ELEMENTARY UPDATESJuly 22, 2019Kristin Fox, Assistant Superintendent Curriculum & InstructionKathy Stotler, K-12 World Language/ESL SupervisorTom Misiak, K-12 Science & Technology Supervisor

PLATOONING GRADE 5

YEAR 1: BUILDING PILOT 2018-2019▪ Board Presentation, June 18, 2018▪ Benefits▪ Students would be better prepared for William Annin▪ Teachers can specialize in specific subject areas, focusing on their passion and

strength▪ Students build relationships with different fifth grade teachers▪ Teachers have a greater ability to differentiate their instruction to meet the needs of all

learners▪ Students are able to have some movement during the day, which helps increase

attention▪ Students have an opportunity to be challenged academically by different teachers in

different classroom environments▪ Building Based▪ Specific schedules varied in each building

IMPLEMENTATION

▪Met with the full 5th grade team throughout the year ▪ Developed curriculum map for alignment across district▪Addressed challenges encountered during the pilot▪Analyzed the impact on students and staff

▪Collaboratively developed common schedule for 2019-2020

YEAR 2: DISTRICT PILOT 2019-2020▪ Common ground▪ Hybrid of the building pilots▪ 50 Minute Instructional Blocks▪ Uninterrupted block of reading/writing for students▪ Teachers are teaching 2-3 subjects▪ Students are platooning, not departmentalizing▪ Students are with "homeroom" teacher to start and end the day

▪ Summer work:▪ Develop common approach to Back to School Night, Conferences, Assessment▪ Evaluation/configuration of Literacy and Math Support schedules▪ Continue to analyze performance data seeking to understand if there has been

any positive gains in student achievement▪ Refine schedules to maximize all resources

SAMPLE 5 SECTION SCHEDULEHomeroom 8:45-9:20 Class 1 Class 2 Class 3 Class 4 Class 5

Period 1-Special 9:20-10:10

Period 2 10:10-11:00 Science Social Studies Reading Math Science

Period 3 11:00-11:50 Science Social Studies Writing Math Social Studies

Period 4 11:50-12:40 Science Social Studies Social Studies Math Math

Period 5 - Lunch/Recess 12:40-1:30

Period 6 1:30-2:20 Reading Reading (IS) Reading Reading Math

Period 7 2:20-3:10 Writing Writing (IS) Writing Writing Science

Dismissal 3:10-3:15

SAMPLE 4 SECTION SCHEDULEHomeroom 8:30-8:45 Class 1 Class 2 Class 3 Class 4

Zero Period 8:50-9:20

Period 1 9:20-10:10 SPECIAL

Period 2 10:10-11:00 Reading Reading Social Studies Social Studies

Period 3 11:00-11:50 Writing Writing Math Science

Period 4 11:50-12:40 Social Studies Social Studies Math Science

Period 5 12:40-1:30 LUNCH

Period 6 1:30-2:20 Reading Reading Math Science

Period 7 2:20-3:10 Writing Writing Math Science

End 3:10-3:15

FEEDBACK, PARENT SURVEY JUNE 2019 130 RESPONSES (25% OF GRADE)

WHAT DID PARENTS LIKE?(71 COMMENTS)

▪ *Benefits of having multiple teachers▪ Increased student independence▪ Benefits of changing classes (breaks, different teaching styles)▪ More engaging learning environment▪ Better prepared students for middle school; with a soft transition ▪ More depth in different subjects, science every day!▪ Helped students develop organizational skills▪ Great communication

FEEDBACK FOR IMPROVEMENT(35 COMMENTS)

▪ *Decreased connection to teacher▪ Homework issues (too much, too little, confusing)▪ Communication needs to be better▪ Students should change students as well as teacher▪ Instructional time too short▪ No noticeable difference from transition of older children▪ Unrelated to platooning (complaint about math instruction, level of rigor, give

students even more responsibility, structure of reading/writing schedule)▪ Students carrying books between classes

SPANISH

SCHEDULE 2 - 30 MIN SESSIONS PER WEEK

8:50-9:20 Gr 5 Spanish Homeroom

9:20-9:50 Gr 5 Spanish Media / Library

10:10-10:40 Gr 4 Spanish Media / Library

11:00-11:30 Gr 4 Spanish Content Block

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Homeroom A B C D E

Special D E A B C

*Schedules may vary slightly by school

GOALS - 2015-2016 K-5 WL PROGRAM EVALUATION

Our ultimate goal is to start an Elementary World Language Program where our students reach a least Novice-Mid Proficiency or higher. According to the NJ Student Learning Standards for WL, we hope that our World Language learner will be able to...

● Understand and communicate at the word level ● Independently identify and recognize memorized words and phrases that bring

meaning to text.● Use memorized words and phrases independently to:

○ Respond to learned questions○ Ask memorized questions○ State needs and preferences○ Describe people, places, and things○ Make lists

● Develop personal identity through experiences that occur within one’s family, one’s community, and the culture at large.

INSTRUCTION & ASSESSMENTCurriculum

1) Amigos y Escuelas Latinas a) Chile / South Americab) Success in Spanishc) Introductions

2) Un Cumpleanosa) Mexico / Central Americab) Celebrating birthdaysc) Families

3) Mi Puebloa) Spainb) Helping othersc) Travel

4) Mi Mundoa) Costa Ricab) Climatec) Animals

Report CardsInterpersonal - Demonstrates ability to exchange language with a partner

Interpretive - Demonstrates ability to comprehend oral and/or written language

Presentational- Demonstrates ability to produce oral and/or written language

INFORMATION & DIGITAL LITERACY - SPECIAL

PREVIOUS MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM: 2 CURRICULA

Media Center:

All Grades K-5:

● Met once every other week during special for 50 minutes

○ During an “off week” media specialist & media center were available for sign-up by grade level teachers

● Received instruction on content related to the media center

○ Ie: conducting research using valid sources; selecting appropriate books for leisurely reading

● Engaged in book selection & checkout

Technology Program:

All Grades K-5:

● Met once a week every other week during special for 50 minutes

○ Same time as media center (time shared on alternating weeks)

○ Computer Teacher & computer lab were available for sign-up during :”off weeks”

● Received instruction on educational technology/computer skills

○ Ie. typing; using Google Suite to create materials for class work/projects

REVISION WILL TURN THESE PROGRAMS INTO A SINGLE CURRICULUMInformation and Digital Skills

● Unit 1: Library Citizenship (Media)● Unit 2: Digital Citizenship (Technology)● Unit 3: Literature Appreciation (Media)● Unit 4: Educational Technology Skills (Technology)● Unit 5: Information Literacy (Media)● Unit 6: Programming (Technology)

All 6 units will be covered every year in all six grades K-5 in a “spiraling” approach

STRUCTURE OF INFORMATION AND DIGITAL SKILLS● Media Specialists are always in the building

● Computer teachers are in the building every other week

“A Week”

● Computer teachers at LCS & MPS○ Students in LCS & MPS will receive “technology lessons” during special○ Students in CHS & OSS will receive “media lessons” during special

● Media Specialist/Media Center at LCS & MPS available for sign-up

“B Week”

● Computer teachers at CHS & OSS○ Students in CHS & OSS will receive “technology lessons” during special○ Students in LCS & MPS will receive “media lessons” during special

● Media Specialist/Media Center at CHS & OSS available for sign-up

STRUCTURE OF INFORMATION AND DIGITAL SKILLS (CONT)Grades K-3:

● 50 minutes in the media center during special one week; 50 minutes in the computer lab during special in the next week

○ Media program still includes book selection/checkout

Grades 4 & 5:

● 25 minutes every week during special○ Program is still being revised so a determination as to how to best leverage this time across

all 6 units between two teachers is still being mapped out○ One proposal include utilizing media center sign-up time to handle book selection

Q&A