Curriculum Directors May Newsletter
May 2015
Finishing Strong as Opposed to Just Finishing...
Ask your principals what they will do to finish the year strong:
- How will they finish strong with their teachers?
- How will they finish strong with their parents?
- How will they finish strong with their students?
MTSS Practical Strategies for Secondary
Countywide New Teacher Network
- End of September
- End of January
- End of March
Sign-up on clipboard if you want to help be apart of the planning team! We will meet in early June! Thank you!
Leadership Learning Opportunities for Your Administrators
June 24th: Building our Capacity for Leadership...
We hope that this last session will be a good wrap out to the series this year.
SAT A-PALOOZA!
Dates: June 16, 2015
Time: 8:00 -11:30 a.m.; 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Location: E.L. Davis Education Center
Presenter: College Board Representatives
Cost: None
College Board Representatives will conduct a morning session providing an overview of the SAT, resources, scoring, and other information. The afternoon session will focus on the PSAT. Participants have the option of attending just the morning session, or the full day.
Of interest to: Administrators responsible for curriculum and instruction, MS/HS Principals, Counselors, & Lead Teachers.
Click here to register
Leadership Resources
Check out the ISLLC 2015 Draft of Model Policy Standards for Educational Leaders
A Framework for Coherence: CCR, MTSS, and Educator Effectiveness
Looking for Innovative Scheduling Ideas? See how digital learning and rotations support PLC time
300 Words or Less: When Working Harder Doesn't Work
The Principal's Role in Supporting Educator Collaboration
Three Key Policy Changes to Support Student-Centered Learning
Committee/Project Updates:
1. Virtual Summer School is ready to go! Currently Flushing, Fenton, LakeVille, Linden, GISD and Davison are all participating in whole or in part with the countywide VSS program. Statewide efforts are also being planned.
2. Math Best Practices Takes Off! After Linda Funsch presented during the March Superintendent's Curriculum Committee of the Whole, she was contacted by several school districts asking for assistance with their school improvement plans, PLC plans or math initiatives!! HOORAY!! HOORAY!!
Best Practice: School Improvement Plans that incorporate a Math Best Practice Strategy. Good for you! Good for students!
3. Elementary Principals' Committee Grows! Our Elementary Principals Committee has been growing every year. We are now up to about 25 active members. We meet the third Friday of the month from 7:30-9:00 a.m.
4. Middle School Principals' Committee is Small but Powerful! Our Middle School Principal's Group is active and engaged. We have about 15 regular members and continue to have increased attendance as a goal. We meet the second Friday of the month from 7:30-9:00 a.m.
5. High School Principals is Large and Changing. Our High School Principals group has probably experienced the most turn over of all of the groups. We have approximately 25 active members including many of the alternative education principals attending as well. We meet the first Friday of the month from 7:30-9:00 a.m.
6. Genesee County Instructional Technology Committee (GCITC) Begins! The newly formed GCITC has completed its third meeting to bring together curriculum and technology initiatives and leverage opportunities across Genesee County. Great Job!
7. Kettering Spring Class Pilot. This spring we offered a Kettering 3 credit, Introduction to Engineering, course for a much reduced price to grades 10, 11 and 12. The Pilot is going well, and if there is agreement, we will be coordinating the same course for next spring. We will work earlier with your HS counselors to make this great opportunity known to students who are interested.
8. A Newly Revised Michigan Merit Curriculum Booklet is Going to the Printers. Have you wondered where the little booklet is that explains the requirements for Graduation? Your schools will be able to order and receive a revised booklet for distribution this fall.
9. PSAT Coordinated Purchasing. Education and Learning will work with your principals to order PSAT materials when the purchasing can be done. Stay tuned for more information. Thanks!
10. Alternative Educators Plan to Collaborate! Our Alternative Educators would like to begin planning for a chance to network, discuss, and share a couple of times during the year. Stay tuned for a survey coming out and planning with this group to follow.
MDE Updates:
Science
Adoption of the NGSS is delayed until Fall 2015. In the meantime, James Emmerling will continue to work with district science leaders and provide PD related to effective practices.
Social Studies
In January, MDE was presented with an overview of the updates being made to the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework with Social Studies Standards. This presentation was shared at an MDE Committee of the Whole Meeting in March 2015 to address assessment considerations with regard to social studies content and practices.
Funding Opportunities MDE has compiled a list of links to sites that fund educational and youth-related activities.
Kindergarten Assessment
Kindergarten Entry Assessment (KEA) is continuing for a third year. The KEA is using the Teaching Strategies Gold (TS Gold) tool. It is an observational tool where teachers observe what children are doing within the classroom, take notes on what they see, and enter the information into TS Gold. TS Gold then indicates the child’s level of competency on the observed objective and can also suggest interventions for those behind.
In the summer, kindergarten teachers can attend a two-day training to learn about kindergarten standards and the tool (TS Gold). They will receive a stipend for attending the session, can apply for SCECHs, and also must complete reliability modules prior to administering the assessment in the fall. Districts involved must commit to administering the KEA, but do not need to have all kindergarten teachers involved. The tool is free for this coming year and is not mandatory.
If you have questions about the new observation tool, please contact Mary Howell at 591-4487.
Assessment Links and Updates
M-Step
School Improvement/Program Evaluation Technical Assistance Support
Monday, May 29, 9:00 a.m.--4:00 p.m. Room C&D
Friday, June 19, 9:00 a.m.--4:00 p.m. Room 101
Friday, June 26, 9:00 a.m.--4:00 p.m. Room C&D
TECHNOLOGY PLAN:
NOT REQUIRED BUT IS NOW INCLUDED IN THE SCHOOL GOALS SECTION UNDER SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT.
School Improvement Meets Professional Learning...
Remember, our consultants are available for onsite customized sessions!
Education and Learning
Email: mbehm@geneseeisd.org
Website: www.geneseeisd.org
Location: 2413 W Maple Ave, Flint, MI, United States
Phone: 8105914408