Diverse Populations in Small Rural Schools Presented by: Amy Trujillo-Conway Amy Trujillo-Conway Madalena Barboa-Archuleta

Introduction Amy Trujillo-Conway, 3 rd Grade Teacher  Level II Teacher- six years teaching experience  Entire teaching career has been at Union Street Elementary School  1 st year taught 2 nd Grade, remainder of instruction in 3 rd Grade. Madalena Barboa-Archuleta, 4 th Grade Teacher  Level III Teacher- eight years teaching experience  Entire teaching career has been at Union Street Elementary School  1 st year taught 5 th Grade, remainder of instruction in 4 th Grade.

School Overview The population of Union Elementary School is 80 Union Elementary is comprised of one 2 nd Grade Class, one 3 rd Grade Class, one 4 th Grade class, and one 5 th Grade class Hispanic students comprise 87% of the student body There are 22 identified English Language Learners Free breakfast and lunch meals are provided to each child Union Street Elementary is located in an impoverished neighborhood within Las Vegas, NM. For the most part, neighborhood pride is absent, as are parks, or libraries Economic hardship is a reality for many students, yet as a whole they manage to persevere and earn the highest standardized test scores, at the elementary level, in the West Las Vegas School District.

West Las Vegas Union Elementary School S tandards- B ased A ssessment S tandards- B ased A ssessment

West Las Vegas / Union Elementary SBA (Standards-Based Assessment) ~ Math / Reading / Science , and ALL Students This graph shows the percent of ALL students at WLV Union Elementary proficient or advanced for the , and the school year. NNMN

West Las Vegas / Union Elementary SBA (Standards-Based Assessment) ~ Math / Reading / Science , and HISPANIC Students This graph shows the percent of HISPANIC students at WLV Union Elementary proficient or advanced for the , and the school year. NNMN

West Las Vegas / Union Elementary SBA (Standards-Based Assessment) ~ Math / Reading / Science , and ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED Students This graph shows the percent of ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED students at WLV Union Elementary proficient or advanced for the , and the school year. NNMN

West Las Vegas / Union Elementary SBA (Standards-Based Assessment) ~ Math / Reading / Science , and ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS This graph shows the percent of ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS at WLV Union Elementary proficient or advanced for the , and the school year. NNMN

West Las Vegas / Union Elementary SBA (Standards-Based Assessment) ~ Math / Reading / Science , and THIRD GRADE Students This graph shows the percent of THIRD GRADE students at WLV Union Elementary proficient or advanced for the , and the school year. NNMN

West Las Vegas / Union Elementary SBA (Standards-Based Assessment) ~ Math / Reading / Science , and FOURTH GRADE Students This graph shows the percent of FOURTH GRADE students at WLV Union Elementary proficient or advanced for the , and the school year. NNMN

West Las Vegas / Union Elementary SBA (Standards-Based Assessment) ~ Math / Reading / Science , and Cohort Group - Grade 3 in – Grade 4 in This graph shows the percent of students in a grade level cohort at WLV Union Elementary proficient or advanced for the , and the school year. NNMN

Resources New Mexico Public Education Department Statistics and Data Files

WEST LAS VEGAS UNION ELEMENTARY School NWEA MAP DATA FALL 2007 FALL 2006 SPRING 2007

West Las Vegas ~ Union Elementary THIRD GRADE NWEA MAP RIT FALL 2007 Median RIT Achieved vs Typical Achievement Evaluation results for 3 rd Grade student population (20 average) show that 3 rd grade students scored at or above typical student median performance for Math and Reading. Typical RIT 3

West Las Vegas ~ Union Elementary THIRD GRADE NWEA MAP RIT FALL 2007 Median RIT Achieved vs Typical Achievement West Las Vegas ~ Union Elementary THIRD GRADE NWEA MAP RIT FALL 2007 Median RIT Achieved vs Typical Achievement Evaluation results for 3 rd Grade student population (20 average) show that 3 rd grade students scored above typical student median performance for General Science and below for Science Concepts and Processes. Typical RIT 3

West Las Vegas ~ Union Elementary NWEA MAP RIT Score Fall 2007/Spring rd Grade Students This graph shows the median RIT of 3rd Grade student population (18 average) for Fall 2006, Spring 2007 and Typical Spring RIT. The typical fall to spring growth is shown above the group score. 3 Typical growth Typical growth

West Las Vegas ~ Union Elementary FOURTH GRADE NWEA MAP RIT FALL 2007 Median RIT Achieved vs Typical Achievement Evaluation results for 4 th Grade student population (22 average) show that 4 th grade students scored above typical median student performance for Reading and Math. Typical RIT 4

West Las Vegas ~ Union Elementary FOURTH GRADE NWEA MAP RIT FALL 2007 Median RIT Achieved vs Typical Achievement Evaluation results for 4 th Grade student population (22 average) show that 4 th grade students scored below typical median student performance for General Science and at typical student performance for Science Concepts and Processes. Typical RIT 4

West Las Vegas ~ Union Elementary NWEA MAP RIT Score Fall 2006/Spring th Grade Students This graph shows the median RIT of 4 th Grade student performance (21 average) for Fall 2006, Spring 2007 and Typical Spring RIT. The typical fall to spring growth is shown above the group score. 4 Typical growth 6.5 Typical growth

Resources NWEA MAP Northwest Evaluation Association Measures of Academic Progress

Strategy 1 Team Teaching Established working relationships amongst colleagues  Class routines are created in 2 nd Grade and are honored in the subsequent grades  Through ongoing professional development teachers apply new research based strategies  Writing strategies are taught, expected and implemented through each grade level  Core Fidelity (Everyday Math)  90 + minutes of math taught daily

Strategy 2 Parent Involvement Routine Set Through Grade Level  Homework Folders  Homework Routine /Home Links  Unit Family Letters  Game Packs  Parents are welcomed to observe and volunteer to help with support and activities

Strategy 3 Using Data to Drive Instruction Students are tested using the NWEA MAP Assessment at the Beginning, Middle, and End of the School Year. This ensures student growth throughout the year, by targeting weakness. Use of NWEA MAP RIT Scores, which are aligned to the N.M. Standards and Benchmarks, to drive teacher instruction, support and prepare students for introduction of new skills.

Strategy 3 (continued) Using Data to Drive Instruction Use of De Cartes to Support Student Needs De Cartes is a web based continuum instructional tool that provides skills that students are ready to learn  Break Down by Subject Algebra Algebra Data Analysis & Probability Data Analysis & Probability Geometry Geometry Measurement Measurement Number & Operations Number & Operations

Strategy 4 Making Learning Enjoyable Instruction is taught by enriching, connecting and applying skills through kinesthetic learning  Hands on learning Examples: Examples: Learning Perimeter, measuring perimeter of the classroom Learning Perimeter, measuring perimeter of the classroom Learning Circumference, measuring circumference of head Learning Circumference, measuring circumference of head

Strategy 4 (continued) Making Learning Enjoyable Incorporating Math Throughout the Day Dancing Dancing Listen to Mathematical Music Listen to Mathematical Music Graphing Halloween Candy Graphing Halloween Candy Skip counting Skip counting Incorporating Math Vocabulary Throughout the Day Increase/Decrease Increase/Decrease Half the amount of work Half the amount of work What percentage of you work was correct What percentage of you work was correct Class average Class average

Conclusion In closing, success earned by students at Union Street Elementary School is attributed, in large, to the team work approach shared by the students, teachers and parents. High ratio of positive reinforcement for any success is an integral component. In addition, students are challenged with high expectations, opportunities for goal setting and support to meet their goals. The investment of hard work, distributed by the team members of Union Elementary Street School, is the single greatest strength.