Presenters: James Klipa Brendan Vines Kevin Kocher Jason Tatrai

1. Presenters: James Klipa Brendan Vines Kevin Kocher Jason Tatrai Teaching Incentives To Advance Non-motivated Students

2. Demographics West Mifflin Community West Mifflin Middle School • Grades: 6-8 • Students: 750 • White: 80% • Black: 18% • Other: 2% • Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:18 • Free/Reduced Lunch: 30% • Special Ed.: 10% • Gifted: 5% • Population: 23,391 • White: 89% • Black: 9% • Other: 2% • Avg. Home Value: $80,262 • Education: • College: 43% • High School: 41% • Less Than HS: 15% • Income: • <$10-25K: 34% • $25-50K: 31% • $50-100K: 30% • $100K+: 4%

3. Traditional methods of motivating students • Assemblies • Stickers • Food • Movies • 10 more minutes at Recess • Teaming • Reinforcement

4. @ West Mifflin Area Middle School….

5. Students have come to expect the unexpected!

6. Why? • Traditional “In the Box” Teaching • Student Morale • Teacher Morale • NOT ACHIEVING AYP

7. How? • Reorganization of School Culture • Administrative Change of Philosophy (Teacher Empowerment) • Staff Change of Philosophy • Flexibility and Creativity • “Thinking Outside the Box!” • Teaming

8. Examples

9. E.A.R. Program • Effort, Attitude, and Respect • Recognize and reward consistent, positive behavior • Reinforced with short videos and speeches • Student receives sticker with every referral • Promotes character education and ethical values • Earn various rewards

10. E.A.R. Program

12. Team T-shirts TITAN PRIDE

13. OctoberFest: Pumpkin Olympics Teaming kickoff event for the year to encourage friendly competition between both 7th grade teams

14. Staff Costume Day

15. Fill the Bus • Annual school-wide food drive • Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank • Team Competition • Raised over 4 tons of food

16. Fill the Bus

17. Where’s the Beef? Used to encourage better open-ended responses by rewarding students with perfect scores on the 4sight Reading test with hamburgers.

19. Fall Sports Rec./Turkey Bowl

20. Christmas Sweater Day Contest

21. 100% Homework Club Established to honor all students who have completed all homework for a 9 week grading period in EVERY class.

22. Show me the money! Used to encourage better open-ended responses by rewarding students with proper scores on the 4sight math test with "Titan Cash"

23. Price is Right Competition between 7th grade teams held during final preparation week before PSSAs

25. PSSA Pep Rally Event held before PSSAs.  Ryan Clark of the Pittsburgh Steelers and other members of the school staff addressed the students on the importance of the test and representing school pride

27. PSSA Tailgate Every student from the previous year scoring a Proficient or Advanced on both PSSA tests were treated to a cookout and tailgate before the first home varsity football game.  Also recognized in pre-game festivities

28. Talent Show • After PSSA • Students & Faculty • Evening Performance

30. Team Field Trips Field trips rewarding consistent effort and achievement in the classroom

31. School Beautification Students having the opportunity to decorate their school

33. Fun day End of the year event for students. Activities include Faculty Dunk Tank, Inflatables, Picnic Lunch, & More

34. Evidence of Success • How did you feel at the beginning today? • PSSA Scores (Last 4 years) • Redis Before Implementation of Programs

35. Meeting AYP

36. klipaj@wmasd.org vinesb@wmasd.org kocherk@wmasd.org tatraij@wmasd.org For more information • Email:  • plichtab@wmasd.org • Brian Plichta - Building Principal • School info: • West Mifflin Area Middle School • 371 Camp Hollow Road • West Mifflin, PA 15122 • 412-466-3200 • www.wmasd.org