Natick Public Schools
Mathematics Curriculum Review K-8
Action Plan Update December 2009
Topic
Curriculum
Objective
C1.
Build mathematical content knowledge of teachers
C2.
Build consistency regarding automaticity of number sense and operations
Action Steps
Continue offering
DMI and MMO
Discrete Math,
Making the Case
Training by TERC and TEC
Facilitators
K-8 curriculum leaders
Outside consultants
Develop consistency documents for grades 2,4,6,7
Specifically add/sub gr. 2
Mult/div gr. 4
Add/sub fract gr. 6
Mult/div fract gr. 7
K-8
Curriculum leaders
Building
Principals
Middle school
- flex time
Timeline
Spring/summer
2007
Oct. 2007 -
Draft documents,
Nov. 2007 -
Reviewed with grade level teachers
Nov. 2007 – published
Evidence
Participant list from courses
Follow-up conversations with curriculum leaders
Published curriculum guide supplement
~Data collection from mid- and end-of-year assessments
MCAS data, as applicable
~Data collection use of
HeadsUp (gr. 4) and
Status
-Course offered to K-5 teachers, 17 enrolled
Curr leaders and Dept
Heads use meeting time to reinforce content
(elementary curriculum meetings, middle school content and department meetings, district early release days, in-school pd)
3/09 All grade 2-5 teachers trained in new
Investigations curriculum
12/09 -Grade 1 teachers trained in new
Investigations curriculum
-Middle school teachers scheduled for training in differentiated instruction –
January 2010
Completed
-K-4 Curriculum leader conducted release time PD for grades 2,3,4 (Dec
2007)
-5-8 Department Heads conducted PD during content meetings (Fall
2007)
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Topic
Natick Public Schools
Mathematics Curriculum Review K-8
Action Plan Update December 2009
Objective
C3 . Provide format to follow the pacing guide as outlined in the curriculum guide
Review the pacing guides with all staff
K-8
Curriculum leaders
Building administrators
Aug 2007 and monthly throughout school year
C4.
Develop consistent usage of curricula resources, inclusive of the mathematical programs and
Action Steps
Share with grades
1,3,5,7
Facilitators Timeline
Review the curricula resources with all staff
K-8
Curriculum leaders
Building administrators
Aug 2007 and monthly throughout school year
Evidence
MathsMates, gr. 5-8
Supervision/evaluation reports
Agendas from curriculum meetings
Supervision/evaluation reports
Template for “typical” math classroom
Status
-Consistency documents distributed to K-8, inclusive of algorithms
3/09 collection of data for automaticity collected at the district level
12/09 -Pilot FasstMath – grades 2 to support addition and subtraction, used as an intervention, grades 3-4 for mult and div, - continued use of
Challenge Math 3-4
-grade 5 pre-assessment adminstered 9/09,
-gr. 6 fractions - 3/09
9/08 Revised K-8, inclusive of new
Investigations materials, gr. 2-5 – targeted for review, 6/09
12/09 -Pacing guides, K-8 reviewed, revised and distributed 9/09
Ongoing
-K-4 Curriculum Leader and 5-8 Department Heads reviewed curriculum guides and additional resources with all teachers
-Template for “typical”
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Topic
Natick Public Schools
Mathematics Curriculum Review K-8
Action Plan Update December 2009
Objective additional resources
Action Steps
C.5
Educate families regarding mathematical programs and standards– all parents, especially parents new to
Kindergarten and grade 1 and new grade 6
Create consistent format for
Building Parent
Math Night
Schedule nights
Facilitators Timeline
K-8
Curriculum leaders
Building administrators
Teachers
K-8 at each school – scheduled in the Fall of
2007 for completion by
Dec. 2007
Evidence
K-4, Standards-based report of student progress and conference report
5-8 pilot of standardsbased progress report
Scheduled parent meetings at building
Parent Handbook, K-8
Status math classroom created and distributed
3/09 continued reinforcement at the K-8 level
12/09 Gr. 8 new resource for Integrated Algebra and
Geometry to provide differentiation opportunities
Completed
-Parent nights held at all
K-8 schools, will continue to offer in upcoming years
Topics reviewed at PTO meetings, Open House,
Elementary Conferences
Parent handbooks K-8 distributed and posted on website
3/09 parent information meetings held at all schools, K-8 , inclusive of review of the middle school mathematics placement process
12/09 -7/8 Open House
Presentation and Question
Session on new 7 th /8 th grade math offerings and parent overrides.
-Middle School Math
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Topic Objective Action Steps
Natick Public Schools
Mathematics Curriculum Review K-8
Action Plan Update December 2009
Facilitators Timeline
C.6
Increase parent communications
– inclusive of newsletters, webpage, parent math nights, articulation of standards and placement process for middle school
C.7
Update website update for relevant information to assist teachers, parents and students in gaining an understanding of the programs and mathematical content
Develop newsletters, webpage, parent math nights, articulation of standards and placement process for middle school
Post curriculum matrices
Develop elementary and middle school mathematics webpage
K-8
Curriculum leaders
Building administrators
Teachers
School year
Assistant
Superintendent
K-8
Curriculum leaders
Building administrators
Teachers
Fall 2007
Evidence
Hard copies kept on file, agendas of meetings
Status
Night 11/09, K-4 to be scheduled
Completed
-Website updated to include all parent presentations
-Teacher newsletters include mathematics
See C5
12/09 -Updated district
Curr and Ass't page to include mathematics
-Teacher webpages, -SC presentations
Curriculum matrices for K-8 published on website by 9/07
Mathematics webpage posted by 1/08
Completed
-Continued postings completed as new content arises
-Mathematics webpage on hold until ,08-,09 school year
3/09 Mathematics webpage in development for Fall 2009
12/09 -Middle School
Website went live in 05/09 with development of resources are ongoing throughout the 09-10 school year as topics are taught, learned and
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Topic Objective Action Steps
Natick Public Schools
Mathematics Curriculum Review K-8
Action Plan Update December 2009
Facilitators Timeline
C.8
Increase support for teacher development and familiarity with the curricula documents and resources - coach, courses, model lessons, lesson sharing, peer observation
Work with teachers to support the implementation of standards-based programs
K-8
Curriculum leaders
Building administrators
Teachers
C.9
Improve the use of technology integrated into the curriculum
Research webbased products
School year
Technology
Director
K-8
Curriculum leaders
Building administrators
Teachers
Spring 2008
Evidence
Anecdotal reflections by teachers and curriculum leaders
Peer observation schedule
Learning walks
Demo days, coaching by curr/dept leader
Meeting agendas
Meeting agenda
Status reinforced.
-All K-12 teachers have a teacher webpage
Ongoing
-K-4 and 5-8 Curriculum leader/department heads and administrators continue to work within the structure of the school day and after school to support coaching, lesson sharing, peer observation
12/09 continuing – MS
Dept Heads conduct weekly PLC meetings with grade level and department
Ongoing
-Funding secured with the
3/08 operational override to support technology in classrooms
3/09 SuccessNet piloted for gr. 2-5, full implementation 9/09, inclusive of parent and student access at home
12/09 -K-12 teacher webpages
-Grade 1-5 teachers are using SuccessNet, investigating using tech in
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Natick Public Schools
Mathematics Curriculum Review K-8
Action Plan Update December 2009
Topic Objective Action Steps
Instruction I.1
Provide teachers with data-driven decision making opportunities
1.)to gain access to the data points,
2.)to use analysis tools to determine areas of strength and weakness,
3.)to analyze teacher-created assessments to inform instruction
Develop and implement data analysis protocol
Use Planning and
LASW protocol
Facilitators Timeline Evidence
K-8
Curriculum leaders
Building administrators
Teachers
Outside consultant
School year
Release time during school day
District early release days
Collaboration time at the elementary and middle school
Grade level meetings
Curriculum meetings
Staff meetings
Data protocol use
Data review tables, by content strand
Action plans by grade level for identified needs
Status the classroom,
-Grade 2 using FasttMath
-Grade 5-8 teachers are using technology in the classroom as part of their personal professional goals
Ongoing
-All K-8 teachers have access to MCAS data, to spreadsheets of data from
NPS assessments, developed by K-8 curriculum leadership and building leadership
-Teachers use collaborative time at the middle school to review the data to inform instruction.
-Teachers at the elementary level use some curriculum meetings to analyze data to inform instruction
3/09 -continued as noted above, with data tables generated by K-4
Curriculum Coordinator and 5-8 Department
Heads
-MCAS data used to place
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Topic Objective
I.2
Increased opportunities to allow all students to be appropriately challenged
Action Steps
Natick Public Schools
Mathematics Curriculum Review K-8
Action Plan Update December 2009
Facilitators Timeline
Review of data to determine areas in need of challenge
Develop appropriate lessons to support stated areas
K-8
Curriculum leaders
Building administrators
Teachers
School year
Evidence
Data protocol use
Data review tables, by content strand
Action plans by grade level for identified needs
Lesson plans
Status students in flex time at ms and use common assessment data as a baseline
12/09 ongoing, to note there is no longer a K-4 mathematics curriculum coordinator, so this work is done by the Ass't Supt,
Bldg Adm and shared with Elem Inst Leaders
-MS - Oct 22 half day and collaborative time will be used to analyze MCAS data and plan for students that need more time on learning and to develop enrichment lessons to expand students’ depth of the mathematics.
Ongoing
-Working with curriculum leadership to identify existing opportunities and instructional materials in order to appropriately challenge students, use of flex time at the middle school, use of elementary school day
3/09 gr. 2-5, new -
Investigations includes
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Topic Objective
I.3
Increased opportunities to use varied instructional strategies to meet the needs of all students
Action Steps
Natick Public Schools
Mathematics Curriculum Review K-8
Action Plan Update December 2009
Facilitators Timeline
Review of data to determine areas in need
Develop appropriate lessons to support stated areas
K-8
Curriculum leaders
Building administrators
Teacher facilitators
School year
Evidence
Common assessments
Tailored instruction
Flex time use at middle school
Lesson plans
Status opportunities for all students to be challenged, partially implemented
-Teachers use formative assessments, checking for understanding to gauge learning and determine groups for flex time
-Use pre and post tests to determine knowledge-base of students
12/09 continued as noted above, with elementary use of math small groups using same content but differentiated for students
-MS use of differentiated lessons – training to increase usage 1/10
Ongoing
Through coaching, peer observation, flex time
3/09 peer coaching at the middle school, embedded professional development in the middle schools with common planning time
12/09 gr. 5-8 Common planning (math teachers and Special Educators) time topic of study will read, discuss and
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Topic
Assessment
Natick Public Schools
Mathematics Curriculum Review K-8
Action Plan Update December 2009
Objective
I.4
Increased teacher training to align instructional practices with current best practices
A.1
Develop additional teacher-created common assessments
A.2
Administer assessment(s) more consistently across the school/district
Action Steps
Continue offering
DMI and MMO
Training by TERC and TEC
Develop assessments for automaticity of number facts and other content strands
Use data to inform instruction
K-8 curriculum leaders
Building administration
Teacher facilitators
Consultants
K-8
Curriculum leaders
Building administrators
Teacher facilitators
Use staff meetings, content meetings to oversee administration and data collection
Facilitators
K-8
Curriculum leaders
Building administrators
Teacher
Timeline Evidence
Spring/summer
2007
Participant list from courses
Follow-up conversations with curriculum leaders
School year
School year
Assessments administration schedule
Data from assessments
Review of current assessments for content of automaticity of number sense and content strands
Meeting agendas
Data tables
Status implement Good
Questions: Great Ways to
Differentiate Math
Instruction written by
Marian Small a book devoted to differentiated instruction in the mathematics classroom
Ongoing
-Through coaching, peer observation new teacher training, sustained teacher training as needs are identified
Ongoing
-“facts” assessment administered in grades 2-5, data collected and reviewed, 2/08
-Continued review of current assessments
12/09 Implemented
Common Assessments for
Fraction
Ongoing
-Assessment schedule reviewed by all K-8 teachers
-Data collection tools and meeting time used to
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Topic Objective
Use the data from assessments to inform instruction and progress toward student learning
Action Steps
Natick Public Schools
Mathematics Curriculum Review K-8
Action Plan Update December 2009
Facilitators facilitators
Timeline
A.3
Continue the use of the
Looking at
Student Work and Planning protocol to assure consistency in administration and interpretation of the assessments
Use staff meetings, content meetings to oversee use of
Planning and
LASW protocol for common assessments
K-8
Curriculum leaders
Building administrators
Teacher facilitators
A.4
Use the results of the assessments to
Use of standardsbased report of student progress
Teachers
School year
School year
Evidence
Meeting agendas
Teacher reflections
Copies of protocols
Report of student progress
Middle School
Status analyze data points
-Early numeracy assessments piloted in all 5 elementary schools
3/09Math Perspectives piloted in all elementary schools, grades K and 1
-Common assessments administered consistently across the district, K-8
12/09 continued as above
– added universal screening of K-1 students using Math Perspectives,
Sept and June
Ongoing
-Looking at Student Work
(LASW) protocol in use at the middle school during content meetings. More use is needed at the elementary level, but there is minimal meeting time.
3/09 No change in status
12/09 Ongoing, with addition of Elem Inst
Leaders and PLC time, more opportunities exist at the elementary level
Ongoing
-Report of student progress is standards-
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Topic Objective assist students and parents in understanding student attainment of stated standards
Action Steps
Natick Public Schools
Mathematics Curriculum Review K-8
Action Plan Update December 2009
Facilitators Timeline Evidence placement process
A.5
Work towards implementation of standardsbased report of student progress,
K-4, and standards-based progress report,
5-8
A.6
Provide more opportunities for teacher use of longitudinal analysis of
MCAS,
Distribution of K-4 during school year
Pilot of 5 during school year for reflection and refinement
Assistant
Superintendent
K-8
Curriculum leaders
Building administrators
Teachers
K-4 to be released Fall
2007
5 piloted 2007-
8
Use collaboration time at middle school to analyze student achievement data to inform instruction, using a protocol
K-8
Curriculum leaders
Building administrators
Teachers
District early release time, collaboration meetings throughout the school year
Documents
Correspondence to families, teachers, community
Analysis reports
Meeting agendas
Status based, K-4, implemented in Fall 2007
Grade 5 standards-based progress report – piloted
Spring 2008
3/09 Piloted grade 5 ready for implementation
Fall 2009
12/09 Grade 5 standardsbased progress report implemented with grade curriculum level time used for data collection and used to inform instruction
Ongoing
-See above, A5
Ongoing
-See I1
12/09 All grades 4-10 teachers use MCAS data analysis that informed instruction and targeted skills improvement for struggling (ISSP) students
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Topic
Natick Public Schools
Mathematics Curriculum Review K-8
Action Plan Update December 2009
Timeline Objective
Scantron, common assessments by content strand to inform instructional practices
Action Steps
Use elementary staff meetings/early release/district release to analyze student achievement data to inform instruction, using a protocol
Facilitators Evidence
A.7
Use of
Planning and
LASW protocol for consistency in grading benchmark assessments
Leadership L.1
Assure that leaders are supervising teachers in implementing the articulated curricula and using data to inform student
Continued use of
Planning and
LASW protocol at middle school during content team meetings and at elementary school during staff/collaboration meetings
Teacher evaluation that ensures consistency of the use of these curricula documents and resources, and the use of student data to inform
K-8
Curriculum leaders
Building administrators
Teachers
Teachers
K-8
Curriculum leaders
Building administrators
District early release time, collaboration meetings throughout the school year
School year
Sample protocols
Meeting agendas
Goal sheets
Meeting agendas
Status
5/09 Department Meeting:
Fractions (Number Sense
Strand) vertical articulation (grades 6-8)
MS Professional
Development days used for vertical articulation of the
Algebra, Data Analysis,
Measurement, and
Geometry Strands on
10/30/09, 2/10/10, and
6/2/10 PD dates (grades 5-
8)
Ongoing
-See A3
Ongoing
-Supervisors are trained in
Observing and Analyzing teaching and use evaluation guidelines as articulate by the NPS
-K-4 Curriculum
Coordinator and Ben Hem
AP enrolled in Lenses on
12

Natick Public Schools
Mathematics Curriculum Review K-8
Action Plan Update December 2009
Topic Objective acquisition of learning standards
Professional development
PD.1
Continue to offer mathematical content courses
(e.g., Making the
Case, DMI 1 and
11, Annenberg courses, study groups)
Action Steps instruction
Teacher(s) set goals with leadership to support the mathematics review findings
Leader(s) supervise and evaluate teacher on these tenets
Develop a mathematics content course that encompasses all five content strands
Facilitators
K-8
Curriculum leaders
Building administrators
Teachers
Timeline
School year
Evidence
See above
PD.2
Use the district early release professional development time to support mathematics
See above K-8
Curriculum leaders
Building administrators
Teacher facilitators
School year See above
Status
Learning Training that focuses on supervision of mathematics, Summer
2008
On going: Walkthroughs to get the pulse of the grade level.
12/09 ongoing, jobembedded PD with
DH,EIL, Building principals
Ongoing
-Teaching Children
Mathematics course offered by Elementary
Curriculum Coordinator to
17 K-4 teachers
Teachers can avail themselves of free
Annenberg courses
MOODLE Course
12/09 Ongoing,
Annenberg courses,
MOODLE course
Ongoing
-Grades 2,3,4 district days facilitated by Curriculum
Coordinator
-Grades 5-8 content and grade level meetings, district early release days used by department heads
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Topic Action Steps
Natick Public Schools
Mathematics Curriculum Review K-8
Action Plan Update December 2009
Facilitators Timeline Evidence Objective
PD.3 Provide more opportunities for teacher use of longitudinal analysis of
MCAS,
Scantron, common assessments by content strand to inform instructional practices
PD.4 Use of
Planning LASW protocol for consistency in grading benchmark assessments
Use collaboration time at middle school to analyze student achievement data to inform instruction, using a protocol
Use elementary staff meetings/early release/district release to analyze student achievement data to inform instruction, using a protocol
Continued use of
Planning and
LASW protocol at middle school during content team meetings and at elementary school during staff/collaboration meetings
K-8
Curriculum leaders
Building administrators
Teachers
K-8
Curriculum leaders
Building administrators
Teachers
District early release time, collaboration meetings throughout the school year
District early release time, collaboration meetings throughout the school year
See above
See above
Status
12/09 Ongoing through
PLC's
Ongoing
-Building administration and curriculum/department leaders have used early release time, content/grade level meetings, curriculum and department meetings to analyze MCAS and mid-year assessments to use with ISSP students to develop flex time and class time for more time on learning.
Ongoing, see A3
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Natick Public Schools
Mathematics Curriculum Review K-8
Action Plan Update December 2009
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