Summer Splash
End-of-Year FUESD Educational Services Newsletter
Instructional Coaching (TOSA) Changes
Congratulations to the following teachers who have been selected as TOSAs to support STEM implementation at their schools for the 2016-17 school year . The initial focus will be for the TOSAs to work hand-in-hand with classroom teachers to co-plan and teach conceptual units in mathematics aligned to the FUESD instructional timeline (FUESD/IMP Units at a Glance), and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) grade level units and lessons developed by teams of FUESD teachers. The effective integration of technology, with a focus on informational literacy will also be an expectation. The TOSAs are:
Fallbrook Street: Yvette Turner
William H. Frazier: Angie Taylor
La Paloma: Stephanie Wilcox Hall
Live Oak: Christa Noetzel
Maie Ellis: Sonya Chouinard
Mary Fay Pendleton: James Masters
Potter Jr. High: Aimee Plette
San Onofre: Maria Flaherty
LCAP stakeholder feedback also indicated a continuing strong need to provide teachers and support staff with strategies to improve behavioral and academic intervention for both regular and special education students. Therefore, Sarah-Ellen James will continue as a District SPED instructional coach.
The change in focus for instructional coaching next year has resulted in some very talented site-based and District ELD TOSAs returning to the classroom at the following schools. They are:
Ann Brennan: Live Oak Elementary
Sharon Frost: William H. Frazier
BJ Hopkins: San Onofre
Andrea James: Mary Fay Pendleton
Esme Johnson: Maie Ellis
We appreciate and are grateful for the impact these very talented professional educators have made on the instructional program in FUESD. How fortunate their students will be next year!
Curriculum Council, End-of-Year Meeting
The K-8 Curriculum Council met for a full day on May 16th. Council members accomplished the following:
- Provided feedback in leveled (K-2, 3-5, 6-8) groups about the District's current summative and formative assessment programs and practices, and made recommendations for the upcoming school year.
- Participated in an introduction and overview of Illuminate, a data management system being considered as an alternative to OARS. Since the Council met, OARS has been purchased by Illuminate. A decision needs to be made to (1) move over to Illuminate effective at the start of the 2016-17 school year, or (2) remain with OARS during a one-year transition. Council members provided feedback about Illuminate at the end of the presentation, which will be used to inform that decision.
- The FUESD Educational Services Department supported five curriculum pilots during the 2015-16 school year. Piloting teachers and teacher teams shared their experiences and insights from using the curricula, and the impact the materials had on student learning. Council members completed evaluations of each curricula to indicate if the curricula should be considered for future implementation, budget permitting. The pilots shared at the meeting were: Schoolwide Writing Fundamentals (LAP Gr. 1, LOE GR. 6 and SOS GR. 3), TenMarks Math (Gr. 5, FSS), Lingual Learning (FSS), the WRITE Institute (MEE), and Ready Common Core Math (LOE, Gr. 4).
- The FUESD Educational Services Department has been conducting a comprehensive, year-long internal evaluation of the Irvine Math Project. As part of that evaluation, K-8 Council members participated in an hour-long Focus Group Interview to assess the impact of IMP professional learning on teaching and learning in the District. A summary of the evaluation will be shared with all staff upon return in August, 2016.
Grades 6-8 Math Pilot Team Makes Recommendation
- Collaboratively take a CAASPP Interim Assessment Block (IAB) on one of the major standards in a grade level unit of study
- Compare the rigor of the instructional materials in California Math with the depth of knowledge levels assessed in the IAB
- Complete an evaluation tool individually and then reach consensus as a grade level or department team
- Make a grade level recommendation
The pilot teachers recommended to adopt MH California Math. An opportunity for the public to review the materials will take place this month, with the recommendation to the Governing Board for approval at their regular meeting on June 20.
A pilot team in Grades K-5 piloted two math curricula during the 2014-15 school year, Math Expressions and Go Math, both published by Houghton Mifflin. The piloting teams chose not to recommend either program for District adoption.