GHSGT Improvement Plan and Scores

The Social Studies department at Newnan High School takes the job of educating the youth of Coweta County very seriously.  Scores on the Georgia High School Exit Exam (which a student must pass to graduate) are considered extremely important to the student and their parents. We do not know what will be on the test from year to year and it would be pointless to try to guess, so our plan is to make sure the students practice the TYPE of questions that they will see on this test, as well as the material they may see. We hope that this will make them more comfortable taking the test and help them improve their scores.  Below, you will see the plan the teachers of this department came up with to improve our scores for first time test takers in the junior class.  If you have any suggestions, please let us know!

Newnan High School
History and Social Studies Department
2008-2009

Please make sure these are reflected in your weekly/daily written plans.

MANDATORY WEEKLY ACTIVITIES

Each week Civics, World History and US History teachers will do a geography exercise of some kind. (Mandatory)

ALL department members will include multiple choice questions in each test given.  Test should also include graphs/charts/maps/readings/timelines on each test we make up and administer. (Mandatory)

ALL department members will do a minimum of 1 chart/graph/paragraph reading in class and go over it.  These activities must also include and practice the following GPS vocabulary words:  analyze, compare, contrast, identify, examine, describe, explain, trace, investigate and demonstrate. (Mandatory)

ALL department members will keep documentation on the form provided.  (Mandatory)

NOTE:  TEACH THE STUDENTS HOW TO DO THESE ACTIVITIES!!!!!!! Work these activities in with what you are teaching at the time (that is how they will be tested) if at all possible, but make sure you are working these practice items in regardless.  Please include these types of activities as much as possible- the requirements above are a minimum.

RESOURCES: Notebook of extra resources compiled by this department. Skill workbooks have been distributed and others are available. McDougal and Prentice Hall resources are already available via CD (especially the test generator) and/or the teacher material kits. The department server space has many shared activities.

Pretest Review

TO DO: The week before the test will be a time of intensive review for all JR classes. U.S. History teachers need to prepare for this. U.S. History teachers will need to plan on doing multiple maps, graphs, charts and readings during that week as well. Everyone will go over and over the test taking tips.  We will consider doing a teacher swap for a World History and Civics review in the spring.

RESOURCES: We have a standardized review for each subject area- every teacher doing a World History/Civics/U.S. History review will have the same resources and cover the same material.  Everyone has a test-taking tips handout and overhead.

Assign a Student- Tutor Groups

Each Social Studies teacher will be assigned a group of students from the recommendation of a World or US History teacher or a student that did not make the grade in the previous test administration.  They will be in contact with the students and parents about the test and the tutoring available to them.  All students will have SS tutoring available to them as the time comes around for them to take the test.

Special Education

Use collaborative teacher assistants for more work on exit exam materials.

Overall Resources 

        Material Resources                                                                        Technology Resources

White/Green Exit Exam manuals*                                                             Exit Exam Software **

  Social Studies Skill manuals*                                                                   Remotes and Responders

Geography Workbooks*                                                                         Web: My Skills Tutor***

Department Notebook of skills*                                                                Web: USA Test Prep***

                                                                                                              Web: NHS Test Site***

*In Field’s closet or in each teacher’s possession
**Installed on all laptop labs as well as all department computers
***Linked on the department website

 

 Test Scores

First time test takers (Juniors in high school) regular education and special education students.

1997-1998:  80%

1998-1999:  83%

1999-2000:  86%

2000-2001:  78%

2001-2002:  86%

2002-2003: 77%

2003-2004:  78%

2004-2005:  83% (87% Regular Ed Students)

2005-2006:  93%

2006-2007:  94% (97% Regular Ed students)

2007-2008:  93%

"Bringing our subjects to life..."