Merrimack Middle School

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Merrimack Middle School

• May 12, 2008

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Positive School Wide CommitteeMission Statement

• The MMS PSW Committees mission is to support the
  Merrimack School Boards objective of providing
  an environment in which everyone may work and
  learn in an atmosphere of respect by promoting,
  implementing and supporting initiatives at MMS
  that focus on creating positive relationships
  while providing a bully free environment at
  school.

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Total Number of Substantiated Reports of
Bullying and Harassment Q1 - Q3 Academic Years
2006 - 2007 2007 - 2008
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STUDENT ASPIRATIONS
Belonging
SELF WORTH
Heroes
Sense of Accomplishment
ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT
Fun Excitement
Curiosity Creativity
Spirit of Adventure
PURPOSE
Leadership Responsibility
Confidence to Take Action
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Merrimack Middle School Student Advisory
TeamMission Statement

• The MMS Student Advisory Team (SAT) is a group of
  student representatives from each team who are
  committed to assisting the PSW committee to
  better understand what it is like to be a student
  at MMS. The goal is to provide an environment in
  which everyone may work and learn in an
  atmosphere of respect.

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Merrimack Middle School Behavior Rubric Data
Academic Year 2007 - 2008 by Quarter by
Statistically Significant Offenses
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Literacy

• 1. Reading Comprehension
• 2006-07 Teacher training and practice
• Staff training was provided via the NH Reads
  Grant
• Teachers received three professional texts to
  supplement their knowledge and learning
• Collaborative effort to choose strategies that
  would enhance comprehension for each grade level
  (before, during, and after reading)
• 2007-08 Implementation of comprehension
  strategies in all content areas

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• Classroom Libraries
• Training Workshop October 29, 2008
• Building Classroom Libraries That Work
• Covered
• Research pertaining to how classroom libraries
  work
• How to plan a classroom library
• How to help children make successful book
  selections
• Discussed 8 considerations for creating a
  classroom library that promotes reading
  achievement
• Discussed how to create a classroom culture that
  fosters reading motivation

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• Budget for 07-08
• 2006-2007 Language Arts classrooms were
  equipped with
• 25 books each.
• 2007-2008 - 250.00 per LA teacher and 100.00
  per Content
• teacher

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• 3. NECAP Data
• Recent training with staff on how to write a data
  statement that would represent results and
  findings for NECAP analysis
• Staff analyzed NECAP group data in order to
  determine our overall school achievement
• Department meetings (LA Math) will look at
  NECAP scores to determine what areas we need to
  focus our school improvement efforts on (Item
  Analysis)

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Word Identification and Vocabulary Class of 2012
50.63
36.25
14.43
10.50
400 Students
395 Students
Increased Approx 4 42 students to 57 students
Increased Approx 14 145 students to 200
students
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• Essential Standards
• Essential Standards have been identified for each
  department
• The middle school will complete the unpacking
  of the standards by the end of the school year
• In the fall, we will start to develop formal
  assessments to match the identified standards

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Mathematics

• Using Assessments to Improve Instruction
• Building Transitions
• Integrating Literacy and Technology
• Going Beyond the Core

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Using Assessments to Improve Instruction

• NECAPs
• Results of Released items analyzed and shared
  with teachers for instructional improvement
• End of Year Skills Assessments
• Students take end of year skills assessment.
  Results analyzed and shared with teachers for
  instructional improvement
• Results used to help with placement and
  intervention
• Building Essential Standards
• Teachers identified Essential Standards from
  State GLEs
• Have begun unpacking Essential Standards
• Developing Assessments for Mastery of each
  Essential Standard is the focus for next school
  year

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Building Transitions

• With JMUES
• 6th and 7th grade teachers met with each other to
  compare and discuss curriculums at the end of the
  last school year
• Sharing of materials (an example is the middle
  school teachers receiving a guide on the various
  algorithms used in Every Day Math)
• The Math Facilitators of each school increasing
  their communication with each other
• With MHS
• Continue communication with MHS Mathematics
  Department, especially in changes and
  modifications in each others programs
• Increase communication with MHS Guidance
  Department
• Involvement in the Springboard for Success
  Program

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Integrating Literacy and Technology

• Literacy
• Vocabulary
• Continue to use the Freyer Model as core of
  Vocabulary Learning
• Reading Mathematics
• Developing further understanding of mathematical
  symbols, concepts, expressions and statements
• Read, comprehend, interpret, and analyze data,
  graphs, and tables
• Helping students to know and use the features
  within our text as well as general use of a math
  textbook
• Writing to Support Thinking
• Helps students to think about their
  understandings and reasonings
• Helps teachers to better see understandings,
  faulty reasoning (correct solution, wrong
  reason), and misunderstandings of students
• Non-fiction Readings
• Beginning to incorporate non-fiction articles and
  short passages
• Research on mathematicians and mathematical
  concepts
• Beginning Classroom Libraries
• Begun through NH Reads Grant

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Integrating Literacy and Technology

• Technology
• Interactive Virtual Manipulatives
• http//illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?
  ID70
• Research
• Mathematicians
• Concepts e.g. Pi
• Working with Word and Spreadsheets
• Developing Formulas
• Graphing Data
• Graphing Calculator Explorations
• Scatter Plots
• Linear and Quadratic Equations
• Probability

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Going Beyond the Core

• MathCounts
• New England League of Middle Schools (NELMS)
  Mathematics Contest
• Hosting a Pre-Practicum Teacher
• Faculty Participation in a National Education
  Study on Online Professional Development
• State Quantitative Literacy Project

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Technology Category
Sample Types
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Portfolio - Technology Skills
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Portfolio Next Steps

• Student Assessment Rubric Draft

• Piloting Student Reflection