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Making Middle Grades Work

Alabama School Boards’ Association

Steven K. Broome, Ph.D.Director State Development, SREB

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Lost in the Middle

Too few 8th graders score at or above proficiency on the NAEP in SREB states (28% in reading and 29% in math in 2011).

More than 1/4 score below basic.

Those who perform at the basic level have only partial mastery of the grade-level knowledge and skills needed for high school success.

Students who lose interest in school in the middle grades are likely to struggle in 9th grade and later drop out.

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A New Mission for the Middle Grades: Preparing Students for A Changing

World

A Report of the SREB Middle Grades Commission

To prepare more students for success in rigorous high school courses – and, ultimately, for most students to graduate and proceed to college or technical training.

SREB Middle Grades Commission Report

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The Commission Report: A Comprehensive Road Map For Change

1) Communicate and clarify the mission in every middle grades school.

2) Focus middle grades curricula on literacy and STEM disciplines.

3) Identify middle grades students likely to drop out of school and intervene with increased learning time and accelerated instruction.

4) Require middle grades students to complete individual academic and career plans.

5) Refocus professional development for middle grades teachers, counselors and school leaders.

6) Hold districts and schools accountable for meeting the middle grades mission.

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Stop Doing What Doesn’t Work

Stop providing any middle grades students with a watered-down curriculum taught at a slower pace. Remediation does not work. Accelerate learning for those

who need it through extended time and richer instruction so that all students can meet standards.

Stop giving students failing grades without determining what they do not understand. Formative v. Summative: Help teachers assess what

student do not understand and support students to meet higher standards.

Stop accepting small gains in student achievement in low performing schools. Create systems to help schools use proven practices that

can make significant, steady gains for all students.

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Priority #1:

Teach in new ways to help students perform at grade level standards on Common Core State Standards or

other rigorous standards.

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Engaging Classroom Practices

Middle grades schools should activate students’ interests and desire to learn.

Rigorous core middle grades standards in literacy and math should be integrated into the visual, performing, physical and technical arts, where students can be inspired and engaged in using reading and math in new ways.

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Priority #2:

Focus middle grades curricula on literacy in every class to build students’ ability to read and

understand increasingly complex texts and on STEM disciplines.

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Why Is Providing STEM Experiences For Students So

Critical?

35-45% of jobs require STEM skills

Creativity is the basis for a nation’s wealth, and creativity of American students is declining.

Creativity is better predictor of success than SAT or ACT.

Females continue to be underrepresented in STEM careers.

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STEM Supports Teaching More Students To Grade-Level Standards

Give middle grades students more opportunities to discover their interests and aptitudes by using math, science and technology as tools for solving problems.

Place more students on an accelerated mathematics pathway to ensure more of them acquire the mathematics skills needed for STEM careers.

Elevate science instruction to the same level of importance as reading and mathematics. Make the science classroom a place where students

use reading and math to understand complex texts, prepare written and oral reports, and analyze data from lab experiences.

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Priority #3:

Develop a comprehensive system to accelerate student learning, identify potential dropouts and

implement targeted interventions to support all students in meeting

grade level standards.

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High Expectations and a System Of Extra Help and Time

Hold students to grade-level standards aligned to readiness standards for high school, college and careers.

Organize time and resources to ensure that students receive the extra help needed to meet high standards and expectations.

The complete middle grades curriculum should be focused on accelerating

achievement for all students.

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Addressing Students’ Needs: Accelerate Learning

Most-improved schools gave much more assistance to help students meet grade-level standards. Not only did these schools align their curriculum to higher standards, they gave the students the extra support they needed to meet those standards.

Double Dose in Academics – Support classes in addition to on-level classes during the school day/year

Extended Time – before-, after- and during-school hours, summer bridge programs, pre-learning, etc.

Relationships – Build school connections through assignment of mentors to form supportive relationships

The best thing a school can do to keep students on track to graduation is to develop a comprehensive set of strategies

that includes attention to climate, curriculum, and academic success.

Early Warning Indicators of Potential Dropouts (Johns Hopkins)

Student attends

school less than 80% of

the time.

Student receives a low final behavior

grade from a teacher.

Student receives a failing final

grade in English.

Robert Balfanz and his colleagues found that more than half of sixth graders that met any of

these criteria eventually dropped out of school. Balfanz & Herzog, 2005

Student receives a failing final

grade in math.

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Priority # 4:

Provide a Range of Exploratory Experiences, Help Students and Their Parents Understand Future Career and

Education Options and Guide Students to Develop Individual

Academic and Graduation Plans.

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Address Gaps Between Student Aspirations and Reality

Traditional System Targeted System

Counseling for college Counseling for careers

College is the end game.College is a means to a career.

College is “the thing to do” or a cool hang out.

College is purpose-designed to lead to a desired career path.

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Priority #5:

Focus Professional Development for Teachers, Counselors and School Leaders to Continuously Improve

Teaching and Learning.

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Actions Needed to Teach More Students to Grade-Level Standards

Schools need a long-term professional development plan (the Commission recommends three years) to improve teachers’ capacity to help students meet the new common core state standards.

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Teachers Working Together

Provide teams of teachers with time and support to work together to integrate mathematics and

literacy concepts across the curriculum.

analyze teacher assignments and student work.

help students succeed in challenging academic and exploratory studies.

work together to complete a variety of planning activities.

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Honeysuckle Middle SchoolDothan, AL

Superintendent Tim Wilder and Principal Dwain Scott Faulk

Non-magnet school of 620 students

Over 75% of students qualify for free or reduced lunches

25% are identified as having special needs and two-thirds live in single-parent homes.

107 of 179 6th grade students scored a Level 4 on the ARMT exam in Spring 2013.

HMS was selected to participate in the school showcase of the 2013 Alabama Mega Conference.

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Panel Questions

1. What is working really well for you in targeting at-risk students in the middle?

2. What interventions are necessary in order to decrease the number of students failing their courses?

3. What interventions are necessary in order to decrease absenteeism?

4. What interventions are necessary in order to decrease discipline?

5. Are there implications for policies that school boards might want or need to consider?

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THANK YOU

Steve BroomeDirector of State Development

HSTW and MMGW efforts in

Alabama

Florida

Georgia

Mississippi

New Mexico

Ohio

steve.broome@sreb.org