FUESD Curriculum Corner
Information for Parents & the Community, August, 2016
Welcome to FUESD!
STEM and Innovation Labs
In all K-6 and K-8 schools the TOSA will work hand in hand with the classroom teachers to co-teach highly engaging, standards-aligned lessons in STEM, with particular early emphasis on the District's Mathematics and Science Units of Study. Technology and infrastructure, instructional materials, equipment, and furniture in the Innovation Labs will promote effective teaching and learning. Students in Grades 4-8 will continue to apply their 1:1 mobile technology (Chromebooks) in both the Innovation Lab as well as the regular classroom. Mobile technology carts will be in the Labs for students in Grades K-3.
Primary Literacy
reading. Our K teachers worked with Nancy for one day in July, and one additional day is planned in October. All teachers in Grades 1-3 will attend training to enhance their literacy program for one day during the week of August 22nd. The newest research and promising practices to teach phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension will be shared, then modeled in our classrooms.
Homework
The FUESD K-8 Curriculum Council devoted five meetings over the course of one year to study the research and existing practices in the District, and survey students, parents and teachers. The year-long study has resulted in recommendations for effective homework that will be implemented in all FUESD schools. The practical application of these recommendations you will see at home include:
- Implementation of the "10 minute rule" to provide guidance in how much time a student will spend doing homework. Simply take your student's grade level and multiply the grade by ten, ie. a Grade 3 student will have no more than 30 minutes of homework each night. In Grades 7 and 8, the maximum of 70-80 minutes of homework includes all of their classes.
- Implementation of the "10% rule" to provide guidance in grading. No more than 10% of a student's grade may include homework. This is most relevant to middle or junior high school. K-6 students have a standards-based report card, so homework should not count against a grade.
Other agreements that were made which you will see at home include:
- Homework is work students understand and can practice. It is not a new skill they are working on or did not show mastery in class.
- A limited number of math problems will be assigned that combine mixing a few current problems and spiral review.
- Teachers will provide homework that is personalized (not one size fits all), and integrates technology in grades where students have access to 1:1.
- Teachers will provide feedback to students about their homework.
- If parents say homework is taking too long, they can write a note, which will be honored.
- The taking away of recess for not doing homework will not be used as a classroom consequence.
Homework plans for the year will be shared by our teachers at Back to School Night. Please be sure to attend.
New Math Textbooks in Grades 6-8
Grades 6, 7, and 8 math teachers were provided a planning day in August to align the lessons and resources in CA Math into the FUESD Math Units of Study. The newly adopted curriculum includes both a traditional, consumable text and digital resources.
Parent/Principal Coffees for LCAP
In response to feedback FUESD parents, staff and community members have expressed, the strategies and practices to engage stakeholders in the ongoing revision of the LCAP will change this year. The need and interest in hosting site-based sessions was a common theme.
This year every school in the District will host one "Coffee and Conversation with the Principal" that will focus on the LCAP. Four site-based coffees will be facilitated by Dr. Singh, Mr. Forseth, and the principal. The other four school coffees will be hosted by the site principal and an Educational Services Director. The following year, those assignments will be reversed. Schools, dates and times will be announced soon.
In addition, Mrs. Lea Curcio, Director of Curriculum and Instruction will continue to engage the District Advisory Council (DAC) and District English Learner Advisory Council (DELAC) in the ongoing monitoring and revision of the LCAP. Educational Services will also schedule an LCAP session with representatives of the Fallbrook Elementary Teachers Association (FETA) and California School Employees Association (CSEA).
If you would like to review the FUESD LCAP Executive Summary for 2015-16, please access the link below.