TEACHING AND LEARNING Curriculum, Instruction …...3% of the students who participated in the...
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September 2015 News from the office of…… TEACHING AND LEARNING Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment All CCUSD students will meet or exceed the Arizona’s College and Career Ready Standards. Let’s Grow More Dendrites! Do you remember what happens when a neuron passes an electrical signal to another neuron? You probably remember many parts of the brain because you were actively involved in the learning process with Marcia Tate. We’re glad to hear that so many CCUSD teachers connected with Marcia’s practices. Incorporating brain-based teaching strategies into your lessons is like teaching with glue. The information sticks and learning is fun. Because of your interest and Marcia’s successful teaching strategies, we have invited Marcia back for our opening professional development day next year. Have a great year and let’s grow more dendrites! Cara Herkamp Director of Curriculum & Instruction This summer we spent time updating the website and the V Drive with a lot of new information teachers may use to help with the great Teaching and Learning happening in CCUSD classrooms. Please visit the Writing Tips and Ideas website for a plethora of new information on both teaching and assessing writing. AzMerit Rubrics and Guides can be found in the left navigation bar, along with the Arizona Writing Standards. We have borrowed writing grade-level expectation guides for kindergarten through tenth grade from Nancie Atwell, et.al. [a bunch of writing gurus]. During grade-level/subject area meetings, please be sure to use the resources found in the V drive to assist with planning and teaching. If teachers have a resource to add, a suggestion on standards alignment, or a document to add to the file please share the feedback through this link and we will make the changes. Also, as we move into the school year and focus on professional development, please complete this short survey to help us provide you with the resources and training you need. Have a fabulous 2015-16 school year!! Contact Cara Herkamp at 480-575-2034 [email protected] for further information. Teaching & Learning Support Team Sharon Coil Administrative Assistant 480-575-2018 [email protected] Angela Hart Office Assistant 480-575-2042 [email protected] Dr. Jana Miller Associate Superintendent for Teaching & Learning Humor & Celebration Drawing & Artwork
Transcript of TEACHING AND LEARNING Curriculum, Instruction …...3% of the students who participated in the...
September 2015 News from the office of……
TEACHING AND LEARNING Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
All CCUSD students will meet or exceed the
Arizona’s College and Career Ready Standards.
Let’s Grow More Dendrites!
Do you remember what happens when a neuron passes an electrical signal to
another neuron? You probably remember many parts of the brain because you
were actively involved in the learning process with Marcia Tate.
We’re glad to hear that so many CCUSD teachers connected with Marcia’s
practices. Incorporating brain-based teaching strategies into your lessons is like
teaching with glue. The information sticks and learning is fun.
Because of your interest and Marcia’s successful teaching strategies, we have
invited Marcia back for our opening professional development day next year.
Have a great year and let’s grow more dendrites!
Cara Herkamp Director of Curriculum & Instruction
This summer we spent time updating the website and the V Drive with a lot of new information teachers
may use to help with the great Teaching and Learning happening in CCUSD classrooms. Please visit the
Writing Tips and Ideas website for a plethora of new information on both teaching and assessing writing.
AzMerit Rubrics and Guides can be found in the left navigation bar, along with the Arizona Writing
Standards. We have borrowed writing grade-level expectation guides for kindergarten through tenth grade
from Nancie Atwell, et.al. [a bunch of writing gurus].
During grade-level/subject area meetings, please be sure to use the resources found in the V drive to assist
with planning and teaching. If teachers have a resource to add, a suggestion on standards alignment, or a
document to add to the file please share the feedback through this link and we will make the changes.
Also, as we move into the school year and focus on professional development, please complete this short
survey to help us provide you with the resources and training you need. Have a fabulous 2015-16 school
year!!
Contact Cara Herkamp at 480-575-2034 [email protected] for further information.
Teaching & Learning Support Team
Sharon Coil Administrative Assistant
480-575-2018 [email protected] Angela Hart
Office Assistant 480-575-2042
Dr. Jana Miller
Associate Superintendent for Teaching & Learning
Humor & Celebration
Drawing & Artwork
AzMERIT Update
The 2015 AzMERIT Spring results will be available October 6th. The new AzMERIT performance level
descriptors, that will replace the AIMS performance levels (i.e., Exceeds, Meets, Approaches, and Falls Far
Below), are: Highly Proficient, Proficient, Partially Proficient, and Minimally Proficient. Click here to view
a sample of the AzMERIT Student Report.
On August 24, the State Board of Education adopted the Move On When Reading (MOWR) cut score for
AzMERIT Grade 3 ELA. The adopted MOWR cut score is a reading-only score that is equivalent to the
“Falls Far Below” or FFB level on the previous statewide AIMS Grade 3 Reading assessment. Fewer than
3% of the students who participated in the Spring 2015 AzMERIT Grade 3 LEA test are expected to score
below the cut score. Since the 2015 AzMERIT scores were not available in time for retention decisions, the
MOWR law was not used. For 2015-16, the scores will be available before the end of the school year and
will be used to determine if a 3rd grade student should be promoted or retained.
Contact Danielle Evans at 480-575-2035 [email protected] for further information.
Danielle Evans Director of Research, Planning & Assessment
We have the amazing opportunity in our district to bring Rachel’s Challenge to our high school and middle school students and staff and to our parents in CCUSD®. The presentations will be September 16th at Sonoran Trails Middle School and September 17th at Cactus Shadows High School. An evening presentation at 6:30 pm for our parents, students and other interested community members is September 17th at the Fine Arts Center. Rachel’s Challenge exists to equip and inspire individuals to replace acts of violence, bullying, and negativity with acts of respect, kindness, and compassion. Rachel’s Challenge is based on the life and writings of Rachel Joy Scott who was the first victim of the Columbine school shootings in 1999. Through her example, Rachel’s Challenge is making a positive impact in the lives of millions of people every year. We are bringing Rachel’s Challenge into our schools to help de-escalate problems such as bullying, student isolation, teen suicide, discrimination, and school violence. Rachel’s Challenge provides sustainable solutions.
Please join us for these powerful presentations and be an agent of change!
Contact Gina Durbin at 480-575-2026 [email protected] for further information.
Gina Durbin Director of Student Support Services
Nancy Pratt
Director of Instructional Technology
Contact Nancy Pratt at 480-575-2027 [email protected] for further information.
Cristina Ladas World Language Coordinator
Contact Cristina Ladas at 480-575-2019 [email protected] for further information.
Inspire Excellence.
