Curriculum and Instruction Updates
Resources for Bellingham's Instructional Staff
Carolyn Rafferty
Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
Bellingham Public Schools Curriculum Review Cycle Update
Mathematics
Review Year: 2018-2019
Current Stage:
PreK: Year 1 of Adoption 2022-2023
K-5: Implement/Monitor
6-8: Implement/Monitor
9-12: Algebra 1/Geometry/Algebra 2 - Year 1 of Adoption 2022-2023
Our High School Math Department completed field testing resources for Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 and has selected Carnegie Learning for these courses. Training for the teachers will take place in August.
We received a grant from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in the amount of $10,000 to support professional learning opportunities for math teachers. These funds will be utilized to support the 6-8 Illustivtae Math program over the course of the 2022-2023 school year.
English Language Arts:
Review Year: 2021-2022
Current Stage:
PreK-8: Year 1 Program Adoption/Implentation 2022-2023
9-12: Impletnation/Monitoring
Our ELA Curriculum Review team completed a Self Study of our ELA Program this year. This review led to the recommendation by the committee to engage in the selection and identification of a new ELA Curriculum Program for grades PreK-8. The High School English Department will also be engaging in professional learning activities exploring vocabulary instruction.
Science and Technology
Upcoming Review Year: 2022-2023
Current Stage: Implement/Monitor
History/Social Science
Review Year: 2023-2024 (postponed from 2021-22)
Current Stage: Implement/Monitor
Work on the History and Social Sciences review was stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will resume in the 2023-24 school year.
Student-led civics projects take place in grade 8, and again in Grade 10. These projects are student-led, project-based, real-world, rooted in an understanding of systems impact, goal-driven, inquiry-based, non-partisan, process-focused, and action-based.
The History Department has selected a new textbook for the World History course for 2022 - 2023.
World Language
Review Year: 2021-2022
Current Stage: Implement/Monitor
In preparation for our review, the World Language Department is planning to begin work this spring on their vision for instruction and identify parameters and priorities for the acquisition of any curriculum materials acquired as a result of needs identified during the self-study process. They have identified the need for a new textbook for Spanish.
Art, Music, Wellness (Health/PE)
Review Year: 2023-2024
Current Stage: Implement/Monitor
Back to School 2022-2023 Updates
Updated Mathematics Curriculum Guidance
ELA PreK - 8 Curriculum Adoption
World of Wonders - PreK
Wonders K-5
StudySync - 6-8
We are excited to bring these high-quality curriculum materials to our teachers and students. The ordering process has begun and training is being scheduled. See the link below for options.
Our building Literacy Specialists will be coordinating the deliveries of new materials and the collection of old materials.
McGraw Hill - World of Wonders - PreK
McGraw Hill - Wonders - K-5
McGraw Hill - StudySync - 6-8
Curriculum Review Cycle Update: September 14, 2020
Math
As we enter our third year of the Math Review Cycle, we are continuing to move forward with the action steps identified during the self-study completed last fall. We are entering our second year of full implementation with Bridges in grades K-5. This year, we are piloting new resources in grades 6-8. Last year, our math teachers in grades 6-8, along with our Math Specialist and Math Department Coordinator, evaluated curriculum resources using Curate and EdReports to select a high-quality, standards-aligned curriculum. We explored two potential programs and ultimately decided on Illustrative Math (IM) with a supplemental resource, ALEKS from the publisher, McGraw Hill.
Illustrative Math
llustrative Mathematics is a problem-based core curriculum for 21st-century learners designed to address content and practice standards to foster learning for all, preparing students to solve problems, reason, communicate, and think critically in the classroom and beyond.
https://www.edreports.org/reports/overview/mcgraw-hill-illustrative-mathematics-6-8-math-2020
https://www.illustrativemathematics.org/curriculum/im-6-8-math-curriculum/
https://curriculum.illustrativemathematics.org/MS/teachers/family_info.html
https://curriculum.illustrativemathematics.org/MS/teachers/what_is_pbc.html
https://curriculum.illustrativemathematics.org/MS/teachers/supporting_swd.html
ALEKS
ALEKS is an adaptive math program that provides each student with a personalized learning path. Using engaging answer tools, immediate feedback, and automatic assessments, ALEKS helps students review and master the skills needed to be successful in their math class.
https://www.aleks.com/about_aleks
An overview video of ALEKS for parents
History/Social Sciences
Last fall, we formed a History/Social Sciences Review Team and launched the self study for History/Social Sciences. Over the course of the school year, grade level teams studied the newly revised History/Social Sciences Frameworks with a particular focus on the Guiding principles and the Practices standards incorporated in the new frameworks. After doing so, teams began to work on examining standards alignment using our existing curriculum materials. This process helps us to identify needs for new and/or additional materials.
With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, we temporarily suspended work on the self-study. As we enter into the 2020-2021 school year, we will need to pull the History/Social Sciences Review Team back together to pick up where we left off in the spring. The goal for this year is to finish the self-study and move into the second phase of the process Develop and Redesign. The purpose of this phase of the Curriculum Review Process is to develop and redesign the curriculum documents and to begin implementation of the action steps put into place by the self-study action plan. Elements of the development and redesign of the curriculum may include:
Identify/Revise: Scope and Sequence, Enduring Understandings, Essential Questions, Content, Skills, Assessments, and Learning Activities
Research, pilot, and recommend evidence-based instructional materials
Propose, present, and publish new curriculum documents for the school community
Identify ongoing professional development needs
Of importance to note, we are piloting new resources in grades 6-8 this year.
Grade 8 will be utilizing the United States and Massachusetts Government and Civic Life. Grades 6 and 7 will be utilizing World Geography and Ancient Civilizations I and II.
To learn more about these programs click on the link below.
English Language Arts (ELA)
The launch of our ELA Curriculum Review, intended to begin this fall, has been delayed while we work to complete the History/Social Sciences Self-Study. Meanwhile, we have decided to take advantage of an offering provided by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Evaluating and Selecting High-Quality Instructional Materials Network. Over the summer, our team participated in an informational session to gather insight as to what to expect from our participation in this network.
Strengthening Curriculum in Massachusetts - Theory of Action:
If schools and districts have the information and support they need to provide teachers with high-quality, standards-aligned curriculum materials, and if sustainable and collaborative professional learning structures help teachers to use those materials to orchestrate student learning skillfully, then teacher and students experiences, and ultimately outcomes, will improve.
Network Goals:
Build curriculum literacy and knowledge of the curricular materials selection process
Self evaluate, document progress, and complete one or more phases of the curriculum selection process
Collaborate, participate actively, and share updates during virtual and in-person meetings
Create and submit action plans describing how the next steps in the process will be completed
Our intent is to use the work we complete during our participation in this network to prepare ourselves for the launch of the ELA Curriculum Review in the spring of 2021.
Educator Evaluation System
I-A-4. Well Structured Lessons - Develops well-structured lessons with challenging, measurable objectives and appropriate student engagement strategies, pacing, sequence, activities, materials, resources, technologies, and grouping.
I-C-3. Sharing Conclusions With Students - Based on assessment results, provides descriptive feedback and engages students and families in constructive conversation that focuses on how students can improve their performance.
II-D-3. Access to Knowledge - Consistently adapts instruction, materials, and assessments to make challenging material accessible to all students, including English learners and students with disabilities.
III-B-2. Curriculum Support - Regularly updates parents on curriculum throughout the year and suggests strategies for supporting learning at school and home, including appropriate adaptation for students with disabilities or limited English proficiency.
IV-B-1. Professional Learning and Growth - Consistently seeks out and applies, when appropriate, ideas for improving practice from supervisors, colleagues, professional development activities, and other resources to gain expertise and/or assume different instruction and leadership responsibilities.
Teach Point
Form 1- Educator Plan Form with IPDP for educators that hold a DESE Professional License
Form 1a - Educator Plan for for educators that hold a DESE Initial and/or Provisional License
Forms 2 and 3 - Announced and Unannounced Observation Forms
Form 4 - Evidence Collection Forms
Forms 5-7 - Formative and Summative Evaluations
Form 8 - Educator Response Forms
Your building principal will hold a Supervision and Evaluation training during one of the first staff meetings to review the district expectations for this process.
If you have not been given log-in information or have any difficulty during the year accessing Teach Point, please contact me directly at crafferty@bpsdk12.org so I can assist.
Update Resources from DESE
- Updated resources
- The Massachusetts Standards Navigator now includes content standards and practices from the 2018 History and Social Science Curriculum Framework, as well as maps showing how standards connect to one another within and across grades and content areas. (Click the little spidery icon next to a standard to see its map. Not every standard has a map—yet!) The Navigator will continue to be updated with new content and features throughout 2019.
- The Online Calibration Training Platform now includes calibration tasks aligned to the English Language Arts and Literacy, Mathematics, and Science and Technology/Engineering Frameworks. Teams of educators can use the Online Calibration Training Platform to build and refine a shared understanding of what it means for instruction to be at, below, or above grade-level standards. Join the over 400 educators and 90 districts already using this tool.
- Our curriculum use (“heat”) maps are all updated as of last week! Check out what curricular materials your neighbor districts are using, or see who else in the state uses the same materials you do. A flyer (PDF) advertising the maps and detailed instructions (Word download) for their use are available as well. To update your data or learn more about the maps, contact my colleague Nechama at ngoldberg@doe.mass.edu.
BPS Curriculum Review Process
Accessing your District PD Records
Visit the District Website at www.bellinghamk12.org
Click on Employee Information and scroll down to Bellingham PD
Click on Log In
Enter your username (first initial and last name)
Enter your password
(If you forgot your password, click on Forgot your Password to create a new one)
Click on the tab for Records on the left side of the screen
This is also a place for you to view upcoming PD Offerings.
Changes to Licensure and Educator Preparation Regulations
Summary Now Available on Changes to Licensure and Educator Preparation Regulations:
On June 27, 2017, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved changes to the Regulations for Educator Licensure and Preparation Program Approval (603 CMR 7.00), Educator License Renewal (603 CMR 44.00), and Certification of Supervisors of Attendance (603 CMR 13.00). The amended regulations have been filed with the Secretary of State, and the Office of Educator Licensure has already begun to implement them. In order to assist applicants, school districts, sponsoring organizations and other interested parties, ESE has prepared a summary of the changes. In the near future, ESE will be soliciting public comment on new subject matter knowledge guidelines, a panel review process for educators prepared outside of the United States, and guidelines for the new validity period for the Provisional license.
What is the difference between SEI Endorsement and the 15pdp requirement for Recertification?
Who must hold the endorsement?
Who needs to have the SEI Endorsement at the time of renewal is largely based on what subject(s) the educator teaches (core or non‐core) and whether they have any ELL students in their classroom. If the educator is a core academic teacher who had one or more ELLs in their classroom during their district’s cohort training window, they must possess the SEI Teacher Endorsement in order to renew the license.
As of July 1, 2014, educators applying for their first Initial license (specifically core academic teachers of ELLs and principals/assistant principals and supervisors/directors who supervise or evaluate such teachers) must obtain the SEI endorsement. See applicable licenses below:
- Core Academic Teachers (early childhood, elementary, teachers of students with moderate and severe disabilities, English, reading, language arts, mathematics, science, civics and government, economics, history, and geography)
- Academic Administrators (principal/assistant principal or supervisor/director only)
As of July 1, 2016, school districts must ensure that ELLs are assigned to core academic teachers who have obtained the SEI Endorsement, or are required to obtain the Endorsement within a year of the assignment.
Individuals with a core academic teacher license(s) that has been restricted are required to hold the SEI Teacher Endorsement as a licensure requirement in order to renew, advance, or extend the restricted license(s).
This would have happened if you had an ELL student in your class and you DID NOT complete the endorsement class and apply for the endorsement.
What is the 15 pdp requirement?
A minimum of 150 PDPs is required to renew a Primary area license, or a Primary area license that has been deemed Inactive or Invalid.
At least 90 PDPs in content/pedagogy with no less than 60 PDPs in or related to the content area of the educator's Primary area (Content or content‐based pedagogy)
At least 15 PDPs related to SEI or English as a Second Language
At least 15 PDPs related to strategies for effective schooling for students with disabilities and instruction of students with diverse learning styles
The remaining required 30 PDPs may be earned through either “elective” activities that address other educational issues and topics that improve student learning, or additional content, and/or pedagogy
SEI Requirements for DESE Licensed Educators
Educator Plan:
Each educator must have an Educator Plan according to the regulations (603 CMR 35.06(3). An Educator Plan outlines a course of action that an educator will take to pursue goals. Educator Plans include a minimum of one individual or team goal to improve the educator’s professional practice tied to one or more Performance Standards and a minimum of one individual or team goal to improve the learning, growth, and achievement of the students under the educator’s responsibility. The Educator Plan outlines actions that educators will take in order to attain these goals, including but not limited to: professional development activities, self‐study, and coursework, as well as other resources for completing these actions.
The basic difference is the IPDP adds a tracking mechanism for your PDPs, which are not included in your Educator Plan Form. Much of the language in both plans will be identical.
Office of the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
Email: crafferty@bpsdk12.org
Website: www.bellinghamk12.org
Location: 4 Mechanic Street, Bellingham, MA, United States
Phone: 508-883-1706 . 8
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bellingham-MA-Public-Schools-District-Page-671552152901122/
Twitter: @craff5