High School Redesign: Making the transition
Creating Successful High School Transitions: Making the first
year countDr. Mike
[email protected] 2007 : Dr.
Mike HallSo What is the Problem?
2Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallI gave it to them.it is their
fault if they didnt get it!
My job is to teach math.3Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallI have a
theory. The American High School has died and no one knows it.
Paul Curtis, Director of CurriculumNew Technology High Schools
FoundationNapa, CA. 24 replication sitesPermission from Gary
Fields4Do we sometimes reward students forPlaying school.
OrganizedTimely with assignmentsRespectfulParticipate in
classWell-behavedGood mom and dadGifted
5Grades?????Is a 90 really a 90?Does a 60/70 correlate to
minimum proficiency on state exams.Are all grades real assessments
of student learning?So the real question across the US today is how
do we CHANGE our high schools?
Start with the 9th grade!7The 9th Grade is sometimes called the
Bubble YearThere are more students in the 9th grade than any other
grade!
8Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike Hall Key Components that Contribute
to Students Dropping Out of SchoolLack of Positive
RelationshipsAttendanceBehaviorMath FailureEnglish
Failure9Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike Hall% of Male Students Who
Receive a HS Diploma in 4 Years72.3% - White52.3% - Hispanic46.2% -
Black
Editorial Projects in Education Research Center 200710Copyright
2007 : Dr. Mike Hall% Male Students Scoring at or Above the Basic
Level 8th Grade Reading 2005 NAEP76% White Non-Hispanic43% Black
Non-Hispanic
Education Week June 20, 2007
11Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallHow many of you have heard the
statement, 56% of our students go to college?Teacher Magazine March
20040102030405060708090100Students100Students Entering the9th
Grade67Graduate38Enter College26Remain in College aftertheir First
Year15 18Graduate with an Associatesor Bachelor's Degree in6
years12Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallGeorgia High SchoolGraduation
RatesYearPercent of High School GraduatesNumber of High School
GraduatesNumber of High School
Non-Grads200262%63,33139,146200363%65,26737,840200465%65,11434,7482005Total69%67,56729,792141,5262006
% = 69.42007 % = 712008% = 75.7 which brings total to approx.
220,00013Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike Hall
2006 Earnings of Adults 25 or Over By Educational Attainment
Level9th Grade of Less: $18,8689th thru 12th Did Not Complete:
$20,506HS Completers (Includes GED): $27,384Some College No Degree:
$31,7892 Year Degree: $35,2744 Year Degree: $46,435Doctorate:
$78,212In 2005 12.7% of the US population lived in
poverty.14Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallSo What is Currently
Happening in the 9th Grade?
15Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallFact: Nationwide the average
retention rate in the 9th grade is in the mid- 20s. In some schools
it is as high as 45%.The 9th grade has become a holding tank for
high schools. Jay Hertzog16Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallThe
greatest differences in the K-12 organizational cultures exist in
the gap between middle school and high school.
Pre-school feels like kindergarten5th grade feels like 6th
gradeThe Senior year is similar to being a Freshman in college
but..
The 8th grade is nothing like the 9th grade!Jay Hertzog on a
quote from Whitefish Bay Schools, Wis.17Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike
HallBridges (1991) defines transition as the psychological process
people must work through as they come to accept change.18A key
factor in the impact of transition is the degree to which the new
setting differs from that of the pre-transition environment.
(Kelly, 1993)19Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallWhat do you see as
the major differences between middle school and high
school?20Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallCommon High School
Characteristics That Affect Students
Size: High schools are generally larger than middle schools.
Scheduling/Class changes: Students are assigned and move to
classes as individuals rather than groups.21Copyright 2007 : Dr.
Mike HallCommon High School Characteristics That Affect
StudentsClassroom expectations: Students must adapt to a variety of
instructional styles and conform to a different system of rules and
expectations.
Academic competition: Students experience a different, usually
higher, grading standard.
22Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallCommon High School
Characteristics That Affect Students
Students take classes with students who are three grades ahead
of them.
The discipline code utilizes more serious punishments and is
strictly enforced. (High school personnel are more controlling of
their students than middle school faculty, (Hertzog & Morgan,
1996).23Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallCommon High School
Characteristics That Affect StudentsStudents compete for class
rankings that greatly impact their postsecondary opportunities.
Parents tend to become less involved in their childs education
because there is a gap between what the parents want to do and what
they know how to do, (Epstein, 1995).
24Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallWhat 8th graders think about
high school(survey of 3000 students)Bullying heard that 9th graders
are constantly getting beat up by the older students.Mean teachers
in 8th grade language mean teachers means lots and lots of
homework.Getting lost.Having time to go to lockers. (Students
worried they wouldnt have time to get to class.)Being late to
class. (They had been told what high school teachers do to students
who are late to class.)Hertzog and Morgan, March 200425Copyright
2007 : Dr. Mike HallOther 8th grade concernsFinding a boy/girl
friend. (Boys and girls differed in that girls wanted to date older
boys while boys didnt feel anyone would go out with them.)Homework
(Students had heard how much homework there would be in high
school.)Tests (They heard how hard they were.)Graduation Worried
they wouldnt graduate.Extracurricular activities too many
choices.
Hertzog and Morgan, March 200426Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike
HallThe reality of High School in the late fall of the freshman
year.High school was different. (Different from what they had
expected and different from middle school. Ex: Students did not
bully like they thought. There was some teasing, but the older
students were helpful.)Getting lost was really not a
factor.Concerns:How to study and how to manage their time were
their two major concerns.
27Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallEmotional Issues in
TransitionStudents develop a more negative view of themselves and
feel an increased need for peer relationships.Hertzog,
199628Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallDefining the Adolescent An
adolescent is a young person whose reproductive system has matured,
who is economically dependent upon adults, whose chief source of
need gratification is his peers, who has open interest in the
opposite sex, and for whom status and roles as defined for children
and adults in his culture are confused. (Wattenburg,
1974)29Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallDefining the AdolescentErikson
views an adolescent as someone who would rather act shamelessly in
the eyes of his elders, out of free choice, than be forced into
activities which would be shameful in his own eyes or in those of
his peers.
30Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallThe group most at risk in this
transition are caucasian females. The Barbie Doll Syndrome occurs
because of the social implications of physical appearance and peer
acceptance. Students who participated in strategies such as
meetings, letter writing, and controlled interactions with older
students received better grades and missed less school than
students who did not participate. Females students received the
most benefits from the program in terms of socialization,
self-esteem, and academic performance.31Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike
HallWhat Does the Research Say?Evidence exists that the 3 most
measurable areas of concern in transition to high school are :
Reduction in the level of academic achievement. Rise in the
number of student discipline incidents. Rise in student dropout
rates.32Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallStudent
Achievement33Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallStudent Achievement
FactsThe average GPA is lower for 9th grade students than that of
students in any other grade.
On the average, approximately 30% of 9th graders fail one or
more classes.
9th graders miss more classes.
34Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike Hall9th Grade Discipline35Copyright
2007 : Dr. Mike HallFacts on Student DisciplineIn a study conducted
in the Austin School District in Texas, 9th grade referrals more
than doubled the referrals in other grades.
36Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallFacts on Student DisciplineMore
suicides, alcohol and drug use, and serious delinquent offenses
occur with 9th grade students.
37Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallDropouts38Copyright 2007 : Dr.
Mike HallDropoutsA study presented at the American Education
Research Conference on student dropouts stated that the greatest
predictable factor was teacher interaction with their students.
Students who dropout lack the skills to effectively respond to
adult interactions. 39Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallDropoutsWhen a
teacher in the early grades fails to get satisfactory ego enhancing
responses from students they cease interacting with them and these
students become dropouts.Harvey, R. (personal communication,
2007)40Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallDrop OutsLansdown and Walker
(1991) equate the length of stay in high school for students to the
initial transitional experiences of entering the 9th grade.Roberts
(1993) stated that 60% of the students who eventually dropped out
of high school failed at least 25% of their 9th grade courses.
Students who reach the 10th grade have a much lower chance of
dropping out.41Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallThe Bottom
LineStudents who successfully make it to the 10th grade will
usually graduate.42Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallAn Interesting
PointResearch by Thomas Stanley, The Millionaire Mind, indicates
that the highest percentage of millionaires in the US were C
students, ostensibly due to their coping skills.43Copyright 2007 :
Dr. Mike HallCan You Make the Model Work?
44Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallJust developing a ninth-grade
center isn't the answer, cautions Hertzog.
There must be a combination of the center plus the establishment
of a well-designed transition program based on the needs of the
students, not the adults.
45Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike Hall3 Types of Transitional
ModelsAcademy (Some separation, but same school)Separate 9th Grade
SchoolTargeting a certain group of 9th grade students.46Copyright
2007 : Dr. Mike HallThe Three Essentials for Success with 9th
Graders (and people in general)Create Relationships Every student
wants and needs to be known!
Make Them All Important Help students define their Value.
Inspire Them to Learn! If they cant learn the way you are
teaching them..teach them the way they learn. Ken and Rita
Dunn47What is the theme for changing the school?Copyright 2007 :
Dr. Mike Hall Iberville Parish
Caring About Results EverydayRelationships + Relevance + Rigor =
Results CARERELATIONSHIPS, RELEVANCE, RIGORRESPECT, RESTRAINT,
RESPONSIBILITYRESULTS!Cant Accept Ridiculous Excuses!49Copyright
2007 : Dr. Mike HallWhat are your real Non-NegotiablesTeachers with
certification issuesLocation problems for classes (Science)No
leadershipTimeCommitment by teachers50What are the Model
Non-NegotiablesAnd will you stick to them?51Copyright 2007 : Dr.
Mike HallTransition Structural Essentials
(Non-negotiables!)Proximity (All 9th graders in one location)All
lockers in this same location.All teachers have common planning
time. (Structured collaboration time for the teachers to own their
group of students and discuss innovative instructional
strategies.)An administrator/lead teacher to manage the day to day
operation of the program.All first time 9th graders have an
elective the last period of the day.Use Data Daily (War Room
Concept). Pre-post testing/benchmarking, and elimination of the
instructional guessing game!52More Non-negotiables Cont.A 9th grade
academy Student Handbook that transitions students from the 8th
grade to the 10th grade.Public relations/Marketing: Developing a
standardized business plan and a common language used by
all.Intrinsic/Extrinsic Rewards/Incentive ProgramsIndividualized
credit recovery programs.Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallChange
instructional expectations. Teachers should be able to clearly
identify what students know and are able to do.This means
A true standards-based classroom that is focused on student
learning not teacher coverage or delivery.Correlating grading and
mastery with standards and testing.Student learning that requires
them to use extensive knowledge and skills and take action that
further develops their knowledge and skills. Bill Daggett:
http://www.leadered.com/rrr.htmlPromoting student engagement
through the use of high tech/high touch, student centered learning
environments.
Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallWe are asking for an instructional
paradigm shift. The business of school is about
STUDENT LEARNING!
We have to elminate ALL artificial barriers.The emphasis has to
be on assessed learning not artificial barriers.
56Are grades given in class..As a punishment for a behavior?As a
control factor for managing classroom behavior?As a means for
justifying the students participation in class. Johnny has 27
grades in my class.57Do you give homework and then give students a
100 or 0 based on completion?
What Math/English/Social Studies/Science standard is mastered
for turning it in? What are some of the other artificial
barriers?Example one: Items on the checklist that are not
completed. Johnny was assigned a paper. He wrote it first in green
ink (which is absolutely not acceptable) and then put it on a disk.
He emails it to the teacher and the teacher cant open the file.
Johnny is either penalized or receives a zero for the artificial
barriers: green ink or technology!59Artificial Barrier Ex. 2The
teacher is taking up homework at the beginning of the period.
Johnny is frantically searching through his bookbag and cant find
it. Johnny gets a zero for not having the assignment. After class
Johnny goes to his locker only to find his homework in another
book. The teacher will not accept the homework late.60Artificial
Barrier #3Johnny forgets to put his name on his paper. He receives
a zero because that is the rule in this class.61Copyright 2007 :
Dr. Mike HallSelection of TeachersSelection of Teachers for
SuccessCriteria for selectionDesire to work in this schoolHistory
of working with students outside of the classroom.Discipline
referral history.Academic area need/certificationPut your best
where they can make the most difference!62Eliminate 9th Grade
Retention and You Will Drastically Change Your School!Retained 9th
graders often have a communicable disease and they infect
first-time 9th graders attendance issues, tardiness, behavior,
disrespect, vandalism, smoking, drugs, and chronic lack of interest
in academic success.
63Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallOne of the most important
cultural changes: Real Use of DataUDDUse Data Daily - No more
guessing at what they need. What do they know and what do we want
them to know?
Billy is not a good math student! This statement is not
acceptable.Students dont do well in 9th grade English. Are we
scheduling based on student academic weaknesses and teacher
teaching strengths.64Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallThe Scheduling
Game Determines Interventions for Students5 Period Trimester
Schedule (Redmond, Or)Standard 6 period schedule: 6 period modified
with optional 0 and 7th periods. (Houston County High, Georgia)7
Period scheduleStandard (Capital High, Charleston, WV)Modified (New
Albany High, New Albany, OH)8 Period schedule4X4 block
standardHybrid (Glynn County, Ga)AB9 Period scheduleModular (GW
High, Charleston, WV)
65Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallParents Have to Be Trained as
Well
Reinventing the American High School for the 21st Century
Position Paper Created by ACTE (January, 2006)66Copyright 2007 :
Dr. Mike HallEssential Student Transitional Strategies
Hertzog states that successful transition programs must have 8
or more student transition strategies. 67Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike
Hall4 Essential Transitional StrategiesContact with 8th graders by
high school teachers and counselors. (Are parents sitting down with
counselors to develop 5 or 6 year plans for their children?)Visits
to high school by 8th grade students, teachers, and
parents.Professional learning for high school teachers on
adolescent development.A high school design where freshmen can
spend most of their time with the same group of teachers and
separate from older students. (Still need limited contact with
older students.)Morgan, 199968Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike
HallTransition TimelineJanuary Parent MeetingFebruary Pre-RegMarch
Extra-curricularApril RegistrationParent VisitationMay Student
VisitationJune Reading list/pre-summer programJuly Summer
ProgramAug. Student OrientationThis timeline should provide
transtional strategies from January of the 8th grade year to the
end of their 9th grade year.69Is it easier in your school for your
students to pass or fail?Sometimes referred to as the NAG
factor.
Instead of putting in road blocks for students to pass, but them
in for students to fail.Being unsuccessful, failing, quitting is
not an option.70Brusly High West Baton Rouge, La.
71What specific programs are in place in your academy to address
specific student needs such as the acquisition of 21st Century
Skills, engagement in the classroom, performance-based/inquiry
learning?Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike Hall72Freshman Transition and
Dropout PreventionTime ManagementTest Taking/Study
SkillsCommunication SkillsChoices/ConsequencesBusiness
SavvyTechnology LiteracyPeople SkillsTolerance/DiversityPersonal
Learning StylesFinancial LiteracyCopyright 2007 Chad Foster Mike
Hall73Zero is Not An Option
School without Failures74Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallCreating
21st Century Classrooms
Students and Teachers are ENGAGED!!!!!!!!!
75Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallAnd Finally, Administrators Need
to Drive the Train,not ride it!
76Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallAdministrators Have to Know
77Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallMinimum Professional Learning
for Teachers When Implementing an Academy.Freshman Experience
dayHigh School 101 dayStandards-based Instruction 1 dayData-driven
instruction 1 dayStandards-based Assessment 1 dayTechnology 21st
century classrooms All year78Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike Hall
Redmond High is focusing on freshmenso freshmen wont give up on
school.
We will not accept failure, says Redmond Principal Jon
Bullock.http://www.bendbulletin.com/. Oct. 5, 200779Copyright 2007
: Dr. Mike HallNadine Kujawa Superintendent Aldine Unified School
District, Houston, Tx.Kujawa considers the 9th-grade centers a
success already. Our dropout rate at the 9th-grade level has
decreased dramatically and our attendance rate has increased, she
says. More students are earning credit and are classified as 10th
graders when they go to the high school. Our test scores have risen
and behavior is improved.
80Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallEducationState Seeks to Smooth
High School Transitionby Jessica JonesAll Things Considered, August
23, 2005 Success in ninth grade is key to succeeding in the rest of
high school, according to education experts. That's why the
Raleigh, North Carolina, school system has set up "ninth grade
academies" in all of its high schools. The academies function as
schools within schools in helping young adolescents make the
transition. Jessica Jones of member station WUNC reports.You can
listen to the entire story at:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4812628
81Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallAre you OK with what you are
doing in your school?
82Copyright 2007 : Dr. Mike HallIt Works!!!!!!
83Chart1188682050627384317893527446435554458585778212
9th or Less9-12 NCHS Completer (GED)Some College ND2 Yr Degree4
Yr DegreeMastersProfessionalDoctorateEducational LevelAverage
EarningsEarnings By Ed. Level 2006
Sheet1Educational LevelLess than 9th Grade$18,868.009th -12th
Grade Non-completer$20,506.00High School Completer - Including
GED$27,384.00Some College No Degree$31,789.002 Year
Degree$35,274.004 Year Degree$46,435.00Master's
Degree$55,445.00Professional
Degree$85,857.00Doctorate$78,212.00
Sheet1
9th or Less9-12 NCHS Completer (GED)Some College ND2 Yr Degree4
Yr DegreeMastersProfessionalDoctorateEducational LevelAverage
EarningsEarnings By Ed. Level 2006
Sheet2
Sheet3
