Recommendation 

Lead Teacher(s)

Identification of Students at Risk

1. Start in grade 9, Sem 2- use CASI and CAT scores, English exam scores, transition forms from grade 8 teachers, Semester 1 marks.

Student Success Teacher, LST Teacher, Grade 9 English Teachers; English Dept. Head

2. In October, administer to all grade 10 students 2-3 sample reading passages (with MC and short answer questions) from a previous test.  Mark all these. Use Scantron for MC.

Literacy Committee Chair 

Strategies for Support for First-Time Writers at Risk

1. Timetable grade 10 students in semester 1 English who are identified as at risk in grade 9.

Guidance Head 

2. Repeat 0809 Strategies - letter home, practice package, online resources, small group support, request that all teacher provide additional support where possible. 

Administration; Student Success Teacher 

Literacy Prep for all Grade 10 Students

1. Monthly Literacy Focus for Grade 10's :

Oct. – newspaper article

Nov. – graphical text and MC questions

Dec./Jan. – supported opinion

Feb./Mar. – short answer

Literacy Committee Chair 

2. Practice Test - March 23, 2010

Hold in classrooms exactly as will be done for actual test.

Mark selected tests and provide support to students identified as at risk.

Administration; Literacy Committee Chair 

3. Provide answers to MC questions immediately following the practice test so students can self-mark these.  Discuss short and long answers as time permits.  Collect the tests of students identified as at risk for further marking.

Literacy Committee Chair; Practice Test Administrators

Support for Repeat Writers

Teacher Support

1. Provide exemplars to all grade ten teachers for each of the monthly focus skills. 

Literacy Committee Chair 

2. Bring back presentations given in the past on asking higher level thinking questions, especially, in MC format.  Possibly invite members of the Assessment team to address the staff again.

Literacy Committee Chair 

OSSLT DAY

1. Adjust times so that each session is 75 minutes long:  9:00 to 10:15 and 10:30 to 11:45.  (No adjustment needed to other classes as they will change at 10:20.)

Administration 

2. Provide milk, chocolate milk, water, bananas (half as many as in 0809), apples, banana muffins (store bought are preferred).

Administration 

3. Deliver and pick-up of food as in 0809.

Administration 

4. Inform all staff that late students must have a late slip from the office before being allowed to write the test. 

Administration 

Follow Up When Results Come In for 2009 Students 

1. Examine results of students who wrote in alternate locations. 

LST

2. Review failures and determine if we identified them correctly. 

Student Success Teacher; LST

3. Examine the results of our failing students to see if there are patterns.  Plan focus sessions on problem areas.

Student Success Teacher; LST