Rejuvenating Reading at our School on FIRE--Success with our Warriors in the 8th Grade

The ability to read is critical for the success of all students.  Eminence strives daily to provide more meaningful reading experiences for our students.  Last summer we took the opportunity to implement a new idea that seems to have made a positive impact on our students motivating them to read more for the enjoyment of reading versus an accumulation of points.  Our focus on success has required us to reflect on our current practice and make necessary adjustment to continually improve the Warrior educational experience within FIRE (Framework of Innovation to Reinvent Education). 

Mrs. Jennifer Montgomery, our Rockstar 7^th and 8^th grade teacher wrote the information below to share with you some of the background ideas, implementation, and statistical results for you to review. 

EXCITEMENT

This past summer, Eminence 8^th graders took part in a reading program created by the school’s McKinney-Vento Coordinator. As a part of the program, students self-selected 5 books that looked interesting to them but were also in their lexile range (based on their most recent MAP reading scores), and one of those books was mailed to students throughout the summer about every 8 days.  Students who admitted to reading ANY of the books over the summer saw growth in their MAP reading scores when they took the MAP test the first week of August.

In an effort to continue this success, in August 7^th graders self-selected books in their lexile range and have been receiving a new book every few weeks since school started.  When these students took the MAP reading test in December, the results were astonishing: 80% saw an increase in their scores! While scores don’t mean everything and these students also received a lot of instruction between August and December, we can’t help but believe that their independent reading had a lot to do with their growth and success as well. Below are responses from 7^th grade students when asked about the project in an anonymous survey. 

Since this project, have your habits changed and are you more of a reader now, waiting to get the next book?

87% Yes, I can say that I honestly read more

At any point in this project, have you talked to a family member about a book or did they read a book with you?

            49% Yes

At any point during the day, other than language arts class, did you talk about the book you were reading to a friend or teacher?

74% Yes

Have you enjoyed getting to have your OWN books?

95% Yes

Do you feel like you will take your MAP assessment more seriously knowing that the data is used to determine your reading and comprehension level?

            40% I always take MAP seriously

            60% Yes, I will take MAP more seriously because I see the data is used to help me.

0% I will not take MAP seriously

List 5 adjectives that describe how this book initiative has made you feel about reading:

-       overwhelmed, jacked, happy, happy, happy

-       excited, flabbergasted, elated, happy, stoked

-       excited, happy, thrilled, stoked, joyful

-       excited, happy, jacked, surprised, speechless

Describe how receiving books that were self-selected and on your lexile level has helped you as a reader.

-       It helped me read in a fun way

-       It has made me read more types of books

-       I wasn’t overwhelmed by reading something too hard or too easy

-       The books I’ve gotten so far have helped me very much in reading and in being a better writer

-       It really inspired me to explore the world of books in a new way

-       They have helped me increase my reading times

This information will allow us to continue to grow our program and focus on the student needs and desires in regard to student reading supports.  It is amazing how being willing to take a risk and approach learning differently, has resulted in such an incredible change among our students in regard to reading. 

We hope that you will ask your son/daughter what books they have read lately and what they learned, enjoyed, and were surprised about in the books they have read.  It is a great way to open conversation with your child and build your relationship while supporting academics. 

We thank Jennifer Montgomery and Alethea Coffee for their passion to create this opportunity for our WARRIORS, implementing the program fully, and following through with data to hear student voice in the work.  Eminence is moving forward in many ways and this is one specific example that we hope you have enjoyed learning about and gives you more insight into the work we are doing as a School on FIRE!    

The Giving Warriors, Real Examples

There are many very special young ladies and gentlemen that attend Eminence Independent, one young lady that I have had the privilege to watch in action is Emily Coomes.  This young lady is an inspiration to me daily.  I often admire her tenacity, focus, and passion for service to others.  She is involved in numerous extracurricular activities including representing the Warriors on the Volleyball Team.  People who state that young people these days are self-centered and irresponsible; haven't visited Eminence Middle/High School, they would quickly see different here in this very special place.  Emily agreed to share about the experience she is having in a Kindergarten classroom.  Keep reading to read her written synopsis that describes her experience in this classroom and her desires for the future.  

"Recently, I have had the opportunity to work in Mrs. McMillian’s kindergarten class. While I do whatever she needs me to do, I mainly work with one particular special needs student. I help him write, complete work, understand what is happening and together we do, teach, and learn sign language. We have done the weekly sight words, the alphabet, and colors. Working with him has been a blessing. He has taught me just as much or more than I have taught him and more than just sign language. Being with the kindergarteners has shown me that teaching is the right department for me, and also opened my eyes to another field I want to pursue. I plan to attend a university with an elementary education major and either a minor or double major in American Sign Language."

Our children truly are our future and can change the world, I believe they will.  Yesterday we had 300+ students offer two hands to help beautify the city.  In two hours our students picked up 53 bags of garbage and were asking if we could do this regularly to help keep the city cleaner.  There were two middle school students who informed me that they were going home to clean their own subdivision streets as soon as they got home (they asked if they could have the two extra trash bags that we had not used while we were out).  Eminence residents should be proud of the students that attend school here, they have pride in this community are willing to make the community better, a mindset that most communities can only wish for...Eminence has achieved.  The Warrior Way is ALIVE and thriving!  

Thanks to Emily Coomes for her willingness to share a glimpse into her future desires and for inspiring those having the privilege to watch her on her journey.  Be proud Eminence!

Thankful for FIRE, ICE & ACES

It is Thanksgiving Break for our students and the building is relatively quiet other than a basketball practice or two.  A student did stop by on his bicycle and visit, he was curious what we do when the students are on break.  He couldn't imagine why anyone would be here when school is out.  It is great listening to their perspectives and it really is what drives us educators in this profession.  Children are amazing and resilient.  We never know what it is actually like to walk in their shoes and we would never pretend to know what some of them face daily.  What we try to accomplish is to meet them where they are and support them as they work to achieve their next steps of success.  We are definitely not perfect here at Eminence and our systems have flaws; however, we without a doubt have the best teachers around and our vision to re-invent education is truly changing where, when, and how learning occurs.  Our vision is to create a personalized learning environment that allows for anytime and anywhere learning to accommodate a high level learning experience daily for every student through FIRE, ICE, and ACES.  In this post, we hope to share some foundational insights into the FIRE Model and the ICE and ACES components of that work.

So, what really is it with all this talk of FIRE, ICE, and ACES?  That is the most exciting and all at the same time hardest part of the work.  FIRE stands for the Framework of Innovation to Reinvent Education.  You ask, "What does that really mean?"  The bottom line is that schools must  improve our methods to support the 21st Century Student Learner, your student.  We have had to ask the hard questions about our schedule, methods of teaching, what we are teaching, and even the question of grading and what does having an "A" really mean?  You have enough experience with education yourself to know that an "A" in one teachers class would not equal an "A" in another classroom.  Our desire is that grading becomes a complete mastery model that requires the grade be a reflection of knowledge versus compliance (pretty binders, kleenexes for extra credit and good behavior, none of which are a reflection of a letter grade communicating what a students knows).  We desire our students to be thinkers who have the "grit" to achieve at high levels.  We desire for them to be the very best.  We believe they are the best and will continue to achieve at high levels as we fully implement the FIRE model.  

The exciting part is that Eminence is making the shift from a factory model of educating to a personalized learning model through the implementation of ICE!  While Eminence has always had elements of this new model in their work, we are becoming much more strategic and intentional about our instructional design and delivery.  ICE stands for: Interventions, Connections, and Enrichment and they are all integral in the FIRE Model.  Every Eminence Middle/High School student is serviced in one of these areas daily.  While some may be embedded in the classroom experience, other students are assigned to specific courses designed specifically for targeted Intervention, Connection, or Enrichment based on their individual needs.  We encourage you to talk with your child about their ICE experience and see how it has impacted their academic goals.  

What does ICE stand for and mean?

Intervention is specifically for students who are six weeks or more behind in an academic area and need some varied instruction to meet their learning needs.  Students are assigned to a teacher who designs specific learning strategies used by the student during Intervention time to help them master required content.  

Connections is the opportunity for students who are struggling with a current standard being taught and a need to understand the material prior to their next class period.  It allows for the standard to be re-taught in a different way to address the different learning styles of each student.  

Enrichment services students who have mastered content and are being provided an opportunity to expanded learning and deeper thinking that often involves a level of problem-solving.  Students who are not in need of Interventions or Connections are provided Enrichment opportunities.  

Lastly, we have ACES.  ACES is the Apple Computers for Eminence Students program in grades 9-12 that has revolutionized the concept of anytime, anywhere learning for all students.  Students are provided a MacBook Pro that allows them access to classroom materials and teacher guidance on instructional lessons and assignments anytime and anywhere through Haiku (Learning Management System).  This piece is integral in our vision to provide a first class education to the students of Eminence and prepare them for the new global world in which they will serve. We THANK our Board of Education for their support of the ACES program as it is imperative for the goal of personalizing learning for every Warrior.  

We hope this overview begins to explain some of the foundations of the work we are achieving here at Eminence Middle/High School with your own Warrior.  It is a dynamic approach to provide a solid educational opportunity for every child we serve.  It is a work in progress as we strive to be better tomorrow than we were today.  

In the previous post we shared a glimpse of how special the Eminence students truly are, but there is so much more to share.  Education has changed each of our lives as educators and for that we are thankful.   We strongly desire to give your children the education they rightfully deserve.  The reality that schools need to change is very real, as is the work required to achieve FIRE, ICE, ACES and many other components to our personalized learning model that we will share with you over time.  We believe it is worth every second for our Warriors! Warriors press on in the face of the unknown fears of uncharted territory...that is why we are Eminence, Home of the WARRIOR! Thankful today for previous dedicated WARRIORS who have made this place special and worthy of achieving FIRE, ICE, ACES and more for the WARRIORS we currently serve!  

Now you know about our FIRE, ICE, and ACES!  More to come.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families, 

The Eminence Middle/High School Team

Simply Special Warriors

During the last week; in the midst of the daily grind at Eminence Independent Middle/High School, I have been constantly reminded that our Warriors are very special.  For those that believe youngsters these days just don’t have what it takes, they should spend a day with the Warriors I have the privilege of serving alongside each and everyday.

Last week some of our students attended the Historically Black University and College Fair in Louisville.  A teacher reported, “I had three of the students who went on the field trip with Mrs. Griebe today who came back at 2:00 ecstatic. One of them was a completely different kid. Typically defiant and uncooperative in most every way, he was all manners last period. He told me he wished he had taken a notebook so he could have taken notes and that he knew what college he wanted to go to.  It was so cool to see them so excited and to see that it did carry over into school.”   

Also, Dena Riley our school librarian arranged to have Katie McGarry (Kentucky author) come and speak to the high school and to the 8th grade.  The 8th grade is in the middle of a PBL (Project Based Learning Unit) where they are writing their own play and later they will perform it for the middle school. Katie was not only an inspiration for their writing, but an inspiration for them to pursue what they love. She answered all of their questions and she shared with them that she didn't become a writer until 5 years ago. Her first book, which has won numerous awards, was rejected 44 times. She told the kids that whatever they love to do to hold onto it and to pursue it no matter how many rejections they face. She was a great speaker!  Link to newspaper article: http://www.hclocal.com/content/eminence-middle-school-students-get-writing-lesson-ky-author

On Monday I had the privilege of taking a group of seven students to a special lunch for their presentation the week before to a group of superintendents.  These students articulated their experience as an Eminence student attending Bellarmine University two full days of the week and earning credit.  It honestly sounds simple and it is, but it is outrageous that some of these students will leave Eminence High School with 29+ hours of college credit for FREE!  Bottom line...they shared their experiences to encourage superintendents in other districts to provide the same opportunities for their own students.  These students are amazing.

Tuesday was an amazing day that included our 1st Round of SPARC (Student, Parents, Advisor, Readiness, Committee) Student-Led Conferences which included 62 parents attending in one evening! It was a success.  This evening at the Board of Education meeting we recognized 187 students in grades 6-12 for their Proficient and Distinguished performance on K-PREP...that is just incredible for our school size!

Wednesday rolled around and with Thanksgiving coming quickly, it was an opportunity to reflect upon our own lives and make a difference in others lives.  The “Change the Day Challenge” continues to emerge at Eminence and we took advantage of another opportunity to “Change the Day” for someone special.  A student at a neighboring school is battling cancer and our student body accepted a challenge to make a difference by tweeting positive messages of support for this young man and his family.  Our Warrior family joined together in the gym and listened to a message delivered by an 8th grade student who wanted to make a difference for this young man as well.  In a very still silence, you could hear the sound of the keys on keyboards creating the messages that would bombard this young man’s twitter account with messages of encouragement.  This was heart-warming and heart-wrenching all at the same time.  

This doesn’t even include the amazing work happening in our classrooms every day, but it does give you a glimpse of how much we accomplish in a week at Eminence Middle/High School beyond instruction.  I am proud of our staff and  students and  how much they accomplish daily in pursuit of our mission  at EMS/EHS to develop world class students in all aspects of life through the cooperation of students, staff, parents and community members.

An Inspiring Warrior Poetry Project by the 7th Grade Eminence Students

Eminence Middle School Poetry Project with Jennifer Montgomery

Students inspire me everyday! I am blessed to be an E-Magineer here at this place of the Warrior in Eminence, KY. Our students are special and thier teachers equally so as they inpire through a freedom to learn.  This is a special place.   This was a special PBL (Project Based Learning) Unit designed by the students.  The outcome was amazing!  

Here is a glimpse of Eminence awesomeness...

Background: 7th grade language arts students read a book called Bronx Masquerade, a book about the power of poetry, as well as classic and contemporary poets. After studying poetry for several weeks, students then began writing poetry. They chose one of their poems to take to final draft, and that poem they then memorized and performed in front of an audience of over 100! 

These are excerpts from the 7th grade poetry project reflections about what they learned:

"I learned how people have things in their lives that only poetry can describe." Alex Hamilton

"People aren't always what they seem. People hide who they really are. Poetry helps us see what life is like for people. We think someone is mean or something then when they write their poem we see them completely different." Hannah White

"Poetry can really help get feelings out. Poetry is not just a writing form but a way to show change or to show things you would never say." Jessi Wheeler 

"You have to take some chances." Mia Gonzalez

"I learned how to express myself through using poetry." Braedin Hinkley 

"I love to get in front of others and let them know I have talent – show them what I can do." Kenya Vargas

"Not everything is as scary as it might look." Madison Dockter 

"I learned not to care what others think of you, and to be proud of your work." Bella Stringer

"I learned that I'm not the only one with problems, just because people look happy, they might be hurting inside." Sara Yount

These students were so brave as they shared their stories and I am proud to spend my days here along with them.  Well done WARRIORS!!  Thanks to Mrs. Montgomery for her dedication to students!  

What's on FIRE?

What's on FIRE? What’s Next? Where are these ideas coming from? In 2030, what will life look like?  It is crazy to think about as technology and life has evolved at an exponential rate of change.  Why 2030? No reason other than it is my reference point from the time I graduated high school to now and I often ponder changes what life will look for our students currently graduating.  What are we doing to better prepare them?  I have come to realize that there are those who believe status quo is acceptable and those who in their lives realized that status quo is not good enough for lifetime learners.  I am in the latter and am committed to keeping up with the rapid changes taking place in the competitive educational realm to provide the students entrusted to Eminence Middle/High School with a first-class level of education.  The vision of Eminence encompasses this and will be shared and explained in the upcoming posts.   

To the question in this Blog Post: Who is on F.I.R.E? That would be Eminence Independent Schools and we are in fact on F.I.R.E.  What does it really mean to be on F.I.R.E?  Many have asked questions lately about our school and the work we are doing,  then it hit me...I realized that blogging may be a great way to communicate our work to those interested in following our story.  Stay tuned to hear from students, teachers, and other stakeholders as we tell our story.  

I will spend some time giving some background on various initiatives and hopefully bring you along on that journey and help provide a solid foundation that will reveal the importance of our work today.  Ultimately, we want you to be a part of the journey and see why Eminence is a special place.  

The term F.I.R.E evolved as a result of defining the work to be done at Eminence.  It stands for the Framework of Innovation to Reinvent Education and we are proud as we move forward in designing a framework for the children entrusted to our schools as we prepare them for the Next Generation of Learning that is necessary to produce students prepared for the world that will greet them upon the graduation from high school.  It is a task that requires to be innovative and think differently about education in moving forward.

As an E-Magineer at the school on F.I.R.E, I too have had to learn and have to push my own personally created limits.  The students here in the building inspire me and have made me realize I had gotten complacent in my own love for education. The technology required to keep up with the students entrusted to our care has required me to set aside my anxieties, jump in and be unafraid to ask for help.  Blogging...who knew in 1996 when I graduated high school that I would be blogging?  Not even sure the term blogging even existed, but the expectation for continued learning certainly was and is still relevant and that is what I hope to uphold in my continued work as an educator.  It is a privilege to serve here in #eminence at the #schoolonfire and I hope this glimpse into our work will inspire you as well!