Curriculum & Education UpdateOctober 14, 2013

1. Continuation of Vertical Teams in Math, Science & Gifted

2. Launch of Vertical Teams in English/Language Arts & Technology Education/Computer Science

3. District-wide professional development for skills related to rigorous lessons, assessments and expectations.

4. Updated and expanded New Teacher Induction

5. Sustained, targeted professional development in Critical Literacy

6. Continued alignment of elementary school programs

Curriculum & Education

Vertical TeamsReview

Develop

Implement

Monitor

Math Vertical Team:Math in Focus at SHMS

Science Vertical TeamELA Vertical Team

Tech/Comp Sci Vertical Team

Math Vertical Team:Math in Focus at Elementary

Gifted Vertical Team

Math in FocusImplementation at Elementary

Schools• 2013: Teachers began spring

training• Implementation K-5

• Cathy Stambaugh – Teacher on Special Assignment

Math in FocusElementary Math Parent Night: Strath Haven

Middle School

“Numerous parents left very excited about where we are headed

in the area of math in elementary school.”

Science Vertical Team• Irene Buecheler, SRS• Joseph Buecheler, Administration• Michael Haines, SRS• John Lincke, SHHS• Bernadette Kutufaris, NPE• Lowyn Morris, WES• Chrissy Smith, WES• Christine Riggio, SHHS• Sheryl Ursillo, SHHS• Brian Ward, SHMS

ELA Vertical Team• Jennifer Conahan, SRS• Dawn Dankanich, WES• Marc DeJong, SHMS• Miriam Drew, SHHS• Tara Gallagher, WES• Tara Irey, WES• Jeanette Kaplan, WES• Stephanie Lehman, SHHS• Martha Lambertsen, WES• Reagan Lattari, SHHS• Richard Law, SHMS• Sandra Liacouras, SHHS• Jen McGaffin, WES

• Marianne Murphy, SHMS• Daniel Peterson, SHHS• Jeannie Pietrzak, SHHS• Carol Prendergast, SRS• Donna Ranere, NPE• Christine Riggio, SHHS• Barbara Rudy, NPE• Eleanor Salgado, SHMS• Maria Thomas, NPE• Martha Trzepacz, SHMS• Bridget Welsh, SHMS• Robert Zakrzewski, SHHS

ELA Vertical Team• Writing across the curriculum • Program and skill alignment • Diversity of literature• Reading Comprehension• A sequenced approach to research instruction

Gifted Vertical Team• Jennifer Conahan, SRS• Debbie Wile, WES• Bernadette Kutufaris, NPE• Kate Jones, NPE• Roberta Shapiro, SRS• Kristin Dunning, SHHS• Maria Klumpp, SRS• Marc DeJong, SHMS• Ellen Yarborough, SHHS• Colette Sabatina, NPE,• Jacqlyn Zarabba, WES

Gifted Vertical TeamTo help all learners reach their full potential, the GVT will: • Continue to act as a long term leadership team

to increase effectiveness of instructional designs and enrichment opportunities across environments

• Research and recommend best practices to support gifted learners as well as students needing enrichment

Technology / Computer Science Vertical Team

• Jennifer Hole, WES• Michael Marano, Administration• Dan DeMara, SHMS• Stephanie Cairone-King, SHMS• Mike Ciavolo, SHMS• Xaras Collins-Brown, District• Eric McElroy, SRS• Dave Mendell, WES• Dan Zimmerman, SHHS• Kathleen McLead, SHHS• Caitlyn Locke, alternate

TCS Vertical Team• STEM• Program and skill alignment • Real World Applications• Educational Technology vs. Technology Education• Cross-curricular connections

Education Vision TeamBryan Neuber, SRSDave Mendel, WES

Jennifer Brown, NPEKaren Hirt, SHMS

Claudia Carlsson, SHMSJosh Peterkin, Administration

Dina Dormer, SHHSSuzanne Stadnicki, SHHSPatrick Keaveney, SHHSJohn Shankweiler, SHHS

Curriculum & Instruction should be…

ACHIEVEMENT-CENTEREDFocused on

student learning and benchmarks

for progress

ENGAGINGStudent-

centered, active, and experiential

RIGOROUS

Appropriately challenging for

all students

Curriculum and instruction is Rigorous when it is robust enough to challenge all students to…

• think critically

• perform in an arena of high expectations

• seek opportunities that expand

their potential beyond the standard.

Professional DevelopmentIn-service Days

August: Presenters from DCIU on Webb’s Depth of

Knowledge

November & February: AM: Workshops on rigorous practices and

strategies PM: Vertical Team Meetings

Professional Development

• Essential Questions• PA Core Standards• Open-ended / Real

World Inquiry• Debate in the Classroom• Rubric Development• Scaffolding for Rigor• Performance Task

Development

• Webb’s Depth of Knowledge 2.0

• Rigorous Writing• Q & A for Higher-order

Thinking• Reader’s Workshop

Strategies• Various I-pad Apps

November Topics

Professional DevelopmentAct 80 Days

Strath Haven High SchoolDesign and update Moodle webpages for all

classes

Strath Haven Middle School & Elementary Schools

Training in Danielson’s Framework for Teacher Effectiveness Using Teachscape Modules

Teachers as Scholars 2013-2014 Courses

Great Ideas in Mathematics

Cults of Personality & the Twentieth Century

Cracking Visual Codes

Curriculum & EducationNovember Update

Data on 2011-12 PSSA, PVAAS, SAT’s, AP, Keystones