Curriculum and Assessment Updates
March 2022
Educator Spotlight - A "fake" Mathematics teacher bringing Real Math Engagement
Steve Stebbins, who graduated as Valedictorian from Mascoma High School in 1990, modestly describes himself as a "fake" math teacher because his pathway into the classroom took a few twists and turns. After graduation from MVRHS, he then earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Education from Rivier College in 1994 and later received a state alternative certification to teach math, grades 7-12, in 1998.
He taught middle school math in Andover, NH for 9 years and then returned to his alma mater Mascoma High School in 2005 where he has continued to teach math since. When he is not teaching, he spends his time coaching soccer and wrestling. Additionally, he coached basketball for 20 years. He also enjoys watching a variety of sports, lifting weights, running his DJ business and spending time with his family of three boys Spencer, Cameron, Griffin and his wife Regan.
When asked about the mathematics teaching techniques he most recommends to his colleagues, he speaks passionately about Prime Factorization.
When Are Factors And GCF Introduced?
Common Core
In the US Common Core standards, factors are explicitly mentioned at two levels. The 4th grade common core 4.OA standard 4 requires students to be able to:
Gain familiarity with factors and multiples.
4. Find all factor pairs for a whole number in the range 1–100. Recognize
that a whole number is a multiple of each of its factors. Determine
whether a given whole number in the range 1–100 is a multiple of a
given one-digit number. Determine whether a given whole number in
the range 1–100 is prime or composite.
The 6th grade common core 6.NS standard 4 requires students to be able to:
Compute fluently with multi-digit numbers and find common factors and multiples.
4. Find the greatest common factor of two whole numbers less than or
equal to 100 and the least common multiple of two whole numbers
less than or equal to 12. Use the distributive property to express a
sum of two whole numbers 1–100 with a common factor as a multiple
of a sum of two whole numbers with no common factor. For example,
express 36 + 8 as 4 (9 + 2).
February and March Curriculum Meetings
February meeting dates for K-4 core classes and March meetings dates for 5-12 and K-12 UA. A calendar invite with a Google.Meet, as well as a list of curriculum meeting dates, will be sent.
All teams will review of Scope and Sequence documents; elementary core classes will focus on math, everyone else will look at discipline specific documents.
What is Music In Our Schools Month® (MIOSM®)?
For more than 30 years, March has been officially designated by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) for the observance of Music In Our Schools Month® (MIOSM®), the time of year when music education becomes the focus of schools across the nation.
The purpose of MIOSM is to raise awareness of the importance of music education for all children – and to remind citizens that school is where all children should have access to music. MIOSM is an opportunity for music teachers to bring their music programs to the attention of the school and the community, and to display the benefits that school music brings to students of all ages.
MIOSM and the events surrounding it are the ideal opportunities for increasing awareness of the benefits of high quality music education programs in our nation’s schools. NAfME hopes that teachers, students, and music supporters alike will find ways to join in on the celebration through creative activities and advocacy.
Curriculum Review Cycle - Mathematics
What is the Mascoma CIA Committee?
A group of K-12 educators working to evaluate, align, pilot, update, and create district curriculum.
Complete the attached form if you are interested in representing your grade-level.
We are in the process of forming a Mascoma CIA group to review the K-12 math curriculum. The group will meet monthly, after school to gather data on the current math curriculum, evaluate the effectiveness of the programs and texts which support the curriculum, and research possible changes in programs and texts if warranted. Over the summer of 2022, K-12 educators from the Mascoma CIA group will be joined by their peers to complete the review process, as well as write and plan for implementation or piloting of new or updated curriculum units, programs, and texts determined by the work of the group.
What can I contribute to the Mascoma CIA?
Your time and expertise! Join us once a month to dig into our current K-12 Math curriculum during the winter and spring of 2022 to conduct a review and make recommendations for summer work.
What are the timeline and expectations for joining the Mascoma CIA?
Contribute to monthly meetings via Google.meets from 3:30-4:30 (see dates below) on the last Wednesday of the month. Complete research to bring to meetings as needed. In the summer there will be a Math Curriculum Institute, where teachers will be paid to work on updating and aligning the math curriculum based on suggestions from the Mascoma CIA Committee; members will have first opportunity to participate in the institute.
Meeting Dates - Via Google.Meets
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Week Long Summer Math Curriculum Institute, 8:00-3:00, dates TBD
Timeline:
November/December - recruit representatives for the Mascoma CIA committee which will meet once a month after school, set up meeting schedule and work plan. I would like K-12 representation, as well as at least one administrator.
January-June - review our current math scores, curriculum, programs, and textbooks.
Review and complete scope and sequence document and current curriculum for repetition and holes. Continue work on this document - how can we make it usable for teachers, administrators, parents? Different parts for different groups.
Examine assessment data to further identify gaps in learning.
Research on our current programs and look to see if there are other programs that will better fit our needs.
End of June or July - curriculum institute to develop curriculum, align curriculum, etc. - teachers will be paid at their per diem rate for this work; we will use grant funds for these 4-5 days; we would like at least one teacher per grade-level
2022-23 School Year - Pilot either a new curriculum or various curriculums, depending upon the outcome of the summer work
September 2022 - Start review of ELA curriculum
Frontline for Professional Growth
If you are requesting reimbursement, the following steps need to be taken:
-Complete request form
-Attend professional development
-Upload all required documentation (copy of brochure, syllabus or link to description; bill and proof of payment; certificate of attendance; documentation of miles to/from location if requesting mileage) to your File Library.
-Mark Complete
-Reflect on your learning
-Submit for final approval and reimbursement
** If your reimbursement is stuck in the process, please resubmit. We apologize for the inconvenience as we configure the system to meet our unique needs.
The historical hours import is complete. We are finalizing the configuration of the hours - stay tuned!
Additional trainings will be provided via video or after school. Follow the link to access current help and support documents, or see your PD Committee representative with questions.
March Professional Development Day
Please complete the form to signup to facilitate an interactive presentation.
In the works, we are planning the following topics so far:
Summer Learning, 2022
Tentative Dates: Monday, August 1-Friday, August 12.
How you can be good at math, and other surprising facts about learning | Jo Boaler
Discovery Education
Mascoma has full access to Discovery Education! Their content treasury includes 200,000+ standards-aligned resources that support all subject areas and grades. Whether you need a video, podcast, interactive, or ready-to-use activity, you'll find attention-grabbing content for your lessons!
To Access:
- Go to discoveryeducation.com
- Select "Login" in the upper right corner.
- Select "Login with Google" and follow the prompts to access your account.
- Search for resources by keyword and filter by:
- Grade band or media type
- Language and literacy support options
- Channels to find the best curated content
- Boards to find ready-to-use lesson activities
Helpful Tutorials:
- 30 Ways to DE: https://www.discoveryeducation.com/platform/30-ways/
- On Demand Training: https://www.discoveryeducation.com/info/on-demand/
February Newsletter from Discovery Education
January Early Release Day
Thank you to our administrative team who facilitated conversations regarding the scope and sequence document drafts for the January Early Release day. Despite the remote format, every group had the chance to start looking at and discussing PreK-12 units and topics at the discipline specific level.
Right Question Institute Technique and Resources
What are some of the questions asked? And, what's next?
Check out this document with a each group's prioritized questions. We will use these questions to continue scope and sequence work this winter and spring during curriculum meetings, for meetings of the Mascoma CIA group, and in summer curriculum work.
One theme was the question of mastery - this term refers to an application and retention of standards, I Can Statements, or competencies for each course, or grade-level. It does not necessarily mean that a student is a master in a specific content area, just of strands of skills and knowledge.
2021-2022 Faculty In-Service Calendar
March 25 - Full Day Professional Development
April 20 (Parent/Teacher Conferences)
May 4
Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
“Be the change you wish to see in the world” ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Email: aburke@mvrsd.org
Website: https://www.mascomaschools.org/
Location: 547 U.S. 4, Enfield, NH, USA
Phone: 603-632-5563