GRADE 8 PLC 2017 - 2018

​GRADE LEVEL PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES DEFINED

The very essence of the grade level Professional Learning Community (PLC) is a focus on and a commitment to the learning of each student. We know at the building level if we embrace high levels of learning for all students as both the reason for the existence of grade level PLC’s and the fundamental responsibility of those who work within it. In order for us to achieve this purpose, the members of each grade level PLC are guided by a clear and compelling vision of what we must become in order to help all students learn.
A Vision Driven Culture: What is our collective vision defining student success?
  • Driving Question One: What do we want students to do and be like at the completion of each grade level?
A Collaborative Culture: What is a Collaborative Culture?
  • Driving Question Two: How do we acquire a goal directed learning process in which grade levels work together to analyze the impact of professional practices to improve student learning?
A Culture of Inquiry: What is Collective Inquiry?
  • Driving Question Three: How do we analyze current practices in relationship to student results, experiment with new practices, and assess the relationship between practice and the effects of practices?
Result Oriented: What do we mean by Results Oriented?
  • Driving Question Four: How do we work together to question, search, analyze, develop, test, and evaluate new skills, strategies, awareness, attitudes, and beliefs that promote student learning based on results?
How do we define PLC leadership?
  • Driving Question Five: How do we provide growth mindset culture providing opportunities for teacher involvement resulting in full participation & ownership in the PLC process?

GUIDING ELEMENTS OF GRADE LEVEL PLC’S 2017 - 2018

​As a school we must make collective commitments clarifying what each member will do to create a learning environment that has results-oriented goals to mark our progress. All grade level PLC’s must work together to clarify exactly what each student must learn, monitor each student’s learning on a timely basis, provide systematic interventions that ensure students receive additional time and support for learning when they struggle, and extend and enrich learning when students have already mastered the intended outcomes. (See Grade Level PLC Schedule)
Click Here for Wednesday Grade Level PLC Schedule 2017 - 2018
  • Think of innovative ways to make multi-discipline applications in math and reading.
  • Place PLC share-outs on next day team meeting agendas.
  • Grade Level PLC’s can set their own agendas but must include a balance of time between the following topics.
  • Review of curriculum units as applied to instructional practices.
  • Bring student samples of work for the discussion of common trends in student learning.
  • Review assessments to drive instructional practices ensuring mastery and application of standards.
  • Equally discuss the rigor of content and how to apply learning concepts to real world problems as a part of the assessment process.
  • Grade level principals will monitor accountability for these expectations.

Grade Level Explorer PLC Forms

Grade 8 PLC Report Form
Above is a direct link to your grade level PLC form. We are asking you to complete the form after each grade level PLC. 

Grade 8 PLC Summary of Responses 
The link above provides information on topics discussed during grade level PLC's. This information is reviewable by team members, PLC Leaders and grade level principals. 

Instructional Growth Measures
Click Here for SGM's

State Assessment Data 2016 - 2017

Student scores will now be reported based on four performance levels. Students scoring on levels 4 or 3 are considered at or above academic expectations for college and career readiness. In other words, their work has successfully met the higher expectations set by the new standards. Students scoring on level 2 are considered at or above academic expectations for their grade level. While they are meeting the work required for their grade, they are not yet demonstrating work on track for college and career readiness. Students scoring on level 1 are working below grade level expectations
The KAP Summative Cut Score 2016 - 2017 are used to determine the Academic Performance Index.
State Assessment Math 2016
State Assessment Reading 2016

Grade Level 8 SMI & SRI Assessment Data

​Grade 7 SMI & SRI Growth Charts 2016 - 2017
At the end of the first semester of each school year growth data will be posted on the percentage of growth being made at each grade level on the SMI.
SMI Scores 2016
SRI Scores 2016

Student Performance Criteria (Standards of Learning)

ELA Student Performance Criteria
Math Student Performance Criteria
ELA & Math Content Emphases Grade Six through Eight
Kansas Reading & Math Concepts Procedures Rubric 
This document provides an outline on how much time should be devoted to assessment targets and specifies DOK levels for each target

Item Specifications

​The Kansas College and Career Ready Standards for Mathematics is a set of specific, rigorous expectations that build students' conceptual understanding, mathematical language, and ability to apply processes and procedures across grades. The Standards are designed to establish a focused, deep understanding of Mathematics, and develop a logical progression of mathematical fluency and application, moving students toward college and career readiness.
Instructional Walk-through Goals
​Individual teams will review instructional goals at the end of every 100 walkthrough mark and reset their goal based on meeting instructional targets. To support team instructional goals the administrative team will complete 200 walkthroughs at the end of each nine weeks. This will give teams the opportunity to review their team instructional goal at least twice during each quarter of the school year. 

Instructional Videos

Pennsylvania Instructional Videos focus on teaching based on the learning needs of each student, Teaching topics that are aligned with the standards by grade level and implementing instructional strategies to increase student achievement.
Success at the Core provides instructional videos for middle level methods to implement a shared vision of quality instruction.