Building 9th Grade On-Track Culture
Building 9th Grade On-Track Culture
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Previous sections of this guide have covered research on why 9GOT is so critical, data tools available for monitoring, key practices of successful grave-level teams, and strategies for planning effective interventions. The 9GOT toolbox is filled - now what?
9th Grade On-Track efforts are most successful when the goals are embedded into a school’s culture. From the time they walk out of freshmen orientation to the time they walk into their final exams, students should be familiar with, and invested in, shared goals for their success.
Below are a series of culture-building interventions, as well as examples of student-facing materials to support student engagement.
Browse Culture Building Interventions
Browse Culture Building Interventions
What?
How?
When?
Who?
"All Stars" Incentive Group
Schools can create an "All Stars” group for Firmly On-Track
Students who were close to being Firmly On-Track receive communications, such as letters mailed home, that let them know they are close and are encouraged that they could achieve Firmly On-Track / "All Star" status.
Students can be rewarded with incentives as their grades improved.
Start of School
✔Leaders
✔Teachers
School Spotlight:
Sayre
Freshmen Town Hall
Some 9th grade team have successfully hosted a series of fun and meaningful freshman town halls.
For instance, leaning into social-emotional learning and the ninth grade developmental stage, a first Town Hall series was titled “History, Heartbreak, and Heroes” which is being followed by a second series titled “Compassion, Compromise, and Common Sense” that ran April through June.
During the town hall, the Climate Manager talked through the theme of the session, giving examples and personal stories, and challenging students to consider how their own history or heartbreak or hero has inspired them.
The sessions usually start and end with an interactive or fun element, and a student wins a prize based on a communal game.
Start of School
✔Leaders
✔Counselors
School Spotlight: Frankford
Spread Work to All Grades
In addition to 9th Grade Success Team, new grade-group teams can be created across grades
Some school leadership have asked the Teacher Leader of the 9th Grade Success Team to teach new teacher leaders for the new grade-group teams for 10th, 11th, and 12th about how to conduct effective meetings, use data tools effectively, etc.
Start of School
✔Leaders
✔Teachers
School Spotlight:
South Philadelphia
Back to Interventions by Topic
Explore Further
Explore Further
The table below includes additional foundational content to learn more as your progress in your 9GOT practices.
Emerging is good for staff that are new to the 9th Grade On-Track work, and/or schools that are just starting to implement the 9th Grade On-Track tools and initiatives. Progressing is good for staff/schools who have basic knowledge of the materials and have implemented core components of the model but want to further the implementation. Accelerating is for schools that have successfully implemented many of the 9th Grade On-Track tools and initiatives and are looking for ways to advance the work even further.
Resource Link
Description
Level
"What Does 'On Track' Mean?" Introductory presentation for students connecting their goals/aspirations, reviewing on-track definitions, graduation requirements, attendance research, etc. Created by PAI.
Emerging
A 2-page flier for students and families that describes 9th Grade On-Track and high school graduation requirements. A great resource for orientation!
Emerging
Lesson plan (45min) for engaging students in on-track conversations, to familiarize 9th graders with the concept of “On-Track” status, and encourage them to be and stay On-Track. Created by PAI.
Emerging
Posters to display in your school building to reinforce definition and importance of 9GOT metrics. Created by PAI.
Emerging
These three homework sheets help encourage caregiver participation. They are meant to be completed by both the student and the caregiver. Ideally, all three would be done at the beginning of the school year but the Attendance Matters and 9th Grade on track assignments could be used later in the year. Created by PAI.
Emerging
Use this template to add a footer to Interim reports with 9th Grade On-Track definitions. Instructions: Print Interim reports first, then put them back in the printer tray and re-print using this document so On-Track info will be at the bottom of the report. Leave the spacing as is, it was made to fit at the bottom of a standard Interim report. Created by KCAPA.
Emerging
Google Sites
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