© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience The Park View FLEX Experience Park View Middle School Yucaipa, Ca

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience At PVMS we’re all about... Moving from teaching to LEARNING. Moving from teaching to LEARNING. Promoting student involvement in LEARNING. Promoting student involvement in LEARNING. Continual Professional Collaboration Continual Professional Collaboration Intervention and Enrichment Intervention and Enrichment Counseling Counseling

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience We’re about many things... But, most importantly we are about... Kids!

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience Taking Control… Out of OUR control: Out of OUR control: –Title 1 Status / Funding –Student Population –Parent Involvement –Students’ Background –Students’ Responsibility Level –CST Exam Content –State Standards Within OUR control: Within OUR control: –OUR approach to OUR Curriculum –OUR approach to OUR Assessments –OUR relationships with OUR students –The level of academic support WE offer OUR students

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience The PVMS FLEX Program… The FLEX program allows: The FLEX program allows: –flexibility within our daily schedule –unifies our purpose and mission –provides motivation for our students to be more actively involved in their own learning. This is supported by: This is supported by: –Taking Center Stage Act II –Essential Program Components (EPC) for Program Improvement –DuFour, Reeves, and Stiggins - PLC

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience Taking Center Stage - Act II Academic Excellence Academic Excellence –Rigor with lots of support –Instruction, Assessment, & Intervention –Time – Flexible Scheduling Developmentally Responsive Practices Developmentally Responsive Practices –Relevance and Engagement –Relationships for ALL –Seamless Transitions Socially Equitable Practices Socially Equitable Practices –Access to Instruction –Safety, Health, & Counseling Organizational Support Organizational Support –Collaborative Decision Making –PLC –Accountability of all Stakeholders –Partnerships Recommendations from California Department of Education:

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience Benefits of FLEX Schedule... Allows timely interventions in all core subjects Allows timely interventions in all core subjects –Coincides with Learning Targets & Common Assessments Allows for Enrichments/Electives for ALL students Allows for Enrichments/Electives for ALL students Counselors have many more opportunities to have intensive group sessions with students Counselors have many more opportunities to have intensive group sessions with students Not a voluntary Intervention for students Not a voluntary Intervention for students Allows voluntary and required study hall periods for students Allows voluntary and required study hall periods for students Cost is RESOURCES not PERSONNEL Cost is RESOURCES not PERSONNEL –Not dependent on any categorical program Enrichment opportunities are endless for both staff and students Enrichment opportunities are endless for both staff and students

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience Response to Intervention (RTI) Response to Intervention (RTI) FLEX is a major part of RTI FLEX is a major part of RTI It represents and allows for our Tier 2 RTI programs It represents and allows for our Tier 2 RTI programs –The interventions are targeted to core class needs, but outside of the regular classroom –The feedback can be used to support Tier 1 needs, or used as data to recommend further Tier 3 interventions –Allows access to counseling in Tier 2 as well, with minimal impact on academic classes

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience Fundamentals of FLEX Standards-based Learning Targets Standards-based Learning Targets Frequent Common Formative Assessments Frequent Common Formative Assessments Bi-weekly Teacher Collaboration Bi-weekly Teacher Collaboration Prescribed Core Interventions Prescribed Core Interventions Prescribed Study Skills Interventions Prescribed Study Skills Interventions Counseling Groups Counseling Groups

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience Research supports FLEX Socioeconomic Status Socioeconomic Status Frequent Feedback Frequent Feedback Formative Assessments Formative Assessments Clarity of Teaching Clarity of Teaching Relationships Relationships Micro Teaching Micro Teaching = 50% = 73% = 90% = 72% = 88% Data from: Douglas Reeves, LeadandLearn.com

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience How the FLEX System works…

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience FLEX Bell Schedule 7 Period day 7 Period day –Six 48 minute class periods –48 minute Flex period between 2 nd & 3 rd per. 5 days per week 5 days per week –Except Minimum Days –9 flex days per session (2 weeks) Program runs 2 nd week of school up until State testing. Program runs 2 nd week of school up until State testing.

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience FLEX Teacher Rotation Teachers rotate through various flex offerings Teachers rotate through various flex offerings –Intervention –Core Study Hall –Enrichment Teachers provide topics for Enrichments Teachers provide topics for Enrichments Elective teachers provide Enrichments Elective teachers provide Enrichments PE Teachers provide Intramural sports PE Teachers provide Intramural sports

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience FLEX Student Rotation If student needs Core intervention or Study Hall: If student needs Core intervention or Study Hall: –Identified at Wednesday Minimum Day PLC Meetings, lists created –Receives intervention ticket with room assignment If student is attending Enrichments If student is attending Enrichments –Receives “color-coded” enrichment ticket and menu of offerings –Released to choose their next enrichment during Flex period on Fridays

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience Collaboration… Students and teachers are teamed to allow professional dialogue among common teachers to discuss student performance and strategize interventions. Students and teachers are teamed to allow professional dialogue among common teachers to discuss student performance and strategize interventions. –Bi-monthly collaboration occurs: By Academic Team to prescribe FLEX Intervention classes and Counseling based on student achievement. By Academic Team to prescribe FLEX Intervention classes and Counseling based on student achievement. By grade level department to ensure quality of Learning Targets and Common Assessments. By grade level department to ensure quality of Learning Targets and Common Assessments.

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience Move from teaching to LEARNING… We do more than make sure that the curriculum is taught: we focus on what the students have learned. We do more than make sure that the curriculum is taught: we focus on what the students have learned. –Learning Targets are backward mapped from State Standards –Common Formative Assessments are based on Learning Targets –Focused and Fluid Intervention classes are based on Learning Targets

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience Student Involvement in LEARNING… Students know the Learning Targets for their core classes Students know the Learning Targets for their core classes –All targets for all core classes are printed in the student’s Agenda Binders –All targets for all core classes are also posted on the school website –Posted daily in every class including Electives & PE including Electives & PE –Used for review purposes –In student friendly language as “I can …” statements –The basis for each and every common assessment

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience Student Involvement in LEARNING… Since the targets are 100% accessible to the students, students know exactly what is expected and what will be assessed. Since the targets are 100% accessible to the students, students know exactly what is expected and what will be assessed. –Common Formative Assessments show mastery or the need for more time and support –Motivation and Accountability – students control their FLEX based on their achievement Learning Targets are the FOUNDATION Learning Targets are the FOUNDATION

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience FLEX Intervention Offerings Core Subject Interventions by Grade Level Core Subject Interventions by Grade Level –Prescribed by Core Teacher based on LTs Core Class Study Halls by Grade Level Core Class Study Halls by Grade Level –Assigned by PLC Team to get students “caught up” –Administrative Study Halls Students removed from Interventions for behavior issues Students removed from Interventions for behavior issues CST Score Based Intervention Groups CST Score Based Intervention Groups –Prescribed by admin & teachers based on identified areas of focus Special Education Interventions Special Education Interventions –Assigned by Spec. Ed. Teacher based on IEP

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience Core Subject Interventions By grade level and subject matter By grade level and subject matter Individual teachers recommend students based on classroom performance with: Individual teachers recommend students based on classroom performance with: –Learning Targets and Common Assessments Interventions will be the re-teaching of the Learning Targets that have just been taught in core classes. Interventions will be the re-teaching of the Learning Targets that have just been taught in core classes. Reduced class sizes for re-teaching Reduced class sizes for re-teaching

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience Core Class Study Halls By grade level By grade level The PLC team of teachers recommend students based on habitual missing assignments. The PLC team of teachers recommend students based on habitual missing assignments. Can be a subject specific decision Can be a subject specific decision Ideal for students that need additional time, help, and structure. Ideal for students that need additional time, help, and structure.

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience Special Ed. Interventions SAI and SI (SDC) groupings based on academic progress or IEP goals SAI and SI (SDC) groupings based on academic progress or IEP goals –Intensive Reading Groups –Math Remediation –Core Class Support Self Contained SDC (CAPA) Self Contained SDC (CAPA) –Participate in Enrichments

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience Counseling Services in FLEX Counseling groups created based on concerns: Counseling groups created based on concerns: –Truancy and attendance –Academic needs –Support groups for personal & family issues (i.e. bereavement, divorce, depression etc.) –Counseling interventions for consistent behavior problems and social drama scenarios Creates a dedicated, uninterrupted time for counselors to run small groups Creates a dedicated, uninterrupted time for counselors to run small groups –Doesn’t interfere with classroom instructional time

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience FLEX Enrichment Offerings Topics of interest chosen by teacher Topics of interest chosen by teacher Doesn’t have to be subject specific Doesn’t have to be subject specific Hands-on, interactive, and motivating Hands-on, interactive, and motivating PE Intramurals, High School Sports, etc. PE Intramurals, High School Sports, etc. But, Most Importantly: But, Most Importantly: –DO ANYTHING (within reason) that you think the students will be interested in!

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience PE Intramurals 2 week Intramural qualifying tournaments leading to a Intramural playoff round every 5 th FLEX week 2 week Intramural qualifying tournaments leading to a Intramural playoff round every 5 th FLEX week Multiple sports happening each qualifying week Multiple sports happening each qualifying week Drama, dance, flags, movement, etc. Drama, dance, flags, movement, etc. –Or anything else students would be interested in!

© 2010 J. Litel & J. Malatesta The FLEX Experience At PVMS we are a Professional Learning Community at Work! We invite you to come and see! For more resources visit us on the web at: Or contact: Jeff Litel at: Joe Malatesta at: Jeff or Joe at: (909)