The following provides an update on curriculum issues and assessment/screening issues in the district.
Curriculum and Instruction
Reading
The Reading Committee met on Monday, March 14, 2011. Amy Brundage explained the proposed changes to the District’s Title I program. The Committee agreed to expand Title I to all three schools.
They finished reviewing the Common Core Standards for Language Arts. They identified the reading academic vocabulary terms and phrases that each grade level will be expected to teach.
The Committee began considering updates to the Reading Instruction Model. They reviewed and updated the Literacy Vision, Philosophy Statement, and the Goals of the Reading Instruction Model. It was decided to not make changes to the Mission Statement and to eliminate the job description of a Reading Teacher/Reading Specialist. This document is in the Job Description Manual and will not be added to the updated Reading Instruction Model. The Committee began discussing how best to update the Focus section. This discussion will continue at the next meeting.
Writing
Writing Goals for the 2011-12 school year:
Goal #1: Form a structured grammar and mechanics plan for each grade level
Goal #2: Form a list of types of writing (genre) for each grade level
Goal #3: Make a parent handout regarding 6+1 Traits of Writing/Writer's Workshop
The Math Committee met with members of their grade level teams on March 14, 2011 to continue to develop the summer packets to be handed out at the end of the year. The packs will review the mastery skills from the current year. In addition, time was spent developing the assessment that will be used throughout the year.
As a reminder, the implementation of the math adoption is a phased implementation. The work of the committee and staff allow the progress to be ahead of schedule.
Science
The Science committee presented their work to the building staffs. They shared the work they have been doing in preparation for their Board presentation in May.
The Science committee will be presenting an update to the Board of Education on the process they have gone through and the direction they are taking with Science education in District #61. This presentation will be on May 10, 2011 at the Board of Education’s Educational Roundtable. The meeting will begin at 7 pm at Eisenhower Junior High School.
Report Card Committee
The Report Card Committee met on March 10, 2011 and continued the discussion on a prototype reporting system, determining the assessment alignment at Eisenhower Junior High, and plans for the future. Committee members will be creating a grade level prototype reporting system to share with their grade levels.
The next meeting will be on May 12, 2011.
