12-18-13

Agenda for Dec 18, 2013

1. share dept news from Monday's dept meetings (all) Math -- Sarah shared with the team that differentiation is a hot topic on the table right now for math. Many people shared what their thoughts/ideas were about how we could meet the kids' needs through various differentiation options. This conversation will continue and Sarah will keep team abreast on when/how we may begin differentiating across the grade level. AKA -- flexible grouping (perhaps by skill or perhaps by unit) Science -- Claudia reported that grades K-4 shared what units they are currently working on as well as some hands-on materials that each grade level is using. Be sure to consider what technology fits well with each of our units was another message from that dept meeting. For example, second grade utilized the new digiscopes when working on our living/nonliving studies. LA -- Mike shared that SCOPE and SEQUENCE is the big topic for LA in SK - 4th grade. They talked about doing away with the tests that are affiliated with the TROPHIES series. The dept is taking a closer look at COMMON CORE and making sure our language arts skills are aligned to COMMON CORE. Mike said that each grade level should have all their reading skills aligned to COMMON CORE by the end of January. This includes which skills are covered during which quarter and which quarter each skill should be "sec, dev, beg." Include how you've met the reading skills as well -- through the TROPHIES series or through DAILY FIVE. Be sure to also consider what other skills we cover that may not show up on Common Core.


 * Our team is very co ncerned about the expectation from the LA committee and specifically the deadline date, considering that this is report card time **.

2. share new details from the reporting committee regarding the math section on our January report card (Sarah)

Here is the exact phrasing the committee agreed on for problem solving:

"Utilizes the problem solving process to solve word problems accurately" AND "Accurately solves word problems"

Here is the exact phrasing agreed upon for basic facts:

"Accurately solves 12 addition facts in one minute" "Accurately solves 12 subtraction facts in one minute"

3. Look over the descriptors for each math strand and come to an agreement on what EXACTLY will constitute a SEC, DEV, or BEG on the upcoming math report card (all)

These are the numbers our team agreed on for the sake of consistency when filling out the math reports in January:

Geometry -- 3/3 is secure 2/3 is developing anything less is a beginning Measurement and Data -- 3/4 or 4/4 is secure 2/4 is developing anything less is a beginning Operations and Algebraic Thinking -- 11/13 or higher is secure 9/13 and 10/13 is developing anything less is beginning Number and Operations in Base Ten 8/10 or higher is secure 7/10 is developing anything less is beginning

Basic Facts 2/2 is secure 1/2 is developing 0/2 is beginning Problem Solving -- 2/2 is secure 1/2 is developing 0/2 is beginning

4. share what we find useful on the Daily Five/CAFE website....Did everyone get renewed? (all)

5, discuss our writing curriculum for the second half of the year -- does the pen pal unit still fit into the grand scheme of things based on our meeting with Mr. Glover in Oct?

6. Winter "party" --- what's everyone doing? what time?

7. Other???