The Power of Articulation through a Vertical Team Exemplary Practices in Education Leadership Conference CSU Fresno January 31, 2012 Panel: – Joan Dallin, Mendota Unified – Lori M. Hamada, CPM Educational Program – Pamela McGee, AVID Regional Director – Stephanie Verners, Principal Exeter Union Elementary

Who’s in the Room??? Please stand and announce, “I’m here!” when appropriate…

What Is A Vertical Team? A vertical team is a small group of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, performance goals, and common working approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable.

HIGH SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Structure of A Vertical Team

Central Valley Vertical Teams Associated Schools of Kingsburg (5 districts) Caruthers Area (4 districts) Mendota Unified (full district) Washington Union Area Schools (7 districts)

Why Do We Need This? Communication both among districts and within districts – Realization of shared responsibility among teachers at all grade levels – Parent Communication Accountability to standards/benchmarks – STAR / CCSS – CAHSEE: Standards (covers grade 6-8 standards) – CCSS Content and Practice Standards

What Happens When Students Start Falling Behind? Year in School Grade Equivalent Measured By Standardized Test

Actual Grade Level Mathematics: % of Topics on Grade Level Average Grade Level K12345 K 100 K 1 st nd rd th th Curriculum Calibration Study

Kingsburg High School Math Enrollment Data YearGeometryAlgebra 2 Pre- Calculus Advanced Classes During the period of , school population increased 2% Advanced Classes include AP Calculus, AP Statistics, and Prob/Stats

Kingsburg High School CAHSEE Results For 10 th Grade Students Year Tested KHS 10th Grade CA 10 th Grade % %61% %77% %78% %76% %79% %81% KHS SES Students CA SES Students 25% 37%38% 73%58% 50%60% 68%57% 77%62% 73%66%

Mendota Unified API Scores

Mendota Unified ELA Percentage At or Above Proficient 39%

Mendota Unified MATH Percentage At or Above Proficient Mendota Unified MATH Percentage At or Above Proficient 25%

What happens at a Mathematics VT meeting? “Top 5” Activity: Working in grade level pairs or teams, have teachers – Identify the TOP 5 skills that they would like to have students come into their grade level or course with. – Identify the TOP 5 skills that they guarantee students will leave their grade level or course with. Adapted from the “Top Five” activity in, 100 Ways to Build Teams, Carol Searce.

Top 5 Activity Next we would have them post their charts and then take a Gallery Walk of the posters to look for gaps and repetitions… Major question: Are you having any AHA’s??? Adapted from the “Top Five” activity in, 100 Ways to Build Teams, Carol Searce

Other Mathematics VT Activities Analysis of local data and research trends – CCSS / Mathematical Practices – Discussions around error analysis – Use of technology in mathematics classes – English Learner strategies / analysis of student work – Marzano Strategies / analysis of student work – Area-wide common vocabulary focus Backwards mapping of released items to standards across the grade levels Brainstorming of solutions to common problems Parent/Teacher/Board Awareness Tools Book reads / Google groups

What happens at an ELA Vertical Team meeting? “Skills for the Task”--Teachers in mixed-level groups take a sample question from the AP Language Exam and determine what skills a student would need to be able to succeed on that test item; Groups use their ELA Frameworks and course guides to determine in which grades students learn those skills and with which resources/activities; Teachers plan for reinforcement of the skills vertically through coordinated activities.

Other ELA Vertical Team Activities Alignment of skills and texts vertically through grades Analysis of local data and research trends CCSS / Use of Critical Reading Strategies for Informational and Literary Text Scaffolding of Assignments for ELL/analysis of student work Marzano Strategies / analysis of student work Area-wide common academic vocabulary focus Backwards mapping of released items to standards across the grade levels

Other ELA Activities Instruction in consistent and effective use of Notetaking; Spiraling scaffolds in types and complexity of reading and writing; Creation of common rubrics for scoring of written work; Common assessments scored together; Increase of rigor in critical thinking about reading and writing leading to career/college readiness.

Recommendations for Forming a Vertical Team: College Board Training Teacher led Administrative support Time away from classroom Pay for substitutes District/county/regional liaison Passion/desire Visit a Vertical Team meeting

VT CIM Technology Data Pacing Assessments COI Math ELPD Academic Vocabulary ELA Cornell Notes Bridges Objectives Science Re-teach Strategies CCSS Writing Strategy/S tandards

Q & A ?

Lori Pamela Stephanie Joan Contact Information