Secondary+Level


 * Literacy**


 * Group Brainstorming**

Look at eighth grade students' ability to fare well on admission tests in private schools such as Loomis, Kingswood.

Create options for interdisciplinary teaching, pendulum has swung too far and it needs to come back.

We need to increase the bar by looking at higher ERG districts and deliver a better curriculum than they do so that our students achieve at a higher level.

We are lacking in some data in some subject areas (Spanish) than the higher ERG sending district. Our bar needs to be equal to the bar of the higher level.

Look at pre-AP curriculum to prepare students in middle schools for higher achievement in high school.

Some Two Rivers students take higher level math (algebra and geometry) at GHAMAS and we do not want to lose them.

Standards based grading with the levels 1 through 4 should change to levels 1 through 5 so that expectation is to meet level four and then level five.

Look at countries that cover four strands per year and see how that model can be brought to our students. Curriculum

Take a hard look at our curriculum and beef it up to avoid fluff and properly prepare stiudnets to achieve at higher levels.

1. We have lost sight of the rigor in the subject areas. 2. Expect more and get more so raise expectations for student achievement and students will meet bar. 3. Create opportunities for teachers to share with peers and develop interdisciplinary lessons and projects
 * Instruction**


 * Assessment**

1. District wide measurements are essential. Other assessments should not be repeated as there is a lower level of expectations and mvoe into more assessments with performance expectations. There is a place for performacne based tasks and it makes a fine addition to the assessments we do in Common Assessmetns.

2. Teachers should be able to create embedded tasks within regular assessmetns.

3. Social studies teachers want to work on embefdded tasks in their summer work. 4. Look for natural connection between LA and SS

1. Look at how to improve rigor in middle school programs High number of MLC stduents in grade 6 are ready for pre-algebra in grade 7 and algebra in grade 8. 2. Have teachers who use performanced-based assessments work with teachers who do not, so that they share their expertise. 3. Teacher by teacher accountability and their growth models may put fear in teachers to go out on a limb and try a new way to integrate assessments within classes' assessments.
 * Professional Development**

Middle school literacy is the loosest area and therefore provides opportunity for changing curriculum.
 * Other**

Teachers to share with teachers their expertise in creating performance-based assessments.
 * Sharing**


 * Math**
 * Math**


 * Group Brainstorming**

Planning process is essential and schools should allow for one subject area teacher to work with another from a different subject area.


 * Curriculum**


 * Instruction**

Math and science interdisciplinary instruction should be stronger.


 * Assessment**


 * Professional Development**

Include shared use of performance tasks in lessons.

Ann Marie will talk with MS teachers on how to integrate connections among curricular areas. Other Set up times for interdisciplinary planning among grade levels and among paired subject areas like math and sciecne and LA and SS.


 * Sharing**

Set up opportunities for teachers to share ways to integrate themes of one subject with another.

Provide videos for teachers to watch how their peers are working with colleagues to carry out lessons.
 * Science
 * Science

Group Brainstorming**

Area of science has greatest possibility for cross-curricular instruction and interdisciplinary learning.

Scope and sequence in middle schools may differ among schools.

Themes of schools may have an impact

Several years of tracking data are required to assess the positive impact of changed curriculum. Dip in scores in one year should not mean that we scrap this initiative.


 * Curriculum**

1. In writing curriculum, experts and novices should be working together in the summer to write curriculum.


 * Instruction**


 * Assessment**


 * Professional Development**

1. Create a sixth meeting per month or release time for teachers to work together. 2. Create a late start day to provide time for teachers to work on interdiscpinary projects.
 * Other**

Sharing Half Days: four for data, four for ____________ Principals shared half day PD dates to look at possibilities Oct 1, Nov 11, Dec 3