Total School Cluster Grouping

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Total School Cluster Grouping

• Developed by Dr. Marcia Gentry and Rebecca L.
  Mann, Purdue University
• Model/framework for student placement into
  classrooms each spring
• Used in every elementary building in the Osseo
  district

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Total School Cluster Grouping (TSCG)

• Total School Cluster Grouping is a specific form
  of cluster grouping that has a research base,
  theoretical rationale, and model for successful
  implementation in schools.
• From Total School Cluster Grouping
  Differentiation, by Marcia Gentry and Rebecca L.
  Mann, page 1

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TSCG definition

• Cluster grouping model that takes into account
  the achievement levels of all students and places
  students in classrooms yearly in order to reduce
  the number of achievement levels in each
  classroom and facilitate teachers
  differentiation of curriculum and instruction for
  all students and thus increase student
  achievement. Page 9

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TSCG Benefits

• Some of the benefits of a thoughtfully
  implemented cluster grouping program include
• Challenging high achievers by placing them
  together in one classroom, thus enabling new
  talents to emerge among students in other
  classrooms and allowing them opportunities to
  become academic leaders
• Increasing the ability of all teachers to meet
  the individual academic needs of their students
  by reducing the range of student achievement
  levels in all classrooms
• Improving how teachers view their students with
  respect to ability and achievement
• Improving student achievement among students from
  all achievement levels
• Increasing the number of students identified as
  high achieving and decreasing the number of
  students identified as low achieving page 2

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TSCG Model Total School Cluster Grouping

• Creates a school where every classroom is a
  cluster classroom and each student is
  thoughtfully and deliberately placed in a setting
  that best fits his/her needs.
• Reduces the range and number of instructional
  levels in each classroom allowing for more
  differentiated instruction.
• Provides opportunities for all students to learn
  something new each day and work at their
  challenge level, with peers who are academically
  similar.
• Recognizes that all teachers need training in
  differentiation strategies in order to meet the
  diverse needs in each classroom and encourages
  all teachers to further develop proven, effective
  teaching techniques.

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Criteria for placement TSCG Gentry

• Consider the total student and use specific
  criteria to place individuals in an appropriate
  classroom.
• Students should be placed based on their
  strengths and may well belong in the HA cluster
  classroom even if there are other concerns, such
  as behavior.

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TSCG Levels of Placement Gentry

• High Achieving (HA) students - HA cluster room
• May need 13 experiences to master a new skill
  great at reading math
• --------------------------------------------------
  ------------------------------------
• Above Average (AA) students - rooms that do not
  have HA students
• Achieving above grade level or above average at
  site great at reading or math learns with 5-8
  experiences
• --------------------------------------------------
  ------------------------------------
• Average (A) students - all classrooms
• At grade level or average at site
• --------------------------------------------------
  -----------------------------------
• Low Average (LA) students - all classrooms
• Struggles in reading or math but makes gains with
  support
• --------------------------------------------------
  ------------------------------------
• Low (L) students - rooms that do not have HA
  students
• History of consistent and significant struggle
  with grade level academics

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Criteria for Placement TSCG Gentry
Criteria for Placement (based on site needs) may
include

• Classroom performance
• Grades
• Professional Judgment
• Testing Data including
• DIBELS
• MAP/NWEA RIT scores
• MCA scores 3-5
• Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) results
• Standardized tests (IQ, CTBS, Stanford, etc.)
• Grade level assessments

• Special Services
• FSSE
• EL
• Teacher observations
• Staff fit
• Peer relationships/separations

9

• Marcia Gentrys book
• Total School Cluster Grouping Differentiation

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• Questions?
• Thank you for coming.