Making Dynamic Changes for Students Entering the High School Realm

1
Making Dynamic Changes for Students Entering the
High School Realm

• Bronwyn Palmer
• Judy Hubble
• May 2009

2

• Brinkley High School Demographics

3
School ImprovementYear 5

• Americas Choice
• Year 3

4
Americas Choice

• - School Leadership
• - Classroom Instruction
• - Professional Learning
• Communities

5
Students Transitions from Middle School to High
School

• J. Allen Queen

6
Queens Twelve Factors for Success

• Much of the success individuals have in life can
  be contributed to how successful they are in
  transitioning.
• J. Allen Queen

7
Factor One

• The lower students grades drop, the higher the
  probability of dropping out.

8
Brinkley High School Class of 2010GPA Data
Average GPA
Subgroups
9
Factor Two

• Students who fail during transition and drop out
  experience lifelong difficulties physically,
  socially, emotionally, and economically.

10
Factor Three

• The larger the high school, the greater the
  negative impact of transition on ninth grade
  students.

11
Factor Four

• Students, once in school, who experience two or
  more transitions prior to ninth grade have a
  greater probability of quitting high school

12
Factor Five

• High School Drop out rates are higher for middle
  school students than for students attending K-8
  schools.

13
Factor Six

• Ninth grade students adjustments to high school
  are complicated by their perceptions of a bigger
  school, different environment, changed class
  schedule, and smaller classes.
• I was afraid I wouldnt be able to find my
  classes, but I did.
• Mariah Teague

14
Factor Seven

• Fear of getting lost
• in the building is by far the number one fear of
  ninth grade students.
• Our students number one fear Losing credit

There was just so much pressure on me to do
well! Monica Halliburton One thing that really
scared me was the fact that this year my grades
start to matter. Credits start and my grades make
a difference. Meredith Nowlin I fear
flunking! Broderick Aldridge
15
Factor 8

• Ninth Grade students view high school teachers as
  less helpful than middle school teachers.
• The teachers here are all very different from
  each other.
• Ashley Carroll
• The principal is cool. He listens and
  understands the
• students.
• T.J. Yarbrough

16
Factor Nine

• Ninth grade students must have at least one adult
  in their lives for genuine support in order to
  become academically and socially successful.
• Many of the teachers here offer extra help,
  tutoring, and
• experiences I wouldnt have without them.
• Tyler Foster
• I love how some high school teachers teach. I
  learn
• lots of new things in exciting ways!
• Danielle Hicks
• We do fun activities and projects!
• Michael Devine

17
Factor Ten

• Ninth grade students who have negative
  experiences during the transitional period have
  poor attendance, low grades, and fewer friends.
  They tend to become behavior problems and have
  greater vulnerability to negative peer influence.
• My only bad experience is that my friends get
  me in trouble
• here a lot.
• Shaquita Rhys

18
Number of Days Absent
Subgroups
19

• Trouble Keeping Friends
• Brinkley High School
• Class of 2010

20

• Brinkley High School
• Class of 2010
• Discipline Referrals

Number of Referrals
Subgroups
21
Factor Eleven

• Drop out rates increase for poorly transitioned,
• especially minority students, in schools
  using high stakes testing.

22
Brinkley High SchoolGraduation and Dropout Rates
23
Factor Twelve

• Social and economic factors negatively impact
  graduation rates, especially in large urban areas.

24
Strategies For Success

• Concerns and needs of highest priority
• Clear understanding of graduation requirements
• Uniform application of classroom expectations and
  consequences
• Resources for students, parents, teachers, and
  social workers
• Parental Involvement

25
Resources Available

• Social Worker
• After School Tutoring
• Counseling Services
• Pinnacle Program

26
Resources Needed

• Parent Center for High School
• Pinnacle Training for parents at school and in
  the community.
• Mandatory orientation for entering ninth grade
  students attended by a parent/guardian

27
Transition Strategies and Actions

• Open House/Course Selection Night
• High School 101
• Mentors
• In School Tutoring
• Ramp Up to Algebra
• Double Blocked Classes Algebra 1
• Ramp Up to Advance Literacy

28
Transition Strategies and Actions

• Americas Choice Navigator Math and
• Literacy
•  Rewards for no discipline referrals
• 25 Book Campaign
• Special Focus on 9th grade students

29
Pyramid of Interventions
Extended Year
ALE
Mandatory P/T Conference with Counselor
Peer Tutoring Tutoring By Coaches
Volunteer Tutoring
90-Minute Algebra HS 101 Mentors
30
High School 101

• All Freshmen
• All Classes the Same Period
• 9 Week Rotation
• Students Earn ½ Elective Credit
• Scavenger Hunt
• All Student do at Beginning of Year
• Location of Necessary Services, etc.
• School Rules and Consequences

31
High School 101

• Tutoring for Students in Need
• Classroom Speakers from Community
• Life Skills
• Telephone/Internet Etiquette
• Character Education
• Current Events
• Time Management
• Conflict Resolution

32
High School 101

• Study Skills
• Note Taking
• Research Skills
• Library Use and Etiquette
• Writing Biographies
• Calculator Skills
• Reading Skills for Content Areas
• Search Engines

33
High School 101

• Financial Preparation
• Banking (checking/deposits, etc.)
• Credit Cards/Loans
• Job Search
• Job Applications
• Job Interviews
• Résumés

34
High School 101

• Vocabulary Development
• Americas Choice Navigator
• Math and Literacy

35
Mentor Program

• Each Teacher Assigned 2 3 Students
• Meet with Students 3 times Per Nine
• Weeks
• Teachers Document
• Turn In Log Forms Each Nine Weeks

36
Double Blocked Classes

• Ramp Up to Algebra
• For 8th Grade Students Who Scored
• Below Proficient on Benchmark
• Ramp Up to Advance Literacy
• For 9th Grade Students Who Scored
• Below Proficient on Benchmark

37
Double Blocked Classes

• Algebra I
• One Period with Classroom Instruction
• One Period in I Can Learn Lab

38
(No Transcript)
39
(No Transcript)
40
Brinkley High School EOC Algebra I Spring 2008
41
(No Transcript)
42
(No Transcript)
43
(No Transcript)
44
Changes in 2008 - 2009

• Intervention Classes Math and Literacy
• No Zero Policy All 9th Graders
• Remediation Classes During Day
• Interventions For Those Student With a Grade of
  60 or Less First 9 Weeks

45
Data is Key to Intervention

• Organize Data Before Students Report
• Be Honest
• Continuous Data Analysis in Crucial

46
Sample of 9 Weeks Data
Analysis
47
Target List of Students
48
Interim Assessment Data
49
Interventions Planned for2009 2010 School Year

• Build remediation/Intervention classes into
  master schedule (9-12)
• Provide time for teachers to work together to
  assess open response type questions
• Double block geometry classes
• No Zero Policy for grades 9 12

50
Interventions Planned for2009 2010 School Year

• Professional Development
• William Jenkins
• Failure Is Not An Option
• Ruby Payne
• Rigor
• Modifications and Accommodations
• Authentic Assessment of Student Work
• Differentiated Instruction

51
Interventions Planned for2009 2010 School Year

• Transition to Middle School Program (working with
  elementary teachers i.e. co/team teaching)
  (math and literacy)
• Extend the Instructional Day

52
Interventions Planned for2009 2010 School Year

• Double Blocking for math and literacy
• 7th Grade Literacy - for students who are not
  proficient or advanced
• 8th Grade math (not advanced classes) for
  students who are not proficient or advanced

53
Questions?
54
Contact Information

• Judy Hubble
• Brinkley High School
• 100 Tiger Dr.
• Brinkley, AR 72021
• [phone]
• judy.hubble_at_brinkleyschools.com