TOC in School Administration:

Strategic and Tactical Planning

Larry Till, Counselor

Detroit, Michigan, USA

 

RAISING STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES: A HOLISTIC APPROACH

 

At Joy Middle School we have been using the TOC tools to enhance the teaming

approach we are using. We have used the "Ambitious Target" Map and Transition

Tree to improve how we prepare our students for the MEAP (Michigan assessment

tests) as well as how we administer the test. We also use the Cloud and Negative

Branch in helping our students to resolve conflict, and these have become cornerstones

in our peer mediation program. TOC is also used in a variety of other ways by

administrators, teachers, parents and students.

Our principal, Mr. Ronnie Phillips, has had the foresight to allow us to conduct TOC

workshops and use the tools whenever they are needed. Our assistant principal,

Mrs. Joslyn Smith, has taken the TOC TACT seminar and facilitator training and

encourages using TOC. Mrs. Catherine Tilles, our testing coordinator, gives testimony

to the positive results she gets from using TOC.

Over the past two years our test scores have improved dramatically. Our reading scores

have improved by about 20 percent in the satisfactory category in each of the last two

years. Since 1989, our reading scores in the satisfactory have improved 46.8 percent.

Our percentage of students in the low reading range has dropped by 51.5 percent so that

75 percent of our students have now scored in the moderate needs or satisfactory categories.

In mathematics, our scores have improved by 27 percent since 1991 and 17.7 percent over

the last two years. Our percentage of students in the low range has been reduced by

22.4 percent in the mathematics section since 1991.

We have been accredited on the basis of our test scores for the last two years. Previously

we had been an unaccredited school. Last year we had the highest rate of increase in reading

in the Metropolitan Detroit area. This year our scores are even higher.

We have used all the TOC tools to involve every stakeholder in the school to achieve

continuous improvement. Do we have a ways to go? Yes, but the future looks much brighter

as we strive to reach our goals.

 

 

 

 

 

Improve M.E.A.P. Test Scores to OVER 61%

OBSTACLES

SOLUTIONS

1. Attendance

See Attendance Sheet

2. Lack of skills

After School Program should match M.E.A.P. skills

M.E.A.P. Coach

Pre-Test as soon as possible

Teach test taking skills

3. Motivation

Motivational Newsletters

Interactive Open House with parents

M.E.A.P. Celebration for all

Trips

4. Lack of scheduling

Thematic Units (across grades)

Provide all students with all the classes they need for M.E.A.P.

Provide Health classes with P.E.

Use ALL available resources

5. Tracking

To create evenly divided Cooperative Learning Groups

Sensitivity training

Student buddies

6. Transit Students

Keep parents informed

-Current objectives

-Homework activities

Communicate with prior school immediately

7. Disruption

Inappropriate behavior

Teach T.O.C.

Have parents monitor

Teacher preview test

Students leave when test completed

 

 

 

 

Improve Student Attendance

Solutions:

1. Contact parents; request conference

Provide information to parents about day care, etc.

2. Provide bus tickets

Suggest Car Pool

Neighborhood school

Contact transportation Department

3. Alarm clock

Incentives

Earlier bed time

4. Medical reference

Suggest vitamins

Health center

5. Provide supplies

Referral to Attendance Department

6. Information (Counselor/Neighborhood Services)

7. Locate source

Counseling Sessions

Assure safety; buddy system, contact parents

Make student responsible

8. Provide incentives

Find what they like/reward system

Make it interesting

Tutoring

Spotlight student somehow

Play upon students' strengths

Connect with goal

9. Intervention from agencies

Apply #8

Bus Tickets

Meal programs

10. See #9

Provide program for parents

Relevancy

11. Find other disciplinary actions other than sending the student home

"In House"

Must "Do something" in order to get back in

Provide other curriculum options

Peer mediation using TOC tools

PARENT-TEACHER FORUM SUMMARY

TARGET: Achieve Success at Joy Middle School

OBSTACLES

SOLUTIONS

1. Communication

1a. Parents and teachers confer once a week.

1b. Keep phone numbers current.

1c. Attend all parent-teacher conferences.

1d. Turn off the T.V.

1e. Write absence notes.

2. Attendance

2a. Find innovative ways to motivate young people.

2b. Develop positive rewards.

3. Motivation

3a. Parents, teachers, and students must work together.

3b. Take educational trips.

STUDENT TARGET: A BETTER ME

OBSTACLES:

SOLUTIONS:

1. Following directions in school

1. Listen carefully to the teacher

2. Keeping my temper

2a. Ignore people who start conflict

2b. Walk away

2c. Go to my counselor

3. Giving respect so I can get it back

3a. Listen to what others have to say

3b. Follow teacher’s directions

4. Getting good grades

4a. Do all my work

4b. Be on time

5. Avoiding fights

5a. Avoid situations that could lead to fights

5b. Walk away

6. Getting to class on time

6a. Don’t play in hallway

6b. Go straight to class

6c. Don’t stop to talk

7. Following other people

7a. Stay away from a bad crowd

7b. Don’t copy bad behavior

STUDENT’S CLOUD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INJECTIONS:

  1. Avoid getting an "attitude."
  2. Control anger.
  3. Do work.
  4. Don’t curse.
  5. Ignore people who say stupid things.
  6. Stay focused.
  7. Do the right thing.

 

 

TEACHER’S CLOUD



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INJECTIONS:

  1. Teacher must believe she can accomplish goal.
  2. Teacher will help students to focus on goals.
  3. Teacher will teach behaviors necessary for mainstreaming.

 

 

MEAP (Michigan Educational Assessment Program

III. PROPORTIONS REPORT

 

1999**

1998**

1996

1995

Base 1989

% Satisfactory

49.5

28.1

8.2

11.4

2.7

% Moderate

25.5

33.3

25.3

32.3

20.8

% Low

25.0

38.6

66.5

56.3

76.5

Number of Pupils

212

171

170

254

183

Story 300 & Above

%

nm

73.1

155

55.6

95

31.2

53

39.0

98

22.5

41

Info 300 & Above

%

nm

54.8

109

33.9

58

10.6

18

16.8

42

4.9

7