Distrtict 56’s Continuous Improvement Action Plan
Goal: All Falls City Public School students will increase their achievement in math problem solving across
all content areas.
Measureable Objective: 70% of all students will demonstrate a proficiency in problem solving in mathematics by
1/4/2016 as measured by MAP, MAP Progress Monitoring for Primary Grades, NeSA-M, PLAN, and/or ACT.
Strategy 1: Math Problem Solving – Students will formulate and implement a plan of action for problem
solving across all content areas. Their solutions will be based on their understanding and knowledge of a
variety of problem solving strategies.
Activity
Problem-Solving
Process
Implement
Problem-Solving
Process
Integrate the
problem solving
methods of the
Saxon Math
Curriculum
Quality Instruction
Activity Description
School/s
Adopt a problem-solving process
District-wide
Solve problems across the curriculum using
the 4-step model: 1) Understand, 2) Plan, 3)
Solve, 4) Check - Place poster of the 4-step
model in all district classrooms
Students will practice daily problem solving
steps during Power Up, Morning Meeting,
and lesson activities. The process will follow
a Cognitive Strategy Instruction model (CSI).
The CSI model includes following steps:
modeling, self-regulation, verbalization, and
reflective thinking.
1) Develop appropriate strategies to solve
problems, 3) Identify tools to help them solve
problems, 3) Work in small groups to explore
and discuss ideas and solve problems, 4)
Report findings to the class. Lessons using
this method should be planned into activities
and labeled on curriculum maps
District-wide
Activity Type
Direct
Instruction
Direct
Instruction
Begin
Date
2/4/2013
4/10/2013
1/6/2014
1/4/2016
End Date
Staff
Responsible
All Instructional
Staff
All Instructional
Staff
North School,
South School
Direct
Instruction
8/14/2012
1/4/2016
All Instructional
Staff
District-wide
Direct
Instruction
8/14/2013
1/4/2016
All Instructional
Staff
Use a Variety of
Strategies to
Improve Student’s
Problem-Solving
Ability
Classroom
Discourse and
Communication
Change Lesson
Delivery Style to a
Problem-Centered
Approach
Relate problem to student interest, teach a
District-wide
variety of problem-solving strategies, work
cooperatively toward a solution, reward
students for small steps of success, compile a
dictionary journal of important words, reduce
reading difficulties, simplify number,
simplify problems
Change assessment of understanding to
High School
include student dialogue and written
explanation. Learn to assess student
understanding of new concepts through
questioning techniques and guided discourse
along with more written dialogue.
Learn to teach new content through the use
High School
of problem solving instead of lecture or
practiced procedures
Direct
Instruction,
Technology
8/14/2013
1/4/2016
All Instructional
Staff
Direct
Instruction,
Professional
Learning
8/14/2014
1/4/2016
All Instructinal
Math Staff, All
Instructional
Staff
Direct
Instruction,
Professional
Learning
1/6/2014
1/4/2016
All Instructional
Math Staff
Strategy 2: Response to Intervention – North Elementary School, South Elementary School and Falls
City Middle School are implementing a three-tiered model of support for all students. The tiered system
utilizes data to identify students who need additional support beyond the core curriculum.
Activity
Activity Description
School/s
Activity
Type
Direct
Instruction
Begin
Date
8/18/2011
1/4/2016
End Date
Staff
Responsible
RtI Teams and
Core Teachers
Improving Tier 1
Instruction
Teachers will implement research-based
instructional strategies to improve student
learning in all content areas.
North School,
South School,
Middle School
Guided Math
Based on MAPS progress monitoring,
teachers will provide differentiated
instruction in flexible groups, implement
independent-work stations, and practice
individualized math concepts through IXL
North School
Academic
Support
Program,
Direct
Instruction
9/17/2012
1/4/2016
All Instructional
Staff
Intervention Block
Scheduling
Teachers will implement a daily 30 minute
South School
intervention block called What I Need (WIN)
time. This daily scheduled block will allow
staff to differentiate math instruction
utilizing small group instruction.
Academic
Support
Program,
Direct
Instruction
8/14/2013
1/4/2016
All Instructional
Staff
Peer Assisted
Learning Strategies
(PALS)
Instructional curriculum designed to teach
students to use reciprocal learning with peers
to work through and solve math problems
will be implemented.
South School
Tutoring
8/14/2013
1/4/2016
All Instructional
Staff
Tier 2 Intervention
of Support
Data is analyzed to determine need for
additional academic support and
interventions. Targeted interventions are
aligned to student need.
North School,
South School,
Middle School
Academic
Support
Program
8/15/2012
1/4/2016
RtI Teams and
Identiftied
Interventionists
SRA Math
Based on MAPS progress monitoring,
students will focus on a targeted math skill.
North School
Direct
Instruction
9/9/2013
1/4/2016
All Instructional
Staff
Double Dose of
Algebra
Identified students who need math support
are placed in an additional math course.
High School
Academic
Support
Program
8/15/2013
1/4/2016
Math
Instructional
Staff
Transitional
Support
Develop process to prepare students to
transition from building to building
District-wide
Academic
Support
Program,
Parent
Involvement
2/3/2014
1/4/2016
Building
Principals, All
Instructional
Staff
Strategy 3: Professional Development – To improve instruction, all staff will participate in professional
development trainings both inside the district and outside the district.
Activity
Teacher modeling
and training
Math "Coaching"
mentoring
Activity Description
Model life-long learning by joining
professional organizations, networking with
professionals outside the district, keeping up
on current educational trends, taking
graduate-level courses, or participating in
any other professional development
1:1 meeting time with staff members for
planning lessons and feedback on those
lessons - Allow time for collaboration during
school day and PLC time
School/s
District-wide
District-wide
Activity
Type
Professional
Learning
Begin
Date
1/4/2010
1/6/2016
Professional
Learning
8/14/2013
1/4/2016
End Date
Staff
Responsible
All Instructional
Staff
Instructional
Staff
Common Core State
Standard Initiative
Proactively pursue developments nationwide
and statewide. Prepare staff through
education on the issue prior to state adoption
of the CCSSI
District-wide
Professional
Learning
1/6/2014
1/4/2016
Building
Principals
Math Mondays
Training is held once a month for teachers/
paraprofessionals on these topics:
Mathematical Learning Trajectories/Math
Journals, Composing and decomposing
numbers/number lines, math stations,
Sharing your successes/ trouble-shooting,
family math activities, fractions/
measurement, story problems, place value,
and geometry. The instructors, Melissa
Hawley and Kim Oliver, were trained
through the program Primary Math, which is
supported by the National Science
Foundation Grant, NebraskaMATH.
North School,
South School,
Middle School
Professional
Learning
9/9/2013
5/5/2014
Not mandatory,
offered to K-8
teachers