November+19th+Meeting+Notes

November 19, 2009 Elementary Teacher Leader Agenda and Minutes

Grade 3-quite a lot of work in terms of filling the gaps. Can't slow curriculum down to least common denominator, but we can't disregard the data-supported issue.
 * I. Discussion of Current Progress and Future Plans**
 * PD Iowa CORE work on 11-18 was valuable work for grade level teams even though groups may have approached it differently. Seemed to be a meaningful morning for teachers involved. Higher liklihood for ownership over the math curriculum.
 * Concerned by the fact that EC/ES does not focus on naked math (addition and subtraction).Concern repeated by gr. 5 and even gr. 2.
 * Need to look to programs that can assist in the areas of weakness
 * A conceptual math curriculum does not disregard the necessity for repetition.

Did Math grade level re-grouping work-no dissent. Said in August the focus was going to be writing. Iowa Field Tests in Elementary Writing analyzed Lincoln and Libertyville probes and identified weaknesses in organization and ideas. Do we have other plans in the other two buildings? Use part of the April 30th PD day to score the probes. Do we want Vicki on those other dates? YES December 16-math-ESC for K-3; 4-5 ICC Mathematic Alignment. What do we want to have happen with mathematics? ESC and Core? Core-completion of initial pass and considerations of gaps. Continuation of K-3 ESC instruction for semester 2. definitely What do we want to have happen in writing? Instruction in all 6 traits, following the same format that Vicki has begun with the first two (four left). Focus on a specific trait at a time. special education meets on december 16th. Dec. 9 wtg. December 16-mathematics (nancy); K-3 4-5-work on alignment/benchmark construction january 6-work January 13-mathematics ICC alignment/benchmark construction- K-2, 3-5 grouping.? January 20-data analysis of math probes January 27-writing -vicki february 3, 10-Math UbD FEb. 17-work day Feb. 24-Math UbD (move January 28th grade level meeting-__) 3-10 ESC/4-5 work. need to do implementation logs for literacy strategies-what do we want to know? how long will we record? when?
 * Thoughts on 09-10 PD so far:**

II. Teacher Quality Program Evaluation A. Programming Goals set in August 1. Increase teacher awareness of components of 6 traits writing through guided sessions led by AEA personnel 2. Further develop teacher skills in using 6 traits writing rubrics to score student writing (writing probes). 3. Reinforce previously learned literacy strategies for fluency and vocabulary development. 4. Increase teacher awareness of best practice instructional methods for teaching mathematical concepts. 5. Enhance teacher collaboration to refine, share, and create problem-based tasks and distributed practice problems which focus on mathematical concepts. 6. Collaborate to construct new UbD units. Emphasis: big ideas, essential questions, differentiated instruction, and multiple types of assessments

1-3 Actions: -two August afternoon sessions with AEA literacy specialist... -ongoing writing PD times: 9-16; 10-14; 12-9; 1-27; 3-3; 4-14 -examination of student work, anchor papers, and scoring of fall/spring writing probes in collaborative PD sessions on 9-16 and 5-5 -examine student work in fluency and vocabulary during grade level staff development and complete at least one implementation log ea. semester

4-5 Actions: -ESC sessions for K-3 on 10-21; 12-16; 3-10, led by AEA math specialist -collaborative analysis math probes: 9-30; 1-20; 5-19 -Starrmatica training for gr. 4-5 teachers on 10-21 -completion of Large Grain Gap Analysis of current mathematics instruction as required by Iowa Core 9-9; 11-18 -interactive whiteboard training IMPLEMENTATION OF LITERACY STRATEGIES- WHAT DO WE WANT TO KNOW?-HIGH IMPLEMENTERS; WHICH STRATEGIES USED MOST FREQUENTLY, STRATEGY NEEDS ASSESSMENT (KEY SURVEY)-AREAS OF WEAKNESS-ONES WE DON'T THINK WE'RE DOING WELL...SCHEDULED OBSERVATIONS ON WHAT???

HOW LONG WILL THE IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD BE? -one week? refer to LTD training manuals-grid form, tally form. grade level; subject; frequency chart. last week of january (before ITBS). Establish a time frame and submission deadline.

6 Actions: -construction of 1-2 additional units