Elementary/Middle School Forum to discuss changes to blended model instruction.
Parents if you've had a moment to watch the video about changes in the elementary/middle school and have pressing questions about how your child was placed or what to expect, this will be an opportunity to sit down with some staff and administration to discuss items that are pertinent to you. This is not a board meeting.
Administration should be contacting parents of students whose homerooms have changed.
Classes are as follows K-1(Platt),1-2 (Francis), 2-3 (Camille), 3-4 (Freeburg), 4-5 (VanPatten), 6-7 (George), and 7-8 (McDowell).
Introduction
Creating equitable, balanced classrooms that meet the academic and socio-emotional needs of all students is essential for fostering holistic development. This proposal outlines a strategic plan for leveling elementary classrooms to enhance student engagement, learning outcomes, and emotional well-being.
Objective
To establish a framework that supports balanced classrooms by ensuring diverse, academically aligned, and socio-emotionally supportive environments for students.
Key Goals
Academic Equity: Align classrooms to ensure students are grouped to maximize peer support and teacher effectiveness while preventing large gaps in achievement levels within the same group.
Socio-Emotional Well-being: Foster a classroom culture where every child feels valued, supported, and capable of achieving personal and collective success.
Teacher Collaboration: Empower educators with resources, training, and collaborative planning time to adapt teaching strategies for varied learner needs.
Strategies
1. Academic Leveling
Data-Driven Grouping: Utilize formative assessments, standardized test scores, and teacher observations to create balanced classrooms that reflect a range of academic abilities.
Flexible Grouping Models: Incorporate strategies like mixed-ability grouping for collaborative activities while maintaining small, ability-focused instruction groups.
Curriculum Differentiation: Provide tiered assignments, learning stations, and project-based learning tailored to individual student levels.
2. Socio-Emotional Considerations
Student Support Networks: Establish peer mentorship programs to encourage collaboration between students of different abilities.
SEL Integration: Embed social-emotional learning (SEL) programs into daily lessons to teach skills such as empathy, emotional regulation, and teamwork.
Behavioral Monitoring: Regularly assess classroom dynamics and intervene early to address bullying, isolation, or behavioral challenges.
Evaluation and Metrics
Academic Performance: Track improvements in standardized test scores and formative assessment results.
Socio-Emotional Growth: Use SEL assessments and classroom observations to gauge improvements in student well-being.