Committee Meeting Summaries

Academic Committees met on March 18th, 2019.

Improvement Strategies:

As a committee this week, we reviewed the rubrics that were created by each team over the last couple of months and completed a survey to rank them. We also reviewed a working Vision Statement and ‘9 Components of Standards Learning’ document to solidify a PCSD vision and workable documents to present to the instructional council and eventually to the entire PCSD community.

Science:

The Science Curriculum Committee is reviewing resources and information in an effort to define the key science knowledge, skills, and dispositions that students should have mastered by the end of 12th grade in our District. Our focus this month was on the Crosscutting Concepts defined by NGSS. The Crosscutting Concepts include patterns, cause and effect, scale, proportion, and quantity, systems and system models, energy and matter, structure and function, and stability and change. Teachers discussed how knowledge and skills are interrelated. Other information and documents will be reviewed as the committee creates a foundational document that will guide our curriculum development and adoption next year.

Elementary Literacy:

1. Wonders District and Administrative Reports should be ready in two weeks. Training for principals to access reports will follow the release of reports. 2. Reviewed upcoming Unit 5 and Unit 6 Wonders District Assessments for 1st-6th grades. Assessment Blueprint for Unit 5 will be shared before spring break. Testing window opens after spring break and the testing deadline is April 19, 2019. 3. Reviewed proper testing protocols and ethics in administering and grading District Unit Assessments.

Elementary Math:

The Elementary Math Committee reviewed highlights from the most recent state math meeting including upcoming professional development opportunities offered through USBE. Teachers were encouraged to ‘save the date’ for next year’s NCTM conference which is being held in Salt Lake, October 16 – 18, 2019. The committee also discussed the common assessments for math that are indicated in each grade level’s pacing guide, and what work still needs to be done to improve both our current version and overall usage across the district.