Mon Sep 24 2018, 5:30pm
WHS Room 2203
Regular Meeting

REPORTS TO THE BOARD

Teaching and Learning Report

To: Michael Green

From: Asha Riley

Date: September 19, 2018

Re: Teaching & Learning

 

This year we started with a focus on new curriculum. Before school started, we ensured each staff member using our new curriculum received thorough training in each program.

Step Up to Writing Training

With the goal of K-12 implementation of this curriculum, we determined last spring to develop in house specialists who could then coach and support our teachers throughout implementation.  We sent each K-8 instructional coach to an intensive workshop in Texas for this intensive training.  As a result, each coach was well prepared to train the rest of our K-12 staff prior to the start of school year.  

Our goals for implementation of this curriculum in K-12 classrooms include:

  • Common expectations and language for writing instruction across all ELA and content area classrooms across the district
  • Seamless continuity of instruction from grade to grade and school to school
  • Clear writing strategies for all students
  • Clear instructional methods and supports for teachers

High School CPM (College Preparatory Mathematics) Curriculum Training

CPM is our newly adopted HS math curriculum that is a student centered, problem based curriculum.  To support implementation, we have hired trainers from CPM who have both trained other districts successfully and personally taught the resources in their own classrooms.

Before school started, the introductory teacher training emphasized the mathematics content, the course structure, and how to establish a classroom environment most suited for lesson delivery. The focus was to increase teacher competence in the mathematical content, plan lessons purposefully together, develop assessment and feedback skills, and strengthen the teacher role as facilitator of learning.

To support sustained implementation success, the trainers will follow up with two site visits to WHS to provide feedback on implementation. Then based on our progress, they will also follow up with differentiated classroom support for our teachers.

Middle School Core Focus SMC Math

At Woodland Middle School, all math teachers were fortunate to receive training directly from the author of our newly adopted curriculum, Shannon McCaw. Principal Johnston has previously worked with Shannon and made a special request to have her come, as she is the very best at training staff how to successfully implement the materials. The training was, in fact, extremely beneficial and thorough.

Staff walked away with a clear understanding of the design of the curriculum, how to address the critical content, important instructional moves, and how to lesson plan with the materials. Shannon will be back once more late September to follow up on initial implementation and discuss next steps. In addition to training, Shannon has also offered to help us review our accelerated math track and how we could organize units from her curriculum to provide students with an advanced course path in the middle school.  Her expertise and time has been much appreciated!  A rare gift for a small school district like us.