Learning Forward

Equity and excellence in teaching and learning.

Menu

Literacy Gets a Makeover

Engaged Learning Boosts Student Achievement at Michigan High School

By Learning Forward
August 2013
The high school was in the bottom 5% of schools in Michigan, the principal had been replaced, and the school had just received a grant to improve student achievement. The staff read Classroom Instruction That Works (Marzano, Pickering, & Pollock, 2001), everyone was in a professional learning community by department, the school and district administration were deeply committed to improvement, and yet no one could articulate the teaching actions necessary to improve academic performance in a systematic manner. The school is E.A. Johnson High School in Mt. Morris, Mich., near Flint, where the city has felt deeply the impact of the area’s economic decline. The student population is 72% free and reduced lunch. The staff was willing to make the changes necessary for success but

Read the remaining content with membership access. Join or log in below to continue.

Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem.

Log In
   
Forgot password? Click here to reset
New User? Click here to register

Authors

Richard E. Wood and Helen L. Burz

Richard E. Wood (woodr8@comcast.net) and Helen L. Burz (hburz@comcast.net) are educational consultants in curriculum and instructional improvement, school reform, and 21st-century learning.

LITERACY-GETS-A-MAKEOVER

Summarization Data

Department Percent of students by proficiency level
Advanced Proficient Partially proficient Basic
October 2011 May 2012 October 2011 May 2012 October 2011 May 2012 October 2011 May 2012
Social studies main idea 8% 58% 26% 32% 25% 8% 41% 2%
Science main idea 3% 49% 9% 37% 29% 11% 59% 2%
Noncore main idea 17% 60% 24% 33% 29% 5% 30% 2%
Social studies supporting details 6% 51% 20% 29% 37% 15% 37% 5%
Science supporting details 31% 37% 17% 43% 35% 14% 17% 6%
Noncore supporting details 7% 21% 24% 49% 31% 26% 38% 4%

STAR reading assessment comparison
Percent of students reading at 10th-grade level or above
Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12
October 2011 May 2012 October 2011 May 2012 October 2011 May 2012 October 2011 May 2012
9.9% 23.7% 21.6% 33.5% 25.3% 36.2% 45.6% 53.1%

References

Cawelti, G. (Ed.). (2004). Handbook of research on improving student achievement. Arlington, VA: Educational Research Service.

 

Learning Forward. (2011). Standards for Professional Learning. Oxford, OH: Author.

Marzano, R., Pickering, D., & Pollock, J. (2001). Classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Image for aesthetic effect only - Learning-forward-logo-square
+ posts

Learning Forward is the only professional association devoted exclusively to those who work in educator professional development. We help our members plan, implement, and measure high-quality professional learning so they can achieve success with their systems, schools, and students.

Search
The Learning Professional

Published Date
Reset

CURRENT ISSUE

    • Recent Issues

    EVALUATING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
    February 2024

    How do you know your professional learning is working? This issue digs...

    TAKING THE NEXT STEP
    December 2023

    Professional learning can open up new roles and challenges and help...

    REACHING ALL LEARNERS
    October 2023

    Both special education and general education teachers need support to help...

    THE TIME DILEMMA
    August 2023

    Prioritizing professional learning time is an investment in educators and...

  • © Copyright Learning Forward
    • Skip to content