The Olympic ESD is offering exciting new learning opportunities surrounding the recently adopted Common Core State Standards. During year 2 of the 3-year Common Core implementation plan, the ESD will continue to build on previously learned concepts, share resources and develop content focused leadership workgroups.
Here’s a brief look at where we’ve been and where we’re headed during the 2012-2013 school year:
Beginning in the spring of 2012, the Olympic ESD math and literacy staff provided teachers and administrators opportunities designed to explore, build awareness, and develop regional capacity around the Common Core State Standards through single day workshops and ongoing leadership groups. In 2012-2013 the ESD’s focus will shift to supporting district implementation and classroom transitions necessary to prepare students to be on a path for success on state assessments aligned to the Common Core State Standards during the 2014-2015 school year. For more information regarding the Common Core Standards, click here.
Common Core Math Workgroups
The Mathematics workgroups are intended to build regional and district leadership in math. Participants will gain an understanding of the statewide implementation plan and support work, deepen their knowledge, share resources, and participate in book studies. Workgroups for grades K-5 will have the opportunity to meet October 29th in Port Angeles and November 1st at the Olympic ESD in Bremerton. Workgroups for grades 6-12 have the opportunity to meet October 30th in Port Angeles and October 31st in Bremerton. These workgroups are offered at no charge to district personnel for regional support. Click here to download the flier.
English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science and Technical Subjects
Last year’s professional development focus around the ELA CCSS was on introducing the new standards and the six major shifts within them, understanding the vertical articulation of the standards across grade levels, and learning about text complexity. The emphasis was on building regional capacity and a series of professional development sessions took place in Port Angeles and Bremerton last spring and summer.
This year’s focus will be on the Common Core Writing Standards. Professional development modules aiming at grounding writing in evidence from texts are being developed for statewide implementation this winter and spring.
Regional Literacy Team
The RLT dived into the CCSS during their first meeting last year and worked all year to learn as much as possible about text complexity. This year the writing standards are going to be the emphasis during shared learning at each of this year’s six RLT meetings. An expectation will be to take new strategies for teaching writing back to classrooms for implementation and follow-up reflection and discussion.
RLT meeting dates and locations for 2012-2013 are as follows:
Nov 7- NK Board Room; Dec 7- NK Board Room; Feb 1- NK Board Room; Mar 22- NK Board Room; May 17– Port Angeles Transit Center; June 14– NK Board Room
Please contact Katy Absten at kabsten@oesd.wednet.edu for questions about the Math CCSS and Dan King at dking@oesd.wednet.edu for questions about the ELA CCSS.