K-6 Curriculum Update
December 2017
Professional Development Opportunity for 90 Minute Reading Block
I am creating an optional once per month (4 total meetings) PD plan that will start in January. The PD will be 90 minutes each and will be paid. The PD will roll out each of the components of a reading block framework per meeting. You would then implement and refine that one piece for the next four weeks with input and feedback from your principal.
If you agree to participate in this group you will agree in principle to attend each of the PD meetings and implement the plan that is presented.
The reading block framework, focused on teachers in grades 2-6, will include four components:
- Fluency Instruction
- Standards-based instruction
- Guided Reading
- Academic Vocabulary/ Word Work
The PD meetings will begin at 4:15 and will meet at the Education Center in the community room (big room up front) on the following dates:
- January 17
- February 21
- March 19
- April 30
To sign up complete this Form.
CCS Data Dashboards - Please watch the video above
The CCS Strategic Plan states, "The CCS Board of Education Covenant requires that we develop a comprehensive data collection process that answers the question, “How well are we doing?” and that data should be collected and analyzed on individual student progress, school progress, and district progress (Covenant, p. 8). In response, CCS has created a district scorecard and is in the process of creating multiple, aligned dashboards for academic and support areas. These tools are intended to help the various levels of the system, as well as all employee and student groups, focus on the most important performance indicators—those results that we will strive to continuously improve until we reach our goal of becoming the highest performing school corporation in Indiana. An aligned series of dashboards will drive regular team reviews of performance data to identify excellent programs and approaches while spotlighting needed improvement (Figure 4). The development of these tools demonstrates that we are living the following leadership value: “We use data to drive instructional practices and monitor program effectiveness” (see Covenant, p. 8)."
To meet this mandate a diverse team of Concord educators has met on multiple occasions to produce the following list of Key Performance Indicators. These are the critical first step in developing data dashboards. I need your input regarding these Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Please review the complete list linked below and provide your feedback on the Google Form.
Please note that Key Performance Indicators are only one part of the complete "Data Dashboard". An example dashboard can be found in the CCS Strategic Plan on page 17. Once KPIs are established work will begin on deciding which "Leading Measure" (assessment tool) we will use to measure progress on each respective KPI. For example, several grade levels have reading fluency as a key performance indicator. This raises the question, "What will we use to measure reading fluency?" This work will occur in the second half of this school year. In addition we will finalize the frequency with which we expect each KPI to be measured.
Once you have reviewed the Key Performance Indicators please complete this quick survey to share your feedback.
Assessment Update from Dr. Charity Flores
Book Study - Overcoming Dyslexia
The book, while focusing on Dyslexia, is also an incredible resources when it comes to understanding how reading happens in the brain and contains must-have information for any teacher of reading.
I would encourage any primary teacher, special education teacher, ESL teacher, reading interventionist, reading support paraprofessional or intermediate grade teacher that has struggling readers to join this book study.
Our first meeting will be Wednesday, January 24th at 6:00 pm in the Education Center Community Room. You can plan on that gathering lasting no longer than an hour.
Interested individuals should complete this Form and order the book (I will not be able to reimburse your purchase of the book).
***Compensation will not be provided for participation in the book study.***