Week+1+P2

Click EDIT (top, right) to answer 3 questions. Put your name in (parenthesis) before or after your post. Click SAVE (top, right) when finished.



The Implications for Instruction section (p.42) provides four concrete actions schools can take to align themselves to what the CCSS view as the two most critical reading standards, 1 and 10. In what order should these actions be taken to support WVMS students advancing in text complexity? 1) Click here to prioritize the four actions.   Survey results:
 * [[image:http://i.imgur.com/oLuIm.png width="582" height="367"]] || Based on our survey results above and to the left, our priorities are:

1) Determine how we currently move students up the ladder of text complexity.

2) Devise a plan for altering our curriculum to support student progress toward reading more complex texts.

3) Implement our plan.

4) Accelerate student progress up the ladder of text difficulty. ||


 * 2) What are some things we can do in the short-term (before school starts) to move students up the ladder of text complexity?
 * 2) What are some things we can do in the short-term (before school starts) to move students up the ladder of text complexity?

(Palmer) We can start looking at about our new Reading Curriculum Maps (draft version) for 2012-13:

6th Reading 7th Reading 8th Reading

(Woods) Find literary and informational resources that support drawing conclusions and making inferences.

Identify current reading levels and start the learners at that level moving them up as rapidly as they can go.

(Jeanette) First, make sure we are familar with the reading standards and the new maps. I would like to start summer reading lists for our students but that is later not now. We need to set a time for the LA teachers to get together and start planning the year. The more prepared we are for the start of the year the better off all of will be (teachers and students.)

(Mark) I agree with all of the above statements. Additionally, we need to develop and put in place a method for assessing each student's level of "just-right" text (95% accuracy and comprehension) as well as a way to periodically assess this. "Each teacher needs to be trained to use running records to assess readers" (p. 42) We should agree on one of the assessments and record-keeping and sharing methods.

|| ||
 * [[image:http://www.magerempowerment.com/v2/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/goal_setting_activities.jpg width="418" height="256"]] || 3) What are some mid-range goals, things we can do in the coming school year, to move students up the ladder of text complexity?

(Palmer) We need to decide which of our novel sets "belong" to which grade level and start collecting and sharing digital resources, especially informational text.

(Woods) Have a clear framework - a shared view of expectations (schoolwide).

(Jeanette) Admin needs to give us time to plan and gather materials. We need to communicate with parents about the changes in the standards and what this will mean for thier childern.

(Mark) We definitely need to provide students with opportunities to read extensively, both in and out of school. That means structured time within each classroom for sustained reading as well as a way for students to check out classroom books for reading at home. Of course we know that many/most students have not followed through on home reading, so we need to find a way to motivate students to do so.

||
 * 4) What are some long-term goals to help students achieve the CCSS reading standards at WVMS over the next 2-3 years?

(Palmer) We need to develop our formative assessments and collaborate on results school-wide.

(Woods) Based on data collected, define, refine, and support what works. Find the best teaching practices that work for our unique population!

Data-based decisions need to be made collaboratively and with consensus. Teachers need to continually learn as well.

(Jeanette) Summer reading lists with expections for the students to read the books on the list activites for them to complete. The school is open during the summer for work, but if the district could have the schools open to students (even if it is only certian days or it rotates from school to school) then the students could complete assignments on internet, like we are, and get feed back.

|| || (Mark) Lots of collaboration among teachers. A huge investment in reading materials and technology. Jeanette's summer reading idea. Collaboration with the "other" middle school in the district (it's surprising how little we do this!)