CURRICULUM CONTEMPLATIONS
ONE-STOP SHOP FOR CONTENT & PEDAGOGICAL INFORMATION - APRIL
The Symphony of Teaching
To read more of the Symphony of Teaching...
ELA ELABORATIONS
Structured Phonics Programs
Young Adult Novels That Teach a Growth Mindset
Heroes in books and movies captivate kids, many of whom could teach a master class on these characters. The fresh perspective teachers can offer is how students themselves can and should be heroes.
As advocates of growth mindset, we can teach children that heroism does not require obsession with perfection or product. We should show students that we also value process and progress. Heroic stories can help: They teach students about mitigating mistakes, learning from loss, and overcoming adversity, all of which are key elements of growth mindset.
MATHEMATICAL MUSINGS
Teaching Keywords? Everybody Needs to Please Forget About it!
Upon reviewing the 3rd quarter interim data, I came across this problem:
Levi has more colored pencils than Katie. He has 54 and she has 18. How many times more colored pencils does Levi have than Katie?
Roughly 400 budding mathematicians in Sunnyside entered in a response of "36".
Most likely, students read this problem, selectively saw the phrase how many more, and subtracted.
Picture me Aaargghhhing like Charlie Brown when Lucy pulls away the football.
Honing in on keywords is not an issue that is isolated to an particular grade or even to Sunnyside. But time and time again, we see students of all grades over-generalizing or misapplying a keyword rule (see the video below for an example).
We can do our students, our colleagues, and ourselves a favor if we stop encouraging the use of keywords as a shortcut for computation. Mathematical Practice 1 is specifically designed to focus students on making sense of problems. Let's pour our energy into having students make sense of the mathematical problems with which they are faced.
Check out this blog post by G Fletchy where he shares a multitude of resources that speak to the reasons why when it comes to keywords, we should all say NO!!!!!
Communication in the 6-8 Grade Mathematics Classroom
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SCIENTIFIC SOLILOQUIES
Four Stellar Modeling Resources For Those Who Teach About the Sun & Solar System
Shell Science Lab Challenge Announces 2017 District Winners
SOCIAL STUDIES STORIES
Social Science Lesson Plans from "the Hidden Brain"
For those who may not be familiar, the Hidden Brain is an award winning podcast which uses social science and storytelling to "reveal the unconscious patterns which drive human behavior, the biases that shape our choices, and the triggers that direct the courses of relationships". By applying the latest social and behavioral science research to social studies lessons, students can gain new insights into the reoccurring themes which continue to shape our history.
Working with educators in grades 6-12, a series of study guides and lesson plans have been created to be used to go along with each episode in the series. These guides have been designed to supplement the existing curricula, and have been tailored to sere a range of different learning levels from middle school to high school.
All lesson guides are sorted not only by grade level but by topic as well. You can click on this link to explore the various lessons. Within each study guide, teachers will find transcripts to episode, guiding questions, student resources, and links to additional sources to extend and link to standards.
COMMUNAL CONVERSATIONS
TECH TOOLS YOU CAN USE: Line Numbers for Google Docs
While numbering paragraphs and lines within the left margin is easy with printed materials, it's has been trickier to do with Google Docs and online sources...UNTIL NOW!
When opening an document, students can now set automatic line numbering within the left-side margin by clicking on the Line Numbers for Docs app along the top of their browser (click here for a more detailed explanation of how to use this app).
This app is automatically installed on all student browsers. If teachers would also like to install this FREE app to model how to use it, they can click on this link to the Chromestore to get started.
PARENT PARTNERSHIPS
National PTA has created custom, state by state Assessment Guides for parents in states that have adopted the Common Core State Standards.
Click here to see the Parents' Guide to Assessments in Arizona
Clcik here to see the Parents' Guide to Assessments in Arizona - Spanish Version
TEACHER SPOTLIGHT: Ms. Nanette Longchamp
When you walk into Nanette Longchamp’s 2nd-grade classroom at Rosemarie Rivera Elementary School, you feel the enthusiasm and delight radiating from students. They are actively engaged in collaborative, hands-on lessons. Whether they are taking on the role of a paleontologist or using rulers to compare and express linear units, students can be found dialoguing about new learnings and deeper understandings of concepts.
Nanette has been teaching for seven years. She takes on leadership roles, both at Rivera and throughout the district. It is clear that she is passionate about creating a classroom environment that is risk-free and growth-oriented. Students in Ms. Longchamp’s class exude self-discipline, responsibility, engagement, and leadership skills.
In her spare time, Nanette enjoys reading and writing. She even tries to slip in a little Pilates when she has a few moments! Not only were we pleased to recognize Nanette for her extraordinary contributions to the Sunnyside District, but her students were thrilled to know that their teacher would get a shout out from the Curriculum Department!
TEACHING & LEARNING DEPARTMENT
Tammi Baushka - Literacy Program Specialist
Rebecca Ridge - Literacy Program Specialist
Julia Lindberg - LAD Program Specialist
Kristel Foster - LAD Program Specialist
Maggie Hackett - Math & Science Coordinator
Donna Rishor - Math Program Specialist
Frank McCormick - Instructional Technology Coordinator
Email: maggieh@susd12.org
Website: susd12.org
Location: 2238 E Ginter Rd, Tucson, AZ, United States
Phone: (520)545-2000