Chalk
Talk
Somewhere, something
incredible is waiting to be
known.
-Carl Sagan
Vol. 1, Issue 2
We Educate for Excellence……….
Empowering all students to achieve their educational goals, to direct their lives and to contribute to society.
Let’s Cut to the Core….
Social Studies: The Democratic Process Changes Standards
Am. Sub. S.B. 165 was passed by the Ohio Legislature in March 2012. What does the bill require of school districts?
Standards for grades 4-12 must include academic content regarding the original texts of the Declaration of Independence, the
Northwest Ordinance, the Constitution of the United States and its amendments, with emphasis on the Bill of Rights, and the Ohio
Constitution.
Basic instruction or demonstrated mastery in geography, United States history and government, the local and state government of
Ohio, the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Constitution of the state of Ohio are required before students may participate in courses involving the study of social problems, economics, foreign affairs, United Nations, world
government, socialism or communism.
Students who enter ninth grade on or after July, 2012 must study the original context of: the Declaration of Independence; the
Northwest Ordinance; and the Constitution of the United States.
The study of American history and government will include historical evidence of the role of documents such as the Federalist Papers, and the Anti-Federalist Papers in order that the historical background leading to the establishment of the provisions of the
Constitution and Bill of Rights is understood.
Each district must create interim end-of-course exams in American history and government by July 1, 2013. School district syllabi
should also be completed to permit the development of these exams.
Changes to the standards and model curriculum:
American History: Additional content statements and model curriculum can be found under the “Historic Documents”
topic, content statements 5-9.
American Government: Additional content standards and model curriculum entries will be found listed under the “Basic
Principles of the U.S. Constitution” topic, content statements 6, 8-13; and “Ohio’s State and Local Government” topic,
content statement 18.
There are no new content statements in grade 8 or grade 4. Additions were made to the model curriculum for grade 8 for
content statements 5, 6, 7, 20, and 21. Changes to grade 4 model curriculum are included for content statements 2, 4,
5 ,9 ,15 19,20, and 21.
Check out this link for more information regarding the social studies changes.
Breaking it Down….One Ah-ha Moment At A Time: The Second of a Series….
States that Adopt the CCSS are Obligated to Make Them 85% of Their Standards (Wessling, 2010).
Up to 15% of the standards can be tailored to meet student needs. For example, Minnesota uses its 15% to include media literacy and media production
standards. New York retained language that allows for first graders to measure time and money in their standards. As of this writing, Ohio has not made
modifications in the Common Core Standards in English Language Arts and Math. However, at the district level we are permitted to retain areas of focus
we feel are important to include as we scaffold skills from pre-kindergarten through high school. For example, kindergarten will be introducing students to
money and telling time to the hour and half hour. These learning objectives are not included in the math common core for that grade level. As we work on
our new mapping/syllabus documents and common assessments we are able to retain some of the content that we feel is important for our students in
order to progress toward skill development and mastery of standards. Further information about how and when departments and grade levels will complete this task will be shared at upcoming department and grade level meetings.
Intervention of the Week:
Click or Clunk...a comprehension reading strategy
Hey, 9-12 Math...check out this NCTM lesson site. This
includes lessons for PK-8 as well. Brought to you by
NCTM!
Heads Up: Dates to Remember...Academic Services
coming to a School Near YOU!
High School Science Department Meeting on
9/5/12 at 8:45 AM
High School Social Studies Dept. 9/6/12 at 7:15 AM
Parkside Science– 9/6/12 at 7:55 AM
5-8 Science to BOE– 9/12/12—12-3:30
Math Dept.-LBMS-9/13/12—7:55 AM
Title I Meeting 9/13/12—11-2:30 PM
Spanish Department 9/14/12—12-3 PM (BOE)