K-2 Elementary Teacher Newsletter
January 2023
Happy New Year!
We have reached the mid-year mark! Congratulations! We hope that your holiday break was spent with family, eating delicious food, and recharging your batteries. We are eager to get your feedback in the survey below and share information across the content and programmatic areas. Cheers to an amazing second semester.
ELN Survey: We need your feedback!
English Language Arts
DIBELS:
Reminder: Data entry is due January 13th. To support you with using DIBELS data to determine instructional needs, please use the DIBELS Data Review Flow Chart. Should you have any questions, feel free to contact a member of the ELA Team and/or you school-based coach who will receive training on this in their January 9th coaching meeting.
Professional Learning Opportunity: Building Knowledge of the Elementary Florida's B.E.S.T. Standards (Asynchronous Canvas Course)
The Office for Leading and Learning is rereleasing the asynchronous B.E.S.T. Standards canvas course for educators to deepen their understanding of the Elementary ELA B.E.S.T. Standards. This redesigned course will look closely at each of the four strands of the benchmarks by supporting you with:
Understanding Florida’s B.E.S.T. ELA Standards and the Science of Reading
Building Strong Foundational Skills through the B.E.S.T. Standards
Analyzing What It Takes to Support All Students: Florida’s B.E.S.T. ELA Standards
Keys to Literacy: Florida’s B.E.S.T. ELA Standards and the Reading and Writing Connection
Participants will be awarded fourteen Read 40 points for successful completion of an 80% or higher on the assigned tasks within the course.
Register today!
Course # 4683
Course Dates: Work at your own pace through July 31, 2023. The course is now live!
*Please note: Read 40 points will only be awarded to participants who have not taken the 21-22 district or school-based asynchronous B.E.S.T. Standards courses.
SAVE THE DATE! Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities
1. The B.E.S.T. Standards: Serving All Students in Tier 1 (K-12)Join State Regional Literacy Directors for this virtual session where they provide tips and resources to meet the needs of Tier 1 students through engaging in activities and example videos with a focus on English Language Learners. You will have an opportunity to interact with other Language Arts educators while practicing hands on accessible strategies that align to the B.E.S.T. ELA Standards which will allow you to take back and implement in your classroom.
Save the Date: Wednesday, February 1st 4:30-6:30 PM
Registration will be available soon.
*Participants will be awarded two Read 40 points for complete attendance.
2. B.E.S.T. Standards: Comparative Reading in the ELA Classroom (K-5)
Have you noticed Comparative Reading is an area of weakness for your students and need resources for students to practice strengthening their skillset in this benchmark? Join State Regional Literacy Directors for this virtual session where they take an in-depth review of the ELA B.E.S.T. Standards, Comparative Reading Benchmark, and provide application strategies for creating benchmark-aligned tasks that will meet the rigor of the benchmark.
Save the Date: February 2023 4:30-6:30 PM
More information to come.
*Participants will be awarded two Read 40 points for complete attendance.
Lexia Core5 Updates and Enhancements
For Core5 Students
- We updated a selection of key words and images used to introduce letter sounds (e.g., /e/, "edge").
- We added alternative text for images used in multiple choice questions and clickable keyword photos in comprehension passages.
For Core5 Educators
- Resources Hub Updates:
- Decodable Readers are now available in print-friendlier, blackline format.
- The Home Use Letter is now available in Polish, Russian, and Ukrainian.
Classroom Library Workgroup Interest Call
Happy New Year!
We have an exciting opportunity to refresh elementary classroom library collections!
HB1467 was recently amended to include K-5 classroom libraries as part of the library media center collection. What this means is that all books in classroom libraries that are accessible to students must be selected and approved by a certified Library Media Specialist, and searchable by parents. In order to comply with this legislation, the district is planning to provide brand new libraries for each K-5 teacher for the 2023-2024 school year!
The District Library Media Specialists are forming a Classroom Library Workgroup to accomplish this process. We are looking for individuals (classroom teachers, RMAs, administrators, coaches, etc.) to assist us in building strong elementary classroom libraries. This Workgroup will collaboratively develop a common set of titles for each grade level that are aligned to standards and benchmarks, cultivate the curiosity and interest of students and support the development of literacy in all students.
If you are interested in participating, please complete the application and submit no later than January 13, 2023. Thank you!
Mathematics
50/50 Classroom Video
We have received a number of requests to see the 50/50 model in action in a classroom. A big thank you to Monica Woods, 3rd grade teacher, who graciously had a lesson recorded to be shared with others in the district. You can access the video here, on ELN under the Zearn Cheat Sheet, and on the PD hub.
Upcoming Math Professional Development
The elementary math team is excited to announce another professional development opportunity for teachers. We will be focusing on Fluency in the B.E.S.T. Standards for Mathematics. We highly encourage everyone to attend. Participants will receive a stipend and 2 in-service points per session attended. Please sign up in myPGS.
- Fluency in the B.E.S.T. Standards for Mathematics
- February 8, 2023 - 6:00-8:00 PM
- District Office - Building 2 Oak
- Course #4595 Section #33269
PMP
PMP Academic Monitoring Monthly Progress Letters are scheduled to be posted to the letter queue on Wednesday, January 11th. You will have until January 6th to update student progress if the student’s status has changed. You will want to make sure there are no blank fields in the intervention plan because they will be blank on the letters. Letters should be sent home and letter logged on January 13th, to keep the cadence of the distribution of report cards.
Please reference the chart on page 7 of the Academic Monitoring in myStudent.docx for the remaining dates and the directions for this process. If you have any questions, contact Courtney Lough or Larry Porter.
Science
Grade 2 SFC Q3 Update
Grade 2 teachers can access their Q3 MyLearning Modules by clicking on Commons in the left hand navigation in MyLearning. Once in MyLearning Commons, search for' Lesley Kirkley' to quickly find the Grade 2 SFC Q3 module to import into your course. This update runs through the first few weeks of Q4. The final update will be published in February. We appreciate your feedback, cheerleading and patience as we complete the final full K-5 MyLearning Science course.
EOU's
Grade 2 now has access to End of Unit assessments in MyProgress. These assessments are standards aligned and provide quick instructional feedback for teachers at the end of each unit. Assessments can be printed and scanned into the copier for quick scoring or taken online through MyProgress. The EOUs will be released following the scope and sequence for grade 2.
HELP NEEDED!!
We cannot wait to welcome District Finalists to the 2023 Science and Engineering Showcase on January 28th at CCMS. Our youngest student scientists and engineers are always excited to share their journey of research, design and testing with our judging teams. This year we expect over 400 student projects!!! WE NEED YOUR HELP to make the day a success. Please consider volunteering as a judge from 12-4pm. It is a rewarding experience to celebrate each students success. As educators, we are uniquely equipped to help students share their journey even when nerves can be overwhelming for our youngest students. Our hope is to have an educator in each judging team. It is an amazing experience that can spark ideas for your own classroom in years to come. If you are interested in judging or have a family member who may be interested, please register at
Star Lab and Turtle Trunks
We hosted school-based coaches for a StarLab and Turtle Trunk training this Fall. The new digital Starlabs are making their debut in schools across the county. You can access the StarLab resources at https://pasco.instructure.com/courses/438953 and the Turtle Trunk resources at Traveling Turtles.
Mystery Science
Title I elementary schools should now have access to Mystery Science on their Discovery Education dashboard. Title I was able to provide funding for this service for our Title I schools.
Social Studies
Happy New Year! Welcome to the second semester and another opportunity to engage students with content that connects them to their community and beyond! I hope you had a wonderful and relaxing holiday break with friends and family and feel rejuvenated to move mountains in this semester.
Please note the below dates include curriculum that are part of the required instruction mandates.
January 16th - Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday - No School
January 27th - International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Resources to help you support instruction for these days may be found in our instructional mandates page and in our January instructional mandates calendar with linkable images/resources.
DBQ Tip & Strategies: Stations
Why Stations?
In document stations, small groups of students move from station to station to read, analyze, and interpret a document from a Mini-Q or DBQ. Groups of students spend a set amount of time at each station interacting with a document and either discussing a set of questions/tasks or engaging in a reflective activity. Document stations provide opportunities for students to dig deep into a document and discuss interpretations with their peers. Stations provide teachers with opportunities for blended learning and by using the document as a jumping-off point for extended learning.
Upcoming Professional Development
Our December session was cancelled, but we will be picking up where we left off in our February session - please consider joining for the learning.
Section #32614 | Day 2/3 of Uplifting Required Instruction with the DBQ Project Grades K-8
Section Dates: Saturday, February 11 - 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM.
Course #: 4559 Uplifting Required Instruction with the DBQ Project Grades K-8
Lunch & Stipends will be provided
Just in Time Learning
Monthly ERD Screen Recordings- Just in time learning
We know that ERD is no longer in place this semester, however, we still have some great just-in-time learning opportunities that we want to continue to highlight.
The learning can be found here. Each month there will be a benchmark lesson to deepen content knowledge and highlight upcoming standards, resources, etc. The content will connect to the work of the PLC and we will provide a protocol aligned with the MTSS guidebook and teacher team actions. The PLC lead will guide the work of the PLC with the tools provided for each session.
Academic Tutor PD Day
Assistant Principal Candidate – Application Open
We are excited to announce that the process to become an Approved Assistant Principal Candidate will open soon. Applicants must be approved as candidates in Pasco County Schools to be considered for assistant principal vacancies.
To learn more about our Internal Candidate Selection Process, visit the following link.
The application window will be from January 2, 2023 to January 13, 2023. Find the job ad on Talent Ed. All required documentation must be submitted before the job ad closes to be considered during the application window.
If interested, join us for a virtual information session on January 5th from 4:30pm – 5:30pm. We will review eligibility requirements, share ways to prepare for the process and give a brief overview of the process. RSVP here.
Compassionate Classrooms- First 20 Days Back
Grand Canyon University – MS in Mathematics - Special cohort January start:
I’m excited to help you as your Tampa Bay based Grand Canyon University counselor supporting you all the way to graduation as you take each class 100% online. Remember you can e-mail/call/text me at 813-459-7684 directly if you have any questions.
The attached schedule (cost estimate will be provided with interest) reflects a special cohort start on Thursday, January 26, 2023. Reply to this email or visit; http://www.gcu.edu/pascok12 to schedule an appointment to review the program and next steps. When we connect I will help and answer any questions about the program, my local role, Grand Canyon University, then with your continued interest, I can guide you thru the application and tuition reimbursement process. I am excited to help you with next steps in your education. Remember that this program qualifies for a 18-25% tuition savings discount/scholarship from GCU and with financial aid in place there is no out of pocket cost.
A Master of Science in Mathematics with an Emphasis in Education degree from Grand Canyon University (GCU) allows individuals with a background in math to find work in a meaningful education career. Master’s in math education program graduates will be prepared to teach undergraduate math courses at two or four-year institutions. They will also be qualified to teach in online environments. A deeper understanding of mathematics is one goal of the GCU master's in math education program. A second goal is to learn teaching and classroom techniques to help them become undergraduate math teachers. Theoretical and practical applications of both mathematics and instruction are at the heart of this degree program. Students with a math background who enroll in GCU’s Master of Science in Mathematics with an Emphasis in Education degree program will become highly qualified instructors who can fill these openings at postsecondary institutions. The students who will fill STEM careers have to start their professional training somewhere. Math is a requirement not only for STEM students, but for all college students. This means the need for math teachers will likely never diminish. Completing a master’s degree in math education is a great option for those looking for job security. This degree is offered in the evening at GCU’s main campus and starting Thursday, January 26 will be available via a special online cohort*. This allows for working families and individuals with full schedules to advance their education. Students will have an on-campus experience while still maintaining the flexibility that evening classes provide.
Admissions into this program at GCU requires a few prerequisites. You’ll need:
- A bachelor’s degree in mathematics or mathematics education; or
- At least 24 undergraduate credits in math with a level of Calculus 2
- Math knowledge and teaching skills make up the core focuses in the master's in math education degree program at GCU. Postsecondary level math teachers will learn how to navigate preparing for and teaching the coursework, as well as how to thrive in a university teaching landscape.
The master's in mathematics education degree program includes study of the following topics:
- Algebra
- Mathematical modeling
- Technology as a practical application
- Adult learning theory
- Distance learning methods
- Statistical inference
- Instructional design
- Communication in postsecondary environments
Master’s in math education degree graduates from GCU are prepared to teach mathematics at the postsecondary level. They may find work at: Universities or colleges, Local or two-year colleges, Vocational schools, or Educational research/publishing companies. Your own math background can bring life-changing instruction to future STEM students and leave a lasting impact on our world. Join us in the Master of Science in Mathematics with an Emphasis in Education degree program at GCU. Visit the links for program course descriptions and program details; https://www.gcu.edu/degree-programs/master-science-mathematics-education
*PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A SPECIAL ONLINE COHORT FOR INDIVIDUALS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND ON THE EASTERN TIME ZOME. A SPECIAL ONLINE OFFERING VIA A COHORT WILL START ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2023. THERE WILL BE A WEEKLY LIVE IN-PERSON VIRTUAL SESSION TUESDAY EVENING FROM 6:00PM TO 10:00PM EST. THE GENERAL IDEA IS THAT THESE SESSIONS WILL BE VITAL TOWARDS BECOMING HIGHLY QUALIFIED INSTRUCTORS.
Contact Information
If you have any questions or need any assistance please do not hesitate to reach out to any of us on the elementary team.
- ELA K-5: Roshonda Royster - rroyster@pasco.k12.fl.us
- Mathematics PK-6: Sarah Svendsen - ssvendse@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
- World Languages K-12: Alexia Martinez - ajmartin@pasco.k12.fl.us
- PE & Health: Matt Wicks - mwicks@pasco.k12.fl.us
- Supervisor of Intervention Sevices: Larry Porter- laporter@pasco.k12.fl.us
- Academic and Social Behavior Coordinator: Deedra Mitchell - dcopelan@pasco.k12.fl.us
- Program Coordinator Academic Tutoring: Sarah Dufrense- sdufresn@pasco.k12.fl.us
- Reading Prof. Dev. & Learning: Danielle Varcardipone - dvarcard@pasco.k12.fl.us
- K-12 Literacy Intervention: Courtney Lough - clough@pasco.k12.fl.us
- Instructional Coaching: Jeremy Blair - jdblair@pasco.k12.fl.us