Vertical Team
Teaching and Learning K-5
ELA Focus of Learning
Instructional Model
for
MGES 2013-2014
Meadow Glen Elementary
School’s Vision
As Meadow Glen Explorers,
our vision is to see, hear,
and experience life from
various angles allowing us
a limitless future as we
explore the world.
“Home of the Explorers”
Meadow Glen Elementary
Vertical Team Defined
“Home of the Explorers”
An expert team of
teachers who collaborate
to plan, develop, and
implement vertical units
of study with assessments
that define student
learning based on
readiness and mastery
rather than age or grade
level.
Organization
Research
monthly
Created the Vertical
Team
ELA focus
School
Vertical Team Idea
Provided collaborative
time and space for the
learning environment
Common Core State
Standards Training in
the Summer
Designing and creating
the units of study,
evidence of mastery,
common ELA block, and
reporting to parents
Meadow Glen Elementary Vertical Team
Hope Mefford
Aubrey Catone
Amy White
Carol Beckwith
Tammy Sharpe
Deni Titcomb
Ashley Scott
Meadow Glen Elementary
Vertical Team Planning
 Collaborate weekly
 Develop
“Home of the Explorers”

Standards based units of study
with ELA focus

Standards based mastery and
reporting to parents


Interim Progress Reports
Nine Weeks reporting
Common Core State Standards Progression of Learning Example
Grade K - With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about
key details in a text.
Grade 1 - Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
Grade 2 - Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when,
why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
Grade 3 - Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a
text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
Grade 4 - Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what
the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
Grade 5 - Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text
says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
PROGRESSION OF LEARNING
 Teachers will analyze data to inform instruction, monitor
progress, and evaluate the effectiveness of the program.

MAP, Dominie, DIBELS Next, PASS, Personalized Data Notebooks
 Students will be assessed based on established learning
targets. (Standards based learning/assessments)
 Students will monitor individual progress and articulate
learning goals through personalized data notebooks.
(Student Reflection)
 Students will move within the vertical team based on
their learning needs and readiness of Common Core
State Standards. (Above grade level learners: 5thgraders
ready for 6th grade learning targets)
Family Commitment
 Trust
 Risk
taker
 Commitment
Year
long process
K- 5 commitment
 Team
building
STUDENT IDENTIFICATION
 Parents will have the opportunity to sign-up for
Vertical Team Instructional Model. There will be 12
student slots for parents to enroll their child.
 12 student slots will be identified by teachers,
educational needs, and administration.
Administration will use various data to determine
eligibility. (Kindergarten Survey, ESOL, Speech, etc.)
REGISTRATION
 Parents will have the opportunity to sign-up for




Vertical Team Instructional Model. There will be 12
student slots for parents to enroll their child.
Online registration will begin on June 3, 2013 at
12:00 noon. Registration will end June 7, 2013 at 5:00
PM. It will be date and time stamped.
A phone message will be sent and a post on the
website as a reminder.
Waiting List
Withdrawal process
Other facts based on your questions…
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The Vertical grade level is an instructional model not a program.
All classrooms will follow curriculum adopted by the district.
Common Core State standards will be used in all classrooms.
Special Education (Resource, Speech) will be served on the vertical grade level.
English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) will be served on the vertical grade
level.
Students with reading and math interventions (RTI) will be served on the vertical
grade level.
Mandarin/Partial Immersion students will not participate in the vertical grade
level.
Activities will be planned to help students understand the purpose of progression
through the standards. (moving up and down in the learning progression)
Activities will be planned to teach students how to work in a multi-age
environment.
Students will come to understand how to monitor individual progress and
articulate learning goals through personalized data notebooks.