Chariho Teaching and Learning Blog


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Chariho's Elementary Faculty Meeting Calendar is now available to view for the 2021-2022 School Year!


 
Posted by Jane Daly  On May 05, 2021 at 8:59 AM
  
Dear Staff,

Our Distance Learning Fellow, Rene Rosivach, recently posted information on her "Friday Finds" about how to update your Zoom account.

Here is a link to a video demo on how to update, and here are written instructions.  

Thank you Rene for keeping us up to date!

For more information, you can find the link to "Friday Finds" on the Distance Learning Fellow page of the district website.
Posted by Jane Daly  On Apr 30, 2021 at 1:11 PM
  

Dear K-8 Teachers of Math:

When a student logs in, the first interaction they have is with i-Ready Connect is to take the Diagnostic Assessment.  If you would like to administer the Diagnostic, speak with your building administrator first and obtain approval (re: concerns on too much testing, state testing, and making sure there is parent communication etc.).  If students take the Diagnostic first, they will be placed on a Personalized Lesson Pathway. 

However, there is also a "hide assessment" option.  The administrator or teacher can select this option.  If the teacher was to “hide the diagnostic assessment” then prior to completing a Diagnostic the student will have access to be assigned by the teacher to the following (but not be placed on an automatic Personalized Lesson Plan).:

  •  Learning Games
  • Comprehension Checks (teacher assigned)
  • Interactive Practice (teacher assigned)
  • Teacher Assigned Lessons (teacher assigned)
  • Bookshelf 
  • Digital Tools


To find more information on how to "hide the assessment", 1) Go to https://i-readycentral.com/faq/2) Then click on “+Diagnostic and Diagnostic Reports”, and 3) “+How do I manage the Assessment Access setting?”

 Starting with September, 2021, administering the Diagnostic will not be optional in Chariho.

 

Posted by Jane Daly  On Apr 13, 2021 at 3:54 PM
  
Dear Gr. 6-12 Teachers of ELA/Literacy:

Thank you for attending the 4/8/2021 StudySync Overview Training, presented by Meghan Little and Tahereh Coq.  Here is a link to a video recording of that training:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jDgfr4-1EMMpx5JfBrMkg1L1_Xxvs9PJ/view?usp=sharing


In addition, please be reminded that Dana Hall recorded a 1-minute video to help teachers in their initial exploration of StudySync content.  This video can be accessed here.


For your convenience, here is the link to the StudySync Demo Site.  The Username is StudySync2021.  You have been given the password.


Thank you as we continue to learn together, there will be a follow-up training on the May 17th State PD Day. 
Posted by Jane Daly  On Apr 12, 2021 at 11:15 AM
  

To Chariho Staff:

The following message and professional learning opportunity is from Dr. Robert Harrison,  Director of the Washington County Zero Suicide Program:

 QPR (Suicide Prevention) training is a free 75 minute evidence-based community level training that results in participants being certified as "Gatekeepers" for 3 years.  

It is similar to CPR in that any adult can learn it, and it is easy to remember.  It teaches you how to recognize the clues and warning signs that someone may be thinking about suicide, how to ask the Question directly, Persuade the person to let you help them get help, and Refer appropriately.  There is a very brief pre- and post-training survey and you receive a summary review and Resource List of both national and local resources within a week of the training.   Help save a life!

Dr. Harrison is providing two different opportunities for Chariho Staff to voluntarily participate in QPR training on  Wednesday, May 12th OR Wednesday, May 19th, from 3:30-4:45 PM.  There can be up to twenty participants per session, so register right away, first come first served!

Register for May 12th https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SZiMgMkbTAyIuo0GxOIqOA

Register for May 19th https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_X4jXbhxzSk23_0GpwGfB5A 

[For those certified staff looking to fulfill their 3.5 hour contractual requirement, this would satisfy 1.25 hours towards that.  Upon completion you will receive a certificate from Dr. Harrison, please submit that to Kristen Merritt as evidence of attendance and participation].

[For those ESP and certified staff that voluntarily attend, time will not be tracked, but they may also submit their completion certificate to add to their PD/PLU district records.]

Posted by Jane Daly  On Apr 08, 2021 at 8:03 AM
  
For K-8 Teachers of Math:

Here is a link to Webinar recording of the Chariho teacher training on Ready Classroom Math, Robert Rossetti was the Presenter:
(This training took place on 3/24/21 from 3:30-5:30)

https://cainc.zoom.us/rec/share/1i9Jvml2R2hZt2TViHsXnldFh6dvH_E_TIPAbQgnZAfA_j16hkhwtZ38D4iT_OBo.IEdjewTmfBcAwUGH

During the webinar Robert identified a few resources that you may find helpful:

Educator Guide: Digital Components

www.readyclassroomcentral.com

Try-Discuss –Connect Routine

Learning Games Guide (with report information)

Posted by Jane Daly  On Mar 29, 2021 at 10:42 AM
  

To Gr. K-8 Teachers of Math:

You and your students now have online access to ReadyClassroom Math!  The purpose of activating this now is to give you the opportunity to explore the program and have early access to the digital resources, which you could use with students if you’d like.  Teachers and students just click the Google Apps icon (the waffle) and then click on the i-Ready icon. 

Here are some quick resources for your reference:

  • For Grades K-5, here is a 1-page document with information on digitally assigning Interactive Practice, something you might try with your students now!
  •  For 24/7 access to tips, how-to's, videos, planning tools and MUCH MORE, please visit i-Ready Central

Chariho has used Ready Common Core Math for years, and again this year our students in Gr. K-8 have workbooks, and teachers have online access to teacher resources.  Those will continue to be used until the end of this school year.

In September, 2021, Gr. K-8 Math teachers will implement the NEW updated ReadyClassroom program.  Students will continue to receive a consumable workbook, and we will use the corresponding  iReady Math Benchmark Assessment (instead of STAR).  All teachers and students will have this digital access, that you can preview now.  Teachers can start looking at all the benefits this program offers. A K-8 Math Curriculum Launch Task Force was just formed to begin mapping out the Scope and Sequence for next year, and revising the first Quarter/Trimester’s curriculum units.  Professional Learning will be provided prior to the students’ first day of school, by the publisher, and teachers will implement this updated program at the beginning of the school year. 

Posted by Jane Daly  On Mar 23, 2021 at 9:18 AM
  

Rhode Island transitions to the Rhode Island Core Standards for ELA/Literacy and Mathematics from the Common Core State Standards

Following a period of review and public comment, RIDE is pleased to announce the endorsement by the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education of new content standards for ELA/Literacy and Mathematics. The Rhode Island Core Standards for ELA/Literacy and Mathematics are directly aligned with the expectations set forth in the Rhode Island comprehensive assessment system of which the RICAS assessment is an integral part. 

The Rhode Island Core Standards maintain the levels of focus, coherence, rigor, and overall content expectations of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). However, there are some instances in which the new standards enhance or clarify the content of the CCSS. Users of high-quality curriculum materials can be assured their resources are still aligned with the expectations of the Rhode Island Core Standards, but there may be a need for minor adjustments within or across grade levels.  

To assist users in making these adjustments, RIDE has created crosswalk documents highlighting the instances where expectations differ between the Rhode Island Core Standards and the CCSS. 

The new standards and the crosswalk documents can be found at Content Standards - Instruction & Assessment - RI Department of Education

Great news!  In 2017, Chariho adopted and aligned our curriculum to the MA ELA/Literacy and Math standards, once RICAS was announced.   

More information on plans for Chariho's ELA and Math curriculum will be sent by the end of March.

Posted by Jane Daly  On Mar 19, 2021 at 2:53 PM
  

K-12 ELA High-Quality Curriculum Material (HQCM) Adoption approved by the School Committee!


At the January 12, 2021 School Committee Meeting, our new K-12 ELA programs were approved for adoption.  For the 2021-2022 school year, Chariho will be implementing Into Reading in Grades K-5, and StudySync in Grades 6-12.  Here is the slidedeck  from the School Committee presentation.  From the survey staff completed in the fall, one of the overall concerns from teachers was about the amount of time they spend on developing and curating materials, and consistency of materials used across grade levels and schools.  We are so excited to have chosen programs which meet these concerns, and also provide comprehensive programs which include curriculum, instructional strategies and materials, and assessment, and also with enhanced technology features for students.


Our ELA Adoption team members have started to present overviews and conduct “deeper dives” of the proposed programs with teachers at each school, and this will continue through February and March.  We have also ordered samples of the programs for each school building for teachers to peruse, and you will be notified by your administrator when and how to access these materials for perusal.  


For Grades K-4, another overview presentation is scheduled for the February 4 faculty meetings, and “deeper dives” will take place at each Elementary School on the March 15th state professional learning day. 


The ELA Adoption Team is excited to share this information with you in the coming weeks!


Jill Burke, Jane Daly, MaryBeth Florenz, Giuseppe Gencarelli, Dana Hall, Iris Ornberg, Kerry Pastore, Andrea Spas, Jean Westcott
Posted by Jane Daly  On Jan 29, 2021 at 1:18 PM
  

For staff who are interested in applying for grants, please refer to the district's Grant Submission Process and download the Grant Budget template.  These documents are  located on the district website, under Staff Resources/District Forms & Procedures (be sure to have logged in to the website to view). 
The first step is to speak with your building principal or director.  





Posted by Jane Daly  On Jan 28, 2021 at 3:29 PM
  
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