Humanities Happenings
Updates on the humanities at Saratoga Springs CSD
January/February 2015
District Art Show
The District Art Show was held January 15, 2015. Student volunteers and district office employees welcomed the artists, their families, art teachers, and community members to view the art of more than 150 kindergarten through twelfth grade students displayed along the corridors upstairs and downstairs of 3 Blue Streak Blvd. Students received a framed photo of themselves next to their art.
New Social Studies Frameworks
Teachers and department heads from middle and high school have attended professional development on the new Social Studies Frameworks released by NYSED. Inquiry is a key component of the new frameworks. More information is available on EngageNY, https://www.engageny.org/resource/new-york-state-k-12-social-studies-framework
Two Committees become One: District Literacy Team
ELA Taskforce and the RtI Committee have joined forces. The District Literacy Team held its first meeting on January 13, 2015. The purpose of the new group is "to develop and disseminate common expectations and language and support teachers in literacy across the district through data-driven instruction, curriculum review and revision, research, professional development, and discussion."
Work groups will concentrate on RtI flow-charts, progress monitoring, writing, GRAIR, common vocabulary, and an elementary-middle school transition group will help integrate and build off of elementary efforts.
Middle school shared a list of texts they would like elementary teachers to avoid teaching or reading out loud. They also shared literary terms students are expected to know coming into 6th. Middle school teachers are also forming their own building literacy team to focus on the specific needs of Maple Avenue.
The next meeting is March 9th.
3-5 Foundational Reading & Language Standards Resources
Teachers attended training at BOCES on the use of resources to support foundational reading and language standards in grades 3-5. A follow-up session is scheduled for March 6. The resources can be found on EngageNY: https://www.engageny.org/resource/foundational-reading-and-language-standards-resources-package-for-grades-3-5
Middle School ELA & Special Education
Middle school teachers are attending professional development on reading & writing within the Common Core Learning Standards. They are also reading Unit by Unit by Cheryl Becker Dobbertin, which provides information on critical moves teachers in call content areas can make to meet the Common Core.
K-12 Director of Humanities Integration
Email: f_mercer@saratogaschools.org
Website: www.saratogaschools.org
Location: 3 Blue Streak Boulevard, Saratoga Springs, NY, United States
Phone: (518) 693-1426
Twitter: @edufreya