Robert Girvin

SVSU Winter 2012

EDL 633

Merritt Academy Middle Merritt Academy Middle SchoolSchool

Approx. 130 students in grades 6-8.Approx. 130 students in grades 6-8.

We offer separate Reading & Writing courses We offer separate Reading & Writing courses that each student takes in 2 of the 3 that each student takes in 2 of the 3 trimesters. trimesters.

Next year we will be back to year round core Next year we will be back to year round core classes for all students in all trimesters. classes for all students in all trimesters.

Middle School Reading Middle School Reading ContinuedContinued

MS Writing & Reading converted MS Writing & Reading converted completely over to the Common Core. completely over to the Common Core.

Reading & Math are stressed in all content Reading & Math are stressed in all content areas. (where aren’t they right areas. (where aren’t they right ) )

NOW ON TO THE DATA….NOW ON TO THE DATA….

DATA DATA CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS While our scores are not terrible, they are

not where we want to be. Our minimum should be at the state level and trying to dominate the surrounding schools.

Teachers still observe several students that struggle to read at grade-level in our classes.

Students are still struggling to meet Scantron yearly growth targets.

PROGRAMS TO RAISE SCORES 99thth Hour- Hour- after school tutoring. Found to not be

highly effective.

Thursday Reading Tutoring- Thursday Reading Tutoring- NHS & NJHS has an after-school reading tutoring program between upper Elementary & Middle School students who are deemed to need extra help in reading.

PROGRAMS TO RAISE SCORES HOME ROOM-HOME ROOM- 20 minute period after lunch of

remediation or enrichment time for groups. Each teacher receives a group based on SCANTRON scores and need areas.

RTI/MTTS-RTI/MTTS- One time per week each core teacher has an RTI period during first hour (giving up prep). This time is spent going over core skills and strategies for those who struggle. This group is changed each trimester as students needs change.

PROGRAMS TO RAISE SCORES EBLI-Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction (EBLI) EBLI-Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction (EBLI) is an effective and

efficient method of instruction to teach reading. It is a system of research-based literacy skills, concepts, and strategies that teach learners of any age or ability level to read, spell, and write to their highest potential. The focus of EBLI is to improve reading accuracy, speed, and comprehension. EBLI is based on three foundational concepts: 1) 1,2,3, or 4 letters can represent the spelling of a single sound, 2) Each sound in the English language can be represented in spelling many ways, and 3) Some spellings can represent more than one sound. EBLI focuses the whole student’s mind on the task of breaking words into their component letter sounds. Words are actually spoken out loud by letter sound as they are written. EBLI works for everyone, from new readers and non-readers to students labeled learning disabled or dyslexic. From struggling readers and spellers to honors students wishing to improve their reading speed and comprehension for college entrance exams such as the ACT or SAT, instruction in EBLI will effectively and efficiently help all learners reach their reading goals.

PROGRAMS TO RAISE SCORES Close & Critical Reading Strategies-Close & Critical Reading Strategies- At the

Middle School level we have focused on Guided Highlighted Readings and teaching our students who to read complex texts. All core classes are doing this, but we have expanded into elective classes as well to expand the time spent working on these skills.

HOW WILL WE HOW WILL WE MEASURE IT? MEASURE IT? Year to year growth will be shown

on the MEAP test data that is gathered each fall.

We have also begun preparations for the Smarter Balanced testing series.

PROGRESS PROGRESS MONITORINGMONITORING In-between MEAP testing

we will evaluate growth with Scantron testing, common assessments, teacher created assessments, and teacher observation (the ole eye test).

DO WE NEED DO WE NEED FUNDS?FUNDS? Funding for these programs will be

used to train the staff via professional development and to purchase any supplies needed to make these programs run efficiently. We are constantly assessing what is working and what needs to be added or subtracted to each of these programs.

TIME NEEDED & TIME NEEDED & GOALSGOALS TIME NEEDED- TIME NEEDED- we expect to reach our goal by next fall and re-evaluate at that time (along with constant evaluation of each program as it is running).

GOALSGOALS- the goal is to improve reading scores by 5% on the 2013 fall MEAP tests across the board for reading.