FHSD Elementary ELA/SS Newsletter
May 2018
Important Upcoming Dates
Assessment Wall: May 4-14
Aimsweb: May 1-11
ELA Benchmark 4th Qtr (2nd-5th, Optional)-May 1-14
Mastery Connect Data Entry for ELA Writing Assessments: May 1-14
Kindergarten & First Grade Reading Summative: May 1-14
Other Important Celebrations
School Nutritional Employee Week April 20-May 4
National School Principals' Day May 1
Teacher Appreciation Week May 7-11
National School Nurse Day May 9
ELA Curriculum Frequently Asked Questions
A few "Did You Knows" about the curriculum:
- 59 out of 60 PLC's have representation on K-5 ELA curriculum
- The sequence of Units follow the Teachers College recommended order
- Multiple committees gave feedback regarding the adoption of the Units of Study (Lucy) resource
- What am I supposed to do with my current units of study books?
Find out even more information by checking out the FAQ document!
Homegrown Institute Update
All teachers who have currently signed up to attend the Homegrown Institute for Writing should have received an email to confirm attendance this summer. Some teachers attended in April, and the response was overwhelmingly positive! Some of the highlights were:
- How to plan a 10-minute mini-lesson in less than ten minutes
- Responding to the writer, not the writing
- Providing universal access for all students
- Developing a tool kit for Writer's Workshop
- Using a writing continuum to support writing instruction
Comments from participants:
"This is a game changer!"~Third Grade Teacher
"Best PD I've ever had in my entire teaching career!"~Fourth Grade Teacher
"I learned how to teach the writer and not the writing!"~First Grade Teacher
"I've learned that teaching writing is a conversation, not a presentation."~Kindergarten Teacher
"On my first day back from PD, I planned my mini-lesson in less than ten minutes, and delivered it in nine minutes."~Second Grade Teacher
Be sure to respond to the email to confirm your registration by Friday, May 4th @ 4:00 pm. Any available spots will be given to teachers waiting to get into the institute.
If you have any questions contact Carrie Hepburn.
Curriculum Writing Update
- K-3 ELA curriculum approval is in process
- K-3 ELA curriculum is represented by a teacher for each building and grade level
- K-3 science and social studies curriculum writing began in February, completion dates by the end of this school year
- K-3 implementation of new curriculum for ELA, science, and social studies 18-19 school year
- April & July of 2018 Francis Howell hosts the Writing Homegrown Institute
- 4-5 curriculum research began March 2018
- 4-5 curriculum writing for ELA, science, and social studies in 18-19 school year
- 4-5 implementation of new curriculum for ELA, science, and social studies in 19-20 school year
- Elementary Physical Education classes will be teaching health as new ELA curriculum is written and new PE/health curriculum is written. 2018-2019: K-3 teachers will NOT be teaching health, 4-5 teachers will continue with current ELA curriculum. 2019-2020: health will be taught in PE K-5.
If you are interested in the elementary curriculum plan from 2017 until 2024, check out the information and feel free to contact Carrie Hepburn or Sherri Lorton with any questions.
Social Studies Information
Units of Study Books
What happens to our current Units of Study books?
Curriculum writers are writing science and social studies curriculum. They created a list of books from the units of study that will be used in those curricula. Books on the list need to stay within the classroom inventory and will be added to the classroom inventory list. The books that aren’t on this list may be added to classroom libraries and to develop lit sets within buildings.
Kindergarten unit books for classroom inventory
First Grade unit books for classroom inventory
Handwriting without Tear Order
Kindergarten
Kindergarten 4th Quarter ELA Assessments
- Fourth Quarter Sight Words: May 1-14
- Aimsweb: May 1-11
- Assessment Wall: May 4-14
Fourth Quarter Writing Summative: Students write an opinion piece about what is their favorite animal and why (not required for MC entry, the assessment may look different if you are piloting Lucy).
Surplus: Kindergarten teachers can surplus health resources and social studies resources (not the books used in the current units of study).
Kindergarten's ELA Assessment and Cheat Sheet Document-Document includes a direct link to the assessments within Mastery Connect (no searching required) and outlines each assessment by quarter.
First Grade
- Fourth Quarter Reading Assessment: May 1-14
- Aimsweb: May 1-11
- Assessment Wall: May 4-14
Fourth Quarter Writing Summative: Students will write an informational piece about an animal they have researched (not required for MC entry, the assessment may look different if you are piloting Lucy).
Surplus: First Grade teachers can surplus health resources and social studies resources (not the books used in the current units of study).
First Grade's ELA Assessment and Cheat Sheet Document-Document includes a direct link to the assessments within Mastery Connect (no searching required) and outlines each assessment by quarter.
Second Grade
- Second Grade Fourth Quarter Reading Benchmark: May 1-14 (optional)
- Aimsweb: May 1-11
- Assessment Wall: May 4-14
- Fourth Quarter Writing Summative: Students will write a persuasive piece about a place they would like to visit (not required for MC entry, the assessment may look different if you are piloting Lucy).
Surplus: Second Grade teachers can surplus health resources and social studies resources (not the books used in the current units of study).
Second Grade's ELA Assessment and Cheat Sheet Document-Document includes a direct link to the assessments within Mastery Connect (no searching required) and outlines each assessment by quarter.
Third Grade
- Third Grade Fourth Quarter Reading Benchmark: May 1-14 (optional)
- Aimsweb: May 1-11
- Assessment Wall: May 4-14
Third Grade Fourth Quarter Summative Writing: Students will write a narrative piece about a weather-related event (not required for MC entry, the assessment may look different if you are piloting Lucy).
Surplus: Third Grade teachers can surplus health resources and social studies resources (not the books used in the current units of study).
Third Grade's ELA Assessment and Cheat Sheet Document-Document includes a direct link to the assessments within Mastery Connect (no searching required) and outlines each assessment by quarter.
Fourth Grade
Fourth Grade 4th Quarter ELA Assessments
- Fourth Grade Fourth Quarter Reading Benchmark: May 1-14 (optional)
- Aimsweb: May 1-11
- Assessment Wall: May 4-14
Fourth Grade Fourth Quarter Writing Summative: Students will write a Hero's Quest, not required for MC entry. (the assessment may look different if you are piloting Lucy).
Fourth Grade's ELA Assessment and Cheat Sheet Document-Document includes a direct link to the assessments within Mastery Connect (no searching required) and outlines each assessment by quarter.
Fifth Grade
Fifth Grade 4th Quarter ELA Assessments
- Fifth Grade Fourth Quarter Reading Benchmark: May 1-14 (optional)
- Aimsweb: May 1-11
- Assessment Wall: May 4-14
- Fifth Grade Fourth Quarter Writing Summative: Students will write a descriptive letter from the perspective of a slave (not required for MC entry, the assessment may look different if you are piloting Lucy).
Fifth Grade's ELA Assessment and Cheat Sheet Document-Document includes a direct link to the assessments within Mastery Connect (no searching required) and outlines each assessment by quarter.
Are We Doing Lucy Calkins or Balanced Literacy?
Elementary ELA/Social Studies Content Leader
Email: carrie.hepburn@fhsdschools.org
Location: 1405 Hwy D, Saint Charles, MO, United States
Phone: 636-851-6341
Twitter: @CarrieHepburn