W I N T E R

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SAU # 74

Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, and Professional Development Newsletter

Inside this Issue: Math in Focus, p. 1-2 Standards Based Reporting, p. 2-3

Math in Focus

Language Arts Curriculum update, p. 3

We have entered the second implementation phase of our Math in Focus program in grades 1-4. This fall there were professional development trainings that occurred throughout the district in all grades. As part of this training there have been ongoing site visits to other surrounding school districts that are utilizing the Math in Focus program.

Assessment Update, p. 4

The trainings that took place this fall focused on pedagogy and instructional practices of the program. (continued on p. 2)

Upcoming Professional Development Written Prior Notice, Case Management training Jan. 20

Mike ShacklefordInstructional Practices Mar. 13-14

Teacher Workshop DayStandards Based Report Card Mar. 24

SAU #74 District Newsletter

WINTER 2016

Math in Focus continued… During the spring training there will be continued review with the assessment portions to this program. We had a Math in Focus parent informational night this fall, and parents that attended became familiar with the online components, the pedagogy and methods of the program. In addition, parents were able to complete some math practices that parents would see in the classroom such as the bar modeling and various other math manipulative activities. On the district website there are a variety of Math in Focus resources at http://www.sau74.org/math-in-focus

Superintendent Gail KushnerConductor of the Polar Express at ECLC

Example of a Standards Based Report LITERACY

KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS

Reading Literature and Informational Text

Performance Indicators Term 1

Term 2

Term 3

Term 1

Term 2 Term 3

Demonstrates an understanding of the organization and basic features of print, text, author, illustrator With prompting and support, ask and answers questions about the main topic and key text details Applies kindergarten phonics and word analysis skills Asks and answers questions about unknown words in a text; determines meaning of words/phrases in text Comprehends a variety of genres - Lexicon Level Actively engages with grade-level texts with purpose and understanding Uses technology to search for and retrieve information Reading Foundational Skills Demonstrates understanding of the organization and basic features of print (RF.K.1 a, b, c, d) Demonstrates understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes). (RF.K.2 a, b, c, d, e) Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words (RF.K.3 a, b, c, d). Recognizes all upper and lower case letters Uses various technologies to create artifacts of learning Read emergent –reader texts with purpose and understanding. (RF.K.4)

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SAU #74 District Newsletter

WINTER 2016

Standards Based Reporting The Standards Based Committee is developing a consistent framework for a standards based report card. The performance levels were defined last spring into four categories: Exceeding (4), Meeting (3), In Progress (2), and Limited Progress (1). There is common understanding and agreement at each grade level. This fall the Standards Based Committee and each school has further described the learning behaviors and work habits. A good example would be at the Early Childhood Learning Center, a work habit would include “demonstrates neatness and organizational skills.” Each school is in the process of highlighting key power standards that will be articulated on the new standards based report per content area. There will be 4-6 power standards per subject that will be assessed per trimester. There is still a great deal of work to be done on this new reporting system, including upcoming spring teacher workshops and more information for parents, as well. The plan is to transition and implement a new report card system during the ’17-’18 school year.

Language Arts Curriculum Update

As a Language Arts Curriculum Committee, we have made final recommendations to improve and update the curriculum. One of the areas of recommendation is a vocabulary resource for grades 4-6. The recommendation is to continue to build students’ vocabulary acquisition and this resource will enable for further vocabulary development. In addition, the committee recommended that there be an update to classroom libraries with a variety of reading resources in both non-fiction and fiction genres. This will allow for students to engage in literature and grow as readers. As part of this new curriculum cycle there will be ongoing professional development in Six Traits (writing instruction), Reading Strategies for all content areas, and Readers’ Workshop training. The committee reviewed and updated the curriculum scope and sequence documents in an articulated curriculum binder, grades Kindergarten-eighth. As part of this work, there was aligning of standards across grade levels and highlighted power standards to focus instructional practice.

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SAU #74 DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

WINTER 2016

Assessment Update The Assessment Team reviewed our current district assessment system, NWEA testing. We provided a brief survey to all staff on how they review and analyze data to inform instruction. As part of this work we reviewed two other assessment systems, STAR-Assessment and iReady Assessment. We spoke with other school districts that utilize STAR and iReady Assessments. In addition, we had presentations from NWEA, STAR, and iReady assessment systems to gain additional information. As part of this work, the Assessment Team critically highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of our current assessment system as well as the two other assessment platforms. The recommendation from the Assessment Team was to transition to iReady Assessment system as it allows for more analytical reports for teachers to improve instruction. The iReady Assessment provides teachers with summative and interim assessment results that will be beneficial for students to receive targeted interventions. The targeted lessons and interventions provide academic support in the areas of reading fluency. This assessment system also provides for parents a report of students’ academic progress in reading and mathematics skills and concepts. There will be ongoing professional development trainings that will take place for teachers to administer and prepare for this new assessment system. The transition for this new assessment system will take place next year.

Reflection As we look ahead to the spring there will be a variety of professional development trainings that will occur for the second half of the school year. The New Year provides us a time to reflect on our work thus far and to continue to focus on the work ahead.

Submitted by Dan Moulis, Director of Operations and Instructional Leadership

“Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.” -John Wooden

SAU #74 Central Office 572 Calef Highway Barrington, NH 03825 (603)-664-2715