Middle School
Schedule
Update
January 13, 2020
Presentation Overview
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Context
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Information Gathering and Committee Work
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Identified Priorities & Schedule Scenarios Meeting Priorities
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Core Schedule Recommendation
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Encore Schedule Recommendation
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Questions & Discussion
Prior to 2013-14
“Junior High Schedule”
Sample 6th Grade Schedule
DEERFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISTRICT 109
Period 1 - P.E. 8:00 - 8:43
Period 2 - Math 8:46 - 9:26
Period 3 - Science 9:29 - 10:09
Period 4 - Practical Arts 10:12 - 10:52
Period 5 - Language Arts 10:55 - 11:35
Period 6 - Language Arts 11:38 - 12:18
Lunch 12:21 - 12:51
Period 8 - Spanish 12:54 - 1:34
Period 9 - Social Studies 1:37 - 2:17
Prior to 2013-14
“Junior High Schedule”
Sample 6th Grade Schedule
DEERFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISTRICT 109
Period 1 - P.E. 8:00 - 8:43
Period 2 - Math 8:46 - 9:26
Period 3 - Science 9:29 - 10:09
Period 4 - Practical Arts 10:12 - 10:52
Period 5 - Language Arts 10:55 - 11:35
Period 6 - Language Arts 11:38 - 12:18
Lunch 12:21 - 12:51
Period 8 - Spanish 12:54 - 1:34
Period 9 - Social Studies 1:37 - 2:17
2013-14 to Present
“Team Schedule”
Sample 7th Grade Schedule
DEERFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISTRICT 109
Homeroom 8:00 - 8:05
Core 1 - Math 8:05 - 9:05
Core 2 - Science 9:09 - 10:09
Encore 1 - World Language 10:13 - 10:52
Lunch 10:56 - 11:26
Encore 2 - Practical Arts 11:30 - 12:09
Encore 3 - P.E. 12:13 - 12:52
Core 3 - Social Studies 12:56 - 1:56
Core 4 - Language Arts 2:00 - 3:00
A/B
Rotation
Scheduling Is About Establishing Priorities
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There is no one “best” schedule
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Achieving one priority often means introducing new challenges
○ Team Model vs. Early Lunch for 6th Grade
○ Core Team Common Planning Time vs. No Opportunity for Encore Common Planning Time
○ Band/Orchestra in the Schedule vs. Practical Arts Availability
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No schedule achieves all priorities
Process Timeline - Casting a Wide Net
DEERFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISTRICT 109
Sept 2019: Board directive to staff based on enrollment for middle schools September 2019: Survey sent to parents, students, and middle school staff October 23, 2019: MS Committee Convenes October 17 & 18, 2019: Parent & Student Focus Groups Conducted Jan. 2020: Committee presents recommendations to the Board November & December 2019: Middle School committee meets
Alan B. Shepard M.S. Sara Ball (6th Grade ELA)
Ann Blythe (7th Grade Science) Emily Dykema (Music)
Becca Frase (7th Grade Math)
David Komie (8th Grade Social Studies) Jamie Mall (7th Grade Math)
Sherrie Ramsden (Special Education) Chris Cybulski (Principal)
DEERFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISTRICT 109
Committee Members
Caruso
Mandy D’Ambrosio (Interventionist)
Jen Feldberg (World Language/Launch) Ben Lombardi (6th Grade Math)
Tracy Markin (Special Education) Bea Revelins (8th Grade Science) Lior Tomer (7th Grade Social Studies) Julie Witczak (STEM)
Summary of Committee Work
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October 23 - Background Info/Discussion
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November 6 - Superintendent Presentation and Review
of Schedules
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November 20 - Development of Priorities
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December 11 - Consensus on Recommendation
Priorities That Rose to the Top
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Maintain Core Teacher Common Plantime
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Maintain Core Teacher Teaming
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Eliminate Early Lunch Time
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Replace Launch
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Modify A/B Schedule to Impact Fewer Students
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No Reduction in Math or ELA Instructional Minutes
Core Recommendation: Intervention Block
(beginning 2020-2021)Tier I - Effective, differentiated instruction provided by the classroom teacher using evidence-based core curriculum and positive behavioral management strategies. The
interventionist may push-in support as available.
Tier II - Short term support (typically 6-8 weeks) to supplement core instruction using targeted interventions to help fill academic gaps. The interventionist works with a student 2-3 days per week (in addition to core instruction) to support growth, progress monitor, and maintain regular communication with the family.
Tier III - Support increases to daily
DEERFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISTRICT 109
Tier I - Classroom teachers continue to provide Tier I supports to students in the classroom. Some additional minutes of push-in support may be provided by the teachers slated for the
intervention block. This could be provided during their “off period” of core instruction.
Tier II - Teams discuss students who need “core plus more” and refer those in need of Tier II
support. A building administrator (AP) will assign identified students to the intervention block. The assigned teacher will work with the student 2-3 days per week to support growth, progress
monitor, and maintain regular communication with the family.
Tier III - If more support is needed, they will increase to daily (Tier III). If progress is made, the student will return full-time to the scheduled encore.
DEERFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISTRICT 109
Core Recommendation and Benefits
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Low enrollment expected at both buildings in 6th grade
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6th grade students are new to middle school model
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Model can roll up with that grade level
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Training of teachers can occur one grade level at a time
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Team structure and schedule is maintained
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New Opportunities
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Teachers are doing some of this already outside of school day
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Teachers know the content being taught in the classroom
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Provides flexibility
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Currently, all students experience Practical Arts - Music, Art, STEM, CMA - in an
alternating format throughout the year. If a student takes Band/Orchestra, or in
some instances when a student receives intervention support, she/he misses a
Practical Arts opportunity.
DEERFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISTRICT 109
Encore Recommendation: Changes to A/B Structure
Semester 1 Semester 2
A Day - CMA B Day - Music A Day - STEM B Day - Art
A Day - Band B Day - Music A Day - Band B Day - CMA If Band/ Orchestra/ Intervention Elected, Students Get Only 2 of 4 Courses
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Propose that only students in band/orchestra, or students receiving
intervention support run on an A/B schedule.
DEERFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISTRICT 109
Encore Recommendation: Changes to A/B Structure
Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4
CMA Music STEM Art
All students get all 4 Practical Arts courses each year. Only students in band/orchestra/intervention rotate in/out of each Practical Arts course on “A” and “B” days.
DEERFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISTRICT 109
World Language Recommendation: Replace Launch
GOAL: Offer World Language in 6th Grade to
extend opportunities to improve reading, writing,
speaking and listening in the target language to
ultimately increase student preparedness for high
school.
Why is 109 ready for this change? Launch was established to provide
social-emotional support to 6th Graders as they transitioned to middle
school. All 6-8 students are now receiving a universal SEL curriculum through
● Cognitive processing of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills takes time.
● Early learning cultivates a stronger foundation and commitment.
● Language learning transfers skills to other academic areas.
● Develops a mindset of global citizenship.
● Prepares students for further advancement and rigor at DHS.
● Potential for even more recipients for the Seal of Biliteracy at the high school.
● Helps build proficiency in a challenging, non-threatening, not-rushed, and culturally rich way.
● Professionals at the first annual Career Day shared the advantages of being bilingual.
● Increased number of instructional hours can help ensure students meet Advanced proficiency prior to college entrance.
