CCC Minutes 9/8/08

Curriculum Coordinating Committee (CCC)
Minutes
September 8, 2008

Start Time 3:40
End Time 4:40

Present: Raye Anne DeSoto, Sue Williamson, Candace Avery, Hazel Poulin, Barbara Miller, Howie Tuttle, Dian Bailey, David Walker, Kris Canning, Debra Butterfield, Terry McGuire, Jeanne Lysobey, Dean Hall, Jen Havey, Hazel Poulin, Kyle Smith, Hope St. Denis, Candace Avery

Work around the District this year
Communication report and discussion about the work for this year.
Below is a list of all the activities that were discussed.

K-5
Literacy Asssessment Timeline
Early Mathematical Thinking Assessment
NWEA MAP test
Standards-Based Grading Full Implementation
Powerschool open to parents third trimester
Response to Intervention Pilots
Curriculum Mapping
Academic Audit Plans– Relevance, Consistency, Safety
Using INFORM pilots
Continued updates to LAS
SciWrite – Gr 3, 4, 5
Using the DRA as an instructional tool
Literacy Specialists – good switch? Data on this?
Technology Skills Checklist and standards
Academic Tutorial
Responsive Classroom
Special Education SPIRE implementation
Title I iSucceed mathematics implementation

6-8
NWEA MAP test
Literacy Initiative
Geogebra Initiative
Full Standards-Based Grading Implementation
Response to Intervention Pilots
Curriculum Mapping
Academic Audit Plans – Relevance, Consistency, Safety
Using INFORM
Updates to LAS
Action Plan for MEA
ELA reading and writing combined
6-12 Alignment and Scope and Sequence and Evaluation tools
Differentiation??
Anything Else?
Eligibility, Honor Roll, Retention, Acceleration, etc. (work habits, etc.)
Academic Tutorial
Special Education SPIRE implementation

9-12
Accreditation Work
Syllabus Approval Work
Updates to LAS
Academic Audit Plans – Relevance, Consistency, Safety
Differentiation??
Literacy Initiative?
Academic Tutorial
Standards-Based Grading
6-12 Alignment Scope and Sequence ELA and other areas?

K-12
K-12 Health/PE Curriculum Review
K-12 Mathematics Curriculum Review

Goals for CCC this year?
All members should think about a CCC goal for the year. Email Howie with thoughts. One suggestion is to look at the Retention, Acceleration, Honor Roll, Athletic Eligibility policies in regards to the Work Habits Standard.

Much Discussion about the need for a typing curriculum

CCC Meetings for the year

Monday Dec 1, 2008 3:40pm CCC Meeting/CO - Central Office Board
Monday Mar 2, 2009 3:40pm CCC - Central Office Board Room
Monday May 4, 2009 3:40pm CCC/CO - Central Office

CCC Minutes 1/28/08

Curriculum Coordinating Committee (CCC) Minutes
Monday, January 28, 2008 3:30-5:30

Please scroll to the bottom for important attachments

Present: Hazel Poulin, Barbara Miller, Rie Kittredge, Barbara Packales, Hope St. Denis, Donna Whalen, Jeanne Lysobey, Patti Woodbury, Raye Anne DeSoto, Jen Havey, Dean Hall, Sue Williamson, Kyle Smith, Mary Jo Stevens, Dianne Bailey, Karen Moody, Judi Morin, Rie Kittredge, Ira Michaud, Sonya Laramee, Amy Whitman, Kris Canning, Terry McGuire, Mary Jo Stevens, Kyle Smith

Absent: Health/PE Representative

ELA Review 3:30-4:30

3:30-3:45 Reading K-5 Key Points
Fountas and Pinnell Phonics Program – detailed lesson plans. Needs to be mandated.
Vocabulary – No program in place. We need this
Comprehension – DRA kits
Fluency – Fluency rubric
No Scope and Sequence – they need to develop one. Need clear expectations for reading instruction.
Stuff that is needed – Big books, more professional development with guided reading
Lexia program – if it works – LER is piloting and collecting data.
Questions about DRA and Running Records in General – need to fix the way this done K-5
Reading A-Z is a wonderful resource for Leveled Books. There is a district subscription.
Running Records on students who are grade level or below.
More time to watch people teach Guided Reading, Shared Reading, Independent Reading.
Vocabulary is widespread
Feedback through coaching
Need booklists at each grade level
Spelling Curriculum? – we don’t have one.
More Leveled Books…need book rooms.
Need Leveled Non-Fiction

3:45-4:00 Writing K-5 Key Points
Realign to MLR
Handwriting without Tears coming out of Teacher’s budgets
More consistent scoring. Writing continuum
Barry Lane came to talk about Revision
Writing Curriculum System-Wide
Lucy Caulkins Unit of Study Kits K-2 and 3-5
Regular staff trainings offered
Looking at and developing anchor papers for K-5
Spelling Program is scattered. Core words are still out there, but there is no comprehensive spelling program

4:00-4:15 ELA 6-8 Key Points Discussed
Common Anthology, but not used commonly.
Time to plan for common SBG by grade level.
Continued supports for diverse literacy materials.
Consultant such as Pam Buffington in the area of Literacy is a big need.
Enhance the role of literacy in all content areas.
Need a keyboarding class at the middle school.
Need more laptops for sixth grade learners.
Keyboarding was a big topic and discussed extensively.

4:15-4:30 ELA 9-12 Key Points Discussed
Strong Department Unity
Assessments and Curriculum aligned with Maine Learning Results
Need to find a way to reach students in the technology age – Consultant?
Piloting new anthology which uses a lot more technology
Interested in having “self-selection” libraries in their classrooms
Need a lot more time to discuss Standards-Based Grading and align curriculum to new MLR

4:30-5:30 Discussion and Votes on Many Important Topics
Proposed CCC operating procedures – Vote – Accepted 17-0.

Proposed MSAD #11's Local Assessment System ReDefined. Howie shared the Local Assessment system portal on the district website, the Assessment Submission Form, a paper titled MSAD #11’s Local Assessment System ReDefined. and described the streamlined assessment approval process. Motion to approve the New Local Assessment System website, definition, and approval process. – Approved 17- 0

Proposed Recommendation of Trimesters at the Elementary Level – Motion to accept the proposal – Approved 17-0. Must go to School Board vote for final approval.

Proposed Curriculum Review Cycle – Motion to accept the curriculum review cycle – Approved 17 - 0

Howie will be explaining Redefined Local Assessment System to various groups in the next month.

Howie shared the proposed Standards-Based Grading Timeline. CCC will vote on this timeline at next meeting.

A Proposed Progress Report for the Elementary Level will be forthcoming. This progress report will be approved by Elementary Teachers and the CCC.

Respectfully Submitted,

Howie Tuttle
Director of Curriculum and Instruction

CCC Minutes 12/17/07

The documents below were reviewed by the CCC.

Proposed CCC Operating Procedures
Proposed Curriculum Review Framework
Proposed Curriculum Review Cycle
Proposed Assessment Submission Form

To download a copy of the minutes below, scroll to the bottom and click on the link.

CCC Meeting Minutes December 17, 2007 3:30-4:45pm

Attendance: Raye Anne DeSoto, David Walker, Barbara Miller, Jeanne Lysobey, Candace Avery, Kris Canning, Debra Butterfield, Mary Jo Stevens, Barbara Miller, Dean Hall, Hazel Poulin, Kyle Smith, Hope St. Denis, Howie Tuttle

CCC Operating Procedures

• Discussed the responsibilities of being a CCC member
• Consistent attendance at meetings
• Communication back to staff and Content Area Committees
• Discussed Charges of the CCC
• Make recommendations to the Director of Curriculum, the Superintendent, the Long Range Planning Committee, and the School Board
• Refer to CCC Operating Procedures document above

Local Assessment System Discussion

• Discussion about a one step approval process. Refer to Assessment Submission Form above
• Discussion about the purpose of the Local Assessment System
• Monitor student achievement
• Target students for Intervention and Assistance
• Use local assessments as part of a Professional Learning Community in order to improve instruction
• No longer is the local assessment system in itself used as a graduation requirement
• Discussion about redefining a “Common Assessment”
• Basically any assessment given in common.
• This can include formative assessments or summative assessments as long as they are given in common; assessments such as District-Wide Writing Prompt, SRI, DRA, running records, etc.
• All assessments given in common will be sent to the Director of Curriculum for recording on the local assessment system website. (www.msad11.org/las/all)
• Discussed the need to have easy access to local assessment system data without a giant paper shuffle. Looking into the idea of “Pushing” the local assessment system into people’s grade books so that they all are titled the same and attached to the correct standards. Then, the data can be pulled out easily. (in theory) This vision is being pursued by Howie and Terry.
• See Assessment Submission Form above

Retention Policy and Summer School

• Very Brief discussion about the impact of this policy on grades 3-5 and 6-8.
• CCC will revisit this.
• Howie will be bringing a proposed summer school budget to the finance committee.

A Professional Development Committee

• Discussed the formation of this committee in order to have all involved in making choices around Professional Development and the Real Deal Calendar

The ELA Curriculum Review and the Curriculum Review Cycle - Purpose, etc.

• Discussed the characteristics of the Curriculum Review Cyle and the Purpose
• Please refer to Curriculum Review Cycle document above for more information

Discussion and possible vote on Trimesters at the Elementary Level

• Three trimesters at elementary level. All the same length
• A simple progress report given out halfway through the trimester
• Grade Level Facilitators will discuss the idea of Trimesters at Early Release on Wednesday, December 19, 2007 and report back to Howie

Agenda for Next Meeting, January 28th, 2007

• 3:30-4:30 ELA Curriculum Review Report Out
• 4:30-5:00 Discussion and Vote on four items (CCC members please review the attached documents and be prepared to discuss and vote.)
• CCC Operating Procedures - CCC Operating Procedures
• Redefining scope, purpose, and approval process of the Local Assessment System. Assessment Submission Form
• Curriculum Review Cycle – Curriculum Review Cycle
• Trimesters at the Elementary Level – written proposal in process

CCC Minutes 9/10/07

Click on the link below for the CCC minutes from September 10, 2007

ELA Committee Minutes 9/27/07

ELA Committee
Meeting Agenda
Thursday, September 27, 2007
3:30 - 5:30 P.M. @ Central Office

Committee Members in Attendance:
Rie Kittredge, Sue Folsum, Debra Butterfield, Donna Whalen, Sonya Larrame, Amy Whitman, Sarah Brown, Kris Canning, Alma Ranslow, Cynthia Snow, Jolaine Galibois-Barss, Jolaine Galibois-Barss, Mary Jo Stevens, Cheryl Lukens, Sue Shepherd, Judi Morin, Karen Moody, Howie Tuttle

Many thanks to all for sharing their thoughts, and for the clarifying discussions!

ELA Assessment Timeline Discussion (Current Time Line Is To Be Followed)
Consensus on all assessments must be meaningful and timely
Kindergarten teachers will discuss the addition of a Phonemic Awareness Assessment and what (if any) should come off the plate. (Historical Note: 2005 we used the LPA- Language Processing Assessment. Kindergarten found that it was not useful.) Question: Does the Fountas & Pinnell assessments in the beginning of the binder meet this need?
Re-word- K-Spring-4th quarter to read: If student is at Level C in Reading, the Letter ID, Concepts of Print, and Rhyming do not need to be given. Teachers will document when these items were attained.
Add MS & HS component
MS- all students given the SRI in Oct- if score low then do DRA as additional diagnostic piece
DRA Discussion
A discussion is needed at grades 1-5 grade level mtgs about the best time to give DRA’s; Fall vs Spring (i.e. K will give it in the spring due to the nature of the learners.) A straw vote at this meeting indicated that Fall would be best. (Please gather input from your colleagues and be prepared to have a formal vote at our next meeting Oct 15) The thought was shared that administering the DRA relays valuable information to the teacher in planning instruction. Getting the scores in the fall without that info may not help advance a teacher’s understanding of specific student needs.
Keep in mind that DRA’s are already calibrated for Fall & Spring time periods. (Not calibrated for a January administration)
Keep in mind that Title I does them each Fall and Spring anyway-reducing the number of DRA assessments classroom teachers have to complete.
Revisited giving DRA twice a year. (Historical Note: we have discussed this before and realize that a pre and post test is often valuable data points, yet we have other data points (running records) that can provide equally valuable info without the considerable time spent on assessing, especially at the upper elementary levels.)
A need for more test books was shared. (Gr 4-5 are readily available, Gr K-3 we may not be able to get because they are phasing out of that kit.)

Fall/Spring Writing Prompts: Sample prompt ideas were distributed-feel free to use/discard/ change as needed.
HS prompt is modeled on the SAT prompt genre. (They are given a phrase and must respond to it.)
Prompt will be generated by the HS ELA department
MS prompt is modeled on the MEA “Persuasive” prompt genre
Prompt will be generated by the 8th grade ELA team
ELEM prompt is modeled on the MEA “Personal Narrative” prompt genre
Prompt will be generated at grade level meetings. Each grade level will choose their common personal narrative prompt. All students at that grade level will have the same prompt.
Scoring Writing Prompts
Fall Prompt Nov 19-30 Send Scores to Building Principal
Principals- Scores due by Dec 14 to Howie Tuttle
Spring Prompt April 28-May 2
Principals-Scores due by May 16 to Howie Tuttle
K-5 will continue the use of the Writing Continuum Rubric
K-2 teachers, (Sonya, Kris), will share a highlighting strategy for the Writing Continuum rubric.
Gr 6-12 will continue to use the MEA Rubric
Anchor papers are extremely important to the scoring process. Student exemplars/anchor papers may be shown to students prior to the writing prompt to keep the goal in mind.
Students who do not write to the prompt will not be penalized in their score.
All grade levels will use the anchor paper discussions (grade level or department meetings) to calibrate teachers for the scoring of papers. Papers that teachers have questions about can be double scored. This will allow teachers new to the district an opportunity to talk w/colleagues and get assistance with the scoring process. [Teachers may ask a colleague to score their papers or score their own. They may double score all papers if desired]
Score Sheets will be sent to each teacher. Student names and ID’s will already be there. Please record each student’s score and performance level using capital letters (DNM, PM, M, E). Please use only these designations-no small case, no other abbreviations, etc.. ) Thanks!
The time frame to administer the prompts will be consistent k-12; one 45-minute writing session with the option of an additional 15 extra minutes if needed. (Up to 45 minutes, but not to exceed 60 minutes.)
Teachers are to send their scores to their building principal. The principal will verify that all classes and students are accounted for before sending them by the final deadlines to Howie Tuttle.

Curriculum Committee Membership
Howie has reviewed the budget and shared his plan for streamlining the curriculum committees while providing valuable sub-committee work time (paid).
Howie shared a handout showing the representation plan.
Each grade level team will decide who will represent their grade level at the curriculum committee. The prior expectation that all teachers serve on a committee has been relaxed.
Communication with all teachers will need to be enriched and is the goal!
Sub-Committees
Curriculum Review & Alignment with New MSLR Date: TBA
Debra Butterfield (to share an “un-packing” process)
Melissa Cheeseman
Sue Folsum
Rie Kittredge
Sonya Laramee
Assessment Date: TBA
Cynthia Snow
Kris Canning
Amy Whitman

ELA Curriculum Review
Howie share his new version of the format for the board information. The wonderful work already done over the summer will be incorporated into this new format.
A CCC presentation is also scheduled for January 28, 2008.
The ELA Committee will choose two representatives to attend CCC meetings. To be decided at our next meeting. (Oct 15)

Next Meeting- Monday, October 15 @ 3:30 P.M. in the Central Office

Respectfully Submitted:
Judi Morin

6-8 ELA Meetings December

GRMS Language Arts Committee, Dec.3, 2007

We met at 2:20 in 107.
Attending were: Howie Tuttle, Donna Whalen, Debra Butterfield, Diana Dionne-Morang, Judy Jamison, Susan Graves-LeClair, Sharon Mathews, Lyn Ballou, Pat O'Connor, Hope St. Denis, Kim Quirion.

Howie Tuttle attended to clarify what we need to keep in mind while writing up the ELA Curriculum Review. Basically, he said we should look at the review as an opportunity to let the school board know what we are doing and what we need. This will be ELA's chance to ask for money for materials and programs. ELA will not be reviewed again for 5 years. Our report will be combined with the reports of ELA committees from the elementary schools and the high school, so our portion should not take any more than 10-15 minutes to present .The combined report will be presented to the CCC on January 28. Howie will take the report to the school board at a later date. (Pat, Debra, Judy, and Donna have met with Rie Kittredge and other HS teachers to discuss procedure.)
Howie encouraged us to keep our report simple and informative, and to back it up with data such as we would find from the Academic Audit. He stressed that data will be especially helpful in areas we are asking to upgrade. One year's data should be sufficient. The items addressed do not need to cost money.The suggestions for "List of Strengths" and "List of What Needs Upgrading" do not all need to be addressed, they are meant to guide us. We should keep in mind needs we anticipate for the next 5 years.
Our building ELA committee will meet after the potluck lunch on December 19 to work on our review report. We have a scheduled building committee meeting on January 7. Interested members may meet at the high school with Rie Kittredge and other English teachers to compare/refine our reports on January 9.

Howie said he has been in touch with Mary Burns, a language arts consultant. She will be working with us on the March7 workshop day. We should plan to meet in the board room at CO and we should bring laptops. Ms. Burns will be showing us how to use Inspiration to fuel our instruction. There is a possibility that she will be available for two more professional development days. Sixth grade teachers should be able to use laptops from their banks as the district has purchased the Inspiration license for all laptops.
Julie Meltzer, of CRN Consultants is supposed to send Howie her estimate to come to MSAD 11 to conduct a literacy audit.

Please note: December 19 as our time to work on the review; January 7, 2:20 as our next meeting date.

---

Minutes, ELA, December 19, 2007

In attendance: Debra Butterfield, Pat O'Connor, Gretchen Sias, Donna Whalen. After the scheduling meeting,Judy Jamison, Susan Graves-LeClair, Diana Dionne-Morang, Kim Quirion joined us and gave us a snapshot of what had happened at that meeting.

We reviewed what the high school teachers have worked on thus far with their language arts review. We agreed to use their work as a "jumping off point". As we listed and discussed our perceived strengths, Debra Butterfield recorded them.

There was a discussion all along of the validity of the SRI testing. Perhaps the district should explore the possibility of purchasing the licensing for computerized, self-adjusting reading testing?

We are concerned with meeting the deadlines set for our ELA review. We have listed the following dates as times to work:

Th., Jan. 3-"Needs" will be addressed by Kim, Debra, Judy, Donna, anyone else who can attend.

Mon., Jan. 7-Building ELA -we will work on opening paragraphs. All building ELA teachers are invited to attend.

Tues., Jan.8-as many as possible will meet to continue with Monday's work.

Wed., Jan.9- Deb, Judy, Pat, Donna Will meet with the ELA people from the high school.

Jan. 14- District Writing Committee to meet.

6-8 ELA Committee Meeting 1/3/08

ELA Minutes, January 3, 2008

In attendance: Judy Jamison,Debra Butterfield, Kim Quirion, Pat O'Connor,Donna Whalen, Susan Graves-LeClair, Hope St. Denis.

Debra read back to us the strengths we had listed on December 19.
We once again followed the HS's format. We discussed and listed our perceived needs. We agreed to attach MEA data, SRI results, tutorial lists to our lists.
We re-affirmed our previous decision to use the building ELA meeting on January 7 to work in grade level teams to write a paragraph outlining what each grade emphasizes. Susan Graves LeClair will bring the statement we composed earlier this year which explains language arts at the middle school level. We decided to try to complete that on the 7th. On the 9th, four of us will meet with Rie Kittredge and other HS teachers.

Building ELA meeting, Monday, January 7, Room 107.

ELA Writing Committee 1/23/08

ELA-Writing Committee
Meeting Minutes
January 23, 2008
3:30 - 5:00 P.M.

Committee Members in Attendance: Thanks everyone for a wonderful meeting!!!!

Rie Kittredge
Patricia O’Connor
Tiffany Cockrell
Jolaine Galibois-Barss,
Mary Jo Stevens
Patsy Adams,
Judi Morin
Susan Folsom
Debra
Butterfield
Judy Jamison
Donna Whalen

Members Absent: Sarah Brown

! Guest Speaker: Susan Trask, Auburn Literacy Specialist
o Brief overview of how the writing prompt developmental continuum was created
o Shared revised continuum (does change the benchmarks slightly)
o Auburn double scores a % of papers. This is done by a group of “table leaders”
o With this system they now have 5 yrs of system wide data collection (follows grade/students thru the years)
o Students graph their results, this follows students thru the years
o Teachers feel that scoring papers is professional development
o K-2 issues were discussed
o Susan shared a rubric exemplar for K-2 students
! Discussed emailed comments
o Auburn currently is putting Lucy Caulkins Units of Study k-6 into place as their writing curriculum
o They still have concerns with MEA scores. (The reason for the current push for Lucy Caulkins) Their writing instruction has been inconsistent from teacher to teacher and building to –hence the need for a common curriculum. Lucy Caulkins raises the bar and supports the growth

o Middle School version of Lucy Caulkins is coming soon. Support materials are online for free.
o Conventions are imbedded in the continuum because of growing control regarding length and complexity of tasks. Conventions hold a more prominent importance for upper grades. Hence, Middle School convention scores are in addition to the continuum.
o When thinking about how conventions affect scores, look at the amount of interference to balance the scores. See Anchor paper # 9 Water Country (to be distributed)
o Don’t need all the bullets in the continuum to get the score
o Developed before Write Traits, but is compatible due to the 6 traits being the standard for excellence in writing
o Anchor papers are key for deciding scores. Mediating those papers in question
o Why the big difference between a 4 & 5? Have not heard that as a problem. **Multiple anchor papers need to be used to show a range in score points.
o Anchors developed how? Tight process of identifying anchors- small committee to do this
! Program Review
o Grade level groups worked in teams
! Needs:
o “Table leader” training for writing committee building reps
o Publish the “rules”
o Create process for anchor paper adoption
o Develop a list of dates for future meetings

Respectfully submitted,

Judi Morin, ELA-Writing Chair

Judith M. Morin, Principal
River View Community School
821 River Road P.O. Box 9
South Gardiner, Maine 04359

"If we always do what we always did,
we'll always get what we always got.
If we're not happy with that,
something has to change.

ELA Writing 2/27/08

ELA Writing Committee
Minutes
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
RVCS Library
3:30 to 5:30 P.M.

Committee Members:

Rie Kittredge
Patricia O’Connor
Tiffany Cockrell
Nicole Shumway-Madore
Cynthia Snow
Mary Jo Stevens
Patsy Adams
Judi Morin
Susan Folsom
Donna Whalen
Sarah Brown
Jolaine Galibois-Barss
Judy Jamison Members absent: Jolaine Galibois-Barss

Reviewed the revised writing prompt materials
Grade span discussions of the k-12 writing continuum scores
MS & HS developed a revised continuum
Anchor papers to be developed at grade level, department, and team meetings.
Revised Auburn packet of anchor papers were distributed to be shared at grade level, team, or department meetings with staff
Revised continuum’s will be used next fall. (maintains consistency for comparing this year’s scores)
Reviewed the writing prompt directions for staff
K-2 and 3-5 are ready for final review by this committee
MS & HS are still to be done
Summer work to include scope and sequence of writing instruction K-12
Brief review of Lucy Caulkins' materials K-2 and 3-5 (Units of Teaching Writing)
More information is needed before a recommendation can be given. Questions about how the lessons are split according to grade level. (K-2; 3-5) will be researched

Next meeting:
Agenda
Finish Directions for the writing prompt
Begin alignments with new MSLR

Respectfully submitted,
Judi Morin, Chair

K5 Writing Committee 3/25/08

ELA K-5 Writing Committee
Minutes
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
RVCS Library
3:30 to 5:00 P.M.

Committee Members:
Nicole Shumway-Madore
Cynthia Snow
Mary Jo Stevens
Patsy Adams
Judi Morin
Sarah Brown
Jolaine Galibois-Barss

Finalized 2008 Spring Writing Prompt Administration dates: May 5-16; Grades to be recorded in Power Grade as a common assessment by May 23; personal narrative prompts to be created by grade level teams.
Finalized the writing prompt instruction sheets for K-2 & 3-5.
Discussed curriculum alignment work timeframe.

Next meeting date: TBD @ RVCS Library

Agenda
Begin alignment of curriculum and new MSLR
Designate a date/time for anchor paper identification work

Respectfully submitted,
Judi Morin, Chair

ELA Reading Committee - 4/29/08

M.S.A.D. #11
English Language Arts: Reading Committee
Meeting Minutes: April 29, 2008

Committee Members
Present: Karen Moody (Chair), Debra Butterfield, Sonya Laramee, Amy Whitman, Kris Canning, Kristin Lorbeski, Susan Shepherd,

Discussion:
1. Committee members were informed about the reading software program currently being piloted at LER called Lexia. Karen showed some of the activities and data that can be obtained.

2. Howie charged the committee with the task of deciding what common assessments need to be put in grade books within PowerSchool so that the district can have both formative assessment to drive instruction and longitudinal data to look at progress over time. The program that will store and help disaggregate the data is called “INFORM”. We are at the beginning stages and need to make decisions this summer to be prepared for the fall. The committee needs to decide what we expect for assessments. They should be simple and useful. They should also possibly address all the literacy components, namely phonemic awareness, phonics, comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary.

3. Summer Work dates were decided:
June 19th Curriculum Mapper: ELA members will learn about curriculum mapper, an online program where are curriculum can be inputted, accessed, and managed.

June 20th: Work on Scope and Sequence
July 1st: Work on Scope and Sequence
July 2nd: Work on Scope and Sequence/Decide on Expected Common Assessments for teachers to input data into grade books on PowerSchool. (INFORM)

Next Meeting Scheduled:
May 8, 2008 @3:30-4:45 at LER in the library.
Purpose: To continue working on the Scope and Sequence document

Members are asked to bring any resources (Fontas & Pinnell, Lexia Scope and Sequence, etc) being used to help identify skills that need to be included in the document.

ELA Reading Committee - 5/8/08

M.S.A.D. #11
English Language Arts: Reading Committee
Meeting Minutes: May 8, 2008

Committee Members
Present: Karen Moody (Chair), Debra Butterfield, Sonya Laramee, Amy Whitman, Kris Canning, Ira Michaud, Cheryl Luken, Alma Ranslow

Discussion:
1. The purpose of this meeting was changed. Committee members were asked to define end of grade level proficiency levels.

After much discussion the following decisions were made:

End of Grade Level:
Kindergarten:
M: C (3)
PM: B (2)
DNM: A and below (<1)

Grade 1:
M: I (16)
PM: E-H (6-14)
DNM: D and below (<4)

Grade 2:
M: M (28)
PM: K-L (20-24)
DNM: J and below (<18)

Grade 3:
M: P (38)
PM: N-O (30-34)
DNM: M and below (<28)

Grades 4-5 and the Middle School will meet with their teams to have more discussion on determining proficiency levels.

Next Meeting Scheduled:
May 29, 2008 @3:30-4:45 at LER in the library.

Purpose:
1. Discuss Grades 4-5 and MS proficiency levels
2. Determine what “Exceeds” standards
3. Continue working on the Scope and Sequence document

Members are asked to bring any resources (Fontas & Pinnell, Lexia Scope and Sequence, etc) being used to help identify skills that need to be included in the document.

Health and PE May 2008

Health and Physical Education Curriculum Meeting
Final 07-08 Meeting

Meeting Notes

Members present: Laurie Leavitt, Paula Goodhue, Beth Corrow, Jim Whalen, Sally Brann, Mary Ellen Gilbert, Meggan Henerlau, Laurie Malcolm, Patty Guild, Anthony Anderson

Members absent: Drew Riddle, Mark Biggs and 4th Grade Teacher

1. Standards Based Grading:
K-5 Health
Meggan Henerlau reported that she will need the Health Standards on class folder in order to start. Laurie Malcolm and Mary Ellen Gilbert said the same thing. Anthony will check on this with Mr. Tuttle.
6-8 PE Paula said her and Drew have been doing standards since the 3rd Quarter. Paula has gotten few calls from parents. Things are generally going well. Have been working with Lisa to iron out some glitches.
9-12 Health and PE – no standards based grading. Significant glitch in the system is preventing the HS from moving forward.
K-5 PE – No Report
2. Fitness Scores:
K-5 will be meeting with Paula on 5/21 early release to use the Fitnessgram on the computer. Thanks Paula for helping.
6-8 Fitness Scores are nearly done – now that the HRMs are in the pacer can be completed.
9-12 All 1st Semester scores are handed into Anthony. Second semester post-test scores will be given to Anthony soon. We had a discussion about the need to send Anthony an electronic list of students and how they performed on each fitness test. Anthony will be getting the Pearson training next week and it would be exciting to utilize these numbers.
Laurie will contact Polar to see if we can export electronically.
3. Sun Safety
We agreed to order the sun safety bracelets but have teachers put them together with the kids. The bands will be longer. Anthony will also order posters for everyone. We will also try to order enough for MS and the sophomores that Doug has. Doug will look for some posters the next few days.
Mr. and Mrs. Sun Safety will be visiting playgrounds this spring and awarding youth that have engaged in the Slip, Slop, Slap.
Schedules is as follows:
River View LER HTS
Grade 5-11:30-12:00 Grade 1- 11:40 11:20-1:15
Grade 4 -12:00-12:30 Grade K-12:15 Hamlin: K-2 12:00-12:30
Grade 3-12:30-1:00 Grade 2-12:50 3-5 12:30-1:00
Pittston:
Grade 12:10-1:10 ½ leave at 12:40 and other arrive at 12:40
4. LifeSkills
Anthony reported that he presented to the 5th grade teachers last week. They will be implementing Lifeskills in grade 5 next year. Anthony asked if there were any support in the committee to implement for grades 3 and 4 as well. Anthony also indicated that he purchased grade HS for Doug to take a look at. Meggan mentioned that she was part of the training and the program looks great and easy to follow.
5. Anthony reported that Health and PE will be completing an academic audit next year. All committee members were given a copy of a sample audit from ELA.
6. PEP Anthony asked if PE teachers were interested in meeting in the fall to prepare for the next PEP grant (providing that were are not awarded this spring) All were favorable to this idea.
7. Anthony also reported that Health and PE meeting would be separated next year.

Math Committee Minutes 9/15/2008

Math Committee Meeting
9/15/2008
Review year discussion:
Looked at ELA Curriculum Review document to see the template for review

Perhaps we will break into subgroups for PK-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Questions for Howie:
Is subcommittee work paid? If so, how many hours? Can non-committee members work on subcommittees?
March 9 meeting will not be appropriate for a March 2 presentation to CCC.

Sue Williamson will do the narrative for PK-5
Middle level staff will do the narrative for 6-8.
High school level staff will do the narrative for 9-12.

K-5 program
New Investigations: Sarah talked about many of the features of the revised Investigations from the two units that she has as samples. (Inclusion of time and money, practice, etc.)

Program needs:
alignment to MLR’s
alignment between grade levels, especially 5/6

Plan:
We will work as subcommittees PK-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12. We will work on a draft of the Math Curriculum Review document and bring it to the December 8th committee meeting.

Lynn will check on having Math Committee members released from schools at student dismissal in order to begin meetings earlier. We will plan on 3:15 - 4:15. We will meet at TC Hamlin.

We will gather input from other staff in our grade levels, departments, and buildings. We will try to be sure all staff who teach mathematics have an opportunity to contribute.

Discussion of the Math Curriculum Document. It is outdated. Could we include this as a need and address it through Curriculum Mapping to develop our curriculum into a workable and informative document?

Respectfully submitted,
Sue Williamson

6-8 Mathematics Meetings 2007-2008

GRMS Math Meeting 11/05/07
(Not really a meeting, but will share what we would have discussed otherwise)
Attendance: A. Smith

1. Probe Conference - any interested teacher who has not attended one yet (paper was in mailboxes earlier in the week)?
* Angela and Andrea are not able to attend since they have both had training already. Make sure to turn in your paper ASAP if interested.

2. Work on Standards-Based Grading/Unit Design/Changes to Curriculum by Grade level
* Thank you for a copy of the letter that was sent home for those who are grading standards-based this semester. Looking at rubrics for next year for assessments.

3. Concerns/Questions/Comments
* Interesting meeting with myself...
* Dennis is going to the ATOMIN conference the end of this week in Springfield, MA. He should have some stuff to share with us when he returns. Can I put you on the agenda for the next GRMS meeting Dennis?
* Angela e-mailed Art, Howie, and Patty regarding visits from Grade 5 teachers and visiting Grade 9 teachers. Howie is all for the visits. He thinks it could benefit us with the gaps. He will write a report for the visits. We need to make sure to write down our observations, questions, comments and give them to him. Art said that we are allowed to visit the other schools during Team Time or Prep. Time. I have yet to hear from any elementary school teachers or from Patty.
* Any 2 + 2 observations yet this year? Please feel free to come in anytime.

4. Next GRMS Math Meeting will be on Monday, November 19, 2007

5. Next 6-12 Math Staff Meeting at CO will be held on December 5, 2007

Remember, the GRMS meetings are not mandatory. They are set up for those who would like to work together in the same room with other grade levels or the same grade levels. They are a request from teachers from last year.

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GRMS Math Meeting 11/19/07
Present: A. Smith, D. Haggerty, R. DeSoto, B. Waugh (2:25 pm - 3:05 pm)

1. RayeAnne - on-line math program
* Aleks - $35 per student (on year subscription) - can work on at school or at home. RayAnne would like to pilot it with our advanced students. She is looking for 10 students for a free pilot through Aleks. If not free, she can probably come up with money for 6 students. She would like to have the same number from each grade level. Constant assessment and feedback. Artificial intelligence - a student has to show mastery in order to move on to the next step. RayeAnne is waiting from company to see if it is constructivist based or skills based. She is looking for a program that is student and teacher friendly. RayeAnne would like our opinion on the program. If it doesn't fit then she will go on. It is aligned to the GLEs.

2. Dennis - ATMNE conference highlights
* Lots of great ideas especially some on the laptops.
* Graphing Calculator packet.
* Celebrating Pi packet.
* Dennis went to 13 different sessions in the two days.
* One session was on Differentiated Instruction - one author that was highly recommended was Peg Mongiello. One key was to only assess what you actually want learned. Use different verbs from Bloom's Taxonomy (RayeAnne's idea). Use different stations for the different styles of learning.

3. Concerns/Questions/Comments

4. Next GRMS Math Meeting will be on Monday, December 3, 2007

5. Next 6-12 Math Staff Meeting at CO will be held on December 5, 2007

Remember, the GRMS meetings are not mandatory. They are set up for those who would like to work together in the same room with other grade levels or the same grade levels. They are a request from teachers from last year.

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GRMS Math Meeting Agenda for December 3, 2007
A. Smith, A. O'Brien, J. Heath (2:15 - 2:55 pm)

1. 2 + 2 Observations?
* None so far - too many meetings going on right now, but it is still our goal to continue with them since they are useful tools.

2. CTS?
* Andrea will send out some possible times to have a CTS over fractions sometime after vacation. She will send an e-mail with the dates before vacation to see if there is enough interest.

3. Work on Standards-Based Grading/Assessments
* Andrea reported out for the 1st quarter. More work for teacher because of chasing students down, rewriting quizzes/tests. Students would rather settle for the original score as long as it is a "passing" grade. If they fail, they still don't seem to care at times.
* Students who do retake the quizzes/tests, do seem to learn more.

4. Concerns/Questions/Comments
* Andrea discussed a class she is taking regarding using several standards for the same task and relating it to real life. Sometimes it is hard to relate everything little thing to real life. There comes a point when some things are beyond what the basic math requires for real life, but things the students need to know to move on. Some concepts you just cannot do glorified "fun" stuff that relates to real life.
* Geometric solids - being introduced in grade 6. Vocab. will be mentioned. Describing what the solid is made up of might be beneficial to understanding how to find area, perimeter, and volume of shapes.

5. Next GRMS Math Meeting will be on Monday, December 17, 2007

6. Next 6-12 Math Staff Meeting at CO will be held this Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Remember, the GRMS meetings are not mandatory. They are set up for those who would like to work together in the same room with other grade levels or the same grade levels. They are a request from teachers from last year.

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GRMS Math Meeting 12/19/07
A. Smith, A. Cram, J. Heath, R. Waugh (1:45 - 2:30 pm)

1. Working on the Curriculum Document - We are putting our information into the four new standards of Number, Data, Geometry, and Algebra for Grades 6-8. We discussed Data Standard (Measurement and Analysis).

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GRMS Math Meeting 1/07/08
Attendance: A. Smith, A. Cram, J. Cassidy, B. Waugh, J. Heath
(2:15 - 3:00 pm)

1. Continue work on the K-12 Mathematics Curriculum document. Please bring any material (MLR or GLE or Standards-Based Reporting) that may be helpful.

* Worked on Probability and Geometry - most of it was completed for Grades 6-8. Will continue at the next meeting. Few problems with the wording of the new document, but after talking it through, we were able to figure it out.

2. Questions/Concerns

Next GRMS Math Meeting: Due to the holiday on 1/21, I would like to have the next meeting be on Tuesday, January 22. Work will consist on continuing with the Mathematics Curriculum document unless something else comes up.

8th/9th MathTransition Meeting 12/10/07

A. Smith, P. Woodbury, R. DeSoto, P. Whalen (2:30 - 3:00 pm and later )

1. Placement Test - discussed how a placement test might be useful if a student has signed up for a subject that may be too hard for them and/or to discuss with parents if the need arise. It would be one way to help decide how to place the students. Grade 8 will give the Orleans-Hannah Algebra Prognosis Test in May to all of the students. It is a multiple choice test over algebra. 60 questions in 60 minutes. One point each. The other 40 points comes from how students do in each of their academic classes. 2 point for a D, 4 points for a C, 6 points for a B, and 8 points for an A. It is recommended that a score of 80% or higher be reached to fully succeed in Algebra 1.

2. Class List - Grade 8 will have a master list for each team and a recommendation on what class each student should take from what we ass grade 8 teachers have seen throughout the year. Included on the list will be the scores from the Orleans-Hannah Test (including the break-down score). The list will be given to the high school in June.

3. Algebra 1 in three semesters - The high school is looking to have a slower paced Algebra 1 class available for those students who may need it. The students would take Algebra 1 over three semesters instead of two. Other Algebra 1 courses would also be available (Algebra 1 and Honors Algebra 1). The high school needs to go to the school board with this. A letter from Grade 8 explaining the need for a slower-paced course might be helpful.

4. Gifted-and-Talented - Discussion on what it might look like at the high school. Discussed having no tracks (from the State) and what that might mean. It would be great if both 8th grade teams had the ability to have the "top" math students go above and beyond in the regular classroom.

6-12 Math Meeting 12/5/07

6-12 Math Meeting
RayeAnne, Becky, Andrea, Angela, Dennis, Patty, Paul, Howie

Grade 8 and Grade 9 transition

• Proposal
o 3 for semesters for Algebra I
o Essentials – we need to look at this.
o Regular Ed Essentials
o Algebra I

Why are kids coming to Grade 6 without the skills they need?
How can we fix this?
How can we provide math remediation in the middle school?

Giving students choice

Why do they have to qualify for special ed to get Essentials Math?

An 8-9 transition committee was formed.
Angela Smith, Patty Woodbury, Raye Anne Desoto

Need to create a transition plan for Mathematics between Grades 8 and 9

Math Committee 9/17/07

Math Committee Meeting

Attending: Liz Hall, Sue Williamson, Marianne White, Nancy Hicks, Laurie Malcolm, Marion Alexander, Mike , Andrea O’Brien, Chad Kempton, Howie Tuttle.

Looking at MEA data for 3-8:

Last year’s 6th graders scores went down:
Discussion of MaThematics: 6th grade teachers ask to have the flexibility to do the book material in the order they need to get to all areas of math that are on the MEA before the test. Howie asked for a proposal to be written for this.
Discussion of content and what we see as needs district wide:
Order of operations
= symbol as balance
problem solving strategies with word problems

Discussion of trends in reading and math based on graphs Howie made from the data.

New Investigations program:
If math is up for school board curriculum review, piloting should happen next year and a request developed in 08/09 for district-wide materials.

Need for updated curriculum document.

Science Committee Minutes 2/4/08

SCIENCE COMMITTEE MEETING
MINUTES
2/4/08
CENTRAL OFFICE

In attendance: Kristin Coolidge, Penny Jessop, Beth Brooke, Pat Keene, Sarah Hanley, Karen Baker, Mark Koenig, Jeanne Lysobey, Mary Whitten, Shelly Simpson

Absent: Ryan Avery, Russ Anderson

CCC Update:
Howie presented the changes agreed upon by the CCC committee. We no longer have to have committee approval for new assessments. They are to be done within the grade level, with all members signing the assessment , for approval and then send to Howie. Shelly would like a heads up on who is doing what so there is not a duplication of work.

L-SILL Update:
We have recently purchased $1200 of books from Amazon for the K-5 teachers to accompany their science units. We are sending 7 people to the National Science Conference in Boston in March.

ASSESSMENTS:
We still do not have all of our assessments in place to date. Some of the present assessments are not current and need to be removed and or updated. Grade 1, K, and 3 are currently working on assessments collectively. We are hoping that the other assessments will be in place by the fall. Summer work and after hours work is available . Send your proposal to Howie and Shelly , if interested.
6-12 felt they needed to talk as a group , as recommended in the Academic Audit. They need to review the units currently taught for developmental appropriateness. through researched based efforts. It was agreed and approved by Howie that this work can and should be done prior to working on assessments. This is also a paid subcommittee.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Shelly Simpson,
Chair

Social Studies Committee Minutes 3/10/2008

Social Studies Meeting
March 10, 2008

3:30-4:15

Summer School - Discussion about the Summer School Proposal. Discussion about students motivation. Group was supportive of Literacy and Ambitions course this summer.

Native American Unit - Discussion about what we are really supposed to do in this area. Grade 2 willing to do Native American Unit. Howie will work with them to find materials, etc.

Farm Unit - Approved for use at Kindergarten level.

Assessments on the Website - Need to get these updated. Please review and send feedback to Howie.

GAHS new books
4th grade new books
5th grade new books two years ago
6-8 looked at new books, but decided to use the books they have.

Discussion about Failure Rates

Submitted by
Howie Tuttle