Look, You Can Get Blood from a Turnip! Simple Ideas to Help Student Achievement D. Baker, T. Bruce, & B. Vincent Alvin ISD

Purpose of Session  To explain easy ideas to improve student achievement.  Brainstorm ideas to implement on your campus or classroom.  To acknowledge that all systems can be in place for success but student achievement is still falling short of campus goals.

INTRODUCTIONS  DeeDee  DeeDee Baker – Principal –Longfellow –Longfellow Elementary (Grades 3-5) Recognized Campus  Experience  Campus  Campus Data –Economically –Economically Disadvantaged – 71% –White –White – 39% –Hispanic –Hispanic – 56% –Other –Other – 5% –LEP –LEP – 18% –Bilingual –Bilingual – 16% –Special –Special Education – 8% –At –At Risk – 44% –Mobility –Mobility – 27% –Gifted –Gifted and Talented – 5%

INTRODUCTIONS  Terri Bruce – Principal –Wilder Elementary (Pre K-5) –Recognized Campus  Experience  Campus Data –E D – 23% –White – 19% –Hispanic – 13% –Asian – 36% –African American – 32% –LEP – 20% –Bilingual - 0% –Special Ed. – 5% –At Risk – 35% –GT – 10%

INTRODUCTIONS  Brenda Vincent – Principal –Mark Twain Primary (Grades Pre K-2) Recognized Campus  Experience  Campus Data –Economically Disadvantaged 75% –White – 36% –Hispanic – 60% –Other – 4% –LEP – 30% –Bilingual – 28% –Special Education –9% –At Risk – 28% –Mobility – 28% –Gifted and Talented – 2%

Assumptions  Highly Qualified Teachers  TEKS Aligned Curriculum  Benchmark Testing  Vertical Alignment between Campuses  Relationship between administrators  District Support  RTI Procedures

Strategies for Vocabulary Building

Building Academic Vocabulary  Book “Building Academic Vocabulary” by Robert Marzano & Debra Pickering  Campus/District Vocabulary List  Reinforcement of Vocabulary –Games –PE, Art, Music –Word of the Day/Week –Lunch / recess (Rainy Day Buckets) –Detention

Homework Program

 Campus/District TEKS daily Homework plan (Spiral curriculum) –STEPS, STARS, Countdown to TAKS  Homework Accountability –Pink slips –Daily phone calls home  Reinforcement –Homework Headquarters  Before and afterschool every day  Can attend when it is needed or  Mandatory after 3 rd time of missing homework each nine weeks. Student must attend five days or until misses homework again.

Mentoring Program

 Target Students /Area of Concern  Find Resources –Parents/Community Members –Staff –Time –Location  Plan a program to fit your needs

Other Ideas - Planning

Question & Answers

Contact Information  Contact Information –DeeDee Baker – Longfellow Elementary  Phone –  - –Terri Bruce – Wilder Elementary  Phone –  - –Brenda Vincent – Mark Twain Primary  Phone –  -