Portage North Middle School Principal: Dr. Celeste Harris Assistant Principal: Mr. Craig Medd “Where Failure is not an Option!”

School Wide Goals Goal #1: Reading –All students will be proficient in reading by Goal #2: Writing –All students will be proficient in writing by –Writing across the curriculum. Collecting quarterly samples from core departments to examine and analyze how students are applying these writing strategies in all classes. Goal #3: Math –All students will be proficient in mathematics by 2014 Goal #4: PBiS (Positive Behavior Support) –Our goal is to promote positivity between students and staff and to create a school culture conducive to learning.

Academic Literacy Academic Literacy is the ability to read and construct meaning from content area texts and literature typically encountered in school. –This is accomplished by creating a culture of readers and writers. “The link between reading well and writing well is very established in research because writing focuses students to think critically and reflect upon what they have written.” North Middle is combing their reading and writing goals to create a culture of readers and writers.

What does Goal 1 look like? By 2014 all students will be grade level proficient in reading. Multi-Tier System of Support –Tier 1 and 2 interventions How are we going to accomplish this? –Implementation of Word Generation vocabulary lessons. –Reading Enhancement Classes –6 th Grade Reading Counts –SSR in ELA and Advisory –2 Column Note Taking –Writing Across the Curriculum –Scaffolding Strategies through out all content area classes.

Word Generation What is Word Generation? –Weekly cross curricular vocabulary building. How is it presented? –Topic: Example: What is the purpose of school? –Focus Words: Analyze, Factor, Function, Interpret, Structure How does it work? Students are given 5 words a week. They visit them in every core class on a specific day: –Monday: Introduction of words and definitions in ELA. –Tuesday: Math problem using the words. –Wednesday: Social Studies, students debate the topic presented on day 1 using the words. –Thursday: Science, lab or activity that incorporates the words. –Friday: World Language/6 th ELA: Students write an essay about the topic presented on Monday using their words.

Reading Enhancement Classes Who can participate? –Aimed at students who are in the bottom 25% for reading. How are students identified? –Students are recommended based on MEAP scores, AIMSWeb/MAZE scores, performance series, teacher and parent recommendation. How does the program work? –Students are in small group instruction. Instruction is based on Word Attack (FRY’s instant word), Fluency (Six minute solution), Comprehension (Soar to Success), Sight Words, Adolescent Reading Strategies (Motivation and Engagement) –Once a week students meet with community mentors (parents, community leaders) who help students with their reading and positive relationship building.

Goal 1: School Wide Opportunities School wide initiatives open to all students –Book Club (Lunch and Afterschool) –March Reading Month (Competition between first hour classes.) PTO involvement –Barnes and Noble Book Fair –Scholastic Book Fair

Failure is not an Option… Successful students make for a positive environment. –PNMS has instituted a 28 minute Advisory Period (Taking Care of Business). This time allows for student work make up and completion, it is also a time for teacher’s to offer further instruction. Students can ask to see a teacher, or teachers can “sign” a student out. –Dr. Harold Swift is leading three hours of academic support class. There is a class period for each grade level. Students are recommended if they are failing or struggling in 2 or more core classes. Parents have given the okay for students to be in this class. It is in place of an elective. Students may be assigned by teacher’s on a drop in work basis. –Students are rewarded for showing respect, responsibility, and positive relationships.