Chalk
Reach out and open the
door that no one thought
could be opened. Life is
behind it.
Talk
-Kelly Ann Rothhouse
Vol. 1, Issue 1
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….
The Standards...What is Different?
CCSS-Abbreviation for Common Core State
Standards
More non-fiction
Increased speaking and listening requirements
The “next generation” of testing is technology based
Math reasoning-conceptual understanding and
application
Deep Learning
Increased text complexity and integration of reading
and writing in to all content areas
Text dependent questions and answers
Project based lessons that can translate to skills for
career and college readiness
Use of primary source documents
Integration of subject areas
10 Greatest “Ah-ha” Moments in Working with the Core
Sarah Brown Wessling, 2010 Teacher of the Year
Common is not the same: The standards are not the curriculum
States that adopt the CCSS are obligated to make them 85% of
their standards
All roads lead to algebra
The road to algebra is traversed through fractions
The math mantra: focus, coherence, rigor
Literacy in all content areas isn’t just a responsibility, it is a gift
Text complexity honors my instincts about kids and what they
read
ELA Appendix B is NOT a reading list
Evidence-based reading
and writing does not just mean writing reports
Empowerment in implementation means knowing what to keep
and what to let go.
Breaking it Down….One Ah-ha Moment At A Time:: The first of a series….
The standards are not the curriculum. Although there needs to be a consistency in what students are learning, there is no requirement that
teachers turn to the same page in the same textbook at roughly the same time. (Wessling, 2010) In fact, the rigor of the core asks us not to
check off standards as we teach them, but to use excellent teaching to achieve deep learning. The standards are provided as a guide for
what students should ACHIEVE. As a district we can determine the tools (such as texts and common assessments) and the methods (such
as formative assessment strategies) that we feel are critical to attaining optimal student success. This takes communication, collaboration,
and yes, some chocolate. This year our goal will be to complete our mapping of the standards and create common assessments. We will
examine professional resources to help us in the classroom, and provide the professional development we need to make the transition from
the current standards to the Common Core and new state science and social studies standards. This will be a positive step in achieving our
district mission: We Educate for Excellence…..Empowering all students to achieve their educational goals, to direct their lives and
to contribute to society.
Intervention of the Week:
Check out this link….Kahn Academy provides intervention via YouTube K-12…..teachers can use this
on their teacher computer and project to students. If
you want a particular link unblocked for students to
use, our technology department can unblock that
link (or links) for you. There are over 3,000 videos in
multiple subject areas!!!
Professional Development
You spoke, we listened! Watch for professional development on interventions, MAX Teaching,
International Baccalaureate, Power Teacher training,
and subject specific work on new standards, model curriculum and common assessments. We will even try to
sneak in some technology mini-camps for staff...let us
know what your specific technology PD needs are and
we will do our best to provide the training!