Century High School: One Student, One Staff Member at a Time Reading/Writing Math Relationships

2. Century High School: One Student, One Staff Member at a Time • Reading/Writing • Math • Relationships

4. Building Goals - 2008-2009 • 100% of grade 9 students will be actively involved in a club, sport or student organization during the 2008-2009 school year. • 95% of Grade 10 students would meet or exceed proficiency as measured by the MCA II Reading test during the 2008-2009 school year.

5. Building Goals- 2008-2009 • 95% of Grade 9 students would meet or exceed proficiency on the GRAD writing test during the 2008-2009 school year. • 70% of Grade 11 students would meet or exceed proficiency on the MCA II Math Test during the 2008-2009 school year.

6. The format today: • I will talk about the work on clubs and organizations that we implemented and continued during this past school year. • Ms Hedrick will talk about Reading and Writing Strategies. • Ms. Maggie Hongerholt will talk about math strategies. • Ms. Kathy Quinn will finish by talking about what we have done as a school community with student relationships.

7. Century Clubs AED Anime Club Animal Welfare BPA Century Bowling Team Century Rock Ascension Club Chess Club Cinemalliance CLAM Cycling Debate DECA Early Risers FCCLA Fall Dance line Fall Play Fashion Society Fellowship of Christian Athletes First Robotics Fishing Club Foto Club 4 Square GSA German Club HAPP Hearts HELPS HOSA Int’l Friendship Club Key Club Knowledge Bowl Lego Robotics Link Crew Literary Guild Lumber Jack/Jill MWAHAHA Math League Mock Trial National History Day NHS Newspaper Octagon Club Origami Painting Club Panther Leadership Team Panther Prowl Poverty Awareness Coop Psy-Phi Club Rachel’s Challenge SAVE/Recyclers Science Club Science Olympiad Scrabble Scrapbooking/Family History Self Concepts Skills USA Something Creative/Sewing Club Spanish Club Speech Strategic Board Games TIM Triathlon Club Ultimate Frisbee Visual Arts/Art Club Winter Musical Yearbook Young Democrats Young Republicans Youth in Government (Model Assembly/Model UN)

8. Century Painting Club

9. Freshman Receiving Failing Grades First Semester 2007-2008 92 students (20% of student population) Freshman Receiving Failing Grades First Semester 2008 – 2009 79 students (21% of student population)

10. As a leader you need to get your hands in the dirt if you want a project to grow. • I started the Century Painting Club that was made up of 30 members. Our purpose was to do volunteer painting on two Saturdays each month during the school year. • I was one of the co-leaders of the Friends of Rachel Club that meets twice each month. Our purpose is to spread kindness and to make the school more inclusive and welcoming.

11. Writing and Reading

12. Writing Project Process: • Targeted students that did not pass MCA Writing test in 9th grade. • Identified teachers & classes they were in • 4-5 English teachers, 1 Social Studies teacher, & 3-4 Student aids met with these students once a week up until the re-take. • Pulled students out of class for 1 on 1 instruction. • Gave multiple practice writing tests. • Worked on their own writing to revise. • Showed passing test examples. • Worked in small groups 4 to 1 (student to teacher ratio).

13. Writing Continued: • ELL students were identified. • Found common times for these same 4-5 teachers and 3-4 student aids to go in to the ELL room and work. • Obtained students’ former test from 2008. • ELL teacher worked daily on writing process. • ELL students wrote essays 1 a week up until the test. • The following week the teachers and student aids went over that essay. • In small groups, they would go over: topic sentences, understanding the prompt, verb tense, etc.

14. More Writing…. • Regular classes start practicing in the fall. • Given multiple sample MCA writing tests from previous years. • Shown the state rubric, send a copy of rubric home for parents. • Parents and students “grade” essay. • Shown multiple passing tests from previous years. • Discuss the language of the test: “prompt,” “pre-writing,” “final draft.” • Show the actual test—how many pages, what it looks like before test day to relieve anxiety.

15. Reading Strategies • Every staff development meeting a new reading strategy was taught. • Every staff member was challenged to include reading strategies into lessons and on assessments. • Constructed Responses were regularly getting skipped by students on MCA tests. • Every department started including constructed response questions on assessments. • Taught students the process.

16. Reading strategies… • Read 180-a reading intervention course was introduced along with an English class. • All students in Read 180 received a reading and English course every single day. • Reading Workshop-a class for students that had not passed the MCA reading test formed 2nd semester. • Small class sizes in the Reading Workshop and Read 180 classes improved 4 to 1(student to teacher ratio). • Sample MCA reading tests were given often beginning in the fall. • Discussed the language of the test: “fallacy,” “fact,” “inference,” “constructed response,” “theme” etc…

17. Building wide initiative… • Writing and Reading strategies show up in every curriculum. • Every teacher at Century began utilizing more ways to test writing and reading strategies within lessons & assessments . • Smaller class sizes worked for our struggling students. • Teachers voluntarily gave up lunch and prep hours to go into ELL rooms and help out. • NHS, Honors AP students volunteered their time to assist.

18. You can achieve success! • “It takes a village!” • You must tap into your resources in your building to make it happen!

19. Math

20. Math Interventions Panther Pride Academy Math teachers in PALS room Remediation and Retesting in Algebra1, Geometry and Algebra2 Homework Hall

21. Teamed Math Classes

22. Teamed Math Classes • Developed to help struggling students be more successful in high school math courses. • Ultimate goal is to help every student pass the MCA II Math test.

23. Teamed Math Classes • 2 Math Teachers • 17-22 Selected Students • 1 ½ class periods • ½ elective credit for the extra time in class • Same pace and tests as regular classes

24. More individual help More time for review More immediate feedback More time on task More successful experiences Advantages

25. Student Comments: Dan: “It is easy to get help and understand. It’s more relaxed.” Ater: “It helps me with my homework, so we can understand.”

26. Student Comments: Jordan: “The one-on-one help and the extra examples have helped me be better at math.” Brady: “I learned more.”

27. Student Comments: Fatima: “I would like to be in this kind of class for geometry next year.”

28. relationships

29. Creating Relationships with Students • Century staff are highly motivated to develop positive relationships with students, in part because of a belief in how that improves student learning. • Staff share ideas and collaborate on how to connect with all students. • Specifically, staff are focused on creating positive relationships with students who are not achieving or are “in the gap.”

30. Making Connections • PALS room – with a paraprofessional and teachers, individual tutoring available • Homework Hall – teachers from each subject area available • Teaching Assistants – At-Risk students invited to be teacher assistants • Personal phone calls to parents for conferences • Encourage involvement in clubs, organizations, and activities

31. Self-Concepts • Group activity originally designed for a small group of African American males that has expanded to include any Century student who wants to participate. • Occurs about once a month during each of the three lunch periods – Pizza! • Each session covers a different topic relevant to teens, often focusing on racial issues. • At least 300 students attended at least one session this year.

32. Self-Concepts Topics • The “N” word • Teen Pregnancy • Drug/Alcohol Use • Self-Esteem • Suicide • What would you do? • Scared straight guests • Date Rape/Sexual Violence • “In Search of a Dream” – Obama Inaugaration

36. Home Visit Program • Started with visits to incoming 9th graders who were referred by Middle School counselors and administrators – kids and families who would benefit from starting their high school career with a positive connection to staff and administrators. • Visits occurred in mid-August and into the first few weeks of school.

37. Home Visits (continued) • Expanded during the first semester to include 10th -12th grade students who were struggling with attendance and academics (behind on credits) • Typically, the HV team consisted of the principal (or other administrator), the school psychologist/social worker, the guidance counselor, and a teacher. • Positive impact on some students and families, but didn’t make a difference for others.

38. Home VisitStudent Outcomes • KA - 2007-08: 15 behavioral referrals. Was being monitored by law enforcement (ankle bracelet) • 2008-09: 3 behavioral referrals. Law enforcement monitoring done. Stops in and chats with principal often – generally shares positive news about how he’s doing. Passed all classes this year.

39. Home VisitStudent Outcomes • MC - 2007-08: 8 office referrals, including a weapons violation and a fight. • 2008-09: 3 behavioral referrals, 2 for cell phone violations, 1 for skipping classes. Played football in the fall.

40. Home VisitStudent Outcomes • CP - 2007-08: No office referrals but very angry at the world. Evaluated and qualified for EBD in 2006. • 2008-09: 0 behavioral referrals. Passed all classes, except Physical Science. Re-evaluated and dismissed from EBD. Will participate in summer program with Mayo Clinic for promising students.

41. Other Connections • Honors Biology – 7 students~ all could do the work, just needed more time~ teacher was allowed to adjust grades for first semester into 2nd semester~ worked with them after school • US History – “Pastel Boys”

42. Questions Thank You!