Working Together to Build Student

Success in Rigorous Courses

Vertical Vertical TeamingTeaming

Critical Question:Critical Question:What is a Vertical What is a Vertical

Team?Team?

• An Vertical Team is a group of MS/HS educators from different grade levels in a given discipline who:

What Is It?What Is It?

– work cooperatively to implement a vertically aligned, coherent program

– help students acquire the academic skills necessary for success in

rigorous courses.

–Align standards-based curriculum vertically from 6 –12 and beyond, so that every 11th or 12th grader should be prepared to take an AP, if they choose

–Become leaders at their schools, to assist in the horizontal alignment of curriculum

What Will You Learn?What Will You Learn?• Designed to help HS/MS teams:Designed to help HS/MS teams:

– Build strong collaborations within the group, to become a high-functioning vertical team

– Increase equity and access to AP, Honors, and elective courses

– Use research-based learning strategies to increase rigor throughout their content

What Will You Learn?What Will You Learn?• Designed to help HS/MS teams:Designed to help HS/MS teams:

– Learn to analyze a variety of data to asses & validate their work– Learn to backward-map major concepts in all grade levels

necessary to successfully answer an AP question

What Will You Learn?What Will You Learn?• Designed to help HS/MS teams:Designed to help HS/MS teams:

What’s the Impact?What’s the Impact?

• How will vertical teaming How will vertical teaming strengthen our department and strengthen our department and increase student success in increase student success in science?science?

• Discuss in partners, Discuss in partners, share out to teamshare out to team

How Did El Rancho USD How Did El Rancho USD Increase Access to A.P.?Increase Access to A.P.?

Removed Barriers

• Increased the number of 8th grade students in Algebra

• Offered 7th grade Algebra for those students that are prepared.

• Offered Geometry at El Rancho High School for 8th graders that are prepared

• Ensured 2 complete years of Science in 7th and 8th grade.

Implemented New CoursesImplemented New Courses

• Created a “Science Pathways” series of courses from MS to HS• leads students to access to AP Science

by the 10th grade

• Piloted a new Pre-A.P. 8th Grade Physical Science Class at MS’s

• Offered Freshman Biology

• Implemented an AP Environmental Science Course

Increased Access to Rigorous Increased Access to Rigorous Pre-AP & AP CoursesPre-AP & AP Courses

• Utilized the New Guidelines for Entry to G.A.T.E.• Actively recruited students with a high

interest in Science and Math• Invited MESA students • Invited AVID and PREP students• Counseled students with a B- or better in

previous Science classes• Informed parents about AP courses &

“Science Pathway”• Allowed access by teacher recommendation.

Students who enroll in the Students who enroll in the most rigorous coursesmost rigorous courses ANDAND get academic support… get academic support… becoming independent becoming independent learners.learners.

Lesson #1Lesson #1 Challenge is motivating!Challenge is motivating!