Explain the activities in which your school will participate to increase your overall rating. Include specific details.

As evidenced in the SES Band Data, which content area(s) will be the focus for improving student achievement and why was this area chosen?

The areas below will primarily be the focus for improving student achievement.  These strands were identified as the areas of weaknesses based on the 2018 FSA scores. 
ELA:   
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
Key Ideas and Details    
 
Math: 
Measurement Data, and Geometry

 

What specific BEST Practice(s) will be implemented or scaled-up to improve teaching and learning in order to increase performance within the SES Band?

 
Discovery Elementary will continue to monitor these math and ELA strands through our Professional Learning Communities (PLCs).  The teachers will also use the Prompting Guides, Literacy Continuum, and Data to guide instruction, differentiate centers, and target specific areas of need. We will also incorporate the districts new initiative Debate, in grades 3-5. Teachers will integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats including visually and quantitatively as well as in words.  

Describe in detail how the BEST Practice(s) will be scaled-up.

PLCs

• These practices will be scaled up by allowing teachers to collaborate and work together to analyze their data and identify the needs of the lowest quartile in reading.
• Teachers will problem solve how to meet these needs by sharing best practices and identifying research-based resources to enhance this subgroups achievement.
• Teachers will follow Broward County's CARE Cycle and ensure that they are remediating and enriching the students

• Teachers will use BAS Data to Identify reading levels of these students
• Teachers will model what proficient readers sound like in an interactive read-aloud, targeting specific standards and exposing them to on level vocabulary and text 
• Teachers will have shared readings to dive deeper into On level text 
• Teachers will conduct guided reading groups using the instructional level of the students 
• Teachers will allow time for independent reading and writing so students can apply their newly learned skills.  This will allow time for double dose and interventions to close gaps and raise achievement in this subgroup.

What specific school-level progress monitoring data is collected and how often?

• Benchmark Assessment Systems (BAS) is conducted three times a year or more as needed.  
• Checkpoints are conducted quarterly in Math, ELA, Science, and Writing.
• IReady is conducted three times a year.
• Beginning, Middle, and End of year Go Math assessments are also conducted.  
• STAR is conducted quarterly

How does the school ensure the fidelity of students not progressing towards school and district goals?

Students are placed into RTI and receive tier 2 and tier 3 interventions.  These interventions are monitored by the MTSS team.  The interventions are put in place on a case by case basis through the use of various researched based reading programs such as: the Journey's Write-in Reader, Sight Word Fluency, Oral Reading Fluency (ORF), Benchmark Assessment (BAS), Super QAR, Wilson's Fundations, Element of Vocabulary, i-Ready, Reflex Math, Quick Reads, Fountas and Pinnell Phonics, Spelling, and Word Study System, and the Reading Intervention Program.

How does the school ensure that all classroom instruction is accessible to the full range of learners using Universal Designs for Learning (UDL) for effective instructional design (planning) and delivery (teaching)?

Through PLCs and common planning time, teachers are able to collaborate and plan high-quality core instruction.  The teachers are focused on utilizing the components of a balanced literacy framework to meet the varied needs of all learners. Teachers are learning to use the Literacy Continuum, prompting guides, and Data differentiate and individualize instruction based on the needs identified.   During PLCs the teachers are brainstorming and sharing ideas of different ways of stimulating students’ interest and motivation for learning, different ways to present information and content, and different ways that students can express what they know based on their individualized needs.  

How does the school ensure Tier 1 Standards-Based classroom instruction is being implemented properly and effectively?

Focused walk throughs will be conducted to monitor that the components of balanced literacy are evident and being done correctly.  Teacher leaders will be provided opportunities to attend trainings and will be responsible to share in PLCs.  

• Teachers will use BAS Data to Identify reading levels of these students
• Teachers will model what proficient readers sound like in an interactive read-aloud, targeting specific standards and exposing them to on level vocabulary and text 
• Teachers will have shared readings to dive deeper into On level text 
• Teachers will conduct guided reading groups using the instructional level of the students 
• Teachers will allow time for independent reading and writing so students can apply their newly learned skills.  This will allow time for double dose and interventions to close gaps and raise achievement in this subgroup.

Describe texts used for core, supplemental, and intervention programs at each grade level. How does the school ensure students have access to a balance of literary and informational text in a variety of mediums?

At Discovery Elementary School teachers use content area anchor texts for read alouds and authentic leveled literature and informational texts for guided reading and independent work. Interventions are used based on the need some of  the use of various researched based reading programs such as: the Journey's Write-in Reader, Sight Word Fluency, Oral Reading Fluency (ORF), Benchmark Assessment (BAS), Super QAR, Wilson's Fundations, Element of Vocabulary, i-Ready, Reflex Math, Quick Reads, Fountas and Pinnell Phonics, Spelling, and Word Study System, and the Reading Intervention Program. .  

How does your school implement the Broward County Public Schools Social and Emotional Learning Standards to ensure students are developing social and emotional skills?

Discovery Elementary provides direct instruction in skills that enable students to succeed in college, career, and life by being responsible citizens and decision makers. By teaching and embedding these standards we are enabling students to see themselves and others in a positive light, manage emotions, set and achieve goals and solve problems they encounter effectively.

In which ways are the five competencies of the Social Emotional Learning explicitly taught and/or integrated school-wide and in the classroom?

These five competencies of Social and Emotional Learning are explicitly taught several ways. It is promoted through explicit instruction and also integrated across classroom instruction and academic curriculum. Some examples are how the teachers build relationships with their students, how the students build relationships with each other, and how conflict and discipline are addressed.

How does your school-wide policy and practices support the social emotional learning for students?

At Discovery Elementary we put a focus on building relationships between student-student, adult-student, and adult-adult.  We also have implemented a use positive behavior plan that focuses on positive discipline policies.  As well as invest time and resources for inside and outside of the classroom.