Mascoma Curriculum Newsletter
๐ต๏ธ March 2024 ๐ต๏ธ
January Grit Presentation
Thank you to everyone for participating in great conversation about grit, in ourselves, and our students at the January early release day with Dr. Amy Lyon. If you have examples of grittiness demonstrated by your students, please email Angel Littlefield to share.
March Professional Development Day
This March the MVRSD focus on deeper learning continues at all levels. The elementary school teachers will continue their work with Gail Bourn on the transition to competency-based grading practices including the alignment of the report card.
Unified Arts teachers will delve into the BEST (Building Essential Skills Today for the Future) project with leaders from the New Hampshire Learning Initiative.
And secondary teachers will continue learning about project-based learning and performance-based assessments through the Agile Classroom process.
Paraeducators will continue their study of Inclusive Schooling (explore the site, read the text), professional reading/listening, additional videos in Mascoma CIA Google.classroom (cshmptt)
MVRHS continues its work with NEAS&C moving toward their ten-year accreditation visit. Staff at MVRHS will assess their previous recommendations from the school visiting team and create an action plan to track their growth towards meeting the NEAS&C standards.
Curriculum Google.Classrom
In an effort to curate curriculum resources, I am in the process of developing a MVRSD Curriculum google.classroom. Check out the class for professional development materials, K-8 math pacing guides, scope and sequence documents, and more. ๐ ๐ ๐
Course Code: cshmptt
Social Studies Resources & Professional Development
- Join NCSS and inquirED for "The Science of Building Knowledge" webinar series. Explore how students construct knowledge and how it plays a vital role in their success in college, their careers, and as participants in our democracy.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1 @ 3:30 PM CT
Inquiry vs. Knowledge Building: Dismantling the False DichotomyTHURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22 @ 3:30 PM CT
A Brain-Based Userโs Guide for EducatorsTHURSDAY, MARCH 21 @ 3:30 PM CT
Teaching for Knowledge TransferTHURSDAY, APRIL 18 @ 3:30 PM CT
Critical Connections: Experience, Emotion, and Knowledge BuildingTHURSDAY, MAY 9 @ 3:30 PM CT
Special Teacher Appreciation Webinar: The Power of Stories in the Classroom- Harvard Graduate School offers "How We Argue: Strategies for Disagreeing with Empathy and Evidence" online in March & April.
The call to teach and model effective ways to disagree has never been louder and more relevant. With the right tools and skills, disagreements can be productiveโeven illuminatingโfor all participants. In this course, you will learn how to lead your students and colleagues through complex disagreements using two techniques: Argument Mapping and Systematic Empathy. These methods help people clarify information, promote collaboration, and problem-solve.
How We Argue: Strategies for Disagreeing with Empathy and Evidence is designed to help you lead your students and colleagues through complex disagreements using two techniques: Argument Mapping and Systematic Empathy.
- NH CIVICS has partnered with NHED to share resources with educators via NHEDโs Canvas platform. Using the public NH Civics course on Canvas, educators can stay updated on upcoming professional development, public events, in-class programs for students, the NH Civic Learning Coalition and more.
- Keene State College, Cohen Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies: We believe that Holocaust and Genocide Education has much to contribute to civics education. Although this is difficult and traumatic material, we teach to ensure consistent engagement with the pressing questions of individual and group responsibility towards the other. By exploring values, attitudes, skills, knowledge, and critical understanding of these complex issues and forces, we enable responsible civic engagement. As we remember, we seek to prevent genocide and crimes of mass atrocity by finding points of leverage, intervention, and empowerment.
- โMoose on the Looseโ is a social studies curriculum for the State of New Hampshire. Created by the New Hampshire Historical Society, it explores the Granite Stateโs history, economics, geography, and civic life, introducing students to the stateโs rich cultural heritage. The site was designed for kids in the upper elementary grades (Grades 3-6), but much of the material is adaptable for students in other grades. "Moose on the Loose" provides many ways for kids to connect what they learn about the past to current, statewide issues. It also provides a foundation for lifelong learning about New Hampshire, America, and the democratic traditions that unite us all. So dive in and find out more about the state we all love!
- Civics Fundamentals takes the one hundred questions asked by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on the naturalization test for U.S. citizenship and explores the โWHY?โ to help the student discover their meaning and importance. We have created a two-minute video for each of the one hundred questions that can be turnkey lessons in civics education classes nationwide. Our goal is to move beyond the rote memorization of facts that dominates the current civics curriculum toward โinquiry-based instructionโ that engages learners and is becoming more prevalent in education today. This video based product is available โ at no cost to any educator or student โ via online streaming.
ELA Review and Professional Development
The MCIA group is currently reviewing the K-12 ELA curriculum, data, programs, and texts. Our work has started to take shape via our action plan. Additionally, members of the group have begun to immerse ourselves in professional development including Lexia LETRS training and a book study on Shifting the Balance.
Ann Elise Record - Math Professional Development Videos
Math Running Record videos - There is an introduction video and then one for each operation where I interview students and explain how I coded the running record. Teachers can download the recording sheets from the site www.mathrunningrecords.com for free and practice while watching the videos.
Daily Routine Videos - There are separate videos for Kinder through 4th grade. All links to the daily routines shared are on my padlet: https://tinyurl.com/RecordElementaryMath
Teachable Courses - Teachers will go to the link and click in the upper right hand side of the site where it says "All products". They will then see all the courses I currently offer on the Teachable site- Cuisenaire Rods, Problem Solving K2, Fraction Essentials, and Place Value.
Please see the Mascoma Curriculum Google.Classroom for the code.
Alma - Student Information System
- Check out the staff help guide
- Elementary Report Card Rollout Plan
- Competency Grade Documents - Elementary (DRAFT!)
โ๏ธ Frontline Professional Growth ๐
The professional development committee has been updating the five-year professional development plan for the state this winter. Changes will be shared with faculty and staff in March for approval and submission to the NHED in April. Be on the lookout for this information via email or presentation at faculty meetings presented by your building PD committee representatives.
Check with your building P.D. Representatives for individual questions.
App Vetting
๐ Important Links ๐
โBe the change you wish to see in the worldโ ~ Mahatma Gandhi
547 U.S. 4, Enfield, NH, USA 603-632-5563