GRADE LEVEL MINUTES – Third Grade

March 4, 2005

Bellingham School District

ATTENDEES

Alderwood: Andrea Buckley Birchwood: Micah Smith, Heather Gabrielson, Carolyn Teig Carl Cozier: Ann Schwandt, Lori Dorough, Doreen Standish Columbia: Sharon Smith Geneva: Jenny Mathieson, Chris Andresen Happy Valley Tim Binderup, Shirley Prichard, Jennifer Knight Larrabee: Lisa Conlon, Cathy Young Lowell: Patty Keene Northern Heights: Lisa Peterson, Cathy Crouch, Staci Shrum, Tawni Eisenhart Parkview: Dianne Ojikutu Roosevelt: Silver Beach: Karin Grady, Krista Walcker, Margo Graf, Lynda Butorac Sunnyland Lisa Cassidy, Jessica Lucas, Joan Piper

OUTCOMES

To provide consistent, powerful instruction in all classrooms across our district by learning from each other and refining our individual practice

OBJECTIVES

New – Through a deeper understanding of each unit, teachers will explore and design a yearlong structure for implementing Investigations

Shared - By sharing experiences with implementing the Investigations, teachers will refine their practice, the structure, and the management of each unit

Alignment – By understanding the purpose of a clear articulated curriculum, teachers will discuss strategies for a consistent implementation of Investigations

NEW LEARNING

Teachers read a statement on table tents from Improving Student Achievement in Mathematics, Part 2: Recommendations for the Classroom. The full text can be found at: http://www.ericdigests.org/2003-1/math3.htm. Everyone had an opportunity to read the research that supported the statements and to discuss their current thinking about the article. Teachers shared teaching strategies and practices that support student achievement in mathematics.

SHARED

Teachers chose an investigation that they would like to discuss with others at their grade level. A recording sheet was provided to support table discussions and included approach, grouping, resources, technology, materials management, assessments and parent connections.

ALIGNMENT

Teachers regrouped to include members from each of the shared learning discussions.

The teachers discussed the suggested pacing and sequence for the Components of Investigations in Number, Data, and Space for the school year.

Table leaders used a recording sheet, to guide the discussion and to make recommendations to the Elementary Math Task Force about pacing, sequencing, curriculum connection and challenges to overcome at their grade level. This work will be used by the Elementary Math Task Force in creating the Bellingham School District Math Support Guide.

ALIGNMENT

• Members from the Elementary Math Task Force shared progress and current work they are doing. They are planning to have a Bellingham School District Math Support Guide out in September 2005. Input and questions were gathered from the teachers and will be shared with the Task Force.  

• Math WASL scores from Grades 10 and 7 were shared with the group. Both middle school and high school levels are implementing new math curriculum and using resources that are similar to Investigations. Both levels are receiving professional development to support implementation of the new direction in mathematics instruction. The data indicates a clear upward trend in student math scores.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

    Q                                                                                   A

THIRD GRADE SUGGESTIONS & KEY LEARNINGS

SUGGESTIONS

• Better tech connections
• More time for teachers to share
• More Social Studies and Science
• Include some math experiences
• Time for school team meeting
• Address flexible grouping models in writing and math
• More time for small group discussion
• Involve Special Ed more
• Fridays are high impact sub days, hold meetings any other day
• Hold a Grade Level Meeting specifically for K-5 Resource Room teachers
• Share ideas about science units and share supplementary materials

KEY LEARNINGS

• Logical sequencing Investigations/TERC units (4)
• Which units we don't really need to cover
• Possible time frames for the units 3
• Reminders about teaching full unit and supplement
• Literature connections
• Ways to assess student learning
• Mapping out math units (2)
• Ideas for supplementing Investigations
• Need across the district assessments for each grade