Curriculum Connection
January 2022
Leveraging Literacy: The Gradual Release of Responsibility During the K-2 120-Minute Literacy Block
Whole Group Instruction
Teachers will implement the gradual release of responsibility (GRR) in Tier 1 whole group instruction during Foundational Skills and Comprehension lessons. If a Foundational Skills lesson does not specifically detail opportunities for students to engage in collaborative and independent practices, teachers should reserve some of the Guided Practice/Practice items to engage students in "They do" and "You do."
Small Group Instruction
The gradual release of responsibility (GRR) should also be implemented in teacher led-small group lessons. While the teacher engages students in a teacher-led small group lesson, other students engage in literacy workstations to practice applying new and/or previously taught skills. Although students complete literacy workstation tasks collaboratively (in pairs or small groups) and/or independently, literacy workstations are not considered a part of the gradual release of responsibility.
The Literacy Launch
K-2 Specialized Education Assistants
The purpose of the K-2 Specialized Education Assistants is to reduce the student: teacher ratio, increase the literacy achievement of K-2 students, and advance progress toward the Third Grade Commitment. The following documents further detail the roles and expectation of K-2 SEAs:
K-2 Specialized Education Assistants - Roles & Responsibilities PPT
K-2 Specialized Education Assistants - Daily Expectations
K-2 Specialized Education Assistants - FAQs
K-2 Specialized Education Assistants - Informal Observation Tool
Early Literacy Professional Development
January 27, 2022 @4:00-5:30
February 24, 2022 @4:00-5:30
March 24, 2022 @4:00-5:30
K-2 Specialized Education Assistant
Kindergarten
TEAMS Link: Click here to join the meeting
February 8, 2022 @1-3pm
March 8, 2022 @1-3pm
April 12, 2022 @1-3pm
1st Grade
TEAMS Link: Click here to join the meeting
February 9, 2022 @1-3pm
March 9, 2022 @1-3pm
April 13, 2022 @1-3pm
2nd Grade
TEAMS Link: Click here to join the meeting
February 10, 2022 @1-3pm
March 10, 2022 @1-3pm
April 14, 2022 @1-3pm
English/Language Arts
K-12 Math Curriculum Survey - Always Striving for The Best!
All math teachers and those who support math teachers will have an opportunity to share their evaluation of Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 Curriculum Maps beginning Friday, January 28th through Friday, February 18th using the following link: https://bit.ly/K12MathSurvey or scanning the QR code.
Teachers submitting responses by Friday, February 18th, will have their names entered into a drawing for a prize.
Revised Science Curriculum Map Template
Response to Instruction
&
Intervention
K-5 Winter Screening
The Illuminate FastBridge assessments remain available for administration beyond the January 26th window close date. The week of January 31st, Advisors will be sending RTI2 Leads the PowerBi list of students missing an assessment. The universal screener data is utilized for RTI2 purposes and reported to the state, as aligned with the Literacy Success Act.
Celebrating Student Success
Portfolio Updates
Benchmark One uploads should now be turned in for those teaching 2nd and 5th grades. Pretests and Posttests should begin for the next sample group.
ELA
Dr. Eric Williamson
Kate Bond MS
8th Grade Teacher
Classroom and Beyond:
- ELA Department Chair
- Project Graduation Instructor
As a supporter of the district's work to ensure students across Shelby County Schools receive equitable and rigorous instruction, Dr. Williamson enjoys utilizing his expertise and skillsets to develop the necessary tools for teachers and students. Additionally, he enjoys collaborating and sharing thoughts with colleagues to provide the best curricula, materials, and experiences for students.
Math
Ms. Danielle Whitley (left)
A.B. Hill ES
3rd Grade Teacher
Ms. Margaret Richardson (right)
Downtown ES
4th Grade Teacher
Both Ms. Richardson’s and Ms. Whitley’s classes showed marked improvement from CFA 1 to CFA 2. Ms. Richardson attributes the change to the relationships she has built with her students. “They do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.” She also works with her students during lunch and after school to fill in any gaps they have, so they can be successful in the classroom. Her favorite thing about teaching is to see the excitement on the face of someone who has been struggling finally understand the concept.
KUDOS to Ms. Richardson, the Downtown Skyscrapers, Ms. Whitley and the A. B. Hill Dragons for exuding high levels of success with challenging content in our classrooms.
Science
Mrs. Jessica Griffin-Daniels
A. Maceo Walker MS
6th Grade Science
Mrs. Daniels has successfully transformed her learning environment to reflect all four instructional practices with fidelity. Her students engage with the annotated PBOs daily, including board manipulatives and discourse on how their learning task aligns with the expected learning outcome. Understanding the importance of academic vocabulary, Mrs. Daniel’s students are exposed and engaged daily. Students are required to highlight key academic vocabulary and 30-30-30 word parts during tasks and assessments. She centers her students’ learning around the 5E instructional model like clockwork. Starting with a phenomenon to captivate students’ attention, her students may explore with a News ELA article, take notes via video/presentation, or conduct an investigation to participate in rotation station for student elaboration and collaboration. Her students are often challenged to create Venn Diagrams or compose a personal story that reflects how their learning is applied to their daily lives. In addition, Mrs. Daniels pays it forward by sharing her best practices with her colleagues.
RTI2
Ms. Kaitlan Manning
Ms. Teresa Spillers
Kingsbury HS
Interventionists
Prior to the semester break, students receiving RTI2 interventions engaged in the Kingsbury RTI2 Ceremony of Growth & Achievement. Students and their parents were invited to this ceremony, which highlighted overall and individual student progress within Tier II and III interventions. In fact, 75% of students receiving math intervention and 95% of students receiving reading intervention had progressed two or more grade levels. Kudos to Ms. Manning and Ms. Spillers for enhancing student efficacy and engagement through their innovative methods for celebrating student progress! Ms. Manning and Ms. Spillers are definitely 'On Target for Success'!
HPELW
Ms. Jessica King
Idlewild ES
PE Teacher
Early Literacy
Ms. Bethany Sharp
Wells Station ES
Foundational Literacy Laureate, 1st Grade Teacher
This month, The Early Literacy Team would like to highlight a phenomenal Foundational Literacy Laureate, Ms. Bethany Sharp at Wells Station Elementary School. Ms. Bethany Sharp is a model teacher as she implements the components of the K-2 Comprehensive Literacy Walkthrough tool during her ELA lesson. Ms. Sharp also incorporates the three components of the literacy block. Technology is integrated during her whole group and small group instruction while students are engaged in meaningful literacy tasks. Ms. Sharp uses a variety of methods to check for understanding such as instituting response boards, questioning students, and circulating during whole group and literacy workstations. She is consistently prepared each day and has built a caring and engaging relationship with her students. We are proud to call Ms. Bethany Sharp one of our own!
