DMPS ScienceBack-to-School Kickoff

2012

Changes for 2012-2013Curriculum guides for all content areas have been revised by

teacher committees.

Guides are now fully aligned to the IA Core, and key concepts and skills have been identified.

Benchmark assessments have been revised and realigned with curriculum guides.

Assessments are available as pre/post tests and will occur at the beginning and end of course units.

Science Wiki Updated and live!DMPS Science Wiki

Curriculum Guide ComponentsIowa Core Statements: Standards from the Iowa

Core Curriculum relating to the unit or content area.

DMPS Graduate Ends Statements: Adopted in 2006, these statements outline skills a DMPS student should have upon graduation. These skills are to be infused into all K-12 curriculum.

National Core Science Literacy Standards: Standards in the National Core for Literacy specific to reading and writing in science.

Curriculum Guide ComponentsEach unit of study includes the following:

Content Standard: The overall "big idea" of the unit.

Content Objectives: A laundry list of topics to be addressed during the unit.

Iowa Core Statements: Iowa Core standards relating to that unit.

Curriculum Guide ComponentsCommon Student Centered Learning Targets (I

Can Statements): Specific skills and concepts that students should have by the end of the unit. These are directly linked to the benchmark questions.

Common Assessments: Lists the date for the benchmark post test as well as the question number related to each "I Can" statement.

Graduate Ends: Outlines the graduate ends statements related to the unit.

Have your students ever found a mistake

on an exam you’ve created?

It happens.

And it will happen this year.

Common Benchmark AssessmentsCommon Benchmark assessments were revised during

the spring of 2012.

Benchmark assessments will be given at the end of each unit of study.

Benchmark assessments are also available as pretests to use to guide instruction, and in the Data Teams process.

Benchmarks are available for download at: https://www98.achievedata.com/dmps/?prev_page=New

s&page=Login

Step 1

Log in to Data Director:

You can find the link to Data Director on the DMPS web page under the “Staff” tab on the left hand side of the page.

The log in information should be your DMPS username and password.

If you have trouble accessing the information, contact your School Improvement Leader (SIL) or Principal.

Step 2

Click on your teaching site:

Make sure that you select the correct building/location in order to access the information and data.

Step 3

Click on the “assessments” icon in the upper left corner of the screen

Search for an exam by clicking on the correct subject area, academic year and grade level.

When ready, click “SEARCH.”

Click hereto bring up the assessment menu

Step 4

Click on the “PRETEST” or “ASSESSMENT” you want to view

From this page you can access a great deal of information.

Scroll down to find the following (just to name a few): printing bubble sheets, view/save the exam booklet, view your data, save the answer keys, etc.

Click on the assessment you want and scroll all the way down. . .

Here you can print the assessment and any supplementary materials needed.

Benchmark Testing ProtocolsBenchmark test should be given during the

specified testing window.

Test booklets should be printed, numbered and shared among teachers if possible.

Students should take the pre-test without prior instruction by the teacher.

Share the pretest data with the student as soon as possible.

Benchmark Testing ProtocolsStudents should not have access to the test questions

again until the end of the unit post test.

The tests should not leave the classroom with a student.

Post tests should be considered summative assessments.*

Teacher created formative assessments should be used throughout the unit to monitor student learning and to guide instruction.

Benchmark Testing ProtocolsELL and SPED Students:

All students will take the benchmarks unless they are subject to alternate assessment per their IEP.

Students should be accommodated according to their IEP as they would be for ITBS/ITED.

Use your professional judgment on a case by case basis to determine necessary accommodations.

District Science PLCsThis year we will have one Wednesday per

month set aside for District PLC collaboration. Each grade level/content area will meet with their colleagues from across the district to discuss lessons, labs, project implementations, and units.

These meetings will be led by teachers, for teachers, and will be hosted in the following locations (see next slide)

PLC Group Teacher Host

Host Location

Time Dates

Physics/Conceptual Physics

Mike Blair

Hoover HS 1:30-3:15

TBD

Earth Science Scott Voogd

Lincoln South

1:30-3:15

TBD

Environmental Science

Kate Larson

Hoover HS 1:30-3:15

TBD

Chemistry Kate Galligan

Roosevelt HS

1:30-3:15

TBD

Biology Deb Henry

Roosevelt HS

1:30-3:15

TBD

6th Grade Science Bill Flesch

Goodrell MS

1:30-3:15

TBD

7th Grade Science Amy Kissell

Brody MS 1:30-3:15

TBD

8th Grade Science Tracy Cavalier

Weeks MS 1:30-3:15

TBD

*If you teach multiple areas, please pick one to work with for the entire year

* Room numbers will be determined in August

*Dates for each monthly meeting will be determined in August

Additional QuestionsIf you have additional questions concerning

science curriculum guides, benchmarks assessments or other science related issues, please contact your science curriculum coordinator at the following:

Kim O’Donnellkimberly.odonnell@dmschools.orgOffice: 242-7335Fax 242-7702Or visit our science Wiki page at:www.dmpsscience.wikispaces.com