2012-2013 Local School Plan For Improvement LSPI Objectives MINOR ELEMENTARY Accountability and flexibility are hallmarks of Gwinnett County Public Schools' success. Key to that success is ensuring that each school community understands the progress being made by its schools, as well as what plans will drive improvement. Each school creates a collaborative Local School Plan for Improvement (LSPI), with targeted goals based on student achievement results. These goals are dynamic, like our schools, and are updated to reflect changes that occur in schools. Data is used to determine areas needing improvement and to identify specific, measurable, annual objectives. Schools then determine how to use research-based strategies to achieve these goals, using flexibility as needed. The LSPI development process involves teachers, parents, and community members, so the entire school community has the opportunity to be involved in conversations about school improvement. Please contact the local school principal for more information about the school's plan and progress. 2012-2013 Long Term Goals and Objectives Goal: Minor Elementary School will increase academic performance in literacy for all students in an effort to reduce the achievement gaps between subgroups and meet or exceed annual thresholds of performance. Objective: Minor Elementary will increase academic performance in Reading, Writing and Language Arts by meeting or exceeding published annual thresholds of expected performance and continuing to increase the number of students scoring in the 'exceeds' range on the CRCT and 5th Grade Writing Assessment and meeting or exceeding county averages on Interims and state required assessments. 1
2012-2013 Long Term Goals and Objectives Goal: Minor Elementary School will increase academic performance in math and science for all students in an effort to reduce the achievement gaps between subgroups and meet or exceed annual thresholds of performance. Objective: Minor Elementary will increase academic performance in Math (Numeracy) and Science by meeting or exceeding published annual thresholds of expected performance, increasing the number of students scoring in the 'exceeds' range on the CRCT, and meeting or exceeding county averages on Interims and state required assessments. 2
Schools Goals - MINOR ELEMENTARY Goal Title Goal Start School Year Math and Science Goal Reading/ Language Arts Goal Annual Objective Minor Elementary School will increase academic performance in math and science for all students in an effort to reduce the achievement gaps between subgroups and meet or exceed annual thresholds of performance. Minor Elementary School will increase academic performance in literacy for all students in an effort to reduce the achievement gaps between subgroups and meet or exceed annual thresholds of performance. End School Year 2010-11 2014-15 2010-11 2014-15 Minor Elementary will increase academic performance in Reading, Writing and Language Arts by meeting or exceeding published annual thresholds of expected performance and continuing to increase the number of students scoring in the 'exceeds' range on the CRCT and 5th Grade Writing Assessment and meeting or exceeding county averages on Interims and state required assessments. Associated Goals Goal: Reading/Language Arts Goal Implementation Design Berkmar Cluster Language Arts Vertical Team Initiatives The goals and objectives of the Berkmar Language Arts Vertical Team will be carried out by the local school participants on the team at the local school during the course of the year to support literacy instruction and increase vertical articulation within and between cluster schools at all levels. Nov 2, 2012 3 2:06:20 PM
Collaborative Planning Focused, ongoing, purposeful opportunities for staff instructional collaboration will increase the ability for all to differentiate instruction for each student at deeper levels and ensure instructional alignment within and across grade levels and teams. Research-based best practices supporting our LSPI will be embedded in professional learning Staff will meet in blended groups that include grade level personnel, resource staff, specialists and at times, county level curriculum leaders. SD: Collaborative Common Planning Teachers will meet weekly to update and embed their archived plans with common core and technology to be followed by individual teacher differentation for their students. SD: Data Driven Planning Once monthly the Data Administrator will lead grade level sessions that focus on best practices regarding use of data and/or provide data snapshots and lead the process of developing action plans with staff that they will use to inform instruction. SD: Instructional Coaching The instructional coach will provide individual support to staff each quarter based on a needs assessment completed by each staff member and supplemented by input from administration and the coach via observation and/or other data. SD: Quarterly Half Day Planning Instructional staff will be provided quarterly half day planning sessions in which they will receive staff development tied to the LSPI and time to plan collaboratively. SD: Writer's Workshop Planning 1st through 5th grade levels will meet once monthly with the instructional coach to determine writing instruction plans for the month and receive any related staff development and/or modeling. Nov 2, 2012 4 2:06:20 PM
Interactive Rigor Embedded Instructional Technology In conjunction with the rollout of the eclass tool this year, the LSTC will lead instructional staff to increase the variation of technology tools and software they are using for instruction and support them in developing rigor embedded technology lessons aligned with the Technology Integration Matrix (TIMM), with a focus on increasing the level of implementation from year to year. SD: eclass Tool Usage Staff will receive training and support in using the new eclass tool that the Berkmar cluster schools are piloting this year. SD: Rigor Embedded Technology In an effort to prepare our instructional staff to provide a student instructional environment where we might offer a BYOD (bring your own device) option, the LSTC will provide staff development to ensure staff are proficient with the peripherals and/or software that would be used in such an environment and develop their ability to create rigor embedded technology lessons as defined by the Technology Integration Matrix (TIM). Nov 2, 2012 5 2:06:20 PM
Literacy Instruction/Written Expression Items offered will improve and prepare 3rd, 4th & 5th grade students for the 5th grade writing assessment while the use of learning logs for all students K-5, will support improvement in written expression and writing across the curriculum. SD: Building Literacy in Social Studies This course is designed to incorporate literacy skills into social studies content. Lessons and resources that support the Q-Plus strategies and AKS will be given. SD: Cafeteria Writing Students in grade 3 will participate in Cafeteria Writing during a window of the year in an effort to motivate them and provide an overview of best practices to all students in a consistent manner, to support their growth in written expression and performance on the 3rd grade writing assessments. The 4th & 5th grade teachers will determine the model to be used for for their students. SD: ELLs WRITE practical courses designed to build the capacity of the classroom teacher to provide effective instruction for ELLs, 2 PLUs, 20 contact hours SD: Explicit Handwriting Instruction Students in Kindergarten and 1st grade will receive explicit handwriting instruction that is modeled and delivered by their classroom teachers. Staff development was provided last year in preparation for this initiative SD: Reading Instruction for ELLs (RIE) Practical course designed to build the capacity of the classroom teacher to provide effective instruction for ELLs,2 PLUs, 20 contact hours SD: SUMMER LITERACY INSTITUTE An intensive course in the theory and practice of Readers' and Writers' Workshop in K-12 language arts and literacy strategies for math, science, and social studies. SD: VISION COHORT 4 Rigorous training in the implementation of our balanced literacy framework in all classrooms. SD: Writer's Workshop Planning See description under "Collaborative Planning" section Nov 2, 2012 6 2:06:20 PM
SD: Writing Boot Camp Sessions will be offered for those who do not pass the 5th grade writing assessment in either a before school or Saturday school model. Staff and Student Leadership Development Administration will lead the School Improvement Team (SIT) in developing their personal and team capacity for leadership and in turn, SIT members will do the same for those they lead and the school staff at large will foster the leadership development of our students. SD: Classroom Management In an effort to maintain and increase the quality of teacher/student relationships, all staff will participate in staff development during pre-planning on classroom management with a strong focus on relationship building. This will be delivered by Cindy Antrim and is titled, "50 Ways to Improve Student Behavior". SD: Cluster Schools Visitation Release time will be provided for grade chairpersons to observe how their colleagues plan together at other schools to capitalize on best practices and increase leadership 'ideas toolbelt'. Findings will be shared out with the larger SIT audience. SD: Faculty Book Studies Pairs of SIT members will self select book titles aligned with the LSPI and serve as the facilitators via an eclass forum. On January 2nd they will lead a final book discussion and the book study team will develop an action plan to be posted on the forum with opportunity for post implementation discussion. SD: GCPS GIFTED ENDORSEMENT PROGRAM Gifted education certification in Georgia is an endorsed field. Teachers wishing to become certified in gifted education must take the equivalent of four graduate level courses. Gwinnett County Public Schools offers a year long, sequential program that incorporates the four required courses into three major blocks of instruction organized into one hundred and fifty hours of face to face instruction and fifty hours of field experiences. SD: Student Goal Setting Classroom teachers will provide a data profile to their class at the onset of the year. Teachers will then meet with individual students to discuss their own historical data and work with them to set student goals which will be revisited at the mid and end of year at a minimum. Annual Objective Minor Elementary will increase academic performance in Math (Numeracy) and Science by meeting or exceeding published annual thresholds of expected performance, Nov 2, 2012 7 2:06:20 PM
increasing the number of students scoring in the 'exceeds' range on the CRCT, and meeting or exceeding county averages on Interims and state required assessments. Associated Goals Goal: Math and Science Goal Implementation Design Berkmar Cluster Vertical Math Team The goals and objectives of the cluster math team will be implemented by the team members at our local school in an effort to improve math instruction within our school and articulate alignment and best practices across grade levels and schools. SD: BERKMAR VERTICAL MATH TEAM The team meets at least five times per year to review cluster math data, share best practices, conduct peer observations, design instructional activities, and collaboration on best practices. Collaborative Planning Please refer to the description located under Goal 2. SD: Common Assessment Development - Math Two teacher designee's from grades 1 through 5 will be provided one day of release time each quarter to create bi-weekly formative assessments in math, to be uploaded to Elements for use. SD: USING DOK TO IMPROVE ASSESSMENT AND INSTRUCTION This course will provide teachers with strategies and knowledge for implementing DOK in their classroom instruction as well as their assessments. In addition it provides teachers with a hands-on approach to analyzing the AKS Nov 2, 2012 8 2:06:20 PM
Interactive Rigor Embedded Technology In conjunction with the rollout of the eclass tool this year, the LSTC will lead instructional staff to increase the variation of technology tools and software they are using for instruction and support them in developing rigor embedded technology lessons aligned with the Technology Integration Matrix (TIMM), with a focus on increasing the level of implementation from year to year. Math Instruction/Written Expression in Math & Science Last school year balanced numeracy was implemented for the first time so our focus will be on consistency and quality in implementation through follow up staff development as needed and monitoring. The use of learning logs for math was also new last year and we will determine those best practices in using these and continue to refine use as they will now be utilized during math and science specials as well. SD: 2012/2013 Math and Science Staff Development Training Year-long training (10 hours total) that provides teachers with a focus on support of newly aligned AKS content and quality instructional practice in Math, and infusion of Technology, Inquiry, Differentiation, and Engagement (T.I.D.E.) in Science instruction to improve technical literacy, problem-solving skills, and student achievement. SD: Learning Logs Last year all students began using learning logs in math to increase written expression across the curriculum and have the product serve as a source of review for them. This year, we will continue usage in math but also expand a second log for use during specials. Our aim is that students will not only increase written expression in all areas of learning, but the log itself will serve to promote the connectivity between classroom learning and that which takes place during specials. SD: MATH INSTITUTE - ELEMENTARY The Math Institute provides effective professional learning through modeling by "master" teachers, peer coaching, and debriefing discussions. Following the summer workshop, ongoing mentoring and implementing of best practices should be evident. Nov 2, 2012 9 2:06:20 PM
Science Instruction The school will seek to pursue STEM certification while expanding interest and motivation where science and nature are concerned by using to our best advantage our newly renovated wildlife habitat and continuing to utilize our organic garden to provide students field experces and offering them expanded ideas for their science fair projects this year. SD: Elementary Science Specialist Training The goal of this training is to help elementary science specialists maximize their professional impact within their classrooms, at their local schools, and within their local community by increasing their level of science literacy and instructional coaching. The focus for 2012/2013 is on improving student technical literacy and problem-solving skills by integrating engineering concepts with the K-5 Science curriculum. SD: Field Experiences/Experiments We will capitalize on our newly refurbished Wildlife Preserve and existing organic garden, by increasing delivery of engaging, hands-on instruction related to science, health and environmental AKS. Ready-made lessons with materials will be created by the Science Cmte., in conjunction with the Science & Health specialists. SD: STEM Certification Per the draft CCRPI documents, elementary schools can pursue site based or select staff STEM certification. This option will be investigated and pursued. Staff and Student Leadership Development Please see description under goal 2. Nov 2, 2012 10 2:06:20 PM