KCS Curriculum and Instruction
Teaching and Learning News for Beginning of Year 2017
A Note from Dr. Burgess
For new and experienced educators alike the beginning of the year is an exciting but hectic time. By focusing on a few basic things on the first day of school you can set a positive tone for the school year. First impressions mean a lot. So while we need to think about curriculum, assessments, instruction, procedures etc., a few simple things will help to make the first day a success for you and your students:
Make students feel welcome.
On the first days of school unexpected issues can arise. Maintain composure, smile and keep your welcoming environment. As quickly as possible, start calling students by their names. Using a student’s name creates a sense of respect and familiarity. Also, assigning seats before the year starts is important at any grade level. One way to accomplish this is to simply number the seats. On the first day, hand each student a number as he or she enters the room. You now have a seating chart and you can always make adjustments.
Don’t just introduce yourself. Share your story.
What are your hobbies? Why did you go into teaching? Sharing our stories with kids not only helps them get to know us, it also reminds us of our calling. Consider using this survey tool to help find common areas of interest between you and your students. This can help to build rapport from the start.
Set the bar high and keep it high.
If you refuse to accept anything but the best, you often get it. The students in your classroom are your BEST students. Each one is capable of amazing things and you will challenge them to do their best work. You must communicate that you believe in them and your actions must prove it.
Promise to give your best.
We ask students to give their best and value learning. In a welcoming classroom teachers can also promise to give students their best. Talk to students about how teachers are learners too and be a model for how to learn from mistakes.
Contact families before you go home for the day.
Use ClassDojo, Canvas, email, phone calls or just “old fashioned” paper to communicate personalized messages about the first day of school. If you take notes during the day, you can share specific positive observations in your message. Reaching out at the end of the first day emphasizes the value you place on communication. Parents will see that their kids are in the hands of a teacher who isn’t merely going through the motions, but who cares enough to share his or her enthusiasm with families.
The work and planning you are doing now will help to ensure that 2017-18 is a WONDERful school year. Thanks for all that you do to prepare yourself and your classrooms for our students.
Quick Announcements
If you have any PD evaluations waiting to be filled out in TimeKeeper (from last year or the recent workdays), you MUST fill them out by August 31. All PD will be archived for the new year. This is your last window of opportunity to fill out online evaluations and receive credit. If you need help, ask around or feel free to email Cara Wolford.
K-5 teachers: We have updated the standards that will be reported each quarter on the standards-based report card. Keep your eyes open for an email soon which will have the info you need!
All Math Teachers: Check out this August newsletter from math coach Laura Baker - Setting Up Positive Class Norms in the Math Classroom
K-5 Math Teachers: Here are the dates for the Fall DreamBox Webinars:
Sept. 18 4:00 Using Assign Focus to Analyze Data and Inform Instruction
October 16 4:00 Motivating Students in Blended Learning Context
6-12 Teachers: One thing new to you this year will be the Character and Career Readiness Update you send home to parents. You will soon learn more about the way you will be reporting student progress on compass skills to families. You can read more about our KCS Character and Career Readiness plan here.
Please go out of your way to introduce yourself to new colleagues! We continue to stay #KCSStrong through our relationships with each other. Offer words of encouragement to anyone that looks stressed out!
Curriculum Updates
These curriculum documents should be your road map for planning. They should be used during collaborative planning and continually referenced as you progress through units. It is the most comprehensive document of what your students should be learning. In addition to the curriculum units, here is a list of essential resources for instructional planning. It might be nice to have all these links in one place. Please make sure you are using these resources available to you.
This year, we want to emphasize work on aligned, rigorous assessment - Stage 2 of Understanding by Design. Talk with your colleagues to make sure that you are clear on outcomes and how you will assess those outcomes BEFORE planning out lessons. We ask that teams of teachers spend time selecting, revising, or creating common formative assessments that can provide evidence of student learning of your focus standards. We ask that you use that evidence to collaborate on designing effective instruction.
Professional Development Updates
A special thank you to everyone who planned, led, and attended professional development sessions on these opening workdays. We know you want every possible moment to work on your classrooms, but we also know there is critical knowledge you need to teach successfully in KCS. Of course, a one-time workshop is not meant to be the only support you receive. KCS is proud to have building-level instructional coaches, technology facilitators, media coordinators, digital learning and media facilitators, strong administrators, and excellent teacher leaders to serve as ongoing support. If you need something, please reach out and you will be supported.
As you'll see on the KCS calendar, we have four Early Release Days. These are granted by the Board of Education for us to have designated time for professional development. They are required, so please mark your calendars and plan to be present. This fall, the two early release PD days are Friday, September 29 and Thursday, October 26. They will be held at the school level. Schools are designing plans now, and you'll receive more details closer to then. The spring early release day dates are February 16 and March 16.
Math Leadership in 3rd Grade
AIG Local Certification
Don't forget to take some time to review the opportunity for local AIG certification that will be available this year. The certification is open to ALL KCS staff, and not only provides local certification, but allows you to earn 3.0 CEU's (1.0 CEU content, 1.0 CEU literacy, and 1.0 technology (a new requirement)). If you are interested in participating in the module, please sign up at this link. If you have any questions about the local AIG certification, or anything else AIG/differentiation/enrichment, please email Sara Newell (District AIG Coordinator)!