Coming together is a beginning;

Keeping together is progress;

Working together is success.

Henry Ford

HIGH SCHOOL

MIDDLESCHOOL

MIDDLESCHOOL

MIDDLESCHOOL

A Vertical Team is a group of teachers from different grade levels in a given discipline who work cooperatively to develop and implement a vertically aligned program aimed at helping students acquire the academic skills necessary for success.

Teachers meet and share curriculum ideas and teaching strategies

Enhances skill development and creates a “seamless” curriculum

Makes rigorous academic work accessible to more students

Introduces critical academic skills in earlier grades

Students who are college and career ready in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language will:

•Demonstrate independence•Build strong content knowledge•Respond to the varying demands of

audience, task purpose, and discipline

•Comprehend as well as critique•Value evidence•Use technology and digital media

strategically and capably•Come to understand other

perspectives and cultures

Successful vertical teams have: Administrative support Vision and rationale Frequent meetings with planned

agendas Voluntary, inclusive membership Willingness to share ideas and strategies

with all faculty Middle school participation

Select an effective team leader who can facilitate the work of the Vertical Team.

Create and implement a curricular plan of action.

Identify and develop curriculum strategies.

Vertically align curriculum toward the Common Core Standards.

Assess student progress toward the Common Core Standards.

Share effective classroom strategies and resources.

Initial meeting - explain the concept, sign-up teachers who wish to participate, set date for first team meeting: (Nov. 6)

Second meeting - identify skills/concepts critical to student success by grade level

Additional meetings - set up vertical curriculum - build one skill per meeting

Write a mission statementSet goals for the yearAt the first meeting of each year,

invite all members of the discipline to join the team

Set the dates/time for all meetings for the year at the first meeting (March?)

Continue meetings even when attendance lags

Keep everyone informed of meeting activities

Allow time for team-building experiences (refreshments) - share successes, air grievances, use these experiences to build your vision for success

Meet at least 4 times per yearMeet at different schools each

timeRemember P. T. Barnum, not

everyone will come every time, but someone will come every time

Revise goals each yearReview and revise mission statement

each yearReview and revise curriculum

alignment each yearDon’t expect immediate effects -

give it five years

“There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose time has come.”

–Victor Hugo

Coming together is a beginning;

Keeping together is progress;

Working together is success.

Henry Ford

Common Core Standards Initiativehttp://www.corestandards.org/Florida Common Core Standards Initi

ativehttp://www.fldoe.org/arra/pdf/CCSSR

olloutTimeline.pdf

Joy PattersonEnglish Vertical Team ConsultantMelbourne Central Catholic High School100 E. Florida Ave.Melbourne, FL 32901Telephone: (321) 725-1419Fax:(321) 727-1134E-mail: pattersonj@melbournecc.org