Vertically integrate curriculum.

Activity #1
The Science Department will help students enhance their inquiry-based problem solving and skills (as required by Illinois State Goal II) and data interpretation skills (aligned with the college readiness standards for Science in the 24-27 score range). Biology, Chemistry, Physics teachers will work to align their curricula with the Illinois Learning Standards as measured by the ISBE Science exam. Progress will be measured using the science reasoning section of the EPAS tests as well as teacher-created common assessments.

Person Responsible: Ray Lesniewski

Activity #2
The Department of English will help students enhance their skills in grammar, rhetoric, and writing.

Progress will be measured by the following:
A. English section of the EPAS tests
B. Teacher-created common assessments
C. Horizontally and vertically aligned curriculum
D. Performance and engagement with real-world tasks (students will appreciate writing)

Person Responsible: Ray Salazar

Activity #3
The Social Science Department will help students raise their scores on Social Science Advanced Placement exams by improving vertical integration of AP content and standards in the courses leading up to AP, emphasizing vocabulary development, focusing on cause-and-effect relationships in instruction, and continuing to expose students to first person narrative documents in class. Progress will be measured by teacher created assessments and the department’s AP scores.

Person Responsible: Meghan McClory & Danielle Colyer

Activity #4
The World Language Department will help students increase their performance on National Language Exams and Advanced Placement exams by aligning their curricula to these exams in a more deliberate manner. Focus will be given to reading following the ACT reading standards for the 24-27 range. Progress will be measured by teacher-created EPAS type assessments.

Person Responsible: Silvia Carrillo Salgado

Activity #5
The Technology Department will help students learn to solve problems, think independently, and use transferable skills that are applicable to other areas as well as understand the role of computer science in and amongst society. Progress will be measured on teacher designed assessments and results of technology AP exams.

Person Responsible: Julie Achettu

Activity #6
The Math Department will help students increase their performance on the EPAS tests by use of more inquiry based lessons. A new problem based curriculum has been introduced to help students with problem solving and data interpretation skills. Progress will be measured by cumulative testing and teacher created common assessments.

Person Responsible: Barbara Nayder

Activity #7
The Visual Arts Department will help students respond to art in a more holistic, reflective, and intellectual way. Art reports (required quarterly) link our curriculum to reading, writing, and history goals. Progress will be measured by assessing the quarterly reports using a rubric that is aligned with the ACT Writing assessment.

Person Responsible: Karen Stolzenberg