Florence & Hibbett Middle (Florence City) Instructional Round

April 27- Florence Middle/Hibbett Middle (Florence City)
Grades: 5-8
# Students: 1288 Total:  583 (5-6); 705 (7-8)
Demographics:
 HMS: 45% White; 41% Black; 9% Hispanic; 4% Multi-race; .5% Asian
 FMS: 53% White; 35%; Black; 8% Hispanic; 3% Multi-race; 2% Asian; .14% Native American
F/R lunch: HMS & FMS: 55%
Registration: 8:15 a.m.
Begin: 8:30 a.m.
End: 2:15 p.m.

What can participants expect to see when they visit?
HMS and FMS are in a unique setting, as their campuses are combined for the next few years.  This gives us an opportunity to work more collaboratively with grades 5-8.  We have a similar focus related to Hattie’s high impact variables related to dialogue and feedback.  We have participated in joint professional development surrounding these two variables, and utilize a walkthrough procedure for collecting data.
Our two schools have worked together to plan a strategy for supporting our teachers in these areas.  We have implemented common planning time by content area.  During this time the Principal/IP partner have met with these groups to look at success criteria, formative assessment, & looking at student work.  We use the research from John Hattie as well as Nancy Love’s protocol for Looking at Student Work using success criteria.   We model the process with our teachers as we work with them to develop formative assessments that will increase rigor and address the standards.
Our teachers have also expressed an interest in implementing intentional structures for promoting classroom discussion.  They are working to utilize classroom norms, group roles, strategic grouping, and the use of quality questions to promote discussion.