English Language Arts
Peek into the Modules:
Kindergarten: Students will continue engaging in module 4 where students will answer the Essential Question, “How can I be my healthiest me?” In this module, students will continue building their knowledge about our communities by learning the essentials of healthy living, like eating well, exercising, and practicing good hygiene- helping them form healthy habits to carry throughout their lives.
Grade 1: Students will engage in learning for module 6 where students will answer the Essential Question, “What do holidays and symbols tell about our country?” In this module, students will continue building knowledge about relationships as they learn about the relationships between holidays and symbols and our country. Students will explore why we sing patriotic songs and have Presidents and U.S. symbols like monuments and the Liberty Bell.
Grade 2: Students will engage in learning for module 6 where students will answer the Essential Question, “How does weather affect us ?” In this module, students will continue building knowledge about the unique qualities as they learn how weather affects them and their community and changes from day-to-day and season-to-season.
Module Assessments
The optional writing prompt from the module assessment has been replaced with the required Performance Task Writing Prompt. The 12 point scoring rubric that is linked on the ELN under each Performance Task Writing Prompt will be used to score student responses and report data in myProgress.
The Module 4 (Kindergarten) and Module 6 (Grades 1-2) assessments will be released for printing on December 13th, and the testing window will open on December 15th should you choose to assess your students prior to Winter Break. If you choose to assess students after the break, the testing window will remain open through the end of Semester 2, May 25th. However, the recommended testing window is December 15th through January 7th.
DIBELS Training on Additional Measures
During the ELA Coaches Power Hour, the ELA team facilitated a train-the-trainer for the additional DIBELS measures that will be administered in the Winter and Spring. We also spent some time explaining the Discontinue and Gating Rules outlined on pages 43-46 of the DIBELS Administration and Scoring Guide. Please connect with your coaches about the guidance provided. If you have additional questions, feel free to contact a member of the ELA Team.
Participant materials and a recording of the training can be found here. The recording can also be accessed on the Elementary ELA PD Hub.
Assessment Window: November 29th through December 16th
All data must be entered by end of business day Friday, January 7, 2022.
Progress Monitoring: Your schools have access to DIBELS measures for Progress Monitoring. Directions for entering data can be found here, Contact a member of the ELA Team and/or Larry Porter if you have any questions.
Revisit ELA PD:
Fall PD Session Recordings:
Summer PD Session Recordings:
Mathematics
A special SHOUT OUT to Bexley, Calusa, Dr. Mary Giella, Moon Lake, Pasco, and Pasco eSchool for having the highest average % of students (70% or higher) logging in to Zearn over the past 4 weeks! These 6 schools are getting closer to our district goal of 3+ on-grade lessons per week. Awesome job!
On an even more exciting note, there are some specific grade levels at a few schools that are already meeting our 3+ lessons per week district goal. Congrats to all grade levels at Pasco eSchool, as well as Grade 2 at Deer Park and Grades 3 & 4 at Trinity Oaks! WAY TO GO!!!
To all schools, keep up the great work! Every lesson matters!!!
Elementary Mathematics Core PD:
Thank you to all of the amazing teachers and coaches that joined us for our 11/2/21 Elementary Mathematics Core Action 2 & 3 PD session. It was a wonderful night of collaborating & learning. We are sharing the recorded session and resources below for those that were unable to attend. Please be on the lookout for information regarding our upcoming PD sessions starting in January 2022 as we prepare for our transition to the B.E.S.T Standards for Mathematics for the 2022-2023 school year.
11.2.2021 Core Action 2 and 3 PD.mp4
Science
Science Academy Evenings
We were so excited to see so many of you at our Science Academy evenings. We appreciate your commitment to supporting our young scientists as they learning to explore, investigate, ask questions and build knowledge about their world. Participants have access to all Academy materials in the Science Academy course in MyLearning. Additionally, everyone can access the materials and recordings of the sessions at the PD Hub on your MyPascoConnect Dashboard. The next Academy is scheduled for March 9th.
Student Facing Courses
K-1
We are thrilled so many of you are utilizing the Kindergarten and first grade courses in MyLearning. These Student-facing Teacher-facilitated courses are a great way to use the 5E Instructional model to explore primary science. Keep the feedback coming as we continue to build and revise this resource. The Q3 content will be available in MyLearning Commons by December 6th. An email will be sent ti all K and 1 teachers when the Q3 module is available for import.
2nd
Remember to access the Studio Board links through your MyLearning SFC. The Teacher Resource page in that SFC serves as a lesson plan with links to any resources you need. This is the best way to plan for using the Studio Boards. Since the Studio Board links on the curriculum maps bypass the SFC Teacher Resources page, we will be removing them. Having the board links on the maps has created confusion. Please use the Teacher Resource page to access the links.
WE NEED YOU!
Our next generation of successful scientists and engineers needs you! Volunteering to judge at the Pasco Science & Engineering Showcase is a rewarding and uplifting experience that is actually best realized when a student researcher is presenting their project and realizes their judge both understands and cares about their research. By judging, you are providing encouragement and opportunities for our future scientists and engineers to grow and succeed. This inspirational afternoon is also a great way to spark ideas for your own classroom next year. If you are interested in volunteering as a judge, click the link below. The link will take you to the Pasco zFairs website where you can use the "Create an Account" feature to the right and then select "Register as a Judge". All judging will be done virtually this year so you don't even need to leave your house!
Social Studies
Congratulations on making it to the home stretch of the first semester! As you tackle the next few weeks filled with excited students, may you find the peace in the season and finish out smoothly. Sending you the warmest thoughts and best wishes for a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year. May your holiday be warm, peaceful, and safe.
At this time of year – we often focus on holidays and celebrations around the world. Please feel free to use this map with your students to also help build on essential geography knowledge and allowing students to see their place in the world.
K - TCI- Social Studies Alive! Me and My World
text that supports holiday celebrations and cultural celebrations. Please login to access.
Unit 1 – Lesson 2 - What Is a Family?
Match cultural objects to family traditions during six holidays: Independence Day, Chinese New Year, Thanksgiving, Diwali, Christmas, and Day of the Dead.
Unit 2 – Lesson 8 - How Do Americans Celebrate?
View videos about five American holidays and pick a badge to represent each on your sash. Then see photographs of statues representing past Americans whom we celebrate with holidays and pick a badge for each. Add those to your sash.
1st - TCI text - Social Studies Alive! My School and Family -supports learning about family traditions across cultures. Please login to access.
Unit 3: Lesson 13 - What Are Family Traditions?
Watch videos of some unique family traditions around the world. Then discuss which ones you and your family might like to try.
2nd - TCI text- Social Studies Alive! My Community- supports learning about communities and how they share cultural traditions. Please login to access.
Unit 4: Lesson 16 - What Do Communities Share?
Compare four communities by completing a table of information.
Online Resources
Teacher.Org – Overview of Holidays
Discovery Education Video – Holidays Around the World
Read Works – Christmas Celebrations Chinese New Year Kwanza Hanukkah
Compassionate Schools
Road to 40
Beginning in 2025, educators with specific certifications will be required to have 40 reading points to renew their certificate. To begin acquiring reading points and being prepared for renewing your certificate, the Office for Leading and Learning will continue to offer bankable reading point professional development to teachers. You may have already begun to earn these points if you participated in the ELA B.E.S.T Standards asynchronous PD, the ELA PD during Together We Learn, the ELA early release PD, as well as future offerings. These opportunities will be highlighted with our “Road to 40” logo in our monthly teacher newsletters.
You can search for these offerings in myPGS (please click the Searching for Courses by Credit Type document to view instructions)
Elementary Team Contact Information
If you have any questions or need any assistance please do not hesitate to reach out to any of us on the elementary team.
- Elementary Programs: Kim Hedgspeth - kfoster@pasco.k12.fl.us
- ELA K-5: Roshonda Royster - rroyster@pasco.k12.fl.us
- Mathematics PK-6: Tracy Miller – tamiller@pasco.k12.fl.us
- Science K-8: Lesley Kirkley – lwade@pasco.k12.fl.us
- Social Studies K-12: Tina Stavrou-Klem - astavrou@pasco.k12.fl.us
- Art & Music: Tom Viking – tviking@pasco.k12.fl.us
- PE & Health: Matt Wicks – mwicks@pasco.k12.fl.us
- SEL: Lesley Wilson - lrwilson@pasco.k12.fl.us
- Reading Prof. Dev. & Learning: dvarcard@pasco.k12.fl.us
- K-12 Literacy Intervention: clough@pasco.k12.fl.us
- K-12 Mathematics Intervention: janderto@pasco.k12.fl.us
- Instructional Coaching: jdblair@pasco.k12.fl.us
