West Aurora SD 129 Parents,
Beginning next school year, West Aurora School District 129 will be offering a Science
Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) course for all of our first through fifth grade
students. The course will allow students to apply content knowledge from multiple
subjects in an inquiry-based way. The curriculum is designed to encourage critical
thinking skills and allow students an opportunity to creatively think about the world
around them.
Our STEM course will be offered during the regular school day, and structured much like
our current “specials” coursework (PE, music, art, and LMC). Therefore, once a week for
fifty minutes our students will have an opportunity to apply content learned from core
courses in an interactive way. The changes for the 2016-2017 specials schedule are
described in the chart below:
2015-2016 Specials Schedule
Subject
Minutes per week
Art
50
Music
50
PE
50
LMC
Varies by building –
Fixed or Flex
Schedule
2016-2017 Specials Schedule
Subject
Minutes per week
Art
50
Music
50
PE
50
LMC
Flex Schedule
STEM
50
The addition of the STEM course will give students a chance to use scientific findings,
mathematical application and technological tools to solve problems. The activities at each
grade level will be tailored for developmental appropriateness. Furthermore, each
school’s Library Media Center (LMC) will have a full-time staff member to ensure that
students will continue to have access to LMC resources as they have in previous school
years.
This elementary course addition will allow our district to meet the demands of the state
adopted Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in an efficient way. As a teaching
and learning team we are excited to offer this opportunity, and are looking forward to
learning from the creativity of our students. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Kind regards,
West Aurora School District 129
STEM Q & A
Is District 129 closing Elementary Library Media Centers (LMCs)?
No, students will have the same access to LMCs as they have enjoyed in the past. As part
of our taxpayer approved referendum, renovations to the LMCs at McCleery, Hill,
Freeman, Nicholson, Jefferson and West High will be completed this summer.
How will STEM support the district’s effort to improve student achievement?
The STEM model design gives students an opportunity to apply the content they have
learned in core curriculum. It also supports our efforts to create a collaborative learning
environment by providing our approximately 300 classroom teachers with an additional
50 minutes of collaborative planning time.
How was this communicated to stakeholders?
In addition to on-going conversations and presentations with internal stakeholders, letters
were sent to all elementary school parents in May. Additionally, informational
presentations were made at the May 16 board meeting and the Superintendent's
Community Advisory Council (SCAC).
Were any positions eliminated with this change?
No, positions were redistributed to more effectively meet student needs. Next year at the
elementary level we will have four district wide LMC directors who will work in a
coaching capacity to enhance core curriculum and support classroom teachers.
Additionally, each building will have a dedicated full-time Library Media Center staff
member to ensure students continue to have the same access to library resources.
Is the district de-emphasizing literacy?
No, the first through fifth grade STEM curriculum is designed to support English
Language Arts (ELA) and literacy. When our teams of teachers and administrators
designed the STEM curriculum we intentionally drew connections to our current core
English Language Art curriculum. STEM curriculum is designed to support English
Language Arts and Science. Additionally, all first through fifth grade students will still
have 120 minutes of ELA instruction daily. Furthermore, each elementary school is
staffed with a Reading Specialist to support ELA.
Are the lessons for the STEM class already developed for the year or does the curriculum
mold and change with student understanding and/or interest?
The curriculum is being developed now, but the lessons will be tied to the ELA and
Science tools that we have. There is some flexibility to extend those concepts, but the
idea is to allow students an opportunity to apply those concepts in the STEM setting.
Additionally, when the Science curriculum is finished, the responsibilities of the STEM
teacher and the classroom teacher will be clearly delineated.
Will the STEM classrooms be utilizing hands-on-learning?
The majority of the instruction will be hands-on problem based learning. Technology will
also be used to enhance the experience. More specifically, students will have an
opportunity to investigate a phenomena and then use tech and other resources to
communicate those findings and conclusions.
What supports will be available to English Language Learners (ELLs)?
The instructional language will be English. This will be an opportunity to expose
students to additional English academic content that will help students with the
acquisition of rich academic language. STEM teachers will be receiving in depth
professional development training with the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol
(SIOP) model to support our ELLs. SIOP is a research-based and validated instructional
model that has proven to be effective in addressing the academic, cultural and linguistic
learning needs of English Language Learners. This instructional model will address
planning, instruction and assessment. The SIOP Model consists of the following eight
interrelated components: lesson preparation, building background, comprehensible input,
strategies, interaction, practice/application, lesson delivery and assessment.
What supports will be available for Special Education (SPED) students?
SPED students will still receive all supports in Individualized Education Programs
(IEPs), consistent with other specials.
Will Kindergarten kids get exposed to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
concepts and STEM courses?
Kindergarten students will receive STEM instruction in the classroom. Science and ELA
will be integrated and the storylines will allow opportunities for us to observe students
demonstrating skills across the continuum for all science measures for KIDS.
Kindergarten students will go to LMC as a special so that they can learn the processes for
using the LMC to check out books and find resources.
Will there be a grade for STEM class on the report card?
Yes, consistent with how we grade for other elementary “specials”.
Will STEM professional development be offered for non-STEM teachers?
Professional development offerings will be available through West Aurora University.
Additionally, NGSS training will also be available.