Overview: Valley View Middle School

Valley View has an extensive collaborative program that continues to meet the needs of all students. Staff at all grade levels have been identified and have agreed to team with our resource and special day class teachers to include students with disabilities, English-language learners and at-risk students to offer a program within the general education classroom with support from the special education department to modify and accommodate the needs of students. Instructional assistants are also available to assist students. Valley View has a learning center that is open on a daily basis for students to receive tutorial help, make up tests, and have a quiet place to work or receive small group instruction. Students sign in and have a pass from their teacher informing the assistant what they are supposed to do. The learning center was established in 1998 and since that time we have had over 6,000 contacts with students a year.

Learning center use has increased over the years and students have thrived in their ability to meet grade-level standards. Intervention classes during the school day in English and math offer students below basic and far below basic a companion support class to help students achieve grade-level standards.

Last year an English Language Development elective was added to support our ELL students. We offer two sections based on ELL classification from the CELDT test. Staff is available before and after school to support all students with homework or class work. We have instituted a schoolwide reading comprehension program using the Accelerated Reader materials. In 2003-04, we piloted the program in three classrooms and saw a year or more reading growth with our students.

Currently all students participate in our AR program through our English classes. Students were pre tested in the fall and parents were notified of their student’s reading level. Students then choose reading materials based on their levels and after completing a book they take a comprehension test.  We are seeing students increase their reading comprehension scores by a year or more growth.

Additionally, many staff members have attended Kate Kinsella's staff development training, and we are currently implementing schoolwide academic vocabulary through all of our classes. In our department meetings, we talk about academic vocabulary and have chosen words for all staff to discuss in their classrooms.