SECOND GRADE LEVEL MEETING - MINUTES - MARCH 27, 2003

ATTENDANCE: Kaylene Flanary, Debbie Nelson, Lynnea Flarry, Susan Plummer, Carolyn Teig, Cheryl Israel, Sarah Neyman, Cindy Christenson, Rick Lingbloom, Rose Trowbridge, Jennifer Knight, Joyce Sweeney, Susie Holmes-Webb, Tracy Carlson, Greg Holmgren, Kari Miller, Rose Hammond, Jamie Smith, Lisa Hawes, Cheryl Van Etten, John Schick

PLANNERS: Kaylene Kennedy

OUTCOME: Teachers will have the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with peers in order to increase understandings about district curriculum and direction, as well as to incorporate good instructional strategies into lessons and unit design.

CURRICULUM FOCUS: Mathematics Instruction and Assessment, Writing Assessment, and Technology

GIVE ONE GET ONE/RECONNECTING WITH COLLEAGUES:

Teachers shared instructional strategies, resources, and activities that they use in their classrooms in the curricular areas of social studies, health, and literacy. Teachers asked questions that had surfaced during the sharing of strategies and activities.

Will we be expected to teach all health units next year?

· Sherrie Brown, Director of Curriculum, told the group that the required unit is Unit 1, "Let's Stay Safe".

· Teachers may select other units as student interests and needs arise.

· The content of the curriculum can be taught through the processes of reading and writing.

UPDATE FROM ELEMENTARY MATH TASK FORCE

The Elementary Math Task Force has two responsibilities for this year: to identify the Common Practices and Core Understandings and to outline a professional development process that will support teacher in implementing the Common Practices.

Teachers worked in small groups to learn about the principles and beliefs that the Elementary Math Task Force have used as the foundation of their work. Teachers used an "Anticipation Guide" (graphic organizer that support before, during, and after reading) to clarify their prior knowledge about teaching and learning in mathematics. The group reviewed and discussed the National Council of Mathematics Principles (www.nctm.org) and then checked their Anticipation Guide responses.

Questions/Comments for the Math Task Force:

1. What TERC Units match the report card strands? How do we assess for each section of the report card?

Are the consumable materials available for the 2^nd Grade?
How do I use both TERC and SFAW to cover the curriculum outcomes and skills and strategies?

All minutes and work of the Elementary Math Task Force can be read on the District Web Page http://www.bham.wednet.edu/staff/elemmathtaskforce.htm

CURRENT STATUS OF MATH INSTRUCTION AT THE SECOND GRADE LEVEL

Teachers worked in groups to describe the current status of how math is being taught in Second Grade classrooms. Each group took one of the math strands: number sense, geometry, measurement, probability and statistics, and patterns and relationships and described the following teaching characteristics: amount of time spend teaching the strand, the materials and resources, instructional strategies, and assessment tools. The information would be given to the Elementary Math Task Force to help with future staff development planning and assessment needs. (See Second Grade Folder in Outlook E-mail for discussion points from group analysis)

Questions:

How do teachers get materials that are part of the basic allocation?

The District allocated funds when the adoption was first made. After the adoption year, it is the responsibility of the buildings to oversee maintenance of their materials. If replacements are needed for lost materials, then the building budget is the resource for funding the purchase. Some buildings have established a shared resource room or storage area where shared math materials are stored and accounted for each year.

2. What are the consistent math materials that should be in every building?

All buildings should have classroom sets of the Scott Foresman Addision Wesley textbooks and teacher's guide. Also, Investigation Units for each grade level are available at each site. A list of materials (manipulatives and supplementary resources) is in the Math Curriculum Guide. In 1997, allocations from District resources were made to each building to purchase needed materials and resources.

There are building allocations for the purchase of materials that support the TERC Curriculum. Principals are notified about the amount of their allocation at the beginning of each school year.

How do we get "Arithmetic Developed Daily"?

If the book is to used as a teacher resource, then you may want to check with your building administrator to see if any building funds are available. Due to the moratorium on new curriculum for Elementary, no new curriculum materials will be purchased at this time.

5. Will there be college credit for the Mathematical Perspectives - Number Sense Class this summer?

Yes, college credit for the three-day Thinking With Numbers workshop is one semester unit. It will be offered through Fresno Pacific University. The tuition fee is due the first day of the workshop in the amount of $46.00 made payable to Fresno Pacific University.

DISTRICT WEB PAGE and ONLINE RESOURCES

1. Nancy Messmer, Director of Library, Media, Technology, provided a tour of the revised district website, highlighting the "search" tools and sites of interest including Grade Level Learning Targets, Committee/Task Force Information, Maps/Driving directions to schools, and access to Central Services. Teachers were reminded that librarians are helpful resource people in the buildings who can assist with web access and technology.

2. Second Grade Teachers Group Email List - In Outlook, teachers will find a group list with all Second Grade teachers' names. This group address allows Second Grade teachers to communicate easily with all other Second Grade teachers. (In Outlook E-mail, address message "to" Teachers-Grade 2)

3. Second Grade Folder - A folder has been developed in Outlook E-mail for Second Grade teachers. Teachers may share documents, lesson plans, assessment tools, unit designs with other Second Grade colleagues and get feedback. (This folder can be found in Outlook E-mail/Public Folders/All Public Folders/Grade Level Work/Grade 2)

4. School Kit - John Schick, Library Media Specialist, demonstrated lessons from SchoolKit, which supports Second Grade instruction in math. The lessons are available in all schools.

WRITING ASSESSMENT ANALYSIS:

Teachers shared current strategies for assessing writing. Then, a list of questions was developed about assessing student writing. Many of the questions were about establishing consistency in scoring papers at the Second Grade and then marking the report card. The main question: Are all Second Grade teachers marking the report card for writing in the same manner? It was suggested that teachers bring student work to the next meeting and that they try to identify anchor papers for a 1,2,3, and 4. (See Grade 2 Public Folders in Outlook E-mail for discussion points and questions)

READ ALOUDS:

Teachers listed their "favorite" read-aloud and the connections to units and concepts to be learned at the Second Grade Level. The list will be put in the Grade 2 Folder in Outlook Public Folders. Please add any other books you may use in your classroom.

NEXT STEPS/TOPICS/SUGGESTIONS:

For a list of next steps, topics, and suggestions, please see the Grade 2 Folder in Outlook Public Folders.

MAY MEETING:

The next Grade Level Meeting for Second Grade Teachers is scheduled for May 21^st, 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. in room 212.