improving the 6th grade transition for middle school students
DESCRIPTION
Improving the 6th Grade Transition for Middle School Students This session will present two middle school principals' efforts to improve the middle school transition for rising 6th grade students. Results from a 6th grade parent survey and Summer Bridge Program will be discussed. New school strategies and implementations to ease the 6th grade transition will also be discussed. Presenters: J. Brent Cooper, Holly Emanuel, Terri Mozingo & Latonya Smith - Durham Public Schools & Brogden Middle School - Durham, NCTRANSCRIPT
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 [email protected]
Ms. LaTonya Smith, PrincipalBrogden Middle School
Dr. J. Brent CooperData Analyst, Program Evaluator, and Coordinator of Surveys and Research