“Making the Classroom Connection: Professional Development that Works!” Presented by: The University of Texas-Pan American GEAR UP Project Abby Gonzalez Ana Bernal Dougherty Alicia Alfonso Leah Hendricks

Quick Facts on Region  4 of the poorest counties in nation  90% Hispanic  80% Speak language other than English  25% Foreign born, primarily from Mexico  38% Live in extreme poverty  53% of adults have H.S. diploma  10% of adults are college graduates  Cohort has just graduated! ( Grant cycle )

Our Service Population and Staffing Population:  12 School Districts  22 High Schools  8, 950 Students Staffing:  Centralized University GEAR UP Staff  22 GEAR UP Campus Coordinators  22 GEAR UP Campus Family Liaisons

Target Audience: 12 Grade ELA Educators Focus: College and Career Readiness Workshop Transitioning from High School to college Writing: What college professors expect Student voices: Advice from college students Continuing English IV TEKS to college expectation Sample Writing prompts from English and other disciplines Preparing H.S. seniors for college research projects & presentations Dr. Beatrice Newman UTPA Professor

Bao-Feng Feng, Ph.D. UTPA Associate Professor What college professors expect Student examples and professor experiences What does the university data show? Making connections between high school math classes and college classrooms Preparing students to be successful in the university math classes Examination of college math courses and syllabi Target Audience: Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, & Calculus Teachers Focus: College and Career Readiness

STAAR -Implications for Graduation, Transition and Accommodations for State Testing and College Entrance Exams” Transition for Students with Disabilities Texas Department of Assistive & Rehabilitative Services (DARS) Disability Services: UTPA, STC, UTB, TAMIU Target Audience: Teachers, Facilitator, and Counselors Focus: Postsecondary Special Education Services Is

● AP Calculus ●Pre-AP Math ●AP English Language ●AP Spanish Language ●AP English Literature ●Pre-AP English ●AP US History ●AP World History ●AP US Government ●Pre-AP Social Studies ●Pre-AP Geography ●Pre-AP Science ●AP Biology Impact on GEAR UP Campuses *AP certified teachers through college board Los Fresnos H.S. began offering AP physics courses

EVALUATIONS Created in-house and specific for each training/workshop Conducted after every professional development session To obtain teacher’s feedback and determine if the purpose was established Modify and adjust to meet the needs of the teacher and campus IS High School to University Programs and Testing Services

As a result 8 additional encore presentations were provided and a part 2 to the ELA workshop was developed EVALUATION COMMENTS This is my first year working with seniors and the workshop has provided an abundance of activities to use! This was wonderful in assisting me in my goal at developing college-ready writers. It was very helpful to know what college professors are expecting from our students as they enter college. The training had very interesting ideas for helping me develop my students writing. This training went beyond my expectations - many creative activities and ideas! Excellent! Very informational

Empowerment in the Classroom  Leah Christine Hendricks Nikki Rowe H.S. McAllen, TX Subject area: English IV Advanced Placement/ English IV College Preparatory  Professional Development on College Readiness - English Language Arts -Advance Placement Summer Institute  State standards have changed and impacted instruction  Success strategies to provide rigorous instruction

Texas Education Agency standards on delivery of instruction –Changes in standards –Transitioning from Texas Assessment Knowledge of Skills (TAKS) to End of Course (EOC) tests Importance of attending College Readiness Professional Development Sessions Impact on professors conducting the trainings –Professorial expectations –Dissemination of information –Integration of films –Diverse genres Preparing Seniors for Successful College Writing Experiences

Providing rigor in the classroom –School Philosophy on AP Instruction –Students skills necessary to be college ready Strategies implemented –New strategies learned College Readiness English Language Arts Advanced Placement Institute –Reinforcing currently used strategies Access to Advanced Placement –Open policy for AP program –Fees waived –AVID Rigor in the Classroom

College Readiness Professional Development Model UTPA GEAR UP has been able to provide our students with the opportunity to enroll in AP courses due to the increase of certified AP teachers. We had1,895 students enrolled in an AP class this past school year. Our model above has helped us structure our college readiness trainings and workshops. There are six sectors in the cycle that help us build and reinforce every aspect of our trainings; therefore, empowering our teachers in the classroom ensuring that our students are college ready.

Math/Science Initiative Model Needs Assessment Collaborating with Partners Conduct Professional Development Installation and Delivery of Equipment Coaching Monitoring and Improvement Recognition

Gaining Administrator and Teacher Support Campus Program Selection Executive Alliance Meeting Sustainability of Resources at Campus Attendance to all Professional Development Usage is provided on a monthly basis Campus Teacher Selection

UTPA GEAR UP Math and Science Partners TI Nspire Calculators and Navigator –View student coursework, check problem solving techniques and guide performance –Use instant feedback to create a dynamic learning environment AgileMind Online and Offline Resource –Multi-faceted and encompasses the vital components to support rigorous mathematics education –Multiple representation of mathematical concepts Vernier Software and Technology ‾Award-winning interfaces, sensors, software, and curriculum that help engage and excite students through hands-on scientific exploration. ‾Built-in graphing and analysis software

Collaborating with Partners Planning –Identify content areas –Number of teachers to be trained –Resources TI Nspire, TI Nspire Navigator Vernier –Location of training –Stipends Development –Instructors specialized in the area –Equipment ordered –Selection of teachers to attend training based on slots allotted per campus (historical usage and cohort size)

Math and Science Technology Training

Equipment Distribution –Based on Teacher Attendance –Organized by Campus –Delivered to Campus GEAR UP logo Bins with teacher name Timely manner Equipment Installation –Follow up with partners, teachers, and technology specialists –Assist with technology installations Upgrades to Software Equipment Distribution and Installation

Successful Consultant Visits Structured Visits –Highly qualified consultants –Collaborate with teachers, GEAR UP advisors, coordinators and partners through the implementation of the Instructional Visit Form Consultant Visits –Classroom Demonstrations –Co-Teach a Lesson aligned to TEKS –Classroom Observations –Professional development during planning period Follow up –Consultant and teacher feedback –Schedule another consultant visit –Support with technology

“On-going and sustainable development that involves modeling, mentoring, and/or coaching increases the likelihood that teachers will change instructional practices by almost 90%.” –Joyce and Showers, 1992, 2005 On-Going Classroom Support

Successful Technology Implementation Alicia Alfonso, Palmview HS Math Department head –20 years of experience teaching Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra II, Statistics, Pre-Calculus, and Calculus –Successful integrating multiple programs and strategies into the math curriculum such as AVID, TI Nspire Navigator and AgileMInd –Changed campus culture on technology integration Conduct a demonstration on how easy it is to integrate the TI Nspire CX Navigator into the classroom Discuss the impact technology integration has had on student’s performance

2201 Total Student Population GEAR UP cohort size 548 students Math Department head Equipment/Programs –2 TI CX Nspire Navigators –4 TI Nspire Navigators –5 TI 84 Navigators –AgileMind –AVID Texas Instruments Usage for ­Serviced over 277 students; 51% of the GEAR UP cohort ­Average hours of TI usage was 23.6

Demonstration of TI Nspire CX Navigator TI Nspire CX Navigator features –Quick Poll –Class Analysis –Screen Capture –Live Presenter Impact on Student Success School Year AYD Federal StandardsTAKS Performance in MathCampus Rating (9th grade)Missed AYP53% Academically Acceptable (10th grade)Missed AYP58%Recognized (11th grade)Met AYP87% Recognized

Leadership Opportunities Teacher Recognition –HESTEC teacher of Year –Technology Teacher of the Year Award for Math and Science Present at Conferences –2010 AVID National Conference –T3 International Conference –Region One Conference –NCCEP GEAR UP Conference Conduct Trainings/Camps –TAKS Math Camp –District Science Trainings –Campus TI Math Trainings

GEAR UP Student Service Data 9 th grade10 th grade11 th grade12 th grade

State Required Standardized Assessments Exit Level TAKS Passing Rates English Language Arts 91% Science 88% Math 89% Social Studies 96% Students performed 2 points below state average in ELA Students performed 3 points below state average in Science Students performed the same as the state average in Math Students performed 2 points below state average in Social Studies

Sustainability Pilot the TI CX Navigator –14 Math Teachers –8 Physics Teachers TI Nspire Navigator Training 14 Math Teachers Inherit the TI Nspire Navigator TI Refresher Courses offered by T-STEM Teacher Leader Cadre Training RGV Texas Instruments Implementation Coach

Professional Development Professional DevelopmentTeachers Trained Texas Instruments 66 AgileMind 35 Vernier 82 HESTEC Educator Day 89 College Readiness Social Studies 24 College Readiness English Language Arts 51 College Readiness Math 32 AP and Pre-AP trainings in Core Areas 134

In Conclusion UTPA GEAR UP has worked collaboratively with all of our partners, teachers, and administrators, throughout the year by providing quality professional development, classroom resources and support to ensure student success. As a result, 88% out of 223 teachers surveyed in 2011, reported that they integrated technology into the classroom. Out of 301 teachers who attended college readiness workshops/conferences, 80% indicated that their repertoire of instructional strategies increased. UTPA GEAR UP looks forward in continuing to work with all partners and empowering teachers to develop college ready students.

Contact Information Ana Bernal Dougherty Abby Gonzalez Alicia Alfonso Leah Hendricks