1. DATA RETREAT PRINCIPAL’S MID-YEAR REPORT 2009-10 Vandercook Lake High School Principal: Mark Schonhard Subject Area: Writing

2. GOAL All teaching staff at VCL will improve skills in the writing process in all ELA grade levels 6-12, so that 80% of students show proficient and advanced levels on the 7th grade 2010 MEAP Writing while accelerating the performance of students with disabilities so that 60% show proficient and advanced levels. In addition, 61% of students in 11th grade will achieve proficiency in order to reach AYP, while accelerating the performance of students with disabilities so that a 15% raise from 2009 will be seen in the writing proficiency in 2010 MME. Also, our district will administer a writing assessment three times each year in grades 6-12 (7th grade will test twice). The average score should increase one rubric level between the pre and post test. What group of students is targeted with this goal: All students in grades 6-12

3. Objective 1 All ELA teachers in grades 9-12 will develop and implement a writing assessment which will be administered three times during the school year to measure improvement in the writing process.

4. Evidence of Action Common Theme for the Writing Prompts: CHOICES K-6 = Narrative Prompt 7-12 = Persuasive Prompt September (Pre Assessment) = Prompt A February (Mid Assessment) = Prompt B May (Post Assessment) = Either A or B

5. Evidence of Action (continued) Writing Prompts: Choice September 9th Grade: How do cell phones affect the atmosphere of a classroom? Pick a side and support your answer with specific details. 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade: Many educators debate the use of cell phones in class. Some feel that cell phone use in class interrupts the learning process. They feel that cell phones are distracting and could be used for inappropriate reasons. Others feel that cell phones could be used for curricular reasons and contribute to the learning process. In your opinion, should you be allowed to use your cell phone in class? In your essay, take a position on this question. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

6. Evidence of Action (continued) Writing Prompts: Choice February 9 th Grade: This year Vandercook Lake Schools decided to eliminate nutrition break. Do you feel that nutrition break was a benefit to your education and well being or do you think eliminating this break was the right decision? Pick a side and support your answer with specific details. 10 th, 11 th, and 12 th Grade: This year Vandercook Lake Schools decided to eliminate nutrition break. Many educators felt that nutrition break provided students a nutritional boost to enhance their academic performance while holding them over till lunch. Other educators felt that nutrition break became a social opportunity that was often abused. In your opinion, should VCL reinstate nutrition break? In your essay, take a position on this question. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

7. Evidence of Action (continued) Writing prompts given on Sept. 21-25 Staff training on scoring prompts using the ACT Rubric Writing prompts scored by entire staff using the ACT Rubric (grades 7-12), and MEAP Rubric (grade 6) Future prompts given in February and May

8. Is It Working? Common Initiative Among All Staff Writing Data For This Year (no MEAP Scores) Evaluation of Scores and Discussion of Possible Interventions Will Be Added to Data Director

9. Objective 2 Teachers will create a common format 6-12, which will unify teaching practices within the writing process as assessed through the MEAP and MME.

10. Evidence of Action Discussion/notes from monthly meetings In-progress for 2 nd semester Research on different types of writing processes through conference attendance

11. Is It Working? Discussion / Ideas during monthly meetings

12. Objective 3 ELA teachers will develop an organizational structure for teaching grammar in grades1-11, to improve the grammar portion on the ACT.

13. Evidence of Action Structure for teaching grammar created in November. GLCE’s/HSCE’s used as a reference for this structure.

14. Grammar Structure Grades 1-11

15. Grammar Structure Grades 1-11 continued

16. Is It Working? Teachers planning curriculum maps for implementation in 2010-11 Sharing of creative ideas in teaching grammar.

17. What’s Next? Evaluation of writing prompt scores Progress Monitoring Visit