Bellows Free Academy Fairfax Action Plan

2005-2007 School Years

Drafted 8-05

 

Broad Action Step

Specific Progress Indicators

Dates/by whom

Resources needed.

K-5

Literacy

1)  Teacher/staff will receive ongoing professional development during the year in balanced literacy approaches. 

 

 

Instruction 1

Assessment 1

Assessment 2

Assessment 3

Assessment 4

Assessment 6

Instruction 4

Leader/Org. 1

Community Resources 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1a.  Recently adopted spelling programs will be implemented during the 2005-06 school year

 

1b.  Staff will evaluate spelling programs implemented

 

1c. Every classroom teacher will implement a 90 minute literacy block (K-60 min.)

 

1d. Literacy coaching/mentoring in classrooms to reinforce balanced literacy approaches.

 

1e.  Finalize writing portfolio expectations

 

1f.  Implement writing portfolio process that was finalized

 

1g. A writing course will be offered.

 

 

1h.  Information/strategies from course will be shared with full faculty

 

1i.  Engage in Book Talk

 

 

 

1j.Local assessments will be adjusted, further developed and piloted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1a. Classroom teachers in fall 2005

 

 

 

1b.  Full faculty in spring 2006

 

 

1c. In fall of 2005 by classroom teachers

 

 

1d.  Sue Biggam will provide coaching 3-4 times throughout the school year

 

1e. Fall 05  

 

 

1f.  Classroom teacher throughout 05-06

 

1g. Contracted course by Karen Kurzman in Fall 05.

 

1h. Course participants throughout Fall semester.

 

1i. The book School That Work

will be read by all faculty- To begin by Nov. 2005

 

1j.  Gates MacGinite will be given in grades 3-8 as a pre and post reading assessment- Fall and Spring

POA will be administered three times per year in K, 1, and 2 selectively

Dibels will be piloted in Kindergarten

Teachers to be trained in DRA administration in Summer 2006.

 

 

1a.  Program material purchased from 05-06 local budget

 

 

1b.  Faculty meeting time

 

 

1c. Time and professional development

 

 

1d.  Consolidated funds

 

 

 

1e.  Faculty meeting time

 

 

1f.  Professional development

 

 

1g.  Course funds

 

 

1h.  Faculty meeting time

 

 

1i.  Faculty meeting time

 

 

 

1j. Costs of assessments taken from district and local funds.

Faculty meeting time

Grade level meetings

 

Mathematics

2) Teachers will explore and identify a new mathematics program.

 

Curriculum 1

Curriculum 3

Assessment 1

Assessment 2

Assessment 3

Assessment 4

Assessment 6

Instruction 1

Instruction 4

Leader/Org. 1

Community Resources 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2a. Teachers on mathematics committee will communicate math selection process to full staff.

 

2b.  Three mathematics programs will be piloted during the 05-06 school year

 

2c. Full faculty will reach consensus in making a mathematics program decision

 

2d. An implementation plan will be developed.

 

2e. One hour math block will be instituted throughout school.

 

2f. Mathematics professional development to support new program.

 

2g.  Math Program implementation will begin

 

2h.  Mathematics portfolio process will be clarified

 

 

 

2a. Math selection committee during inservice

 

 

2b. Teachers from each grade level will volunteer to pilot 3 programs beginning in the fall 05

 

2c. Decision will be reached in April 06

 

 

2d.  By full faculty in May 06

 

 

2e.  In each classroom beginning 06-07

 

2f.  In summer of 06

 

 

2g.  Classroom teachers in fall 06

 

 

2h. By full faculty throughout 06-07 school year.

 

2a.  Inservice

 

 

 

2b.  Teacher collaboration time, release time

 

 

2c. Faculty meeting time

Program costs to be budgeted in 06-07

 

2d.  Faculty meeting time

 

 

2e.  Time

 

 

2f.  Consolidated grant funds

 

 

2g.  Resources from local budget

 

 

2h.  Faculty meeting time

Social/Emotional

3)  Our school will continue to develop our responsive classroom practices while maintaining a positive learning culture.

 

 

3a. Current responsive classroom practices will be explored and refined

 

3b. The K-5 members of the district coordinated health team will identify the needs of the K-5 community and develop an integrated/ coordinated system of services.

 

3c.  Faculty Book talk

 

 

 

3d.  Recess and lunch practices revisited

 

 

3e. An integrated health curriculum will be developed and piloted.

 

 

 

3f. Promote understanding of the causes and appropriate interventions to harassment/bullying.

3a.  Teachers throughout 05-06 school year

 

3b. Guidance counselor and health teacher throughout 06-07 school year.

 

 

 

 

3c. Faculty will read/ review The First Six Weeks of School and discuss as a group. Completed by Nov. 1st.

 

3d.  Full faculty discussion- to begin at inservice and continue throughout the year

 

3e. Curriculum coordinator and K-12 committee.  Curriculum developed by spring 2006.  Curriculum piloted in fall 2006.

 

3f.  Throughout the 05-06 school year the guidance counselor will work in each classroom with the classroom teacher

3a.  Small group meeting time, faculty meeting time

3b. Small group meeting time

 

 

3c.  Books purchased in 04-05

 

3d.  August inservice time, faculty meeting time

3e.  Release time

 

 

3f.  Guidance time in classroom

6-8

 

Literacy

4)  Teachers will discuss and apply effective literacy strategies and instructional practices across the curriculum.

 

Instruction 1

Instruction 4

Assessment 1

Assessment 2

Assessment 3

Assessment 4

Assessment 6

Curriculum 6

Leader/Org. 1

Community Resources 1

 

 

 

 

 

4a. Literacy strategies across the curriculum will be discussed and applied by the middle school staff through participation in the VSRI.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4b. Implement Pre and Post reading assessments to all students in grades 6-8.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4c. The results of the literacy assessments will be used to drive literacy instruction.

 

 

 

 

 

4d. Systematic interventions will be developed for students not meeting literacy standards.

 

4e. LA GE’s will be utilized and implemented by staff and students.

 

 

4f. Strategies for delivering appropriate differentiated literacy instruction in the classroom will continue to be explored, discussed and applied in the classroom.

 

 

4a. Consultant will facilitate the understanding of the 9 literary strategies across the curriculum in faculty/team meetings and in classrooms by Spring 2006.

 

4a. Team of middle school teachers to attend the Vermont Reads Institute in Summer 2006.

 

4a. The 9 literacy strategies will be implemented across the curriculum with continued professional development and classroom coaching in Fall 2006.

 

4b. Pilot Gates MacGinitie in Fall 2005 and Spring 2006. 

 

 

4b. Teachers to be trained in DRA administration in Summer 2006.

 

4b. DRA added as assessment tool in the Fall 2006 and Spring 2007.

 

4c. Assessment results will be analyzed in Fall 2005 and Spring 2006.

 

4c. DRA assessment results to be added in 2006-07.

 

 

4d. Interventions will be developed and implemented by Fall 2006.

 

 

4e. Staff will facilitate achievement of LA GE’s; students will understand and work towards mastery of LA GE’s on an annual basis.

 

4f. All staff members will continue professional development in differentiated instruction through Summer 2006.

 

 

 

4a. VSRI participation - $15,000

and Literacy team

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5b. Cost of assessment instruments and training to be paid with local funds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4c. Staff and dept. meetings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4d.  Staff meeting / professional development / VSRI consultant

 

 

4e.  VSRI Consultant / Principal /

Professional Development

 

 

 

4f. FWSU Curriculum Director / professional development funds

Mathematics

5)  Teachers will have regularly scheduled meetings devoted to implementation of local portfolio system, familiarity with differentiated instruction, facilitation of achievement of Math GE’s and continued collaboration with high school math team in aligning teaching strategies and curriculum.

 

Curriculum 1

Curriculum 3

Assessment 1

Assessment 2

Assessment 3

Assessment 4

Instruction 1

Instruction 4

Leader/Org. 1

Community Resources 1

 

 

 

 

 

5a. There will be a variety of opportunities for teachers to have access to mathematics coaching and modeling.

 

5b. Systematic interventions will be developed for students not meeting mathematics standards.

 

5c. Strategies for delivering appropriate differentiated math instruction in the classroom will continue to be explored, discussed and applied in the classroom.

 

5d. Math GE’s will be utilized and implemented by staff and students.

 

 

 

5e. Pilot Math portfolio system in grades 6-8.  

 

 

 

5f. Middle and high school math teams will align teaching strategies and curriculum

 

5g. Explore development of a mathematics standards-based reporting system for students and parents.

 

5a. Consultant will engage math teachers in classroom coaching incorporating best practices – Fall 2005.

 

5b. Interventions will be developed and implemented by Fall 2006.

 

 

5c. All staff members will continue professional development in differentiated instruction through Summer 2006.

 

 

5d. Staff will facilitate achievement of Math GE’s; students will understand and work towards mastery of Math GE’s on an annual basis.

 

5e. Students will complete pieces, teachers will score pieces and then use results for discussion of student work by Spring 2006.

 

5f. Monthly department meetings starting Fall 2005.

 

 

5g. Middle school math team will explore a math standards-based reporting system by Spring 2006.

 

 

 

5a.  Costs- $7000 to be paid with state funding

 

 

 

5b.  CRF stipend- $800.00

 

 

 

5c.  Curriculum director, FWSU

Professional development funds

 

 

 

 

Social/Emotional

6)  Teacher/staff will continue to provide a pro-social learning environment that supports students.

 

Leader/Org 4

School Resources 1

 

 

6a. A multiage teacher advisory will occur weekly.

 

 

6b. Promote understanding of the causes and appropriate interventions to harassment/bullying.

 

 

 

6c. Team of middle school teachers will attend the NELMS annual conference.

 

 

 

6a. Advisory curriculum will continue to be developed in faculty meetings throughout 2005-06.

 

6b. Develop and implement plan to use, The Revealers, to engage students in a dialog concerning harassment/bullying through Spring 2006.

 

6c. Team will be developed to attend conference in Spring 2006.

 

 

 

6a. Faculty meeting time

 

 

 

6b. Faculty meeting time / supported by local funds

 

 

 

 

6c. Professional development funds

 

9-12

Mathematics

7)  Teachers will develop an instructional plan that prioritizes students’ mathematical needs and incorporates strategies for addressing them.

Community Resources 1

Curriculum 1

Curriculum 2

Curriculum 3

Assessment 1

Assessment 2

Assessment 3

Assessment 4

Instruction 1

Instruction 4

Leader/Org. 1

 

 

7a. An alternative assessment will be piloted

 

7b. Student grade performance will be analyzed and used to assess math program

 

7c. .A small group will explore cross-curricular teaching opportunities.

 

7d. High school math teachers will collaborate with middle school math teachers.

 

7a.  January 2006

 

 

7b. Cross-curricular teaching opportunities will occur in the 2006-2007 school year.

 

7c. Monthly through the school year

 

 

7d. Monthly throughout the school year

 

7a.  Faculty meeting time, inservice, release time

 

7b. Staff meeting time

 

 

 

7c. Department meeting time

 

 

7d.  Meeting time

Literacy

8) Teachers across the curriculum will receive instruction and implement the components of the ELA curriculum and develop higher order thinking skills with students such as:

        -meaningful organization

        -meaningful content

        -evidence

        -developing a position through

          detailed arguments and

          reasoning

        -creating effective sentence

          constructions and vocabulary

Community Resources 1

Instruction 1

Instruction 4

Assessment 1

Assessment 2

Assessment 3

Assessment 4

Curriculum 2

Leader/Org. 1

 

8a.  Literacy curriculum will be matched to GE’s

 

8b. Teachers will clarify benchmarks and exemplars of GE's with an emphasis on calibration and scoring.

 

8c. Teachers will improve the portfolio process to increase effectiveness as an instructional tool, an authentic assessment and meaningful learning.

 

8d.  Departments will delineate  areas of genre responsibility in content areas per ELA Curriculum document

 

8e. Increase academic support services for underachieving high school students.

 

 

8a. Faculty will continue this process.

 

8b. Teachers will continue to receive instruction in genres and instructional techniques.  This process will happen once a month throughout the 2005-2006 school year.

 

8c. Departments will recruit and train DUO students to process portfolio pieces.

 

8d. Teachers will continue to be trained in calibration and scoring during the 2005-2006 school year.

 

 

8e. Training Fall 2005

 

 

 

 

8b. Staff meeting time

 

 

 

 

 

8c. Supervision/Accountability for participation

 

 

8d. Faculty meeting time

Department meeting time

 

 

 

8e. VSRI or DOE

Social/Emotional

9)Members of the school community will promote the values of the school's Mission Statement

 

Leader/Org 4

Assessment 5

 

9a. Advisories will continue in grade nine and expanded into grade ten.

 

 

9b. Create a structure for recognizing academic performance and contributions to the school.

 

9c. Artist in Residence series.

 

 

 

9d. Create a student voice specifically addressing respect among peers.

 

 

 

 

9f. Explore community service/service learning opportunities.

 

 

9a. In fall of 2005

 

 

 

9b. Recognition in January and June.

 

 

 

9c. Scott will establish a committee by Sept. 15th.

Plan submitted by Oct. 30th.

 

 

9d. Student Council will develop an Action Plan by Dec. 1st.

 

 

 

9f. Consensus from high school faculty by Dec. 1st.

Work plan by Jan. 15th.

 

 

9a.  Local funds

 

 

 

9b.  Faculty meeting time

 

 

 

9c. Enrichment funds

 

 

 

 

9d. Student council advisor

 

 

 

 

 

9f. FY06 budget consideration

 

 

 

 

K-12

Science/Social Studies

10)  Teachers will implement newly developed science and social studies curriculums.

 

Curriculum 1

Curriculum 2 (HS)

Curriculum 3

Curriculum 4 (HS)

Curriculum 5 (HS)

Curriculum 9 (HS)

Curriculum 11

Assessment 1

Assessment 2

Assessment 3

Assessment 4

Assessment 5 (HS)

Instruction 1

Instruction 4

Leader/Org. 1

Leader/Org. 2

Leader/Org 8

Community Resources 1

 

K-8

10a. An earth science unit will be piloted in all grades K-6 classrooms.  7th grade will pilot an ecology (environmental studies) unit and 8th grade a physical science (chemistry) unit

 

10b. Professional development- Two science courses will be offered to support science implementation.

 

10c. Evaluate the effectiveness of units piloted.  Analyze student work.

 

10d. Pilot 3 new science units.

 

10e. Social studies curriculum will be completed and shared with faculty.

 

10f. One social studies unit will be piloted.

9-12

Social Studies

10g. Finalize common assessments

 

10h. Establish common learning experiences and resources

 

 

10i. Pilot US History

 

9-12

Science

 

10j. Complete earth science, IPS, biology, chemistry, and physics curriculum

 

10k. Update program of studies to reflect heterogeneous grouping

 

10l. Pilot earth science, biology and IPS

K-8

10a. Classroom teachers by Nov. 21, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

10b.  In fall 2005

 

 

 

10c. Teachers-Nov. 21 inservice

 

 

10d.  Throughout 06-07 school year

 

10e. Curriculum director by November 21, 2005

 

10f.. By teachers in spring, 2006

 

 

 

10g. By teachers in April 2006

 

 

10h. Throughout the 2005-06 school year

 

10i. January 2006

 

 

 

 

10j. To be completed by Jun 2006

 

 

 

10k. To be completed by teachers by Jan. 15th

 

10l. To be piloted by science teachers in fall 06

K-8

10a.  Teacher time, resources from local budget

 

 

 

 

10b.  District resources

 

 

 

10c.  Inservice

 

 

10d. Time- resources in local budget

 

10e. Inservice

 

 

10f. Resources in local budget

 

 

 

 

10g. Time

 

 

10h.  Local budget funds

 

 

10i. Classroom and planning time

Local budget

 

 

 

10j. Staff meeting time

 

 

 

10k. Guidance collaboration

 

 

10l. 07 budget considerations

Professional development

Technology

11) The technology plan adopted by the school board during the 04-05 school year will be implemented.

 

Instruction 3

Community Resources 1

Community Resources 5

Curriculum 10

Instruction 2

Leader/Org. 1

 

K-12

11a. Teachers will set technology goals.

 

11b. Develop a technology curriculum that includes national (NETS) and state (GE’s) standards.

 

 

11c. Portions of the technology curriculum will be piloted.

 

 

11d. Increase the number of computers available to students and teachers and reduce the reliance on older computers.

 

 

11e. Increase on-site professional development opportunities.

 

 

 

 

11f. Implement a website that facilitates communication with the community.

 

 

11g. Develop a framework that will guide the design of future professional development so that it improves the competency of and instruction by teacher and school leaders in the use of computers to enhance and enable student learning.

 

 

 

11a.  Goals will be set by individual teachers by Sept. 15, 2005

 

11b.The technology committee will begin this work in October 2005.  The curriculum director will facilitate this process. 

 

 

11c.A section of the technology curriculum will be piloted in the fall 2006.

 

11d. This will be addressed in the budget process for the 06-07 school year.

 

 

11e. FWSU curriculum director will work with technology committee.  Professional development opportunity will be developed beginning in Nov. 05.  Professional development

 

11f. Technicians will have new school website will be up and running by Oct. 1st.  Staff and community groups will update site regularly.

 

11g. Tech Committee with curriculum director by June 06

 

11a. Teacher time

 

 

11b. There will be one technology meeting per month just devoted to curriculum writing.

 

 

 

11c. Classroom teachers/technology educator

 

 

11d.  Budget development

 

 

 

 

11e. Bi-monthly tech meetings

After school workshops

 

 

 

 

11f. Staff and community group time

Local funds

 

 

 

11g. Bi-monthly tech meetings

Health

A K-12 district wide coordinated health curriculum will be developed and implemented.

 

Curriculum 1

Curriculum 2 (HS)

Curriculum 3

Curriculum 11

Assessment 1

Assessment 2

Instruction 1

Instruction 4

Leader/Org. 1

Community Resources 1

 

 

12a. A nutrition unit will be developed at all grade levels.

 

12b. The nutrition units will be piloted in the spring 2006

 

12c. Curriculum development will continue throughout the 06-07 school year.

12a. The health committee (including PE teachers) by January 2006

 

12b. Health, guidance counselors and PE teachers will pilot the unit

 

12c. The health committee, including PE teachers.

12a. Early release days and inservice time.

 

12b. Resources will be budged during the 07 budget process.

 

12c. Resources will be budged during the 07 budget process