2009-10

Vertical Teams:
A group of educators from various grade levels in a given discipline who work cooperatively to develop and implement a vertically aligned program aimed at helping more students acquire the academic skills necessary for success.

Description:
“Implement vertical alignment teams to serve schools in the development of a consistent and focused traditional American history curriculum aligned from elementary through high school. Vertical alignment projects will serve as models for streamlining traditional American history curriculum throughout the state to meet newly adopted standards.”

Project Goals are:

1. To improve teacher knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of American history that will in turn serve to improve the quality of instruction;
2. To improve the availability and use of standards-based curriculum materials in American history, including the use of primary sources, teaching with historic places, understanding new scholarship; and
3. To increase student knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of American history.

Expected Outcomes:

• 1.1 Increase teacher content knowledge and mastery of American history, with a special emphasis on traditional American history;
• 1.2 Increase the use of historical thinking skills as a tool to teach traditional American history;
• 2.1, 2.2 Increase the number and the use of standards-based lesson plans in American history available on the project website by 10% annually from the baseline year of 2006-07; and
• 3.1 Increase the performance of the students of participating teachers in American history.