The Power of Articulation
through a Vertical Team
Exemplary Practices in Education
Leadership Conference
CSU Fresno
January 31, 2012
Panel:
– Joan Dallin, Mendota Unified
– Lori M. Hamada, CPM Educational Program
– Pamela McGee, AVID Regional Director
– Stephanie Verners, Principal Exeter Union Elementary
Who’s in the Room???
Please stand and announce,
“I’m here!”
when appropriate…
What Is A Vertical Team?
A vertical team is a small group of
people with complementary skills who
are committed to a common purpose,
performance goals, and common
working approach for which they hold
themselves mutually accountable.
Structure of A Vertical Team
HIGH SCHOOL
MIDDLE
SCHOOL
ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL
MIDDLE
SCHOOL
ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL
MIDDLE
SCHOOL
ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL
Central Valley Vertical Teams
 Associated
Schools of Kingsburg (5 districts)
 Caruthers Area (4 districts)
 Mendota Unified (full district)
 Washington Union Area Schools (7 districts)
Why Do We Need This?

Communication both among districts and
within districts
– Realization of shared responsibility among
teachers at all grade levels
– Parent Communication
 Accountability to standards/benchmarks
– STAR / CCSS
– CAHSEE: Standards (covers grade 6-8
standards)
– CCSS Content and Practice Standards
Grade Equivalent Measured
By Standardized Test
What Happens When Students Start
Falling Behind?
Year in School
Curriculum Calibration Study
Actual
Grade
Level
K
Mathematics: % of Topics on
Grade Level
K
1
2
3
4
5
100
K
1st
100
2nd
23
1.0
77
1.8
3rd
45
55
4th
40
40
20
35
59
2
5th
Average
Grade
Level
2
2.6
2.8
2
2.7
Kingsburg High School
Math Enrollment Data
Year
Geometry Algebra
PreAdvanced
2
Calculus Classes
2002-03
150
131
48
15
2003-04
211
142
63
21
2004-05
208
166
93
34
2005-06
309
181
91
48
2008-09
267
226
120
97
• During the period of 2004-2009, school population increased 2%
• Advanced Classes include AP Calculus, AP Statistics, and Prob/Stats
Kingsburg High School
CAHSEE Results
For 10th Grade Students
Year
Tested
KHS 10th
Grade
2001
2003
50%
56%
2005
2006
2007
81%
89%
88%
2008
2009
86%
86%
CA
10th Grade
KHS SES
Students
CA SES
Students
25%
61%
77%
78%
76%
79%
81%
37%
38%
73%
58%
50%
60%
68%
57%
77%
62%
73%
66%
Mendota Unified API Scores
616
647
Mendota Unified ELA
Percentage At or Above Proficient
39%
Mendota Unified MATH
Percentage At or Above Proficient
25%
What happens at a
Mathematics VT meeting?
“Top 5” Activity:
Working in grade level pairs or teams, have
teachers
– Identify the TOP 5 skills that they would like to
have students come into their grade level or
course with.
– Identify the TOP 5 skills that they guarantee
students will leave their grade level or course
with.
Adapted from the “Top Five” activity in, 100 Ways to Build Teams, Carol Searce.
Top 5 Activity
Next we would have them post their charts and
then take a Gallery Walk of the posters to look
for gaps and repetitions…
Major question: Are you having any AHA’s???
Adapted from the “Top Five” activity in, 100 Ways to Build Teams, Carol Searce
Other Mathematics VT Activities

Analysis of local data and research trends
– CCSS / Mathematical Practices
– Discussions around error analysis
– Use of technology in mathematics classes
– English Learner strategies / analysis of student work
– Marzano Strategies / analysis of student work
– Area-wide common vocabulary focus

Backwards mapping of released items to standards
across the grade levels
 Brainstorming of solutions to common problems
 Parent/Teacher/Board Awareness Tools
 Book reads / Google groups
What happens at an
ELA Vertical Team meeting?

“Skills for the Task”--Teachers in mixed-level
groups take a sample question from the AP
Language Exam and determine what skills a
student would need to be able to succeed on that
test item;

Groups use their ELA Frameworks and course
guides to determine in which grades students learn
those skills and with which resources/activities;

Teachers plan for reinforcement of the skills
vertically through coordinated activities.
Other ELA Vertical Team
Activities







Alignment of skills and texts vertically through grades
Analysis of local data and research trends
CCSS / Use of Critical Reading Strategies for
Informational and Literary Text
Scaffolding of Assignments for ELL/analysis of student
work
Marzano Strategies / analysis of student work
Area-wide common academic vocabulary focus
Backwards mapping of released items to standards
across the grade levels
Other ELA Activities
 Instruction
in consistent and effective use of
Notetaking;
 Spiraling
scaffolds in types and complexity of
reading and writing;
 Creation
of common rubrics for scoring of
written work;
 Common assessments
 Increase
scored together;
of rigor in critical thinking about
reading and writing leading to career/college
readiness.
Recommendations for Forming
a Vertical Team:
•College Board Training
•Teacher led
•Administrative support
Time away from classroom
Pay for substitutes
•District/county/regional liaison
•Passion/desire
•Visit a Vertical Team meeting
•VT
•CIM
•Technology
•COI
•Math
•ELPD
•Data
•Academic
•Pacing
Vocabulary
•Assessments
•ELA
•Cornell
Notes
•Bridges
•Objectives
•Science
Re-teach
Strategies
•CCSS
Writing
Strategy/S
tandards
Q&A
Contact Information
Lori Hamada
Pamela McGee
Stephanie Verners
Joan Dallin
lori@lorihamada.com
pmgee@fcoe.org
sverners@exeter.k12.ca.us
jdallin34@gmail.com