K-2 Elementary Teacher Newsletter
September 2021
English Language Arts
Peek into the Modules
Kindergarten: Students will wrap up module 2 and launch into module 3 where students will answer the Essential Question, “What makes a community?” In this module, students will see there are many everyday heroes in our communities, from teachers and mail carriers to mechanics and artists. Children will see that we accomplish more together, and that they don’t need to wait to contribute.
First Grade: Students will wrap up module 3 and launch into module 4 where students will answer the Essential Question, “Why is it important to do my best and get along with others?” In this module, students are building knowledge about relationships as they learn about getting along, being a good sport, importance of playing fairly and persevering when things get challenging.
Second Grade: Students will wrap up module 3 and launch into module 4 where students will answer the Essential Question, “What lessons can we learn from the characters in the story?” In this module, students are building knowledge about the unique qualities of characters who, like humans, have made mistakes and learned from their mistakes. Students will learn valuable lessons from the actions of these characters.
Assessment Update:
Here are the assessment windows for this month's module assessments:
Kindergarten:
Module 2 Assessment Window: Oct. 6th through Oct. 14th
Grades 1-2:
Module 3 Assessment Window: Oct. 6th through October 14th
The testing windows for the remaining Kindergarten and Grades 1-2 module assessments can be found here and will be reflected in the ELN. IMPORTANT NOTE: Some questions on the Module Assessments may have been designed for students to practice matching responses to correct answers. This feature is not available in myProgress so those questions must be omitted. ARM will provide edited Module Assessments and updated answer sheets when this occurs. To prevent any errors in test copies and scantrons, please do not print module assessments prior to the printing window included in the above referenced document and the release of the Module Assessment Administration Guide.
Please Note: The Module Assessment may be given in sections. For example, on Day 14 of the Writing Workshop, students respond to the Reading Performance Task; on Day 15, students take the reading section of the Module Assessment during the Foundational Skills and Comprehension/Vocabulary components of the Literacy Block; and on Day 15 of the Writing Workshop, students take the remaining section of the Module Assessment.
DIBELS Data System (DDS) Information
The DIBELS Data System (DDS) is now setup and ready for teachers, administrators, and other instructional staff!
The DDS is where you will enter student DIBELS data and access student, class, and school-level reports.
Please review this important information to make sure you are successful in utilizing this system.
- Users, Classes, and Students have been loaded and are accurate as of 9/20/21. Student and staff changes will be updated frequently, but it is NOT updated instantly in the DIBELS Data System. In other words, if a student moves to your school tomorrow, it will take a bit for the DDS to update to reflect this new student.
- Admin, Teachers, and other staff need to activate their DIBELS accounts by visiting https://dibels.amplify.com/
Username and password Information are located in this folder
- A quick guide on how to enter in DIBELS benchmark data into the DDS is also in the above folder.
- You should see a DIBELS App pushed out to myPascoConnect dashboards very soon that links to the DIBELS Amplify website, however you will need to access the above folder for login credentials.
- If you have questions about log-in information, users, your class, or students, please contact Larry Porter at laporter@pasco.k12.fl.us.
- Guidance for DIBELS reports and interpretation are coming soon!
PD Opportunity: Differentiated Instruction with HMH Into Reading
Join us as we explore the literacy centers option in HMH Into Reading and discuss the alignment to the Science of Reading. Participants will deepen their understanding of what the Differentiated Instruction component of the Elementary Literacy Framework will look/sound like and the instructional materials to use. Participants will also learn about the scaffold and enrichment opportunities found within the HMH Into Reading resource to address the needs of all learners.
Join us Monday, 10/18/21 from 2:00-4:00 PM. Search course number 4206, Section 30724.
Please Note: This is Teacher Planning day.
OR
Join us Wednesday, 10/20/21 from 5:00-7:00 PM. Search course number 4206, Section 30725.
Resource Tip
The student myBook are consumable books that include the texts and tasks students are using during instruction. Students should be writing in the myBook daily. In addition to the margins, allow students to record their thinking on the page and annotate the text.
Mathematics
Zearn: New Feature for 2021-2022
We are excited to share a new bookmarking feature available through Zearn. This new feature allows teachers to assign purposeful, just-in-time interventions for students in addition to Zearn lessons aligned to Core grade-level instruction. Click here to learn more about how to bookmark recommended foundational lessons for students in need of Tier 3 intervention.
PMP News
As you and your school teams are analyzing BOY assessment data, reviewing current PMP status and making any updates to individual students in need of Tier 3 interventions in ELA (Reading and Writing) and/or Math, please ensure PMP status is updated in myStudent on the PMP/Interventions tab by September 21. Click here to access the Elementary School step by step user guide that will walk you through the process of giving a student a PMP and developing a progress monitoring plan.
Just a reminder that on the Elementary Learning Network, at the bottom of the page, under the Module Progress/Evaluating Learning tab is more information regarding PMP’s. Both Math and ELA pages include a Timeline of Events by Module, MTSS Tier 3 Decision Guides and Resource Maps, PMP (Tier 3) Timeline of Events for the Year and PMP User Guide.
Science
Science is Our Superpower
The 2022 Pasco Science and Engineering Showcase launches on October 4th. We are excited to announce a launch week focusing on this year’s theme of ‘Science is Our Superpower’. Each day of the week highlights different #ScienceSuperheroes to expose students to scientists and engineers from diverse backgrounds. Digital posters are available to share the work of these superheroes in the Showcase Resource folder and the Showcase MyLearning course for grades 3-5. Friday October 8th is designed to be a science dress-up day with students getting to share their “Favorite Science Superhero”. See the image above for details on each day of the week.
Save the Date- Science Academy
We had a successful launch of the 2021-2022 Science Academy evenings in September. Thank you to those who were able to attend and engage in growing our thinking around hands-on exploration in Science. If you were unable to attend, you can access the resources and recording HERE.
· November 10th (3-5)
· November 17th (2nd)
· February 9th (3-5)
· March 9th (K-2)
Q2 Kindergarten and 1st grade- Additional SFC Content
Additional content will be available to upload into your Kindergarten and first grade student facing courses for Q2. Directions on how to access and upload that content into your course was emailed to you on October 4th. The email included a short video walking you through the steps to import the new lessons.
Mystery Science-
You now have access to Mystery Science on your Discovery Education dashboard. DE purchased Mystery Science and has given us free access for the 2021-2022 school year. If you open DE using the app on MPC and scroll about half way down your DE dashboard, you will see Mystery Science located under ‘curriculum packs’. You can access this document as a tool to identify Mystery Science activities aligned to your grade level Science standards.
Social Studies
WELCOME TO THE TEAM
Our Social Studies team is growing because the passion for engaging students in Social Studies content has grown. Over the past five years our elementary schools have engaged in deep content work with DBQs and required instruction. To maintain the demand for support, Erika and I are excited to welcome Lyndsay Barrow as the K-8, Social Studies curriculum specialist to our team. Lyndsay has a wide range of experience in education and is coming to us from SSMS where she currently serves as an LDC, and prior to that was a social studies lead teacher at BPMS.
SEPTEMBER IS AMERICAN FOUNDER'S MONTH
September (American Founders’ Month) is an important month for Social Studies instruction and one of the busiest for instructional statutes. Instructional statutes are required instruction in addition to standards aligned instruction. Please make sure that you are documenting within your lesson plans how you are embedding and meeting the instructional statutes. Below you will find a list of important dates linked to resources within our learning networks and within the MyLearning Canvas courses. As the FLDOE updates resources those will be included as well within our instructional mandates page. Also continuing this year within the LN Mandates Pages is a hyperlinked calendar with ideas and resources for the month. Please acknowledge these dates with students and within your classrooms with intentionality with students. The instruction does not need to take a whole class period; bell work; ticket out the door; Canvas discussion post are all options to be able to meet the instructional statutes.
- American Founders Month-September
- Hispanic Heritage Month September 15th – October 15th
- Constitution Day-September 17th
- Freedom Week-September 21st-25th
As each of your campuses celebrate the month with great lessons and activities, please take pictures and share them out with us via email or social media with the #PascoHonorsFoundersMonth. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions. We are eager to see the great lessons in all our classes and are looking to highlight the great shares with the superintendent staff.
For Teachers with Academic Tutors
Compassionate Schools
We’re excited to share a series of 5 essential classroom PBIS practices that are immediately applicable for teachers. This month we’re focusing on “Maximizing Structures” in our classrooms through a Trauma Informed-Care Lens. When students understand the structures and how things work, they’re more likely to be successful. Structures help make the classroom feel safe, consistent, and predictable. We’re also excited to share this video that helps give strategies for organizing your classroom space.
If you’d like to dive deeper feel free to explore this PBIS Classroom website that shares a variety of resources on how to strengthen your teaching practices!
Feel free to reach out to us if we can help you!
Susanna Haberle, PBIS Program Coordinator
Lesley Wilson, SEL Program Coordinator
Instructional Coaching Corner
St. Leo University
Pasco County Schools The opportunity is here to advance your career, enhance your skills and effectiveness with an advanced education degree from Saint Leo University. Online and face-to-face cohorts are forming now; offering a dynamic, collaborative, and supportive learning environment. Saint Leo University's graduate education programs prepare educators to become master teachers, instructional coaches, team leaders, principals, administrators, and more! We offer an extensive list of advanced degree options to help you grow both personally and professionally. Your career goal has never been more attainable - fewer courses, lower program costs, more accessible classes and many financial aid options to earn your degree at Saint Leo. EdD: School Leadership Med: Exceptional Student Education MS: Instructional Design BA: Elementary Education BA: Middle Grades Education BA: Educational Studies - Early Childhood Development The Virtual Information Session will include information about our graduate education degree programs, financial aid, class schedules, and the application process. Register now to get more information, and learn what Saint Leo has to offer you! Saint Leo University is a nationally recognized leader in higher education with graduate programs designed to meet the needs of working adults. Our small class sizes, high-quality curriculum, and dedicated faculty provide a superior learning environment.
Advanced Degrees in Education Information Session
Thursday, October 7, 7:00 - 08:30 PM ET
EdS: Educational Leadership
MEd: Educational Leadership
MEd: Instructional Leadership
MEd: Reading
For more information or special accommodations, please contact Traci Dougherty at traci.dougherty@saintleo.edu.
Saint Leo University
Center for Online Learning
800.707.8846
grad.col@saintleo.edu
www.saintleo.edu
Facilitator Training
Beginning in October, the Office for Leading and Learning will be hosting 2 PLC Facilitator sessions. Click here for additional information.
Elementary Team Contact Information
- ELA K-5: Roshonda Royster - rroyster@pasco.k12.fl.us
- Mathematics PK-6: Tracy Miller – tamiller@pasco.k12.fl.us
- Science K-8: Lesley Kirkley – lwade@pasco.k12.fl.us
- Social Studies K-12: Tina Stavrou-Klem - astavrou@pasco.k12.fl.us
- Art & Music: Tom Viking – tviking@pasco.k12.fl.us
- PE & Health: Matt Wicks – mwicks@pasco.k12.fl.us
- SEL: Lesley Wilson - lrwilson@pasco.k12.fl.us
- Reading Prof. Dev. & Learning: dvarcard@pasco.k12.fl.us
- K-12 Literacy Intervention: clough@pasco.k12.fl.us
- K-12 Mathematics Intervention: janderto@pasco.k12.fl.us
- Instructional Coaching: jdblair@pasco.k12.fl.us