Project WIN: An Intervention Program
- Waukegan Public Schools 2012-2014
- Mar 15, 2014
- 5 min read
In response to Tier I, the CORE student population, performing well below average on high stakes assessments on a state wide and national level, I created an experimental intervention program which was piloted at Jack Benny Middle School. The project was called Project WIN (What I Need) which identified groups of students and their deficient skills, with a weekly plan to address the skill on an immediate basis. Below is a description that was established for the beginning phase of the program, delievered to the teams with math as the trial.
Jack Benny Project WIN:
Tier I Academic Intervention-Program Description
What is Project WIN: Tier I academic intervention and why do we need it?
Upon analyzing school-wide data, schools are charged with the task of constant improvement. When trends indicate a deficit of skills on a Tier I universal level, a school-wide approach for improvement is required. If such discrepancies arise, the Building Leadership Team is tasked with problem solving a plausible and realistic systematic approach that will address the discrepancies.
Under these circumstances, Project WIN strives to be that school-wide strategy which aspires to improve the status of the universal data, as well as, the overall approach to addressing multi-leveled learners in Tier I.
Project WIN is an “all hands on deck” approach to teaching and instruction in which grade level teams are charged with the task of targeted skill instruction. In the beginning, each grade level will decide, based on data analysis and interpretation, which skill needs the most attention. Upon choosing one targeted skill, the team will decide an appropriate length of time for the skill, create a reflective and valid short pre-assessment and select an applicable and appropriate strategy that aligns with that particular skill.
Once all of the necessary pre-implementation decisions are made and materials produced, the team initiates action. Phase I includes a pre-assessment, data input collected from the pre-assessment, two targeted days of implementing the chosen strategy on a univeral, grade level method and an informal reflection of the strategy used during team discussions.
Phase II is the critical turning point for decisions made, dependent on student performance and data from Phase I. The same pre-assessment is administered and the data is immediately inputted and analyzed by the respective teams. The analysis must consider time for targeted skill, the strategy used and data collected. Once the analysis is completed and agreed upon, Tier II actions are implemented for targeted students based upon the specific skill.
How does Project WIN address our student’s reading needs?
Project WIN addresses ISAT Strands: Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, Reading Strategies, Literature This program is intended to be a Tier I Intervention. Upon analyzing the data on a grade level basis, the teachers will stress that targeted strand in a unified manner for a specific amount of time during the regular instructional period. WIN will focus on alternative strategies to provide the students with the understanding of the skill needed. All students will participate in the first phase to ensure that the skill is acquired and then the second phase is differentiated based on the students’ data.
What Teachers Need to Do: The classroom teachers per grade level will need to analyze the school’s data on a grade level basis. The team then prioritizes the strands of most immediate need and chooses one to focus on within their instruction. The team will decide the appropriate length of time to hone in on the chosen strand and begin to plan the intervention. After the strand and time frame is chosen, the team needs to produce an accurate and valid pre-assessment, as well as an instructional intervention strategy. These need to be chosen based on the demands of the strand as well as the level of the students. Once all of the planning and preparation is completed, the team needs to distinguish a uniformed time to implement the pre-assessment and the strategy. Throughout the intervention period, the team sets aside time to reflect, discuss feedback from the strategies chosen, to input data and to determine action in Phase II.
How does Project WIN fit into the curriculum?
Project WIN will apply directly to the current curriculum due to the fact that the classroom teachers will be deciding the strand to target. The strand is a skill that can be easily applied to the current curriculum taught in all classes. It is the role of the teacher to appropriately tie in the strand to the content area.
How does Project WIN address our student’s math needs?
Project WIN addresses ISAT Strands: Number Sense, Measurement, Geometry, Proportions & Data Analysis, Algebra This program is intended to be a Tier I Intervention. Upon analyzing the data on a grade level basis, the teachers will stress that targeted strand in a unified manner for a specific amount of time in the regular instructional period. WIN will focus on alternative strategies to provide the students with the understanding of the skill needed. All students will participate in the first phase to ensure that the skill is acquired and then the second phase is differentiated based on the students’ data. What Teachers Need to Do: The classroom teachers per grade level will need to analyze the school’s data on a grade level basis. The team then prioritizes the strands of most immediate need and chooses one to focus on within their instruction. The team will decide the appropriate length of time to hone in on the chosen strand and begin to plan the intervention. After the strand and time frame is chosen, the team needs to produce an accurate and valid pre-assessment, as well as an instructional intervention strategy. These need to be chosen based on the demands of the strand as well as the level of the students. Once all of the planning and preparation is completed, the team needs to distinguish a uniformed time to implement the pre-assessment and the strategy. Throughout the intervention period, the team sets aside time to reflect, discuss feedback from the strategies chosen, to input data and to determine action in Phase II.
How does Project WIN fit into the curriculum?
Project WIN will apply directly to the current curriculum due to the fact that the classroom teachers will be deciding the strand to target. The strand is a skill that can be easily applied to the current curriculum taught in all classes. It is the role of the teacher to appropriately tie in the strand to the content area.
Who will lead Project WIN?
The administration, the BLT, the external and internal coaches, the professional learning communities and teachers.
When will Project WIN begin?
Project WIN is scheduled to start in January dependent on completion of professional development.
Where will Project WIN be conducted?
Project WIN will be conducted in classrooms with classroom teachers.
What materials are needed for Project WIN?
Reading: Pencils, Pens, Paper (Ruled), Copy Paper, Large Post-it Paper, Markers, Any required text
Math: Small Dry Erase boards (60), Pencils, Pens, Paper (Ruled), Copy Paper, Large Post-it Paper, Markers, dry erase markers (60) Any required text
A loose plan on what the weekly program looks like:
A spreadsheet created to input and track student data:
Project planning for staff involvement in Project WIN:
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