Junior+Senior

Freshman Grade Level Meeting Monday, March 22, 2010

Rick – explained the Teaming concept and how classes would be scheduled over the two-day schedule. Every restriction put on the master schedule limits choices for students.

Shannon – Can students on “Team C” move into an honors level course if it is determined that they have been misplaced? – Yes.

Thaddeus – Referrals from middle school teachers would be the best way to determine where students are placed in terms of how to best utilize sped teachers.

Pollard – Where do Standard Math and Standard English fit in? – We don’t know.

Rick - Core Plus did not fly at SAHS because of how it was implemented. We must not treat the Honors level the same way.

Bill L. – It is important that the teams do not develop a reputation that will hinder what we are trying to accomplish. Very important that students are distributed equally to all teams in terms of discipline, ability, socioeconomics, etc.

Would not be fair to offer the Honors Challenge in just three levels – should be offered in all

James – Could we do away with Honors and offer Honors Challenge in all College courses?

Sheila – Stephanie Toth will be teaching a 7-12 Autistic program next year. FLS students will be integrated as others will be. Sped teachers will be delivering services in a different way-new to them-they will work things out. There will be a new “frame of reference” that all must see.

Maura – Regarding the Honors Challenge – You have to disperse the students so that there are appropriate numbers—students need to have other students in the same class to have the “richness of conversation” motivating them to achieve. You don’t want just a couple of students always working together.

Laura F. – the Honors Challenge will look different in each department. Each department must establish its own criteria.

Maura – Could we send some folks to Madison where the Honors Challenge is working and has been in place for 5-6 years?

Kate D – Perhaps we could develop the Honors Challenge for the second year as we teach in the current year. As we look at the curriculum- ask ourselves what would we take, add or do differently to meet the rigors of an Honors course?

Mark Nyboe – Where is the safety net for the FLS or Consultant level kid if they “can’t make it” in the College course?

Laurie – What happens to the students who need to repeat Algebra I? Brad Cyr – They should not be with the freshmen.

Laurie – We need to be prepared to explain the changes to parents. As the consultant model was offered as an option at parent meetings.

Darcy – Is the Teaming for one year? – I don’t know. That will be up to the sophomore teachers.

Bill – Very concerned about meeting the needs of the FLS students. We can’t have the same expectations. The exposure must be differentiated from meeting the standards.

Darcy – Concerned about putting kids in College classes as freshmen then putting them in Consultant classes as sophomores.

All – We need to be sensitive to labels.

Sheila – Be very sensitive to language – We should not disperse students; but maybe integrate students.

Conclusion – It was agreed to move forward with the Team concept and integrating consultant level students into the college classes. There will be heterogeneous grouping except in Honors. There is a need to consult with sped staff to see how it will look for the ed techs.