to each level of the pyramid.

36

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


HOW WE LEARN

Learning Pyramid

37

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


What is our school’s and What is our school’s and MMGW MMGW commitments?commitments?

Memorandum of UnderstandingThe school, district and state each pledge

certain conditions and levels of support for using this framework to make the programs and initiative successful.

38

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


HOW WE LEARN

1%

10%

20%

30%

50%

70%

80%

95%

98%

Use art, drama, music, movement – Integrated curriculum with content

Teaching someone else

Having a personal experience – Making connections (hands on)

Discussion with others

Lecture with visuals

Using only visuals

Lecture

Reading Assignment (read pp 2-10)

Fill out worksheet

Learning Pyramid

39

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


MMGW Key Practice5. Teachers Working Together

Teachers need time to Align core academic courses to state and national

standards and align standards with classroom assignments, student work and assessments.

Align student assignments, student work, and classroom assessments to at least Proficient-level as defined by National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)-referenced exams and state assessments.

40

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


MMGW Key Practice6. Support from Parents

Develop efforts to educate parents and students about the achievement level needed for challenging high school studies and beyond.

41

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


MMGW Key Practice7. Highly Qualified Teachers

Middle school teachers must have in-depth knowledge of their subject areas and teaching strategies to engage and challenge students.

42

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


MMGW Key Practice8. Use of Data

Along with state data, the Middle Grades Assessment--which is referenced to NAEP proficiency standards in reading, math and science--includes data from students and teachers.

43

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


Middle Grades Assessment

Administer the MGA to 60 eighth-graders (or whole 8th grade class)

Administer the MGA student and teacher surveys

44

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


Technical Assistance Visit Present TAV findings to staff

• Use focus teams to determine which challenges and which specific actions should also be incorporated into the SDW improvement plan

• Stroke teachers whose feelings are hurt by the findings and keep the focus on the prize at the end

45

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


MMGW Key Practice9. Use of Technology

Provide opportunities for students to use technology to improve knowledge and skills in all classes.

46

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


MMGW Key Practice10. Strong Leadership

Principals, teachers, and central office supervisors planning and implementing research-based improvements, including aligning and benchmarking curricular to high school standards.

47

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


Students said… Many teachers do not provide extra help

and time. They knew that math tutoring was going start this week.

Students want more open discussions, more activities, more hands-on work like AMSTI

Worse activities: taking notes, flashcards, worksheets, reading with no real purpose

No structured activities (curriculum) in PE

48

MM

GW

MMGW

Alabama


Dorothy Dolasky

MMGW State Coordinator

[email protected]

334 242-1885

MMGW Alabama Alabama Department of Education 1 Making Middle Grades Work School We are using an...

Documents

Transcript of MMGW Alabama Alabama Department of Education 1 Making Middle Grades Work School We are using an...