improving the 6th grade transition for middle school students

Improving the Sixth Grade Transition for Middle School Students

Brogden and Carrington Middle SchoolsDurham Public Schools

04/12/2023 1

2014 North Carolina Association for Middle Level Educators Conference (NCAMLE)

March 17, 2014

Ms. Holly Emanuel Ms. LaTonya Smith Dr. J. Brent Cooper

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What are the top 3 questions/challenges you

have about 6th Grade middle school reform ?

Write your answer on an index card.

Improving the Sixth Grade Transition for Middle Grades Students

PURPOSE

Discuss strategies and programs implemented to improve the 6th grade transition at two Durham Middle Schools, Brogden and Carrington Middle.

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Sample

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Brogden Middle

687 students

Carrington Middle

1200 students

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Brogden MS Instructional Focus Area

Leadership Development

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Carrington MS Instructional Focus Area

Global Connections

MethodologyStrategies for Improving the 6th Grade Transition

Brogden MS Carrington MS

Survey/Communication Task Force Summer Bridge

Summer Camps Rising 6th Grade Parent Nights

Rising 6th Grade Tours Rising 6th Grade Tours

6th Grade Expo

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Brogden MSStrategies and Programs

Incoming 6th Grade Parent

Survey

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Brogden MS

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Carrington MS

Summer Bridge

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Data-to-Action: Carrington MS

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Data-Driven Strategies

Scholastic Reading InventoryReading

Scholastic Reading Inventory

Math

NC Ready Data

Cumulative Assessment

Data

Academic Enrichment

Days

Academic Intervention Days

Data-to-Action: Carrington MS

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CMS Data-Driven

Collaborative Team

CMS Admin Team

Instructional Facilitator

RtI Facilitator

AIG Facilitator

Global ConnectionsFacilitator

Team Leaders

RecommendationsBrogden MS

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• Involve Parents! They know how to spread the world and they know what’s best for their child.

• Parents organizing and leading school tours.

RecommendationsCarrington MS

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• Explore the possibility of establishing a Summer Bridge type program at your middle school.

• Develop strategies and programs that best fit the context of your middle school as there is not a best fit model for the 6th grade transition for all school contexts.

Lessons LearnedBrogden MS

• Start Early!• Touch Bases Often…revisit practices• Communication really is Crucial (different

modes)

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Lessons LearnedCarrington MS

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• Data analysis revealed the potential positive effects of the Summer Bridge Program at Carrington MS.

• Explore the possibilities of creating a Master Schedule which allows for the implementation of academic enrichment and academic intervention days.

Next StepsBrogden MS

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• Develop another Parent survey.• Prepare for summer camp.• Print post cards for a 6th grade Meet the

Principal Summer Meeting.• Organize a summer reading to align with

Leader In Me focus.• Continue to schedule school tours.

Next StepsCarrington MS

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• Continue the Summer Bridge Program due to its research based past success.

• Examine strategies discussed in the initial Focus Middle School Meeting at Carrington in the winter 2014 for potential positive strategies to improve the 6th grade transition at Carrington MS.

Discussion

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How is your middle or K-8 school currently trying to improve the 6th grade transition?

Contact Information

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Ms. Holly Emanuel, Principal, Carrington Middle SchoolHolly.emanuel@dpsnc.net

Ms. LaTonya Smith, PrincipalBrogden Middle School

LaTonya.Smith@dpsnc.net

Dr. J. Brent CooperData Analyst, Program Evaluator, and Coordinator of Surveys and Research

Jason.cooper@dpsnc.net