FHSD Elementary Curriculum News
November 2018 (ELA, Social Studies, PE., etc.)
Important Dates
December 3-21: K-5 Reading Benchmark
December 3-21: Assessment Wall
Varies by grade level: Writing Performance Task deadline for entry into MC
January 3: Reading data ready
PE & Health
English Language Arts Curriculum
How many days are in our ELA curriculum? The units of study days breakdown can help teams design the daily pacing of the curriculum. The breakdown includes the maximum of 15 days for the FHSD units (anywhere from 10-15 days long) and days for pre/post assessments in each unit.
Reading Benchmark Copies Sign Up for Second Quarter Due by November 30th.
K-3 December Professional Development
Some K-3 teachers were invited to attend the ELA curriculum professional development in December. The teachers that were invited are those who are not participating in an ELA strand for PD the 2018-2019 school year. Those in the ELA strands will have PD around the curriculum document: how and why it was created a certain way, how to utilize it, and various resources that can support teachers through the implementation of the new curriculum.
Teachers who aren't attending an ELA strand will receive that in December. A portion of the day will center on the curriculum document, how/why it was developed in the manner that it was, and how to utilize the numerous resources within the Google Drive folder. Teachers in December will learn about efficient ways to plan for their ELA lessons, work collaboratively on third-quarter units, and have time to develop some tools for their toolkits. The day will be fast-paced and full of information to use the next day in readers and writers workshop.
Homegrown Institute for Writing Summer 2019
The staff developers from the Teachers College will be back for another four days of learning about writing this summer. The district is working with TC to determine the week for the institute. Teachers who have not attended a Homegrown Institute will have the opportunity to attend; this includes K-5, SpEd, and ESOL. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to let me know.
The English Language Arts Curriculum is available for you to add to your Google Drive. All resources have been downloaded and sorted into units and quarters. If you choose to add the Google Folder to your Google Drive, you will have instant access to all resources and assessments for ELA. If you are unsure of how to add to your Google Drive follow the directions and if you would like to know how the folder is organized another graphic is available as well.
Other relevant documents within the folder are:
- Grade level curriculum sequence
- Quarterly ELA standard checklist
- CCSS (Common Core State Standards) unwrapped
- Curriculum feedback
- ELA Inventory Information
- Priority Standards are bolded in new 2018 curriculum and on FHSD Writing Scoring Guides
Kindergarten ELA Curriculum Folder
First Grade ELA Curriculum Folder
Learning Commons Link
Kindergarten Curriculum Sequence
First Grade Curriculum Sequence
Kindergarten Information
- Should be finishing up 15 days of FHSD Units (November 16th ish): Emergent Reading: Looking Closely at Familiar Texts & Looking Closely: Observing, Labeling, and Listing Like Scientists by November 16
- Begin planning: Super Powers: Reading with Print Strategies and Sight Word Power & Writing for Readers
- Check out assessments that will take place this quarter and spend a few moments in the FHSD Writing Scoring Guide
- Relax, plan with your team, utilize your coach, and feel free to contact Carrie Hepburn with any questions.
There have been some changes in priority standards in kindergarten, be sure to spend some time looking through the document to be sure information is current.
Helpful resources for ELA implementation:
- Kindergarten ELA Curriculum
- Curriculum sequence document (ELA, SCI, SS)
- Second Quarter ELA Resources
- Kindergarten ELA Cheat Sheet
Important Assessment Information (all items except Fastbridge entered into MC)
- Fastbridge Screening (a portion of) aligns with priority standard RF.K.4
- Assessment Wall aligns with priority standards RL.K.10 & RI.K.10
- Kindergarten Reading Benchmark aligns with priority standards RL.K.1 & RI.K.1
- Kindergarten Writing Performance Task algins with priority standards W.K.5 & L.K.2 (Due Dec. 21)
- FHSD Narrative Writing Scoring Guide->look at second-quarter expectations
Note to kindergarten teachers regarding the writing assessment; the expectation is not that students spend two forty-five minute sessions on their on-demand piece if students needed the time it is available. Whatever is best for your students, whether it's ten minutes or thirty minutes is the expectation.
Social Studies
First Grade Information
- Should be finishing up Word Detectives Use All They Know to Solve Words & Writing How-to Books by November 16th
- Begin thinking about Learning about the World: Reading Nonfiction & Nonfiction Chapter Books
- Check out assessments that will take place this quarter and spend a few moments in the FHSD Writing Scoring Guide
- Relax, plan with your team, utilize your coach, and feel free to contact Carrie Hepburn with any questions.
Helpful resources for ELA implementation:
- First Grade ELA Curriculum
- Curriculum sequence document (ELA, SCI, SS)
- Second Quarter ELA Resources
- First Grade ELA Cheat Sheet
Important Assessment Information (all items except Fastbridge entered into MC)
- Fastbridge Screening (a portion of) aligns with priority standard RF.1.4
- Assessment Wall aligns with priority standards RL.1.10 & RI.1.10
- First Grade Reading Benchmark aligns with priority standards RL.1.1 & RI.1.1
- First Grade Writing Performance Task aligns with priority standards W.1.5 & L.1.2 (Due Dec. 21)
- FHSD Informational Writing Scoring Guide->look at second-quarter expectations
Social Studies
Second Grade Information
Thoughts on your curriculum:
- Should be finishing up Becoming Experts: Reading Nonfiction & How-To Guide to Nonfiction by November 16
- Begin thinking about the FHSD Studying Characters and Their Stories (15 days) & Writing Gripping Fictional Stories
- Check out assessments that will take place this quarter and spend a few moments in the FHSD Writing Scoring Guide
- Relax, plan with your team, utilize your coach, and feel free to contact Carrie Hepburn with any questions.
Helpful resources for ELA implementation:
- Second Grade ELA Curriculum
- Curriculum sequence document (ELA, SCI, SS)
- Second Quarter ELA Resources
- Second Grade ELA Cheat Sheet
Important Assessment Information (all items except Fastbridge entered into MC)
- Fastbridge Screening (a portion of) aligns with priority standard RF.2.4
- Assessment Wall aligns with priority standards RL.2.10 & RI.2.10
- Second Grade Reading Benchmark aligns with priority standards RL.2.1 & RI.2.1, and standards RL.2.2, RI.2.2, and RI.2.5.
- Second Grade Writing Performance Task aligns with priority standards W.2.5 & L.2.3 (Due Nov. 30 on How-To Guide)
- FHSD Informational Writing Scoring Guide
Social Studies
Third Grade Information
Thoughts on your curriculum:
- Should be finishing Mystery: Foundational Skills in Disguise & Changing the World: Persuasive Speeches, Petitions, and Editorials by November 30 (latest)
- Begin thinking about Reading to Learn: Grasping Main Ideas and Text Structures & The Art of Information Writing->these will spill over to third quarter completing by January 18th
- Check out assessments that will take place this quarter and spend a few moments in the FHSD Writing Scoring Guide
- Relax, plan with your team, utilize your coach, and feel free to contact Carrie Hepburn with any questions.
Helpful resources for ELA implementation:
- Third Grade ELA Curriculum
- Curriculum sequence document
- Second Quarter ELA Resources
- Third Grade ELA Cheat Sheet
Important Assessment Information (all items except Fastbridge entered into MC)
- Fastbridge Screening (a portion of) aligns with priority standard RF.3.4
- Assessment Wall aligns with priority standards RL.3.10 & RI.3.10
- Third Grade Reading Benchmark aligns with priority standards RL.3.1 & RI.3.1, and RL.3.2, RL.3.3, RI.3.2, and RI.3.8
- Third Grade Reading Formative Assessment Option
- Third Grade Writing Performance Task aligns with priority standards W.3.4 & L.3.3 (Due Nov. 30th-Opinion)
- FHSD Opinion Writing Scoring Guide
Fourth Grade Information
All curriculum resources can be found on HowellNET for the current ELA curriculum. Teachers piloting the Lucy units of study will use the curriculum to determine the sequence of science and social studies units, along with the standards to be taught in those units.
Important Assessment Information
- Fastbridge Screening
- Assessment Wall aligns with priority standards RL.4.10 & RI.4.10
- Fourth Grade Reading Benchmark aligns with priority standards RL.4.1 & RI.4.1, and RL.4.2, RL.4.3, RI.4.2, RI.4.3, RI.4.3, and RI.4.7.
- Benchmark Protocol
- Fourth Grade Writing Performance Task: Second Quarter Writing Summative is the Literary Essay (required for MC entry by Dec. 21). The assessment may look different if you are piloting Lucy) aligns with priority standards W.4.4, and L.4.1 and L.4.2.
Fifth Grade Information
All curriculum resources can be found on HowellNET for the current ELA curriculum. Teachers piloting the Lucy units of study will use the current curriculum to determine the sequence of science and social studies units, along with the standards to be taught in those units.
Important Assessment Information
- Fastbridge Screening
- Assessment Wall aligns with priority standards RL.5.10 & RI.5.10
- Fifth Grade Reading Benchmark aligns with priority standards RL.5.1 & RI.5.1, and RL.5.2, RL.5.3, RI.5.2, RI.5.6, and RI.5.7.
- Benchmark Protocol
- Fifth Grade Second Quarter Writing Summative: Argumentative Essay (end of Unit 2, required for MC entry by Dec. 21) the assessment may look different if you are piloting Lucy) aligns with priority standards W.5.4, and L.5.1 and L.5.2
Tips for Units of Study
- For pacing, schedule reading and writing celebrations first, put them on the calendar at the beginning of the year and invite others to attend
- For planning, each person on a PLC plans an upcoming lesson and rehearses it in front of the team (i.e., 1 person takes Monday's lesson, another Tuesday's lesson, etc.)
- For conferring, focus on the strategies you have been teaching the students until now; they know the language, have access to the anchor charts, and can apply it in a new text/piece
- For data, quickly Thin-Slice data (ask your coach for details) and create teaching points for each group of students
Who to follow on Twitter
Mike Ochs
TCRWP: Coauthor: Up the Ladder, Narrative, Literary Essy, and Rereading the Weather
Meghan Hargrave
TCRWP: Staff developer
Cornelius Minor
TCRWP: Staff developer, author
Classroom Environment
I found this article incredibly interesting and not surprised by the findings. The pressure to have the "cute" classroom is real. The amount of time and money spent on creating a "cute" environment is high. I hope some teachers find this article a breath of fresh air and freedom from some of that pressure.
My teaching journey in a second-grade classroom has come to an end. I will spend second quarter in a third-grade classroom at Becky-David. First quarter I learned to stop letting all of the kids talk and be ok with them sharing with a partner; I agree with many of you it's easier said than done. I've also learned to write stories about my life when I was their age; it's helped students become more engaged. This quarter I am working on conferring; using the conference cheat sheet shared with us at the Homegrown Institute. I hope using this and the learning progressions will help me become more effective in the feedback I am giving students.
I can't wait to continue my learning journey in third-grade and receive feedback to improve my effectiveness and understanding of what is taking place. It's a journey, not a destination.
~Carrie
Elementary Content Leader
Email: carrie.hepburn@fhsdschools.org
Location: 1405 Hwy D, Saint Charles, MO, United States
Phone: 636-851-6341
Twitter: @CarrieHepburn