Buckhorn High School

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Buckhorn High School
Tommy Ledbetter, Principal Sarah Fanning,
Curriculum Instruction
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Adolescent Literacy

• A National Need

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Adolescent Literacy Who is a struggling reader?

• In high schools all across America, students can
  pronounce words, without real comprehension.
• Nationally, 78 of 8th graders do NOT read at
  proficient levels.
• All secondary students need additional support to
  read and comprehend successfully.

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1998 Buckhorn Stanford Achievement Test 9th ed.
50-National Benchmark
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1999 Buckhorn joins the Alabama Reading
Initiative (ARI)
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1999Systematic testing reveals 38 percent of
Buckhorn students read below grade level
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• The ARI is about more than reading --- its
  become a highly effective movement for whole
  school revitalization.
• -Dr. Edward Moscovitch

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Buckhorn Keys for Success

• Leadership
• Print-rich environment
• Job-embedded professional learning
• Research-based principles employed in every
  classroom
• On-going evaluation for efficacy
• Celebration of successes

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• Master teachers work with struggling readers
• High-interest reading materials at a range of
  reading levels
• Literacy leadership team
• Individual action plans as part of transition to
  high school
• Creation and implementation of a reading
  elective.
• High School Essentials elective

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The bad news.

• Most secondary teachers do not perceive
  themselves as teachers of reading.
• Most high school library books are at or above
  grade level.
• High school textbooks are at or above grade
  level.
• No quick, easy fix
• No commercial program

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The good news

• School revitalization
• All students benefit
• Literacy can be achieved
• .but there must be a change in how high schools
  operate and conduct their business on a daily
  basis.

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A Vision for Change . . .

• Improvement of Adolescent Literacy!

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Buckhorn Class of 2003 AHSGE Reading Data

• 32 of class identified struggling upon entry to
  BHS
• 71 pass pre-grad
• 92 pass by grade 11
• 100 pass by grade 12

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Buckhorn Class of 2004 AHSGE Reading Data

• 29 of class identified struggling upon entering
  BHS
• 76 pass pre-grad 94 pass by grade 11
• 100 pass by grade 12

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Buckhorn Class of 2005 AHSGE Reading Data

• 26 identified struggling upon entering BHS
• 79 pass pre-grad
• 96 pass by grade 11
• 100 pass by grade 12

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Buckhorn Class of 2006 AHSGE Reading Data

• 25 identified struggling upon entering BHS
• 86 pass pre-grad
• 97 pass by grade 11
• 99 pass by grade 12

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Alabama High School Graduation Exam Grade 11
Reading Data 2005Contrast with Other Schools in
the District
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Alabama High School Graduation Exam Grade 11
Reading Data 2006Contrast with Other Schools in
the District
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2005 Alabama Direct Assessment of Writing Data
Grade 10 Contrast with Other Schools in District
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2006 Alabama Direct Assessment of Writing Data
Grade 10 Contrast with Other Schools in District
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No Child Left Behind Accountability Standards

• 2005 2006 Buckhorn met 17 of 17 standards and
  made Annual Yearly Progress (AYP)

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What does Literacy Education look like in a High
School?

• School-wide focus on reading comprehension-not
  phonics and phonemic awareness.
• Teachers utilize research-based strategies to
  present content.
• Teachers teach reading rather than assign reading
  through their course content.
• Teachers employ before, during, and after reading
  strategies.
• Writing is evident in all classrooms.
• Print-rich environment.
• All teaching and learning is data driven.
• Active teaching and learning.

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Features of Secondary Literacy Instruction

• students have access to a substantial number of
  readable, interesting books that focus on the
  content they are studying. And to just read
  books of their own choosing.
• the entire school is focused on literacy
  achievement and that teachers use content
  literacy approaches to ensure that their students
  are engaged in meaningful curriculum.
• Douglas Fisher, Gay Ivey, Journal of Adolescent
  Adult Literacy, Nov. 2006.

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Administrative Role

• Vision for Change
• Commitment
• Financial Support
• Identify the best teachers
• Create a culture for literacy
• Provide appropriate professional development
• Monitor progress and make changes as needed based
  on data collection.

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Key Points..

• If you want to change the culture of a school,
  it starts at the top with the principal.
• The principal is the number one change agent in
  the school.

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Buckhorn High School
Tommy Ledbetter, Principal Sarah Fanning,
Curriculum Instruction