Elementary Curriculum Updates
November 2016
ELA
In Q2, what are our students vertically learning and doing in writing?
Kindergarten students are writing informative/explanatory texts in which they
name what they are writing about
supply some information about the topic
use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing
First Grade students are writing informative/explanatory texts in which they
name a topic
supply some facts about the topic and
provide some sense of closure
Second Grade students are writing informative/explanatory texts by
introducing a topic
using facts and definitions to develop points
providing a concluding statement or section
Third Grade students are writing informative/explanatory texts by
introducing a topic and grouping related information together
including illustrations to aid in comprehension.
developing the topic with facts, definitions, and details.
using linking words and phrases to connect ideas within categories of information.
providing a concluding statement or section.
Fourth Grade students are writing informative/explanatory texts by
introducing a topic clearly and grouping related information in paragraphs and sections
including formatting (e.g., headings), illustrations, and multimedia to aid comprehension
developing the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other related information/examples
linking ideas using words and phrases within categories
using precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform/explain topic
providing a concluding statement or section
Fifth Grade students are writing informative/explanatory texts by
introducing a topic clearly, providing a general observation/focus, and grouping related information logically
including formatting (e.g., headings), illustrations, and multimedia to aid comprehension
developing the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other related information/examples
linking ideas using words, phrases, and clauses within and across categories
using precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform/explain topic
providing a concluding statement or section
ELA District Adopted Interventions
Click below to view the new CCSD ELA Intervention Pathways and Lexile Proficiency Bands for
Building Stronger Instruction
Please let me know if you would like for me to support and work with your grade level teams on planning lessons using the ELA Collaborative Planning Protocols and Instructional Framework. Feel free to give feedback on these pieces.
CCSD ELA Core Curriculum Observation Checklists - NEW
These observation checklists were created for administrators and ICs, as well as teachers who are conducting peer to peer observations. A goal of these checklists is to provide not only targeted feedback, but also to help frame our feedback conversations around the protocol being used and its integration with the instructional framework.
Let me know how I can support you in working with your teachers on core curriculum implementation. Also, please feel free to give feedback on ways to strengthen the checklists!
#CultureofWriting
This September the GaDOE ELA team launched the first session in a series of installments for the hybrid professional learning program, Building a Culture of Writing.
The first two sessions were:
Tuesday, September 20, 2016,
Grades K – 5
Session I: Essential Components of Teaching Writing
Presenters: Roberta Gardner and Kate Woodbridge
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Grades 6 – 12
Session I: Assessing Writing
Presenters: Kevin Raczynski and Ashley Morris
Be sure to check out GeorgiaStandards.Org (GSO) where the recorded sessions are posted. There you will find links to the Professional Learning Guide, presenters’ page, and recorded sessions (as they are completed).
Also, join the conversation on Twitter: #CultureofWriting
MATH
What We Are Learning
- Work with numbers 11–19 to gain foundations for place value
- Know number names and the count sequence
- Count to tell the number of objects
- Compare numbers
- Classify objects and count the number of objects in each category (On-going)
1st Grade - Develop Base Ten Number Sense
- Extend the counting sequence
- Understand place value
- Use place value understanding and properties of operations to add and subtract
- Add and subtract within 20
- Represent and interpret data (On-going)
2nd Grade - Becoming Fluent with Addition and Subtraction
- Represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction
- Add and subtract within 20
- Use place value understanding and properties of operations to add and subtract
- Work with time and money.
3rd Grade - The Relationship Between Multiplication and Division
- Represent and solve problems involving multiplication and division.
Understand properties of multiplication and the relationship between multiplication and division.
Represent and interpret data.
4th Grade - Multiplication and Division of Whole Numbers
- Use the four operations with whole numbers to solve problems.
- Gain familiarity with factors and multiples.
- Generate and analyze patterns.
- Use place value understanding and properties of operations to perform multi-digit arithmetic.
- Solve problems involving measurement and conversion of measurements from a larger unit to a smaller unit.
5th Grade - Adding and Subtracting with Decimals
- Understand the place value system
- Perform operations with multi-digit whole numbers and with decimals to the hundredths.
Georgia Math Conference at Rock Eagle
When: October 19 - 21, 2016
Where: Rock Eagle 4-H Center
New Resources
Save the links below for your reference as you familiarize yourself with new resources.
Envision
- Sign In Page
- Click Path for Success (Teacher tutorial with visual)
- Parent Tutorial Youtube (skip the beginning part - our log-in page is different)
- Envision Parent Welcome Letter
- My Pearson Training Site
SMI
- Employee Quick Link
- SMI Professional Learning Guide
- Quantile Website (Quantile Map, Math Skill Data Base, Quantile Teacher Assistant)
Do the Math
SCIENCE
What are students learning about science in Q2?
Kindergarten students are studying gravity and motion.
- They will investigate different types of motion and observe and communicate effects of gravity on objects.
First grade students are studying magnets.
- They will demonstrate how magnets attract and repel, identify common objects that are attracted to a magnet, and identify objects and materials that do not block magnetic force.
Second students are studying seasonal changes and the sky.
- They will describe physical attributes of stars and investigate the position of sun and moon to show patterns throughout the year.
Third grade students are studying the habitats of Georgia.
- They will differentiate between habitats of Georgia and the organisms that live there. They will also identify features of green plants and animals that allow them to live and thrive in different regions of Georgia.
Fourth grade students are studying weather and water.
- They will differentiate between the states of water and how they relate to the water cycle and weather. They will also analyze weather charts/maps and collect weather data to predict weather events and infer patterns and seasonal changes.
Fifth grade students are studying classification.
- They will classify organisms into groups and relate how they determined the groups with how and why scientists use classification.
Science Formative Item Banks
For grades 3-5, Formative Item Banks were added into each unit. The banks include GOFAR constructed response assessment items and rubrics organized by standard/element. These items can be used throughout the year to formatively assess student understanding.
Check them out here or within each unit.
Science GSE are Now Available
The science Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE) are now posted at georgiastandards.org.
Are your teachers planning and implementing 5E science lessons?
The new standards require students to use the science and engineering practices (i.e. asking questions, engaging in argument from evidence, designing and using models), the disciplinary core ideas, and the crosscutting concepts (i.e. patterns, scale and propotion, matter and energy) to make sense of phenomena and/or design solutions to problems. The 5E Instructional Model is an instructional framework that supports this 3-dimensional science approach.
So that we can determine your teachers' familiarity and comfort with the 5E Instructional Model, ask them to take this survey. We can use the results to determine PL needs.
Picture Perfect Science Materials are Available for Checkout
Are your teachers interested in using a Picture Perfect Science Lesson? Do they have the books they need? Do they have the materials they need? Picture Perfect Science kits for the following lessons, as well as all children's books, are available for check out.
Over in the Ocean * Sunshine on My Shoulders * Be a Friend to Trees * Roller Coasters * If You Find a Rock * That Magnetic Dog * Oil Spill * Mirror, Mirror * Day and Night * Changing Moon * Sheep in a Jeep * Bugs * Grand Canyon * Name that Shell * Batteries Included * Chemical Change Cafe
To checkout materials, contact Amy Peacock @ peacocka@clarke.k12.ga.us.
CCSD Elementary Young Scientist Fair
This CCSD Young Scientist Fair is a day of science competitions, hands-on science activities, demonstrations, and presentations for the entire family.
The day’s competitions will include:
- CCSD Elementary Science Fair
- Clarke Invents
- Science Art Exhibit
- Barge Building
- Mystery Architecture
- No Bones About It
- Deep Blue Sea
- Rock Hound
- Tower of Athens
- Athens Aeronautics
- CCSD Elementary STEM Showcase
Saturday, Feb 11, 2017, 08:30 AM
Alps Road Elementary School, Alps Road, Athens, GA, United States
SOCIAL STUDIES
New Social Studies Standards
The Social Studies GPS are here! Please communicate to teachers to keep teaching the current standards. PL will take place at your buidings and at the Feburary PL day.
Resources that go with the standards will be released this spring. In the meantime, you may vist http://www.c3teachers.org/c3-hubs/ to an idea of that they will look like.