(Message sent to elementary teachers on 09/20/07)
I found a good math site today while looking for some resources/sites on ‘guided math’ and differentiating math within the general classroom. The links are organized by grade and match our curriculum’s standards, benchmarks and indicators very well. Almost every one of the links has printable lesson plans.
http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/curric/elem/mathematics.html
Another site that was given to me today by Ruth Avazian is http://illuminations.nctm.org/ If you have a computer in the classroom that has internet access (J), this site may be a good one to allow students to use if they have mastered the material being taught in the class. Setting this up as a possible center for 1-3 students would work well as there are lots of neat manipulatives, games, and activities tied into specific math standards. Also, many lesson plans are available. More e-examples can be found at http://standards.nctm.org/document/eexamples/index.htm
Additional sites (will keep adding)
Math Center Ideas
Specific Centers for 3rd Grade
Differentiating Math Ideas
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Curriculum Review Cycle OUTCOMES
Year One: Research & Design
Expected Outcome: * To understand the strengths and weaknesses of the curriculum area under study.
* To research, share and understand the latest research of the curriculum area under study.
*To map curriculum content at each grade level.
Information on the learning area would be collected and reviewed. Assessment data would be studied to determine district strengths and weaknesses by reviewing student performance. Current research resources and specialists in the curricular area would be consulted, identified, and/or discussed. Staff would be given training and/or support to work on curriculum maps for the given grade level(s) or curricular courses.
Year Two: Write & Selection
Expected Outcomes:
*To apply the research and study of current curriculum developments and trends; revisit (revise, if needed) the belief statements for the subject area.
*To write or revise program goals and identify specific grade level outcomes/essential learnings
*To recommend appropriate tools and materials and technology for adoption/purchase.
*To identify and develop necessary staff training to implement revised curriculum in the classroom.
The curriculum team would be responsible for updating, editing and revising district standards, benchmarks and indicators. Completed curriculum maps would be used and cross referenced in this process. The update and selection process is considered interactive with committee members sharing information regularly with colleagues throughout the school community.
Year Three: Implementation
Expected Outcome:
* To successfully incorporate the updated outcomes/materials into daily teaching and classroom practice.
The implementation year is the time during which the updated outcomes and materials are used in the classrooms. It should begin with professional development for staff to learn how to implement and assess the specific outcomes and how to use the materials.
Year Four: Evaluation
Expected Outcome:
* To collect and review assessment data in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum system.
* To write and design common assessments to analyze student progress beyond outside assessments already given.
The evaluation year’s purpose is to develop an action plan that defines what needs to be done to improve student achievement in the academic area. Staff will design grade or course level assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum across the grade level. Data will be collected on those assessments. Curriculum maps will be evaluated to help assess the effectiveness of the methods and materials implemented and to provide standards alignment.
Year Five: Adjust & Revise
Expected Outcome:
* To adjust instruction as indicated by analysis of data from evaluation year.
Curriculum maps will be adjusted to help assess the effectiveness of the methods and materials implemented and to provide standards alignment. The constant revisions within the teacher and grade level curriculum maps will aide in the revision and writing of curriculum. Data collection on district created assessments will continue.
Year Six & Seven : Monitor & Maintain
Expected Outcome:
* To continue data collection and monitoring of student achievement.
Staff will need to meet to monitor student outcomes, maintain curriculum alignment with district standards, benchmarks, and skills, and measure the impact of curriculum materials. It will be important to collect staff feedback and continue to provide professional development as needed. Curriculum maps would continue to be modified, edited and shared.
The cycle then repeats on the 8th year as the curriculum is assessed and studied again for updating.
Expected Outcome: * To understand the strengths and weaknesses of the curriculum area under study.
* To research, share and understand the latest research of the curriculum area under study.
*To map curriculum content at each grade level.
Information on the learning area would be collected and reviewed. Assessment data would be studied to determine district strengths and weaknesses by reviewing student performance. Current research resources and specialists in the curricular area would be consulted, identified, and/or discussed. Staff would be given training and/or support to work on curriculum maps for the given grade level(s) or curricular courses.
Year Two: Write & Selection
Expected Outcomes:
*To apply the research and study of current curriculum developments and trends; revisit (revise, if needed) the belief statements for the subject area.
*To write or revise program goals and identify specific grade level outcomes/essential learnings
*To recommend appropriate tools and materials and technology for adoption/purchase.
*To identify and develop necessary staff training to implement revised curriculum in the classroom.
The curriculum team would be responsible for updating, editing and revising district standards, benchmarks and indicators. Completed curriculum maps would be used and cross referenced in this process. The update and selection process is considered interactive with committee members sharing information regularly with colleagues throughout the school community.
Year Three: Implementation
Expected Outcome:
* To successfully incorporate the updated outcomes/materials into daily teaching and classroom practice.
The implementation year is the time during which the updated outcomes and materials are used in the classrooms. It should begin with professional development for staff to learn how to implement and assess the specific outcomes and how to use the materials.
Year Four: Evaluation
Expected Outcome:
* To collect and review assessment data in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum system.
* To write and design common assessments to analyze student progress beyond outside assessments already given.
The evaluation year’s purpose is to develop an action plan that defines what needs to be done to improve student achievement in the academic area. Staff will design grade or course level assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum across the grade level. Data will be collected on those assessments. Curriculum maps will be evaluated to help assess the effectiveness of the methods and materials implemented and to provide standards alignment.
Year Five: Adjust & Revise
Expected Outcome:
* To adjust instruction as indicated by analysis of data from evaluation year.
Curriculum maps will be adjusted to help assess the effectiveness of the methods and materials implemented and to provide standards alignment. The constant revisions within the teacher and grade level curriculum maps will aide in the revision and writing of curriculum. Data collection on district created assessments will continue.
Year Six & Seven : Monitor & Maintain
Expected Outcome:
* To continue data collection and monitoring of student achievement.
Staff will need to meet to monitor student outcomes, maintain curriculum alignment with district standards, benchmarks, and skills, and measure the impact of curriculum materials. It will be important to collect staff feedback and continue to provide professional development as needed. Curriculum maps would continue to be modified, edited and shared.
The cycle then repeats on the 8th year as the curriculum is assessed and studied again for updating.
Social Studies Links
U.S. Constitution: Find primary documents, stories for
children, James Madison's contributions, bios of delegates who
met in 1787 to rewrite the Articles of Confederation, essays
urging ratification of their proposal, and a 200-year
timeline. http://www.ed.gov/free/constitution/index.html
Future State is the U.S. State Department's website for youth. It offers lesson plans on terrorism, Vietnam, and the Cuban Missile Crisis and information about more than 50 international issues. "Careers Representing America," games, and "Meet the Secretary of State" are among the features. Links are provided for learning about current events, geography, and the environment.
Other great social studies sites…
U.S. History topics - http://www.free.ed.gov/subjects.cfm?subject_id=178
States & Regions - http://www.free.ed.gov/subjects.cfm?subject_id=18
World Studies - http://www.free.ed.gov/subjects.cfm?subject_id=12
The column on the left hand side has many more subtopics OR you can search for a specific topic on the top right hand side. Questions – let me know.
children, James Madison's contributions, bios of delegates who
met in 1787 to rewrite the Articles of Confederation, essays
urging ratification of their proposal, and a 200-year
timeline. http://www.ed.gov/free/constitution/index.html
Future State is the U.S. State Department's website for youth. It offers lesson plans on terrorism, Vietnam, and the Cuban Missile Crisis and information about more than 50 international issues. "Careers Representing America," games, and "Meet the Secretary of State" are among the features. Links are provided for learning about current events, geography, and the environment.
Other great social studies sites…
U.S. History topics - http://www.free.ed.gov/subjects.cfm?subject_id=178
States & Regions - http://www.free.ed.gov/subjects.cfm?subject_id=18
World Studies - http://www.free.ed.gov/subjects.cfm?subject_id=12
The column on the left hand side has many more subtopics OR you can search for a specific topic on the top right hand side. Questions – let me know.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Curriculum Review Cycle
When you are logged in at school, you may view or download a 'clean copy' of our updated curriculum cycle at: http://intranet/Curriculum
(Click below to enlarge)
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