Practices In the Spotlight

Schools in Alphabetical Order

The educational strategies illustrated in the TCSII vignettes of school practices (both text and video) are parts of a comprehensive middle grades approach. Each practice illustrates only a part of a recommendation, research study, or learning improvement at a featured school. No single recommendation or practice alone can close the achievement gap in California's middle grades.

A list of practices employed at each of California's model Schools to Watch-Taking Center Stage schools is available in the Schools to Watch-Taking Center Stage Thumbnail Sketch (DOC; 155KB; 6pp).

A. C. Stelle Middle School

Recommendation 2: English language arts instruction
Recommendation 6: Transitions as Part of Community Building
Recommendation 10: Professional learning from content experts

Aliso Viejo Middle School

Recommendation 5: Character celebrations
Recommendation 10: Professional learning from instructional coaches
Recommendation 12: Businesses
Recommendation 12: Nonprofit organizations
Recommendation 12: Government agencies

Alta Sierra Intermediate School

Recommendation 5: School spirit celebrations

Alvarado Intermediate School

Recommendation 2: Mathematics instruction
Recommendation 2: Response to Intervention (RTI) and special education
Recommendation 2: Tutoring and homework centers
Recommendation 3: Six period days
Recommendation 4: Cross-curricular connections; writing across the curriculum
Recommendation 4: Electives and exploratory courses (interest-based)
Recommendation 5: Small Learning Communities
Recommendation 5: Celebrations—a culture based on caring and success
Recommendation 5: Promotions
Recommendation 6: Intervention courses and after-school programs
Recommendation 10: Professional learning from content experts
Recommendation 11: Accountability in preparing students for all course work
Recommendation 12: Parental, Family, and Adults-Who-Care Involvement

Benjamin Holt College Preparatory Academy

Recommendation 1: A focus on learning—habits of the mind

Bernice Ayer Middle School

Recommendation 2: Bilingual instruction
Recommendation 2: Mathematics instruction
Recommendation 2: Teaching Students with Special Needs
Recommendation 3: Rotating block
Recommendation 5: Relationships with Peers
Recommendation 6: The Importance of Easing Transitions for Young Adolescents
Recommendation 12: Partnerships with higher education

Big Bear Middle School

Recommendation 7: Access to leadership and recognition opportunities

Canyon Middle School

Recommendation 7: Language acquisition
Recommendation 7: Access to facilities and instructional materials
Recommendation 8: Bullying prevention
Recommendation 12: Partnerships with the Community

Carlsbad Unified School District

Recommendation 4: Integrating Technology
Recommendation 9: Lead data analysis
Recommendation 10: Ongoing professional learning for teacher satisfaction and retention

Castaic Middle School

Recommendation 3: Time for counseling and mental health
Recommendation 5: Small Learning Communities
Recommendation 5: Advisory programs (homeroom)
Recommendation 6: Integration into middle grades life
Recommendation 11: Accountability through student-led parent conferences
Recommendation 12: Parental, Family, and Adults-Who-Care Involvement

Cesar Chavez Middle School

Recommendation 8: Nutrition and fitness

Claremont Middle School

Recommendation 4: Animation

Clark Intermediate School

Recommendation 3: Time for clubs and co-curricular experiences

Culver City Middle

Recommendation 2: Saturday school
Recommendation 3: Six period days
Recommendation 3: Other schedule variations

Del Norte County Unified School District

Recommendation 2: History-social science instruction

Diablo Vista Middle School

Recommendation 5: Where Everyone Belongs

Edna Hill Middle School

Recommendation 5: Looping
Recommendation 6: Integration into middle grades life
Recommendation 7: Socioeconomic status
Recommendation 11: Accountability through student-led parent conferences
Recommendation 12: Nonprofit organizations

Empire Union Elementary District

Recommendation 12: Partnerships with Higher education

Fontana Unified School District

Recommendation 8: Attendance, tardiness, truancy, and the School Attendance Review Board (SARB)

Fortuna Middle School

Recommendation 8: Resilience—Strengthening Protective Factors and Developmental Assets

Frank Wright Middle School

Recommendation 4: Conclusion
Recommendation 10: Conclusion

Galt Joint Union Elementary School District

Recommendation 1: Grades and effective standards-based reporting

Gardner Middle School

Recommendation 2: Visual and performing arts

Gaspar DePortola Middle School

Recommendation 1: Vocabulary development
Recommendation 2: Interventions for mathematics
Recommendation 3: Other schedule variations
Recommendation 4: Libraries/media centers
Recommendation 4: Electives and exploratory courses (interest-based)
Recommendation 4: Real-world connections
Recommendation 4: Field trips
Recommendation 8: Health supports
Recommendation 12: Homework Help and Academic Expectations

George A. Buljan Middle School

Recommendation 12: Businesses

Georgetown School

Recommendation 2: Visual and performing arts

Goleta Valley Junior High

Recommendation 5: Small Learning Communities

Granger Junior High School

Timely Teacher Feedback for Optimum Learning

Granite Oaks Middle School

Recommendation 3: Teacher preparation
Recommendation 5: Advisory programs (homeroom)
Recommendation 6: Articulation Agreements with Elementary Schools
Recommendation 8: Safe and engaging facilities
Recommendation 8: Counseling
Recommendation 9: Ensure availability of instructional resources
Recommendation 9: Teacher leadership
Recommendation 10: Professional learning through peer observation

Hilltop Middle School

Recommendation 2: Foreign/world languages
Recommendation 2: After school academies
Recommendation 12: Homework Help and Academic Expectations

Hollencrest Middle School

Recommendation 12: Homework Help and Academic Expectations

Hollister School District

Recommendation 3: Other schedule variations

Holmes International Middle School

Recommendation 7: The chance to engage potential dropouts
Recommendation 7: Socioeconomic status
Recommendation 10: Ongoing professional learning for teacher satisfaction and retention
Recommendation 12: Partnerships with the Community
Recommendation 12: Partnerships with Higher education

Holtville Middle School

Recommendation 7: Strategies Common to Effective Middle Grades Programs

Iron Horse Middle School

Recommendation 2: Response to Intervention (RtI) and special education

John Glenn Middle School of International Studies

Recommendation 2: Visual and performing arts
Recommendation 2: Study skills —teaching students how to learn
Recommendation 2: Response to Intervention (RtI)
Recommendation 3: Time for tutoring and mentoring
Recommendation 3: Time for counseling and mental health
Recommendation 3: Time for celebrations
Recommendation 3: Time for Professional Learning Community Activities
Recommendation 4: Student interactive assessment and response remote systems
Recommendation 6: Academic counseling to prepare for transitions
Recommendation 6: Mentor/buddies for incoming students
Recommendation 6: Integration into middle grades life
Recommendation 6: Family welcome and involvement
Recommendation 12: Involving language-minority parents/guardians

Kastner Intermediate School

Recommendation 8: Resilience—Strengthening Protective Factors and Developmental Assets
Recommendation 12: Partnerships to Support Middle Grades Achievement

Kennedy Middle School

Recommendation 2: Interventions for Bilingual Students
Recommendation 2: Interventions for mathematics
Recommendation 5: Opportunities to cooperate (cooperative learning)
Recommendation 6: Course articulation
Recommendation 10: Professional learning through lesson studies
Recommendation 11: Accountability in preparing students for all course work

Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office

Recommendation 12: District and regional offices

La Mesa Middle School

Recommendation 6: Family welcome and involvement

Lee Middle School

Recommendation 4: Career technical education
Recommendation 4: Electives and exploratory courses (interest-based)

Lemon Grove Middle School

Recommendation 4: Computer access
Recommendation 7: Socioeconomic status
Recommendation 12: Homework Help and Academic Expectations

Long Beach Unified School District

Recommendation 9: Local governing board support for articulation

Los Angeles Unified School District

Recommendation 6: Articulation Agreements with Destination High Schools
Recommendation 9: County leadership

Louis Pasteur Fundamental Middle School

Recommendation 2: Assessment Driven Instructional Planning

Luther Burbank Middle School

Recommendation 2: History-social science instruction
Recommendation 4: Service-learning

McCaffrey Middle School

Recommendation 2: Science instruction

McKinleyville Middle School

Recommendation 1: Grades and effective standards-based reporting
Recommendation 2: Teaching Students with Special Needs
Recommendation 3: Time for accelerated academic interventions
Recommendation 3: Seven- or eight-period days
Recommendation 4: Making the Middle Grades Relevant and Engaging
Recommendation 4: Cross-curricular connections; writing across the curriculum
Recommendation 4: Project-based learning
Recommendation 4: Service-learning
Recommendation 4: Meaningful participation
Recommendation 5: Discipline
Recommendation 8: Conflict resolution
Recommendation 9: Ensure availability of instructional resources
Recommendation 11: Accountability through student-led parent conferences
Recommendation 12: Parent and family education
Recommendation 12: Partnerships with higher education

Main Street Middle School

Recommendation 2: Algebra

Margarita Middle School

Recommendation 2: Visual and performing arts

Mathson Middle School

Recommendation 1: High expectations for all students
Recommendation 2: CAPA and English learners
Recommendation 10: Professional learning about data review and use

Maywood Intermediate School

Recommendation 4: Integrating Technology
Recommendation 4: Computer access

Medea Creek Middle School

Recommendation 2: Differentiated Instruction
Recommendation 3: Other schedule variations

Millikan Middle School and Performing Arts Magnet

Recommendation 2: Interventions for Bilingual Students
Recommendation 5: Small Learning Communities
Recommendation 5: Effort/motivation celebrations
Recommendation 7: Language acquisition
Recommendation 11: Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)

Mills Middle School

Recommendation 2: Visual and performing arts

Mistletoe School

Recommendation 5: Built on a Foundation of Close Relationships

Monroe Clark Middle School

Recommendation 1: Oral reading strategies
Recommendation 12: Partnerships with higher education

Monte Vista Middle School

Recommendation 4: Service-learning

Moreno Valley Unified

Recommendation 7: Socioeconomic status

Mulholland Middle School

Recommendation 5: Small Learning Communities

Newark Junior High School

Recommendation 12: Partnerships with Nearby Schools

Norwalk-La Miranda Unified School District (Outside Source)

Recommendation 7: Socioeconomic status

Nobel Middle School

Recommendation 4: Real-world connections
Recommendation 4: Project-based learning

Ocean View Junior High School

Recommendation 1: Grades and effective standards-based reporting
Recommendation 12: Involving language-minority parents/guardians
Recommendation 12: Partnerships with Nearby schools

Olive Peirce Middle School

Recommendation 4: Cross-curricular connections; writing across the curriculum
Recommendation 5: Qualified and caring teachers
Recommendation 6: Newsletters, newspapers, school Web sites, and plays to demystify the middle grades
Recommendation 10: Professional learning about sharing time
Recommendation 10: Professional learning for beginning educators

Philip Magruder Middle School

Recommendation 3: School Takes Time to Seize the Day

Perris High School

Recommendation 6: Social promotion versus summer school and bridge programs

Perris Union High School District

Recommendation 6: Articulated assessments

Rancho Cucamonga Middle School

Recommendation 1: Pacing guides
Recommendation 2: Teaching writing
Recommendation 2: Mathematics instruction
Recommendation 3: Time for electives
Recommendation 5: Academic celebrations
Recommendation 6: Articulated assessments
Recommendation 8: Attendance, tardiness, truancy, and the School Attendance Review Board (SARB)

Rancho Milpitas Middle School

Recommendation 2: Differentiated Instruction
Recommendation 2: Interventions for mathematics
Recommendation 3: Six-period days
Recommendation 4: Libraries/media centers
Recommendation 11: Accountability through student-led parent conferences

Redwood Middle School

Recommendation 4- Service-learning
Recommendation 5: Relationship building through student clubs and connections

Reyburn Intermediate School

Recommendation 2: Test preparation
Recommendation 2: After school academies
Recommendation 3: Time for clubs and co-curricular experiences
Recommendation 3: Rotating block
Recommendation 4: Real-world connections
Recommendation 5: Qualified and caring teachers
Recommendation 8: Health supports
Recommendation 9: Principals—the Learning Leaders

Richard Henry Dana Middle School

Recommendation 2: Teaching Students with Special Needs
Recommendation 2: Interventions for mathematics
Recommendation 3: Time for tutoring and mentoring
Recommendation 3: Time for counseling and mental health
Recommendation 4: Libraries/media centers
Recommendation 7: Access to heterogeneous groupings to the fullest extent possible
Recommendation 8: Conflict resolution
Recommendation 8: Counseling
Recommendation 8: Nutrition and fitness
Recommendation 9: Ensure availability of instructional resources
Recommendation 10: Professional learning for beginning educators
Recommendation 10: Professional learning from instructional coaches
Recommendation 12: Businesses
Recommendation 12: Partnerships with Nearby schools

Rincon Middle School

Recommendation 2: Least restrictive environments (LREs)

Rincon Intermediate School

Recommendation 4: Developmentally Responsive Middle Grades Practices
Recommendation 4: Cross-curricular connections; writing across the curriculum
Recommendation 10: Professional learning from content experts
Recommendation 12: Involving language-minority parents/guardians

Rio Norte Junior High School

Recommendation 2: History-social science instruction
Recommendation 2: Common benchmark assessments
Recommendation 2: Interventions for mathematics
Recommendation 4: Multicultural experiences
Recommendation 4: Online tutorials
Recommendation 5: Relationships with Peers
Recommendation 5: Academic celebrations
Recommendation 5: Effort/motivation celebrations
Recommendation 5: Qualified and caring teachers
Recommendation 5: Advisory programs (homeroom)
Recommendation 5: Classified staff
Recommendation 6: Course articulation
Recommendation 6: Mentor/buddies for incoming students
Recommendation 6: Family welcome and involvement
Recommendation 9: Local governing board support for articulation
Recommendation 9: Parent and family leadership
Recommendation 12: Parent conferences
Recommendation 12: Partnerships with Nearby schools

Riverside County Achievement Team (RCAT)

Recommendation 12: District and regional offices

Sacramento City Unified School District

Recommendation 7: Language acquisition

Saddleback Valley Unified School District

Recommendation 4: Teacher Web pages

Sam Brannan Middle School

Recommendation 3: Master schedules

San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools

Recommendation 12: Partnerships with the Community

San Francisco Unified School District

Recommendation 6: Articulation Agreements with Destination High Schools
Recommendation 9: Fiscal support from the local governing board

Santa Cruz County Office of Education

Recommendation 2: Teaching writing

Serrano Intermediate School

Recommendation 2: Study skills —teaching students how to learn
Recommendation 4: Online tutorials
Recommendation 5: Relationships with Peers
Recommendation 8: A Safe and Healthy School Environment
Recommendation 8: Discipline—a fair, consistent, and positive approach
Recommendation 8: Character education
Recommendation 9: Categorical Program Monitoring
Recommendation 9: Technology Support for Leaders
Recommendation 10: Professional learning from content experts

Sierra Intermediate School

Recommendation 12: Businesses

Sierra Vista MIddle School

Recommendation 7: The Chance to Engage Potential Dropouts

Silverado Middle School

Recommendation 1: Grades and effective standards-based reporting
Recommendation 10: How school design fosters professional learning

Snowline Joint Unified School District

Recommendation 9: Provide curriculum and instructional leadership

Standard School District

Recommendation 9: Technology Support for Leaders

Summit Intermediate School

Recommendation 5: Relationship building through student clubs and connections
Recommendation 5: Advisory programs (homeroom)

Sutter Middle School

Recommendation 7: Access to advanced programs

Templeton Middle School

Recommendation 4: Real-world connections

Toby Johnson Middle School

Recommendation 2: Algebra
Recommendation 3: Other schedule variations
Recommendation 4: Electives and exploratory courses (interest-based)
Recommendation 5: Small Learning Communities
Recommendation 5: Looping
Recommendation 6: Articulation Agreements with Elementary Schools
Recommendation 6: Articulation Agreements with Destination High Schools
Recommendation 6: Enrichment options to prepare for high school
Recommendation 9: Student leadership
Recommendation 10: Professional learning about classroom management

Torch Middle School

Recommendation 10: Ongoing professional learning for teacher satisfaction and retention
Recommendation 12: Involving language-minority parents/guardians

Twin Hills Charter Middle School

Recommendation 7: Access to special education supports

Ventura County Office of Education

Recommendation 8: Resilience—Strengthening Protective Factors and Developmental Assets

Vista Academy for Visual and Performing Arts

Recommendation 2: Visual and performing arts

Willowside Middle School

Recommendation 2: Science instruction

Wiseburn School District

Recommendation 2: Teaching writing

Zane (Catherine) Middle School

Recommendation 4: Project-based learning
Recommendation 4: Service-learning
Recommendation 4: Student Web sites and Webcasts
Recommendation 4: Videography
Recommendation 12: Adult mentors

Practices in the Spotlight Index

Taking Center Stage – Act II (TCSII)

A Portal for Middle Grades Educators

Practices In the Spotlight

Schools in Alphabetical Order