transforming the scps middle school experience for all ... · interdisciplinary teaming with...

Transforming the SCPS Middle School

Experience for ALL Learners

Stafford County Public Schools

Inspire. Empower. Excel.

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Feedback from Audience

and text

Code: 401205(for current 6th grade families)

Code: 401207(for current 7th grade families)

Create a new

message to number:

37607

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Agenda

1. Virginia’s Profile of a Graduate

2. Lifelong skills: Virginia’s and Stafford’s 5C’s

3. Student Achievement Trends

4. Best Practices in Middle Schools

5. Middle School Curriculum Opportunities

6. Middle School Schedule Changes

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“Virginia’s public school students will need opportunities to learn about multiple subject areas and to use personal skills during their educational years.

The need to reconsider how Virginia children are educated stems from the evolution to a complex economy, with diverse and rapid change as underlying forces, rather than stability and standard workforce practices.”

Source: Virginia Department of Education Briefing, June 2016

Progress Report on the Board of Education’s Development of a Profile of a Virginia Graduate

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/boe/committees_standing/accountability/2016/06-jun/progress-report-for-profile-of-a-

graduate.pdf 4

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/boe/committees_standing/accountability/2016/06-jun/progress-report-for-profile-of-a-graduate.pdf


VA Profile of a GraduateA successful Virginia Graduate will:

• Achieve and apply academic & technical knowledge;• Demonstrate workplace skills, qualities, & behaviors;• Build connections and value interactions with others as

a responsible & responsive citizen;• Align knowledge, skills & personal interests with

interests with career opportunities.

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Inspire. Empower. Excel. 6


Virginia’s 5 C’sStudents In Every Grade Will Experience A New Approach To Instruction That

Focuses On Key Skills For Success In A Modern World

Critical Thinking

Communication

Creativity

Collaboration

Citizenship

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Research and Best Practice in Middle Schools

Key Characteristics

Interdisciplinary teaming with heterogeneous student grouping

Cross-curricular opportunities Multi-tiered systems of support Advisory time

Content Considerations Varied Elective Opportunities Access to World languages Career Exploration

Critical Needs

Targeted Professional

Learning

School Schedule to

accommodate these

learning experiences

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Interdisciplinary TeamingSCIENCETEACHER

ENGLISH TEACHER

MATH TEACHERSOCIAL

STUDIES TEACHER

COLLABORATION TEACHER

SPECIALIST OR ELECTIVE TEACHER

Advantages Share the same students Get to know students better Share strategies Meet with student together Meet with parents together

and Plan for interdisciplinary or cross

curricular activities and projects

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Cross-Curricular Opportunities Explore topics connected across content

areas

Strengthens students’ understanding and investigation of real-life applications.

Provide ongoing, concrete, experiential learning

Integrated curriculum that is more compatible with the way their brains work

Senn, Gary; McMurtrie, Deborah; Coleman, Bridget. (2019). Collaboration in the Middle: Teachers in Interdisciplinary Planning. Current Issues in Middle Level Education, v24 n1 Article 6 2019. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1204875.pdf.

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Multi -Tiered Systems of Support

Can we guarantee that every child, no matter the content, no matter the grade, can get extra time and help if they need it?

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Multi -Tiered Systems of SupportRegular Classroom Instruction

Teachers facilitate learning and provide extra help and support as they are able

Flex Time

Intervention - just in time support for current work, skills, or concepts

Support Courses

Remediation - additional instruction for students substantially behind peers in reading or mathematics

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Multi Tiered Systems of Support

669 students or 9% of middle school students are two or more grade levels below in math

What it means: Students lack knowledge of basic sounds, connecting sound together to form words, difficulty reading words quickly, and lack knowledge of basic vocabulary to decode words and place them in context.

What it means: students lack skills in the computation of numbers including decimals and fractions and find algebraic concepts difficult.

719 students or 10% of all middle school students are two or more grade levels below in reading 15


Advisory Time

A student takes part in a celebration for the

school’s 6th grade advisory group, which sets

aside unstructured time for students to build

relationships and bond with each other.

Ertl, Gretchen. (2019, March) How Schools Can Make Advisories

Meaningful for Students and Teachers. Education Week, 38 (25). Retrieved

Edweek online

When an adult advisor meets regularly during the school day with a group of students to provide academic and social-emotional support.

Benefits of Advisory Time: Support academics Help students navigate social and

emotional issues Create a positive culture Develop lasting relationships with

teachers and students Enhance communication

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Varied Learning Experiences COMPUTER SCIENCE DISCOVERIES

DIGITAL ART

PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS

MUSIC TECHNOLOGY

CREATIVE WRITING

INTRODUCTION TO GUITAR

EXPLORING LITERARY STYLES

WORLD MUSIC

LATIN LANGUAGE EXPLORATORY

WORLD LANGUAGE EXPLORATORY

BUILDING LEADERS

SPANISH PART A AND B

STEM INNOVATION LAB

PUBLIC SPEAKING AND DEBATE

INNOVATION STUDIO

CHANGE MAKERS

MATHEMATICS PERFORMANCE LAB

READING SKILLS & STRATEGIES

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Middle School Elective Interest SurveyDetails Administered in late January to all middle school and 5th

grade students

Sent to parents, placed on school website, and made available on site

Participation Rate 24% of Drew parents responded to the survey 89% of students from Drew and elementary feeder

schools

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Rising 6th Grade for DrewStudents’ Responses

Digital Art

Mathematics Performance Lab

World Language Exploratory

World Music

Creative Writing

Parents’ Responses

Digital Art

Building Leaders

Mathematics Performance Lab


Public Speaking & Debate20



Innovation Studio

Spanish I Part A

Digital Art

STEM Innovation Lab



Computer Science Discoveries

STEM Innovation Lab

Digital Art

Innovation Studio

Spanish I Part A21



Digital Art

French/German I

Stem Innovation LabComputer Science Discoveries

Music Technology


Computer Science Discoveries

STEM Innovation Lab

Pathways to Success

Digital Art

Public Speaking & Debate22


Viewing How this Looks

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MON TUE WED THUR

Period 1 Period 5 Period 1 Period 5

FLEX FLEX FLEX FLEX




XY Schedule Format

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Current Schedule - 6th GradeMON TUE WED THUR

English 6 English 6 English 6 English 6

FLEX FLEX FLEX FLEX

Math 6X Math 6X Math 6X Math 6X

Science 6 History 6 Science 6 History 6

Physical

EducationBand

Physical

EducationBand

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Sample 6th Grade ScheduleMON TUE WED THUR

Chorus English 6 Chorus English 6

FLEX FLEX FLEX FLEX

Math 6X Science 6 Math 6X Science 6

World

Language ExpHistory 6

World

Language ExpHistory 6

Physical

EducationBand

Physical

EducationBand

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Sample 7th Grade Schedule

MON TUE WED THUR

English 7Knowing

MathematicsEnglish 7

Knowing

Mathematics

FLEX FLEX FLEX FLEX

Math 7 Science 7 Math 7 Science 7

Physical

EducationOrchestra

Physical

EducationOrchestra

CivicsSpanish I

Part ACivics

Spanish I

Part A 27

Sample 8th Grade Schedule

MON TUE WED THUR

Stem

Innovation

Reading Skills

& Strategies

Stem

Innovation

Reading Skills

& Strategies

FLEX FLEX FLEX FLEX

Physical

Education

Engineering &

Design

Physical

Education

Engineering &

Design

Math 8 Science 8 Math 8 Science 8

English 8 Geography English 8 Geography28

Thank You!

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