Curriculum and Assessment Updates
February 2022
Educator Spotlight - Not just about the bottom line in the BA's office
Rob DiGregorio joined SAU62 as the Business Administrator this summer after previously working in SAU19 Henniker/Weare in Accounting.
Most of his career was spent working in Deaf Education as an ASL interpreter. He has worked in both public K-12 schools and private Schools for the Deaf in NH, VT, and NY over the past 30 years. Rob also spent a short time as an Educational Project Coordinator for a non-profit serving the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community. He currently holds Educational Interpreter (EIPA) licensure from the NH DOE as well as a Business Management degree from Granite State College, and an MBA from SNHU.
Additionally, Rob is a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer for children in foster care. Over the past 7 years, he has represented 14 children in family court. The CASA advocate makes recommendations to the court in the child’s best interest as the child protection case progresses. Eventually, the case closes when a permanent, safe, nurturing environment can be provided. The goal is to have this be reunification with the parent(s), but sometimes it means finding an adoptive home.
Rob grew up in Londonderry, NH, but has lived in across a wide spectrum of places, from the Northeast Kingdom of VT near the Canadian border, to New York City. Currently lives in Manchester, NH. His pastimes (mostly prior to COVID) include community theatre and Curling. He even has an impressive camera collection, but is a self-proclaimed mediocre photographer…
For more information on becoming a CASA volunteer, contact Rob or visit: www.casanh.org
January Early Release Day
Thank you to our administrative team who facilitated conversations regarding the scope and sequence document drafts for the January Early Release day. Despite the remote format, every group had the chance to start looking at and discussing PreK-12 units and topics at the discipline specific level.
Right Question Institute Technique and Resources
What are some of the questions asked? And, what's next?
Check out this document with a each group's prioritized questions. We will use these questions to continue scope and sequence work this winter and spring during curriculum meetings, for meetings of the Mascoma CIA group, and in summer curriculum work.
One theme was the question of mastery - this term refers to an application and retention of standards, I Can Statements, or competencies for each course, or grade-level. It does not necessarily mean that a student is a master in a specific content area, just of strands of skills and knowledge.
Dr. Peg Dawson - Executive Functioning Skills
In over 30 years of clinical practice, Drs. Peg Dawson and Richard Guare have worked with thousands of children who struggle at home and in school. At the center of their struggles are weak executive skills, and through our writing and now this website, we spotlight these skills that are critical for school and life success.
We hope that by sharing what we have learned, we can help parents, teachers, and therapists to better understand the role executive skills play in healthy development and to identify tools and strategies they can use to assist “smart but scattered” kids become successful problem solvers and self-reliant adults.
Please take the time to explore this website to learn more about the resources available for improving executive skills in children and teenagers both at home and at school.
February and March Curriculum Meetings
Be on the lookout for February meeting dates for K-4 core classes and March meetings dates for 5-12 and K-12 UA. A calendar invite with a Google.Meet, as well as a list of dates, will be sent.
All teams will review of Scope and Sequence documents; elementary core classes will focus on math, everyone else will look at discipline specific documents.
Curriculum Review Cycle - Mathematics
What is the Mascoma CIA Committee?
A group of K-12 educators working to evaluate, align, pilot, update, and create district curriculum.
Complete the attached form if you are interested in representing your grade-level.
We are in the process of forming a Mascoma CIA group to review the K-12 math curriculum. The group will meet monthly, after school to gather data on the current math curriculum, evaluate the effectiveness of the programs and texts which support the curriculum, and research possible changes in programs and texts if warranted. Over the summer of 2022, K-12 educators from the Mascoma CIA group will be joined by their peers to complete the review process, as well as write and plan for implementation or piloting of new or updated curriculum units, programs, and texts determined by the work of the group.
What can I contribute to the Mascoma CIA?
Your time and expertise! Join us once a month to dig into our current K-12 Math curriculum during the winter and spring of 2022 to conduct a review and make recommendations for summer work.
What are the timeline and expectations for joining the Mascoma CIA?
Contribute to monthly meetings via Google.meets from 3:30-4:30 (see dates below) on the last Wednesday of the month. Complete research to bring to meetings as needed. In the summer there will be a Math Curriculum Institute, where teachers will be paid to work on updating and aligning the math curriculum based on suggestions from the Mascoma CIA Committee; members will have first opportunity to participate in the institute.
Meeting Dates - Via Google.Meets
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Week Long Summer Math Curriculum Institute, 8:00-3:00, dates TBD
How you can be good at math, and other surprising facts about learning | Jo Boaler
Discovery Education
Mascoma has full access to Discovery Education! Their content treasury includes 200,000+ standards-aligned resources that support all subject areas and grades. Whether you need a video, podcast, interactive, or ready-to-use activity, you'll find attention-grabbing content for your lessons!
To Access:
- Go to discoveryeducation.com
- Select "Login" in the upper right corner.
- Select "Login with Google" and follow the prompts to access your account.
- Search for resources by keyword and filter by:
- Grade band or media type
- Language and literacy support options
- Channels to find the best curated content
- Boards to find ready-to-use lesson activities
Helpful Tutorials:
- 30 Ways to DE: https://www.discoveryeducation.com/platform/30-ways/
- On Demand Training: https://www.discoveryeducation.com/info/on-demand/
February Newsletter from Discovery Education
March Professional Development Day
Please complete the form to signup to facilitate an interactive presentation.
Frontline for Professional Growth
If you are requested reimbursement, the following steps need to be taken:
-Complete request form
-Attend professional development
-Upload all required documentation (copy of brochure, syllabus or link to description; bill and proof of payment; certificate of attendance; documentation of miles to/from location if requesting mileage) to your File Library.
-Mark Complete
-Reflect on your learning
-Submit for final approval and reimbursement
Additional trainings will be provided via video or after school. Follow the link to access current help and support documents, or see your PD Committee representative with questions.
If you are having problems with your account, please complete the Frontline for Professional Growth Help Form.
2021-2022 Faculty In-Service Calendar
March 25 - Full Day Professional Development
April 20 (Parent/Teacher Conferences)
May 4
Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
“Be the change you wish to see in the world” ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Email: aburke@mvrsd.org
Website: https://www.mascomaschools.org/
Location: 547 U.S. 4, Enfield, NH, USA
Phone: 603-632-5563