Petaluma City Schools
K-12 Curriculum/Staff Development Meeting
October 4, 2011 8:30 – 3:30 District Office
Agenda
Norms:
Come on Time
Stay on prioritized agenda
Build consensus
Make space for quieter voices—don’t dominate discussion
Keep communication open
End with “Next Steps” (action steps)
Keep discussion student centered---the purpose remains linked to students and learning
Item |
Time |
Notes |
Action |
Introductions |
15 min |
Three things index |
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Purpose of the Committee and Organizing to work |
30 min. |
Review and update Committee structure, norms, agreements |
Reviewed overview of committee 10/11 Decision to add one CTE teacher from each high school (two core curriculum folks and a CTE). Verbiage changed to read "This group is a decision-making body for the district. Before a vote is taken, ..." |
Review of District Progress |
30 min |
How’s we do – Student Progress in 10/11 Key Indicators |
API for district is 810. We have 9 schools over 800. Biggest gains made in Special Education. ELLs remain our area of challenge. Ppt to be shared on the wiki.
Suggestion: discuss what went well (to what do we attribute our gains) |
Break |
15 min |
Relax |
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Update on Two Initiatives |
15 min |
Focus Groups and Ren Learning Star |
Focus Groups: The K-12 Curriculum Committee had prioritized ongoing and embedded PD for teachers, as well as serving ELs. This led to the forming of focus groups (lesson study using the IR debrief). Secondary received 3 full days of PD. Elem received a 1/2 day. Focus groups have been created. Secondary will meet with their trainers. Groups are finding their area of focus (POP investigation, demo lessons, note-taking, kid watching, evidence review). Secondary- Peggy, of PHS, shared her experience. Teachers felt strategies were useful and took a lot of time. Group conducted two 20 min. classroom obs to hone ob skills and to finalize the problem of practice. The group decided on the following POP: increase level of discourse for all students by utilizing academic language. The teachers have agreed to try Socratic strategies with release time to observe each other. Group also decided to shadow EL learners to have a sense of their instructional day. Teachers who participated in the EL training are participating in the focus groups. This was not clear to teachers when they enrolled. Elem- East-side Elem is meeting with Tanya Ward-Singer, the west, with Jon Paul of WestEd. McDowell teachers presented their work with Tanya. They've struggled with making their ELD block fun and interesting. Tanya led a demonstration ELD lesson with observers watching students. Teachers saw TPR, sentence frames, turn to your partner, her blunders and corrections. They've decided on similar goals to PHS's group. Teachers will meet in grade levels to determine which lesson and then their same-grade peers will observe.
Concerns: Where do the EL and focus groups intersect? When/how was the decision to move forward with focus groups made? How was the debrief protocol developed? High school folks felt that the focus group was added on to PD unexpectedly. Time intensive and expensive, but worth exploring. It can be non-threatening and useful. Ren Learning STAR: Lorie presented a summary report from STAR Reading, a computerized reading screener/progress-monitoring tool that is aligned to state testing. Lorie explained the scores. Scaled score is based on the difficulty of the question and the number of correct responses. Grant reports SS to parents. GE doesn't mean that the child could perform at that level, but rather. This score fluctuates due to limitations of the test. PR= percentile rank in the same grade. NCE (normal curve equivalent) similar to percentile ranks, range from 1-99. IRL (Instructional reading level) student reads at 80% accuracy for that grade level. P= primer, PP= preprimer. Mary uses Zone of Proximal Development, another report through STAR. Logistics tricky for some schools.Testing environments need refining. We need to establish screening dates for the rest of the school year. Questions about proctoring and training on reports. High school has not been trained in how to access results. |
Review/Input Draft Board Goals/Tactics |
15 min. |
11/12 goals |
New language- "college and career readiness" Divided into three areas/columns(Academic Support for Students, Support for Instructional Team, Supportive Learning Environment). Clarification sought on: Sharecase/mini-conference for K-6 Facilitator training
Action Item: -Reoffer facilitator training |
Introduction to Common core Standards |
1 hour |
A review and familiarization of Common core Standards in English Language Arts- Jane and Pat B. (from SCOE to present CTE and CC connections)
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CC Assessment Roll-out Timeline: 2014-15 new assessment, Smarter Balanced Assessment administered. Computerized (results within 3 weeks), replacing CSTs, based on common core, administered 4x/yr, shorter, starting in 3rd grade, 3rd-7th, 9, 11. Paper/pencil option available. Math only 40% computerized. 2013-14 Field testing of Smarter Balanced Assessment, CSTs still administered 2012-13 Next school year, piloting test with no feedback, CSTs still administered
Questions/Concern: K-2?, Seniors aren't tested, tech funding for the computers necessary to administer. How does CA CC compare to nat'l? CST standards vs CC standards' scope and sequence (grade changes) and lost skills. Modified version comparable to CMA available? What will Science and SS look like?
Our plan: SY11-12: K-12 Curriculum familiarizes itself with CC and establish plan SY12-13: Train teachers in CC SY 13-14: Instruction using CC SY 14-15: Administer SBA
Jane summarized the CC using a ppt from CA County Superintendents Educational Services Association. (see document). Adopted by 42 states. Option to add up to 15% (which CA did). www.cde.ca.gov/ highlights our additions in red. Strands discussed. Standard #1= same topic idea consistent through grade levels. Informational text emphasized. Standards packet (10/15/10 update) reviewed. CA additions underlined in this version. Committee grouped to answer questions to familiarize ourselves with the CC. Committee grouped by interest to review the following areas: Literature, Info Text, Writing, Speaking and Listening, Language, History/SS, Science/Tech. We picked one sub-standard for the area and traced it across K-12 and discussed the key points, big shifts, how will we help teachers to understand it.
Questions/concerns: There is interest in seeing the standards(current and CC) side-by-side and model assignments. Curriculum for CC?
Pat Biagi distributed course outlines and industry sector writing team recommendations. (Pitch of a roof= slope of a line). CTE standards are under review and will be modified in the next year. They're looking to partner teachers(across courses) in order to map the standards. |
Lunch |
1 hour |
Eat, Drink and Be Merry! |
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Changes |
15 min |
The Change Process- Ellen Lewis |
Ellen presented a ppt on change and being a change agent. She distributed a packet on "The Mission of Change Agents". Peggy shared that the questions could be reframed as student-centered questions and that they would motivate teachers. Kim reiterated the importance of trust to institute change. Highlighted slides- -What People Want: Information, Impact, Process, Participation -Trust:Sincere, Competent, Reliable, Caring
Action Item: Ellen to send ppt to committee |
Common core Standards Con’t |
75 min. |
Develop an Action Plan for Common core Implementation in PCS Small groups K-6, 7-8, 9-12 |
Members assembled by grade level groupings(K-6, 7-8, 9-12) to discuss what's needed for the new CC assessment to be administered in March-May 2015. (See groups' butcher paper note pages.)
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Introducing the WIKI |
15 min |
A new tool for communication |
Lorie presented the district wiki and its functionality. The committees' agendas and minutes will appear there. It includes links to subfinder, district email, etc. http://pcscomcentral.pbworks.com
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Updates from Sites |
30 min. |
Updates from Reps DSG |
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Meeting Evaluation : Top Three |
10 min. |
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1. wiki link 2. CC standards and upcoming assessment 3. share draft of board goals 4. DWSG Sharecase and accompanying survey
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