# data[].attributes.body
I think that focusing on vertical alignment will be beneficial for our students and helpful for the teachers. As a 6th grade teacher,  I want to help my students learn skills and content that will help them as they advance to the higher grades.This practice will help them to be comfortable using the skills if they utilize them regularly.

# data[].attributes.body
I would like to see PEGS charts, GRAPES, process of elimination and brain dumps used across grade levels.

# data[].attributes.body
We can ensure that testing strategies are the same across grade levels by requiring collaboration when preparing to teach testing. This will ensure that there is uniformity and that all students are familiar and comfortable with the various strategies.
I would suggest:
Annotation- teaching students to annotate their readings and read the questions to find the answers within the readings
Brain dumps-writing out what they know about the content pertaining to a particular question

# data[].attributes.body
I think vertical alignment is very important to student learning. It allows students make connections from one learning experience to the next.

# data[].attributes.body
Meeting across grade levels discussing what strategies should be used and that are most effective. I think eliminating wrong answers first is a basic testing skill.

# data[].attributes.body
I think the PEGS chart is a great strategies across grade levels.

# data[].attributes.headline
McMillanTeaching 8th grade shows just show important it is. If students were consistently made aware and not only taught that certain concepts are standard in social sciences many students would be able to grasp new ideas and players with old foundations. I see benefits for students in learning how to study new material and apply background knowledge to help organize thoughts and identify patterns.  

# data[].attributes.subject
McMillanTeaching 8th grade shows just show important it is. If students were consistently made aware and not only taught that certain concepts are standard in social sciences many students would be able to grasp new ideas and players with old foundations. I see benefits for students in learning how to study new material and apply background knowledge to help organize thoughts and identify patterns.  

# data[].attributes.headline
McMillan- After attending the lead4ward training last year, I started using multiple new strategies to help build student skills. More important than my tool box was the student deficit I was trying to beef up. I would like to use our data to see the deficit skills and collaborate to have several skills to address those needs. 

# data[].attributes.subject
McMillan- After attending the lead4ward training last year, I started using multiple new strategies to help build student skills. More important than my tool box was the student deficit I was trying to beef up. I would like to use our data to see the deficit skills and collaborate to have several skills to address those needs. 

# data[].attributes.body
Having the conversation with our colleagues about how to breakdown the test is a conversation that needs to be had first. Mr. Rushing and I had joint and split study sessions which my students enjoyed because they heard the same information about testing strategies from multiple teachers. Mr. Rushing had great SAT type of strategies to add in that definitely helped students with how they were going to attack tests. I require work to be shown on each test question be it making charts, highlighting key words, visuals reps, acronyms, and the like. When student retake tests, they are also required to add in their justifications to earn back credit.

# data[].attributes.body
I can certainly tell if the student have been exposed to 8th grade content before hand. Their eyes light up in recognition and it makes my job so much easier. Any success we have on STAAR is due to the support of 6th and 7th grade teachers.

# data[].attributes.body
I would like to see skill dealing with primary sources focused on in the lower grade levels. It really helps us out at the 8th grade as we can spend more time on the content when students already know how to handle the material.

# data[].attributes.body
Implementation and vigor

# data[].attributes.body
This one is simple. The kids need to pass STAAR, so that is what we must prepare them for.

# data[].attributes.headline
Basic United States geography is something we could all do better on.

# data[].attributes.subject
Basic United States geography is something we could all do better on.

# data[].attributes.body
Being able to vertically align all aspects of social studies in middle school be a major help. With everyone on the same page on strategies and learning techniques, it’ll help the students from any confusion or “overload”.

# data[].attributes.body
I would love to see GRAPES and PEGS charts used throughout the grade levels.

# data[].attributes.headline
I think vertical alignment is crucial in looking at a students' entire educational growth, not just in terms of content. It allows them to develop the appropriate processing skills needed not just in middle school, but in high school, college, and their careers as well.

# data[].attributes.subject
I think vertical alignment is crucial in looking at a students' entire educational growth, not just in terms of content. It allows them to develop the appropriate processing skills needed not just in middle school, but in high school, college, and their careers as well.

# data[].attributes.body
We just need to have a discussion from grade levels on what have we’ve seen worked. Of course, strategies like brain dumps and process of elimination works with any level.

# data[].attributes.headline
I would like to see any type of testing strategies included where students have to annotate passages/chart, questions, and answer choices to show their understanding and thought processes. I would also like to see any strategies for political cartoons like OPTICS.

# data[].attributes.subject
I would like to see any type of testing strategies included where students have to annotate passages/chart, questions, and answer choices to show their understanding and thought processes. I would also like to see any strategies for political cartoons like OPTICS.

# data[].attributes.headline
We can ensure our testing strategies are the same across grade levels through effective PLC and planning meetings with our grade level and content area teams. Every teacher should be implementing the strategies decided on within the meeting and there should be evidence seen of those strategies maybe through student examples or anchor charts.

# data[].attributes.subject
We can ensure our testing strategies are the same across grade levels through effective PLC and planning meetings with our grade level and content area teams. Every teacher should be implementing the strategies decided on within the meeting and there should be evidence seen of those strategies maybe through student examples or anchor charts.

# data[].attributes.headline
Making sure that strategies are actually being implemented across all grade levels and that teachers are fully comfortable using the strategies decided upon within their classrooms. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Making sure that strategies are actually being implemented across all grade levels and that teachers are fully comfortable using the strategies decided upon within their classrooms. 

# data[].attributes.body
I really think by focusing on the vertical alignment peace we are really setting our students of for success. That is the reason I chose to get into educaton, I wanted to do all I could do to help out the leaders of tomorrow get started off on the right foot.

# data[].attributes.body
I would really like to see simialr testing stratigies used across our department. I even would like to take it a step further and see those strategies used across the entire campus or even district. I feel this way because once a kid in introduced to something they need constant refreshers before it becomes habit.

# data[].attributes.body
I think communication is key to everything. If we could get all of the department to agree on a universal strategy and only talke about that strategy, that would be a huge help.

# data[].attributes.body
really have no questions, I am just ready to see this in action! I am ready to see the entire History team talkig in unison for the same cause!

# data[].attributes.body
Since I am teaching both 6th and 7th grade, I will focus more on vertical alignment.  I do think it is very important to teach each TEK indepth at each grade level so that they are prepared for the next school year.

# data[].attributes.body
I have a long list of strategies that I would like to see across grade levels:
SOAPs
PEGS
ESPeN
OPTICS
GRAPES
PERSIA
SPRITE
APPARTS
SOAPSTone
Primary Souce Analysis Tools
RACE (restate question,answer question, cite evidence, Explain meaning).

# data[].attributes.body
Last year we all used the ERA testing strategy. The students we good at annotating the question, eleminating choices, etc. They did not like to show what they know on the test. But I do think that this is a good strategy to use for testing.

# data[].attributes.body
Strategies across grade levels may look different at each grade level.  Sometimes just getting the students to turn a question into a statement is difficult.

# data[].attributes.body
Vertical alignment is important in history because history is like a living document. It is great that teacher show students how history is connected through out the world. History connects people and shows that we are more alike than different. Which is very important in our world today.

# data[].attributes.body
I would like to see an emphasis on reading and comprehension skills.

# data[].attributes.body
We can ensure that testing strategies are reinforced during PLCs.

# data[].attributes.body
Beneficial PLCs

# data[].attributes.body
I think that focusing on the vertical alignment will be beneficial for students to see the connections in social studies each year.

# data[].attributes.body
I would like to be given a set of strategies to teach students when taking their assessments and learning new content. Strategies like PEGS is so helpful to chunk content in an organized way and can be used when looking at questions in DCAs.
Collaborating with ELAR teachers for reading comprehension strategies will also be great to see.

# data[].attributes.body
PLC will be a great time to have these discussions. Taking sample questions from past DCAs to talk about the strategies students should use to answer the questions.

# data[].attributes.body
No questions or concerns

# data[].attributes.body
I am excited about the vertical alignment focus this year. It is extremely important for our students to understand connections throughout the grade levels. We are consistently asked WHY??? and I think that by focusing on vertical alignment, they will better understand the WHY.

# data[].attributes.body
To ensure that our testing strategies are sane across grade levels, we must communicate and collaborate. Our PLC time is a great time to discuss strategies and testing and to make sure that the entire department is on the same page. Quite often, the questions on the DCAs aren't comprehended well by our students, by allowing teachers to discuss questions, it will enhance how we teach the TEKS.

# data[].attributes.body
I would love to see implementation throughout the entire school year

# data[].attributes.body
I think that we must place a lot of emphasis on vocabulary.  Our students struggle with several concepts because they don't comprehend the vocabulary.  In addition, I have found that the lack of vocabulary impacts our student's abilities to analyze primary sources and effectively comprehend their reading.

# data[].attributes.body
Vertical alignment is critical in all subjects, however I think it is heightened in history since the subject is one continuous story. If the students did not understand the beginning of the story (i.e.Exploration and Colonization), they will have a very difficult time connecting the dots as to why colonists were declaring their independence, or wrote a new Constitution, etc.

# data[].attributes.body
I'd like to see that students know their directions and can read a map, focusing more on vocabulary, and working more closely with ELA to get reading levels improved.

# data[].attributes.body
For 8th grade, ensuring all teachers and students are using Pearson, Lowman resources, and exposing the students to more primary/secondary sources will help as well. Also, teachers not having access to the test and being able to view the questions/answers PRIOR to administering is absolutely necessary.

# data[].attributes.body
No questions. Concern: making sure my entire team is being heard, and working better together this year for the benefit of our students and not ourselves. COMMUNICATION IS KEY!

# data[].attributes.body
I am very excited about the vertical alignment