Areas of Challenge for Middle School • Of primary importance is the need for an improved vocabulary program. • Both the teaching and practice of writing as well as further emphasis on usage of figurative language, structuring essays, recognition of context clues, and encouraging reading would enhance the offerings. • Finally, two opposite needs have arisen: first, advanced learners need opportunities for critical thinking discussions with like minds, and second, those learners with difficulty also require small group guided instruction like that currently provided for math students. Elementary Methods of Meeting Challenges • Going forward, we would like to collaborate to plan vertically at least once or twice each month. • Curriculum binders need standardization for each grade and subject. • Words Their Way would create a positive spelling inventory. • Finally, a need exists for developing a user-friendly writing workshop curriculum based on L. Calkins’ approach. Middle School Methods of Meeting Challenges • By returning consistently to Wordly Wise, the Language Arts department would improve vocabulary methods; it would also prove beneficial to enforce challenging reading opportunities and emphasize roots, prefixes, and suffixes. • Vertical planning on teacher work/in-service days and occasionally during services would be a valuable addition. With firm school calendars and place changes held to advance notification, the issues of time pressure and last minute programs would be lessened. • By adding silent reading for fifteen minutes Monday through Thursday, with students sharing aloud what they have read on Friday, we would be encouraging reading in our upper grades. • With an emphasis on thesis statements, topic statements, supporting examples, introduction and conclusion, grades 5-6 would discover a much better essay structure to teach. • Learning support time should be added to students at both ends of the learning curve; additionally, if enough advanced learners exist, Levine needs to return to the addition of a special seminar class. • Finally, adding the study of both drama and poetry in all 5-8 classes would offer a true comprehensive, challenging curriculum.
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