T&L Essentials
USD #232
September 2013
The Teaching and Learning Department would like to welcome you back to the 2013-2014 school year! The goal of T&L Essentials is to keep USD 232 staff members informed on cutting edge educational trends and current information relating to curriculum.
Full Day Kindergarten is Here!
The 2013-2014 school year marks an exciting time for students in seven kindergarten classrooms who now have the opportunity to attend kindergarten all day. Each elementary school has one full-day program. These classrooms range in size from 18-22 students. Half-day programs continue to be offered in each school. Even though this program is paid for by the parents, our patrons made it clear that they were eager to have this opportunity for their children.
Sheryl Schlatter
Full-Day Kindergarten Teacher
Starside Elementary
Sabrina Casper
Full-Day Kindergarten Teacher
Clear Creek Elementary School
Kathy McBride
Full-Day Kindergarten Teacher
Mize Elementary
Next Generation Science Standards
In June, the Kansas State Board of Education adopted the Next Generation Science Standards as the Kansas College and Career Standards for Science. Kansas is the third state in the nation to formally adopt the rigorous, internationally benchmarked standards. The new standards serve as a guideline for where students should be academically from kindergarten through twelfth grade. The goal of the standards is on core understanding of science, allowing educators to engage students in science practices to explore those understandings in depth. The Kansas College and Career Standards for Science can be found on the "Staff Drive" in each grade level.
Lights! Camera! Animals! Using Windows Movie Maker to Investigate
Our own Brandi Leggett from Prairie Ridge Elementary School has been published! Her article about using Windows Movie Maker to investigate her classroom pets can be found on Reading Today Online. Check it out!
Integrating Technology and Writing for Secondary Education
The website, tenbyten.org, provides the top 100 world images that hour, ranked in order of importance, reading left to right, top to bottom.
How to use 10X10 in the classroom:
- Have the students select one of the 100 words and write a short piece of creative writing using just the word and image as inspiration.
- As part of a creative homework task, ask your students to follow the 10X10 page at the same time every day for a week. Get them to look for patterns and to investigate if there are certain themes developing.
- Display 10X10 on your whiteboard in the mornings as a starting point for discussion and focus.
Need Technology Resources?
Visit Lund Tech Integration for flipped instruction resources, Common Core material, media for all content, and a new section on integrating technology and the tools that support technology and Common Core Standards. www.tinyurl.com/techbylund
Let's take a peek into some classrooms!
Reading and Writing Nook
Audrey Moylan
Communication Arts Teacher
Mill Creek Middle School
Common Core Targets
Wendy Weeks
4th Grade Teacher
Belmont Elementary School
Writing Process Bulletin Board
Lauren Partridge
LINC Teacher
Monticello Trails Middle School
Reading Non-Fiction Text
Christine Sloan's Classroom
3rd Grade
Riverview
Blended Learning
Katie Simecka
7th Grade Math
Lexington Trails Middle School
Students Using Technology
Micah Tenner
U.S. History
De Soto High SchoolUpcoming Events:
9/25-26: Parent-Teacher Conferences
10/21: Dr. Daggett Presentation
Event Information
Dr. Daggett Presentation
Dr. William Daggett is the founder and Chariman of the International Center for Leadership in Education. He inspires educators to embrace what is best about our education system and to make necessary changes to meet the needs of all students in the 21st century.
When?
Monday, Oct 21, 2013, 08:00 AM
Where?
De Soto High School, West 91st Street, De Soto, KS
Teaching and Learning Department
USD #232
Director of Teaching and Learning
Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning
Technology Integration Coordinator
High School Curriculum Coordinator
Elementary/Middle School Curriculum Coordinator