Transition Team Study Group
3rd grade Nathan T. Hall Elementary to 4th grade Newark Valley Middle School
Final Report
April 2008
Committee members:
Marisa Potter-4th grade classroom teacher
JoAnn Byrne-AIS service provider
Kathryn Corrigan- 4th grade classroom teacher
Ann Frye- 3rd grade classroom teacher
Kelly Simmons-3rd grade classroom teacher
Sue Fedorwich- CES service provider
I The purpose of the team was to identify and evaluate the key components that are important for an effective transition from third grade at Nathan T. Hall Elementary to fourth grade at Newark Valley Middle School. Our goals were to:
1. Review activities currently being utilized to transition third graders to fourth grade.
2. To determine the manner in which student data (benchmarks, local and state tests) are shared between Nathan T. Hall Elementary and Newark Valley Middle School.
3. Create tools and methods (student program checklist) for appropriate student placement.
II
After our meetings and discussions, the outcomes of the study group are:
*Some outcomes are pending administrative decisions regarding the delivery of Special Education Services and Academic Intervention Services*
1. A meeting will be held between grade levels and building administrators to share the discussions, goals and expectations for the upcoming activities as soon as possible.
2. A timeline of activities that will occur in third grade, over the summer, and in fourth grade for all student, staff, and parents was created and is as follows:
May/ June
· Third grade will come to the Middle School to each lunch in the cafeteria.
· Students will visit a fourth grade classroom for a brief question and answer session and a tour of the building. Prior to the visit, third graders will generate some of their own questions and bring them along to ask the teacher.
· Third graders and their parents are invited to the fourth grade Open House to meet Mrs. Bertoni, the teachers and to visit classrooms.
· Third grade teachers will create classroom groupings for fourth grade based on their knowledge and needs of the students no later than the last week of school.
· Students in third grade will be asked to complete a one question survey about their feelings on going to the middle school.
· A letter will be sent home to third grade parents letting them know about the upcoming transitional activities.
Summer
· All third grade students will receive a “Learning Links” activity packet in the spring of third grade from the fourth grade Academic Intervention Teacher. “Learning Links” is an over the summer activity book that all third graders are encouraged to work on or complete. They can then return them to fourth grade in the fall for prizes.
· A date will be made available (late August) for incoming fourth grade students to come to the Middle School to find their classroom and tour building with fun scavenger hunt type activity. Fourth grade teachers are not required to be there.
Fall of 4th grade
· A student survey will be given in the first week of school to gain feedback.
· A parent survey to gain feedback on the transition between buildings will be given on Information Night at the Middle School.
· Teacher reflection /feedback discussion held during a team meeting.
· Parent Information Night held in September for 4th grade
· A sign up sheet for classroom volunteers will be available on Information Night.
· A follow-up meeting with the transition team to discuss results.
3. A list of materials that 3rd grade will create and/or pass on to 4th grade as follows:
· A copy of current third grade curriculum maps will be available and housed with the Academic Intervention provider.
· Updated student profile sheet(pink and blue sheets)
· Green benchmark data sheet of both ELA and math
· New student profile checklist
· A standard format for CSE student profile sheet including a list of all services and their frequency, testing and program accommodations, some helpful hints, as well as any prior testing data.
III
The impact of this study group will become apparent after successful implementation of the above activities and plans. Fourth grade teachers will have a better knowledge base of incoming students and their individual needs. Knowing this early in the year, will allow the grade level to plan accordingly and provide the most effective environment and placement for all students. Sharing of the data in a more effective way between grade levels and buildings will lead to a more effective and differentiated instruction.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Third Meeting, April 24, 2008
April 24, 2008 Transition Team Meeting
Present at Meeting:
Ann Frye, Kathryn Corrigan, Sue Fedorwich, Kelly Simmons, Joann Byrne, Marisa Potter
Discussion Topics:
Overall student program checklist that travels through each grade level which states all the services that the child receives. One for each child to go in the cumulative folder.
Information needed on the chart: AIS (Reading and Math), 504, CST/SST, Summer School, Considered for Retention, tutoring services, Nurse, Other Intervention Services.
Set dates and times for the students to come over and visit the fourth grade.
All curriculum maps should be reviewed for vertical alignment among grade levels.
Ideas:
Have third graders plant a seed in the school community garden as a symbolic transition from third to fourth. In fourth, they will be able to harvest what they grew. Third grade will check with the other third grade teachers about the planting.
Evaluation
Give new fourth grade students a little entry survey about if they remembered certain events and how comfortable they felt.
Family survey asking if they attended events, how they felt about the transition, and what might make the transition easier.
Questions:
-
Things We Need:
4/3/08
-Some kind of data chart to know what interventions a child has received.
-Sue will share IEP summary sheet with Chris for help with CSE students.
-Transition information for families (possibly a transition pamphlet): grading systems, recess policy, homework, learning links.
-Time to meet with each other as a whole grade level.
4/7/08
-3rd grade teachers would like New York State ELA and Math Tests from the 4th grade. Fourth Grade AIS will provide the scores to the 3rd grade teachers.
-Fourth Grade Information Night should be earlier in the year to accommodate the transition.
-Third and Fourth grade transitional meeting between all teachers at the end of the school year.
-Current ELA curriculum maps that include writing, spelling, written expression and grammar and is aligned throughout the grade levels.
4/24/08
-Before final new fourth grade classes are in place, Angie will look at the lists.
-Put school supply lists at the stores in case families lose the list.
Present at Meeting:
Ann Frye, Kathryn Corrigan, Sue Fedorwich, Kelly Simmons, Joann Byrne, Marisa Potter
Discussion Topics:
Overall student program checklist that travels through each grade level which states all the services that the child receives. One for each child to go in the cumulative folder.
Information needed on the chart: AIS (Reading and Math), 504, CST/SST, Summer School, Considered for Retention, tutoring services, Nurse, Other Intervention Services.
Set dates and times for the students to come over and visit the fourth grade.
All curriculum maps should be reviewed for vertical alignment among grade levels.
Ideas:
Have third graders plant a seed in the school community garden as a symbolic transition from third to fourth. In fourth, they will be able to harvest what they grew. Third grade will check with the other third grade teachers about the planting.
Evaluation
Give new fourth grade students a little entry survey about if they remembered certain events and how comfortable they felt.
Family survey asking if they attended events, how they felt about the transition, and what might make the transition easier.
Questions:
-
Things We Need:
4/3/08
-Some kind of data chart to know what interventions a child has received.
-Sue will share IEP summary sheet with Chris for help with CSE students.
-Transition information for families (possibly a transition pamphlet): grading systems, recess policy, homework, learning links.
-Time to meet with each other as a whole grade level.
4/7/08
-3rd grade teachers would like New York State ELA and Math Tests from the 4th grade. Fourth Grade AIS will provide the scores to the 3rd grade teachers.
-Fourth Grade Information Night should be earlier in the year to accommodate the transition.
-Third and Fourth grade transitional meeting between all teachers at the end of the school year.
-Current ELA curriculum maps that include writing, spelling, written expression and grammar and is aligned throughout the grade levels.
4/24/08
-Before final new fourth grade classes are in place, Angie will look at the lists.
-Put school supply lists at the stores in case families lose the list.
Second Meeting, April 7, 2008
April 7, 2008 Transition Team Meeting
Present at Meeting:
Ann Frye, Kathryn Corrigan, Sue Fedorwich, Kelly Simmons, Joann Byrne, Marisa Potter
Grouping/Transition (continued from last meeting):
Timeline is based on administrative decisions concerning special education and AIS.
Timeline is also based on the Middle School schedule.
Groups are made by the third grade teachers and changes to class lists should be minimal.
Need to consider additional support services needed and support staff that is available.
Use the old pink and blue sheets now called student profile sheets (SPS), add the question, does the student have a behavior intervention plan and does the student have a 504? Pink and blue sheets will be to third grade by the beginning of June.
Behavior Plan, Student Profile Sheet, and Benchmark Sheets will be sent over by the third grade teachers to Fourth Grade AIS teacher. Fourth Grade AIS will sort and distribute the information.
Behavior:
Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP) will be sent over in the summer to the fourth grade teachers (along with benchmarks and SPS).
Student/Family Transition
Things we do:
3rd comes over for a visit to classrooms and take a tour.
Learning Links-4th grade teacher comes over to explain to the 3rd graders.
Parent Information Night
-should fourth grade be earlier in the school year, September?
-ease anxiety for students and parents.
Open House
-3rd graders are personally invited to Open House by 4th graders.
-3rd grade students come to MS and tour the rooms.
Fourth grade does E, S, and U for first report to ease the transition.
Fourth grade sends home a packet to families at the beginning of the year.
Known Parent Concerns
Grading, homeroom, specials, policies.
Ideas
New fourth graders have one day over the summer to come in and look at the school. They have a folder with a scavenger hunt to search out important rooms in the school.
Send out fourth grade homeroom information to parents/families earlier in the summer so families know their child’s teacher.
Change Fourth Grade Parent Information Night so that it is earlier in the school year such as September.
Parents
· Volunteering
-3rd and 4th grade have the same policies about unplanned visits to the classroom. Unplanned visits are not allowed.
-Possibly have a sign up sheet at Parent Information Night for the times when parents/families are needed to come in to the classroom.
· Plan for Success
-The parents will come in and attend a session on helping their child to succeed in the Middle School.
Pre-skills for Fourth Grade
· Fourth grade would like third grade to focus on multiplication, and we will work on starting with basic conceptual division in fourth grade. Third grade does a basic division introduction at the end of the year.
· Ann Frye may make a calendar with the days that the various multiplication numbers are due for the rest of the year and when the tests are until the end of the school year and all the other 3rd grade teachers do a timed test (50 in 3 minutes). 3rd and 4th grade send home multiplication flash cards.
· New 4th grade students should know how to form all their letters.
· 3rd and 4th grade are concerned with writing and spelling and the consistency among the grades. 3rd and 4th grade struggle with a writing and grammar program and fitting the writing, grammar, and written expression into the daily schedule.
· Fourth grade notices that students struggle with math concepts, grammar, and forming sentences. 3rd grade notices that students struggle with forming sentences and grammar topics. Both 3rd and 4th grade agree that there needs to be a plan for writing, written expression, grammar, and spelling.
Questions:
-Fourth grade would like a better understanding of CST/SST and why do MS teachers not participate in the SST meetings?
-What is the computer capability of transferring computer data from ES to MS?
Things We Need:
4/3/08
-Some kind of data chart to know what interventions a child has received.
-Sue will share IEP summary sheet with Chris for help with CSE students.
-Transition information for families (possibly a transition pamphlet): grading systems, recess policy, homework, learning links.
-Time to meet with each other as a whole grade level.
4/7/08
-3rd grade teachers would like New York State ELA and Math Tests from the 4th grade. Fourth Grade AIS will provide the scores to the 3rd grade teachers.
-Fourth Grade Information Night should be earlier in the year to accommodate the transition.
-Third and Fourth grade transitional meeting between all teachers at the end of the school year.
-Current ELA curriculum maps that include writing, spelling, written expression and grammar and is aligned throughout the grade levels.
Present at Meeting:
Ann Frye, Kathryn Corrigan, Sue Fedorwich, Kelly Simmons, Joann Byrne, Marisa Potter
Grouping/Transition (continued from last meeting):
Timeline is based on administrative decisions concerning special education and AIS.
Timeline is also based on the Middle School schedule.
Groups are made by the third grade teachers and changes to class lists should be minimal.
Need to consider additional support services needed and support staff that is available.
Use the old pink and blue sheets now called student profile sheets (SPS), add the question, does the student have a behavior intervention plan and does the student have a 504? Pink and blue sheets will be to third grade by the beginning of June.
Behavior Plan, Student Profile Sheet, and Benchmark Sheets will be sent over by the third grade teachers to Fourth Grade AIS teacher. Fourth Grade AIS will sort and distribute the information.
Behavior:
Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP) will be sent over in the summer to the fourth grade teachers (along with benchmarks and SPS).
Student/Family Transition
Things we do:
3rd comes over for a visit to classrooms and take a tour.
Learning Links-4th grade teacher comes over to explain to the 3rd graders.
Parent Information Night
-should fourth grade be earlier in the school year, September?
-ease anxiety for students and parents.
Open House
-3rd graders are personally invited to Open House by 4th graders.
-3rd grade students come to MS and tour the rooms.
Fourth grade does E, S, and U for first report to ease the transition.
Fourth grade sends home a packet to families at the beginning of the year.
Known Parent Concerns
Grading, homeroom, specials, policies.
Ideas
New fourth graders have one day over the summer to come in and look at the school. They have a folder with a scavenger hunt to search out important rooms in the school.
Send out fourth grade homeroom information to parents/families earlier in the summer so families know their child’s teacher.
Change Fourth Grade Parent Information Night so that it is earlier in the school year such as September.
Parents
· Volunteering
-3rd and 4th grade have the same policies about unplanned visits to the classroom. Unplanned visits are not allowed.
-Possibly have a sign up sheet at Parent Information Night for the times when parents/families are needed to come in to the classroom.
· Plan for Success
-The parents will come in and attend a session on helping their child to succeed in the Middle School.
Pre-skills for Fourth Grade
· Fourth grade would like third grade to focus on multiplication, and we will work on starting with basic conceptual division in fourth grade. Third grade does a basic division introduction at the end of the year.
· Ann Frye may make a calendar with the days that the various multiplication numbers are due for the rest of the year and when the tests are until the end of the school year and all the other 3rd grade teachers do a timed test (50 in 3 minutes). 3rd and 4th grade send home multiplication flash cards.
· New 4th grade students should know how to form all their letters.
· 3rd and 4th grade are concerned with writing and spelling and the consistency among the grades. 3rd and 4th grade struggle with a writing and grammar program and fitting the writing, grammar, and written expression into the daily schedule.
· Fourth grade notices that students struggle with math concepts, grammar, and forming sentences. 3rd grade notices that students struggle with forming sentences and grammar topics. Both 3rd and 4th grade agree that there needs to be a plan for writing, written expression, grammar, and spelling.
Questions:
-Fourth grade would like a better understanding of CST/SST and why do MS teachers not participate in the SST meetings?
-What is the computer capability of transferring computer data from ES to MS?
Things We Need:
4/3/08
-Some kind of data chart to know what interventions a child has received.
-Sue will share IEP summary sheet with Chris for help with CSE students.
-Transition information for families (possibly a transition pamphlet): grading systems, recess policy, homework, learning links.
-Time to meet with each other as a whole grade level.
4/7/08
-3rd grade teachers would like New York State ELA and Math Tests from the 4th grade. Fourth Grade AIS will provide the scores to the 3rd grade teachers.
-Fourth Grade Information Night should be earlier in the year to accommodate the transition.
-Third and Fourth grade transitional meeting between all teachers at the end of the school year.
-Current ELA curriculum maps that include writing, spelling, written expression and grammar and is aligned throughout the grade levels.
Monday, April 7, 2008
First Meeting Notes, April 3, 2008
April 3, 2008 Transition Team Meeting
Present at Meeting:
Ann Frye, Kathryn Corrigan, Sue Fedorwich, Kelly Simmons, Joann Byrne, Marisa Potter
Academic Assessments that are being done in Third Grade:
Math
-Benchmark assessments by topic and covering cumulative information.
-NTH Benchmark Assessments Math (green sheet) for Third Grade.
-New York State Math Tests.
ELA
-NTH Benchmark Assessments ELA (green sheet) for Third Grade.
-New York State ELA Tests.
-DRA/DIBELS
-AIS Levels: Strategic (Benchmark), Intensive (Low), Some Risk (Middle)
Science/Social Studies
-Benchmark results from each classroom.
Other
-Pink/Blue sheets which give information about each student.
Content in Third/Fourth Grade:
Cursive Writing
3rd Grade-Zaner/Blosner, teach the steps of each letter, should be able to write their name in cursive.
4th Grade-Practice all the letters and require a signature and header in cursive. Some teachers also do certain writing pieces and spelling words in cursive.
Third grade will give fourth grade a curriculum map and third grade will receive a fourth grade curriculum map.
Homework Expectations
3rd grade-2 times a week and one subject a day. Some have assignment charts and some do not have charts. Some teachers do Friday folders as well.
4th grade-4 times a week and two subjects a day. All students have assignment charts and Friday folders.
Math
Facts
3rd Grade-Familiarized with multiplication facts up to 12 by the end of the school year.
4th Grade-Should know multiplication facts up to 12 by the end of the school year.
Intervention
3rd and 4th Grade- In order to be successful students need additional intervention time in addition to the regular classroom time.
Grouping:
Issues
-Certain children end up with the same children year after year.
-CSE/AIS mean that certain children must be placed in certain rooms.
-Self contained and switching teachers for subjects.
Timeline
-Completed in June as a group meeting between 3rd and 4th grade after 3rd grade has tentatively placed students in certain classes.
Transition
Open House for 3rd graders with 4th graders present.
Questions:
-What happens to the cumulative folder in fourth grade?
-Does it continue throughout Middle School and get added information?
-What should happen with the cumulative folders between 3rd and 4th? What should be in the cumulative folders?
-Writing curriculum? Spelling? Consistency among grade levels?
Things We Need:
-Some kind of data chart to know what interventions a child has received.
-Sue will share IEP summary sheet with Chris for help with CSE students.
-Transition information for families (possibly a transition pamphlet): grading systems, recess policy, homework, learning links.
-Time to meet with each other as a whole grade level.
Present at Meeting:
Ann Frye, Kathryn Corrigan, Sue Fedorwich, Kelly Simmons, Joann Byrne, Marisa Potter
Academic Assessments that are being done in Third Grade:
Math
-Benchmark assessments by topic and covering cumulative information.
-NTH Benchmark Assessments Math (green sheet) for Third Grade.
-New York State Math Tests.
ELA
-NTH Benchmark Assessments ELA (green sheet) for Third Grade.
-New York State ELA Tests.
-DRA/DIBELS
-AIS Levels: Strategic (Benchmark), Intensive (Low), Some Risk (Middle)
Science/Social Studies
-Benchmark results from each classroom.
Other
-Pink/Blue sheets which give information about each student.
Content in Third/Fourth Grade:
Cursive Writing
3rd Grade-Zaner/Blosner, teach the steps of each letter, should be able to write their name in cursive.
4th Grade-Practice all the letters and require a signature and header in cursive. Some teachers also do certain writing pieces and spelling words in cursive.
Third grade will give fourth grade a curriculum map and third grade will receive a fourth grade curriculum map.
Homework Expectations
3rd grade-2 times a week and one subject a day. Some have assignment charts and some do not have charts. Some teachers do Friday folders as well.
4th grade-4 times a week and two subjects a day. All students have assignment charts and Friday folders.
Math
Facts
3rd Grade-Familiarized with multiplication facts up to 12 by the end of the school year.
4th Grade-Should know multiplication facts up to 12 by the end of the school year.
Intervention
3rd and 4th Grade- In order to be successful students need additional intervention time in addition to the regular classroom time.
Grouping:
Issues
-Certain children end up with the same children year after year.
-CSE/AIS mean that certain children must be placed in certain rooms.
-Self contained and switching teachers for subjects.
Timeline
-Completed in June as a group meeting between 3rd and 4th grade after 3rd grade has tentatively placed students in certain classes.
Transition
Open House for 3rd graders with 4th graders present.
Questions:
-What happens to the cumulative folder in fourth grade?
-Does it continue throughout Middle School and get added information?
-What should happen with the cumulative folders between 3rd and 4th? What should be in the cumulative folders?
-Writing curriculum? Spelling? Consistency among grade levels?
Things We Need:
-Some kind of data chart to know what interventions a child has received.
-Sue will share IEP summary sheet with Chris for help with CSE students.
-Transition information for families (possibly a transition pamphlet): grading systems, recess policy, homework, learning links.
-Time to meet with each other as a whole grade level.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Objectives
- To share information gathered by each grade to the best of our ability
- To create fourth grade classrooms that are appropriately grouped
- To have students enter fourth grade with the necessary skills
- To create behavior sheets for students if appropriate
Topics to Be Covered
- Types of academic information that will be most pertinent for an effective transition between the grades
- Needs of the fourth grade teacher to successfully group students
- Similarities and differences in content taught in each grade
- Similarities and differences in techniques used in each grade
- Possible ways to share the necessary information regarding both academics and behavior
- Timeline for the transitional procedures
- Who is to be involved with this process
Description of Student Needs
Creating a more effective transition from third to fourth grade will allow our students to be more successful and to feel more comfortable in the Middle School. Students will be placed in more appropriate class groups, and will be more familiar with the techniques and topics covered in their new classes.
Study Group Impact
Teachers will have a better knowledge of incoming students and their individual needs. Knowing this early in the year will allow them to group students accordingly and to provide the most effective environment for their students.
Student performance will improve if the anxiety level about the transition is decreased and they feel a better connection to their new class and school. Sharing the information in a more effective way between grades will lead to more effective and differentiated instruction for the students.
Intended Results
The intended results are to meet the objectives that were previously listed. By meeting these objectives,
Method to Be Used to Evaluate Impact of Study Group
A survey will be given to students, teachers, and parents to gain feedback on how effective this new process has been. Also, the transition committee will meet in September to evaluate how the process went, and to determine if any adjustments need to be made.
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