Standard 3: Curriculum, Instructional design,
and Assessment Practices
The school's curriculum,
Instructional design, and assessment practices guide and ensure
teacher effectiveness and student learning.
3.1, 3.2, 3.6, 3.10 West Gadsden
High School facilitates the alignment and articulation of the
curriculum by implementing and following the Florida Continuous
Improvement Model (FCIM). The curriculum is aligned with the
Florida competencies and objectives and Common Core Standards that
are taught at the appropriate depth of knowledge and performance
level indicators for mastery. A district pacing guide for
6th through 12th grade is followed to
establish that all objectives are taught throughout the school
year. The pacing guide keeps teachers and students focused
while providing for instructional uniformity as students move from
one school to another within the school district. Teachers
are also required to adhere to a specific lesson plan template to
deliver instruction with variations allowed for the content area
after being reviewed by any member of the School Leadership
Team. Researched based instructional resources and technology
programs assist teachers by providing immediate data to drive
instruction. Student progress is essential and administrators
monitor this progress through a variety of ways. Students are
assessed throughout the nine weeks with teacher observation, unit
assessments, and baseline assessments provided by the district to
validate that instruction is providing opportunities for successful
student learning. The district's assessment program provides
assessment items written to mimic the Florida Comprehensive
Achievement Test (FCAT- State Assessment).
3.5, 3.8, 3.11 Coaches and
consultants from the Education Transformation Office work with
teachers during scheduled department meetings to ensure that test
items meet the rigor of the curriculum and content of the
objectives. Assessment data is analyzed to determine student
successes and areas of need. The data provides information
that helps teachers plan instruction to effectively meet the needs
of individual students, assist parents in understanding their
child's achievement of academic standards, establish goals for
professional development, and provide information to assist
administrators in evaluating curriculum and progress in improving
student achievement. Open accessibility to student progress
and achievement is also provided to parents through Open House
meetings and the computer accessible grade reporting program
Engrade. Award programs such as Panthers on the Move are held
quarterly with invitations provided to the parents.
3.3 Instruction is data driven and
best practices are consistently implemented enabling achievement
for all students. Teachers use researched-based textbooks in
addition to supplementary materials to meet the instructional
objectives. Technology offers students many opportunities for
engagement in the learning process and to explore application of
higher order thinking skills. Smart boards, document cameras
and LCD projectors involve students in the learning process through
various applications and programs. iPads and Response Systems
are hands-on tools for student engagement and lesson
enhancement.
3.5, 3.12 Students that need
special services are served through self-contained and inclusion
programs. The Exceptional Student Education Facilitator
collaborates daily with the regular teacher to ensure success of
the students who may need modifications or accommodations as
identified in an Individual Education Plan. At-risk students
are identified and the Response to Intervention (RTI) team develops
an instructional plan to meet the individual needs of
students. The team also monitors and evaluates interventions
for students who meet the Tier III criteria.
3.4, 3.7 Professional Development is
provided at least 45 minutes weekly. Weekly classroom
walk-throughs are conducted by the School Leadership
Team. Modeling is provided by either an administrator
or one of the 3 coaches (Reading, Math and Science) to promote the
active engagement of students in lesson delivery when needed.
Immediate feedback is provided in both instances. The
critique, delivered with an explanation, ensure that the curriculum
is taught at an appropriate rate and with fidelity.
3.9, 3.11 West Gadsden High School
develops its School Improvement Plan based on student achievement
data on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test 2.0 and the
Florida Alternative Assessment. To foster the academic
success desired for West Gadsden High School, all educators have
been exposed to the School Improvement Life Cycle that centers on
continuous improvement. The overall curricular flow is
regularly emphasized in the context of general staff meetings and
monthly data chats to help foster an assessment driven
instructional approach. In addition, each teacher is
responsible for developing an Individual Professional Development
plan through the use of student data and in-services. Therefore, a
continual analysis of student performance data and the application
of best instructional practices are sought at West Gadsden High
School in order to significantly improve individual and overall
student performance.
Examples and Documentation
Lesson Plan Template:
http://images.pcmac.org/SiSFiles/Schools/FL/GadsdenCounty/WestGadsdenHigh/Uploads/DocumentsCategories/Documents/LessonPlanTemplate.pdf
Common Core Plan:
http://images.pcmac.org/SiSFiles/Schools/FL/GadsdenCounty/WestGadsdenHigh/Uploads/DocumentsCategories/Documents/CommonCore%20Plan.pdf
Student Engagement:
http://images.pcmac.org/SiSFiles/Schools/FL/GadsdenCounty/WestGadsdenHigh/Uploads/DocumentsCategories/Documents/Student%20engagement-Chapter%205.pdf
School Improvement Plan:
http://images.pcmac.org/SiSFiles/Schools/FL/GadsdenCounty/WestGadsdenHigh/Uploads/DocumentsCategories/Documents/SIPPeerReviewWGHS.pdf
Florida Continuous Improvement Model
(FCIM):
http://images.pcmac.org/SiSFiles/Schools/FL/GadsdenCounty/WestGadsdenHigh/Uploads/DocumentsCategories/Documents/Florida%20continuous%20improvement%20model.pdf
