The Power of ArticulationThe Power of Articulationthrough a Vertical Teamthrough a Vertical Team

Exemplary Practices in EducationExemplary Practices in EducationLeadership ConferenceLeadership Conference

CSU FresnoCSU FresnoJanuary 31, 2012January 31, 2012

Panel:– Joan Dallin, Mendota Unified– Lori M. Hamada, CPM Educational Program– Pamela McGee, AVID Regional Director– Stephanie Verners, Principal Exeter Union Elementary

Who’s in the Room???Who’s in the Room???

Please stand and announce,

“I’m here!”

when appropriate…

What Is A Vertical Team?What Is A Vertical Team?

A vertical team is a small group of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, performance goals, and common working approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable.

HIGH SCHOOL

MIDDLESCHOOL

MIDDLESCHOOL

MIDDLESCHOOL

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Structure of A Vertical TeamStructure of A Vertical Team

Central Valley Vertical TeamsCentral Valley Vertical Teams

Associated Schools of Kingsburg (5 districts) Caruthers Area (4 districts) Mendota Unified (full district) Washington Union Area Schools (7 districts)

Why Do We Need This?Why Do We Need This?Communication both among districts and

within districts – Realization of shared responsibility among

teachers at all grade levels– Parent Communication

Accountability to standards/benchmarks– STAR / CCSS– CAHSEE: Standards (covers grade 6-8

standards)– CCSS Content and Practice Standards

What Happens When Students Start What Happens When Students Start Falling Behind?Falling Behind?

Year in School

Gra

de E

quiv

alen

t Mea

sure

dB

y S

tand

ardi

zed

Tes

t

Actual GradeLevel

Mathematics: % of Topics on Grade Level

Average Grade Level

K 1 2 3 4 5

K 100         

K

1st  100

       1.0

2nd  23 77

     1.8

3rd    45 55

   2.6

4th    40 40 20

 2.8

5th  2 35 59 2 2 2.7

Curriculum Calibration StudyCurriculum Calibration Study

Kingsburg High SchoolKingsburg High SchoolMath Enrollment DataMath Enrollment Data

Year Geometry Algebra 2

Pre-Calculus

Advanced Classes

2002-03 150 131 48 15

2003-04 211 142 63 21

2004-05 208 166 93 34

2005-06 309 181 91 48

2008-09 267 226 120 97

• During the period of 2004-2009, school population increased 2%• Advanced Classes include AP Calculus, AP Statistics, and Prob/Stats

Kingsburg High SchoolKingsburg High SchoolCAHSEE ResultsCAHSEE Results

For 10For 10thth Grade Students Grade Students

YearTested

KHS 10th Grade

CA10th Grade

2001 50%

2003 56% 61%

2005 81% 77%

2006 89% 78%

2007 88% 76%

2008 86% 79%

2009 86% 81%

KHS SES Students

CA SES Students

25%

37% 38%

73% 58%

50% 60%

68% 57%

77% 62%

73% 66%

Mendota Unified API ScoresMendota Unified API Scores

616647

Mendota Unified ELAMendota Unified ELAPercentagePercentage At or Above ProficientAt or Above Proficient

39%

Mendota Unified MATHMendota Unified MATHPercentage At or Above ProficientPercentage At or Above Proficient

25%

What happens at a What happens at a Mathematics VT meeting?Mathematics VT meeting?

“Top 5” Activity:

Working in grade level pairs or teams, have teachers – Identify the TOP 5 skills that they would like to

have students come into their grade level or course with.

– Identify the TOP 5 skills that they guarantee students will leave their grade level or course with.

Adapted from the “Top Five” activity in, 100 Ways to Build Teams, Carol Searce.

Top 5 ActivityTop 5 Activity

Next we would have them post their charts and then take a Gallery Walk of the posters to look for gaps and repetitions…

Major question: Are you having any AHA’s???

Adapted from the “Top Five” activity in, 100 Ways to Build Teams, Carol Searce

Other Mathematics VT ActivitiesOther Mathematics VT Activities Analysis of local data and research trends

– CCSS / Mathematical Practices– Discussions around error analysis– Use of technology in mathematics classes– English Learner strategies / analysis of student work– Marzano Strategies / analysis of student work– Area-wide common vocabulary focus

Backwards mapping of released items to standards across the grade levels

Brainstorming of solutions to common problems Parent/Teacher/Board Awareness Tools Book reads / Google groups

What happens at an What happens at an ELA Vertical Team meeting?ELA Vertical Team meeting?

“Skills for the Task”--Teachers in mixed-level groups take a sample question from the AP Language Exam and determine what skills a student would need to be able to succeed on that test item;

Groups use their ELA Frameworks and course guides to determine in which grades students learn those skills and with which resources/activities;

Teachers plan for reinforcement of the skills vertically through coordinated activities.

Other ELA Vertical Team Other ELA Vertical Team ActivitiesActivities

Alignment of skills and texts vertically through grades Analysis of local data and research trends CCSS / Use of Critical Reading Strategies for

Informational and Literary Text Scaffolding of Assignments for ELL/analysis of student

work Marzano Strategies / analysis of student work Area-wide common academic vocabulary focus Backwards mapping of released items to standards across

the grade levels

Other ELA ActivitiesOther ELA Activities Instruction in consistent and effective use of

Notetaking;

Spiraling scaffolds in types and complexity of reading and writing;

Creation of common rubrics for scoring of written work;

Common assessments scored together;

Increase of rigor in critical thinking about reading and writing leading to career/college readiness.

Recommendations for FormingRecommendations for Forminga Vertical Team:a Vertical Team:

•College Board Training•Teacher led•Administrative support

Time away from classroomPay for substitutes

•District/county/regional liaison•Passion/desire•Visit a Vertical Team meeting

•VT•CIM

•Technology

•Data•Pacing•Assessments

•COI•Math•ELPD

•Academic Vocabulary

•ELA•Cornell

Notes•Bridges

•Objectives

•ScienceRe-teachStrategies

•CCSSWritingStrategy/Standards

Q & AQ & A

?

Lori HamadaLori Hamada lori@lorihamada.comlori@lorihamada.comPamela McGeePamela McGee pmgee@fcoe.orgpmgee@fcoe.org

Stephanie VernersStephanie Verners sverners@exeter.k12.ca.ussverners@exeter.k12.ca.usJoan DallinJoan Dallin jdallin34@gmail.comjdallin34@gmail.com

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