Impacting Engagement for At Risk 8th

Grade Students Through Home Visits

Project team: Amy Carnie, Alexa Baxter, Adam Schwaninger

Presentation by Adam Schwaninger

Project Team
Amy Carnie Associate Principal
Alexa Baxter 8th Grade Counselor
Adam Schwaninger 6th-8th Grade Art Teacher

Baxter

Carnie

Schwaninger

Essential Questions
What assessments are used to measure engagement?
What instructional strategies are being used to increase
engagement?
What management strategies are being used to increase
engagement?
Can targeting small groups of students help increase
engagement for all?
Can involving students in activities in the school and
school community increase their engagement in the
classroom?

Project Focus
Schoo Goal All students will increase engagement in
all classes
SIP Focus The SIP team focused on engagement in
8th grade students.
Target Group 10 at risk students who: have 2 or
more Ds and/or Fs on their 7th grade report card,
scored below proficiency on NeSA math assessment,
and were identified by their teachers as needing
additional behavior support.

Interventions
Mr.s Baxter and Mr. Schwaninger led a behavior group
with the target students titled Why Try. (not the first
Why Try group at Schoo)
The group met bi-weekly to monitor progress and set
behavior goals.
The group focused on making a positive impact in the
school and school community
Home visits were made with each student to discuss
the students behavior and make a collaborative plan.

Group Activities
The group created a video for the Schoo Day of Silence

Group Activities
The group visited the Career Center and celebrated at Cicis
Pizza

Group Activities
DJ the 8th grade block party
Created positive/motivational spray paint stencils
Picked up trash/cleaned the building
Serving dessert at Matt Talbots Kitchen (4/29)
Final celebration at defy gravity (TBD)

Data Collection
Data was collected from 3 sources

Teacher surveys
Engagement, Respectfulness, Preparedness
Math, English, Science

Student surveys
Engagement, Respectfulness, Preparedness

Report Cards

Students were able to see teacher data reports at the Why

Try meetings

Data Collection
Teacher Survey

Data Collection
Student Survey

Data Collection
Example Student Data Report

Results
Report Card Data
6

16
14

12
4

10

Q1 #of D's

#D
's
Q2 #of D's

Q1 #of F's

Q2 #of F's

#F's
Q3 #of D's

6
2

Q3 #of F's

4
2
0

0
Student A

Quarter
1
Student C

Student B

Student D

QuarterStudent
2 F

Student E

Student G

Quarter
3
Student H
Student I

Student J

Results
Teacher Surveys - Engagement
100
80
90

70

80

60

70

Oct

50
60

Nov
Dec

40
50

Jan
Feb

40
30

Mar

30

20

April

20

10

10

Oct
D
ec
Jan F Student Feb
MarI
Student
A Student B SNov
tudent C Student
D
Student E Student
G Student H Student

StudentApril
J

Results
Teacher Surveys - Respectfulness
100

90
90

80
80

70
70

Oct

60

Nov

60

50

Dec

50

40

Jan

40

Feb

30

Mar

30

April

20
20

10
10

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Student A Student B Student C Student D Student E Student F Student G Student H Student I

April

Student J

Results
Teacher Surveys - Preparedness
100

90
90
80
80

70
70

Oct

60

Nov

60

50

Dec

50

40

Jan

40

Feb

30

Mar

30

20

April

20

10
10

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Student A Student B Student C Student D Student E Student F Student G Student H Student I

April

Student J

Results
Student Surveys
6

4.5
5

43.5

Engagement 1
Respec ulness 1

32.5

Survey 11
Preparedness

Eng
ement 2
Sag
urvey
2

1.5

0.5
0

Student Student BStudent C Student Student Student Student Student Student I Student J
Egagment
Respec
ulness
Preparedness
A
D
E
F
G
H

Respec ulness 2
Preparedness 2

Conclusions
Behaviorally, students showed improvements in all areas

Engagement, Respectfulness and Preparedness

Academically, Students had more Ds and Fs in quarter 3

than quarter 1.

Student grades DID improve greatly from quarter 2 to

quarter 3

Students enjoyed the Why Try group, and ask about

meeting frequently
Home visits were received well be students and families

Data improved right before and after home visits.

Conversations with families were invaluable