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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-08-07 Restructuring Committee MinutesRestructuring Committee Meetin August 7, 1996 Present: John Doherty, Louise DiCarlo, Betsy Filson, Cathy Carroll, Marie Tomasello, Anne Nataie, and Kate McLaren * We reviewed the minutes from the previous nretings to refresh our thoughts about "restructuring". * We decided that we would benefit most from looking at the program at Coolidge to determine what we want to provide for the students in each grade. * The assumption was made that math would not be leveled in sixth grade; - group size problems will be eliated - all students will have higher expectations and will be challenged - all students will be given the opportunity and the background to experience more success in upper level math classes in grades seven and eight - a tutorial will be offered for students who may need the added support - teachers will need the strategies and the resources to teach the heterogeneous groups Sixth Grade Program Major Subjects: meet every day science social studies math reading language arts (minor Subjects: electives and Team responsibilities world language life skills* computer** phys. ed./ health*** art music band/chorus tech. ed. lib./ media skills+ * Life skills becomes a Team responsibility. First half of the year focuses on building orientation. This can be taught during the "Homeroom" period wai.ch becomes a Team responsibility as well. The computer class is taught 2 times per 6 days to all sixth grade students for the first half of the year. The second half of the year, computer concepts are tobe integrated into the major subjects by the Team. The computer room will be available for all teams the second half of the year. - provides the same exposure to all students - assures that all students have time on machines - provide more challenging material for proficient students One period is added to phys. ed. for teaching Health, 3 times per 6 days. + Library / Media Skills remains an independent class. A five to ten minute "tutorial" at the end of the day will give students the opportunity to check their homework, ask questions, get books, etc. Seventh Grade Program Major Subjects: meet every day science social studies math world language language arts Minor Subjects: electives and Team responsibilities * Phys. Ed. and Health are taught 3 times per 6 days. life skills phys. ed. / health* band / chorus** art+ music+ tech. ed+. Band and Chorus fall opposite the electives. Any student needing a lesson will be pulled out of one of the elective classes per week. + Art, Music, and Tech. Ed. are offered as trimester classes which meet 3 times per 6 days. On a rotating schedule, one member from each team can cover an elective or tutorial. These blocks of time run opposite the band and chorus. Eighth Grade Program We faced a hurdle in discussing the eighth grade program, the math levels. We have three options to look at during our next meeting; * Do not level math in the eighth grade * Level math and have the levels mirror world language * Level math and have the levels mirror P. E., art, tech. ed., and possibly computers Some other possibilities are to investigate moving the advanced students to the high school for math classes. We also discussed teaching Pre- Algebra in grade six and Algebra in grades seven and eight. Our final idea to expand on was to offer two algebra classes and one transition math class first period. Second period offer one algebra class and two transition math classes. Mirror the math classes with two world language classes* and one P.E. class.** * The assumption was made that there will be three world language teachers in the building at the same time. The P.E. class will be a grade 7/8 split.