Curriculum Corner

As we step into this new year, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on all that we’ve accomplished together and share how thankful I am for each and every one of you. The work you do every day – your dedication, care, and commitment to our students is making a difference, and I couldn’t be more grateful. I’m filled with pride for the growth and success we’ve seen. From the gains our students have made, to the way we’ve worked together as a team, it’s clear that we are building something special here at MPS. And the best part? We’re just getting started.

This year, we continue leading our students to live the Wardog Way – by becoming caring, compassionate community leaders who will move our region forward. We’re not just teaching academic skills; we’re shaping future leaders who will make a positive impact on the world around them.

At MPS, we set the standard for excellence, and it takes every single one of us to make our district the very best it can be. Your hard work, your belief in our students, and your unwavering commitment to this community are what make MPS shine.

As we kick off this new year, I’m filled with excitement for the opportunities and successes ahead. Together, there’s no limit to what we can achieve, and I’m so thankful to be on this journey with such an amazing team.

Here’s to a fantastic year ahead – full of new beginnings, growth, and continued success!

With gratitude,
-Jill

We’re excited about our upcoming professional development day and can’t wait to see everyone! Here’s what you need to know:

• Grades K-6th: Join us at Nichols from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM for vertical alignment work. Be ready to start right at 8:30.
• Grades 7th-12th: Start the day in the Lecture Hall at 8:30 AM for a quick meeting, then break into PLC groups until 12:00 PM.
• Special Education Teachers: Meet with Mrs. Kelley at the Central Office Board Room from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM.

In the afternoon, your building principal will guide you on what to do, so keep an eye on your email for any updates.

Don’t forget to bring your Chromebooks and any curriculum documents that will help you with planning. These will be essential for making the most of our time together.

As we move forward with curriculum development, we’re focusing on vertical alignment to ensure our students have a seamless learning experience across grade levels. It’s so important that we teach for proficiency—not just check standards off a list. We’d rather our students leave with 10 solid concepts they truly understand and can apply than be exposed to 100 they won’t remember. By prioritizing depth over breadth, we can make learning stick and give our students the tools they need for success long-term.

An updated curriculum calendar will be released in February, so stay tuned. In the meantime, please take a look at your report cards and share any feedback about changes or updates that might be needed. Your input is critical as we work together to build meaningful learning experiences for our students. Let’s keep this momentum going—our work matters.

We've seen incredible growth this year! In Math, 266 fewer students are in the lowest percentile, while 113 more students are now in the 75th-99th percentile. Reading showed similar gains, with 232 fewer students in the lowest percentile and 187 more in the highest. Language Arts also shined, with a decrease of 138 students in the 1st-24th percentile and 113 additional students in the top range.

While we celebrate these successes, we know there is still plenty of work to do. To keep moving our students forward, it’s critical that we continue to focus on essential standards and develop strong formative assessments. These tools help us identify where students are struggling and guide us in tailoring instruction to meet their needs. Together, with our dedicated teachers, students, and families, we’re committed to ensuring every child feels confident and capable in their learning journey. Let’s keep working hard to achieve even greater success this spring!

As we review this year’s PreACT scores, it’s important to remember that year-over-year comparisons don’t always provide a direct correlation, as the data reflects two different groups of students—10th graders from 2023-2024 compared to 10th graders from 2024-2025. While we’ve seen slight increases in most areas, including a composite score bump from 15.2 to 15.4, the real value will come from tracking trends within the same cohort. For example, comparing this year’s 11th-grade ACT scores to their 10th-grade PreACT results will give us a clearer picture of our progress and areas to focus on. Looking at the ACT data for the 2023-2024 senior class, the growth is encouraging, with composite scores increasing from 15.7 to 17. Notable gains were seen in Science (+2.5), English (+2.3), and Math (+0.5), highlighting the impact of targeted instruction and interventions.

This progress also provides an opportunity to set meaningful goals for ACT improvement in grade levels that have taken the PreACT. Using the growth from last year’s senior class as a benchmark, we can establish specific targets in areas like Math, Science, and English while addressing opportunities for improvement in Reading, where a slight decline was noted. By aligning our instruction and interventions with these goals and building on the strategies from our ACT professional development sessions, we can continue to support students in achieving their personal best.

As we plan ahead, let’s remain focused on data-driven improvements. The more we analyze and apply this data to guide our instruction, the better positioned we’ll be to help students grow in the right areas. Thank you for all you do to support our students—every effort counts, and together, we are making a real difference.

Each site plays a vital role in the successful implementation of BIST. Without carrying forward your site’s specific plan, we won’t see the behavioral progress we’re striving for. It’s time to dig in and do the work to make a real difference for our students. One great example of this is the outstanding work happening at Roosevelt Elementary. Their team has developed a comprehensive behavior continuum to monitor student progress and adjust strategies when something isn’t working. This proactive approach ensures students get the support they need to thrive.

Our district BIST team—which includes teachers, administrators, counselors, and support staff from across our schools—will be meeting on March 14th to review the progress made on each site’s specific plan. If you’d like to view your site’s plan, you can access it using the link below. To keep the momentum going, we’ll also be sending additional staff to BIST training in January to continue strengthening our efforts.

A special shout-out goes to Jennifer Ferrier at Washington Elementary for creating valuable resources, including links to printable language cards, posters, and other materials to assist with BIST implementation. You can find these resources linked below.

If you’re interested in being part of your site’s BIST team, please contact your building principal. Thank you for your continued dedication to this important work. Together, we can help every student demonstrate the behaviors and skills needed for a safe and successful learning environment!

"Students will demonstrate appropriate behaviors and skills so learning can take place safely."

BIST Resource Cards: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sc0B1iFuaB3Llqa6ejbm9AzpFlG_A-hy/view?usp=sharing

Site based BIST Plans: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HOLXPwBi8u6LrdIq0DCmRbuIh7GCO4J4lH3pLYzbmnk/edit?usp=sharing

The superintendent search for Miami Public Schools has been progressing well, starting with 18 applicants, which was narrowed down to 5 finalists. These 5 candidates participated in a first round of interviews, and the Board of Education will be hosting a second round of interviews in January. We’re excited about the process and looking forward to what’s next. The future of MPS is bright, and we are eager to find a leader who will continue to move our district forward in a positive direction.

Have you ever wanted to ask a question but didn't want others to think you didn't know your stuff? Needed clarification on something and didn't know who to ask? Or do you have a really fantastic idea that needs to be shared? This is why we are starting Teacher Chat. You will see a link to a Google Form below. Fill out the form with your questions, and I will do my best to answer your questions or find the person with the answer. Responses will be communicated via email or in the next Curriculum Corner update. Don't worry; your questions will remain anonymous. Remember, if you have this question, someone else probably does too. Let's move forward by learning together.

https://forms.gle/hYeo9XqGSDXFaY95A

We're thrilled to share some exciting news about our SY24 state assessment data! Our 5th grade students have truly shined, ranking #1 in Ottawa County in ELA, Science, and Math. Not only that, but they also topped the charts in our football district, coming in #1 in Math and Science! In ELA, they secured an impressive 2nd place, with Fort Gibson taking the top spot.

This is a fantastic achievement, and it reflects the hard work and dedication of our students, teachers, and staff. You can review the full data through the provided link, and we'll keep you posted if any new information comes in.

Let's celebrate this success and continue striving for excellence!

The Stronger Readers Act (SRA) will be replacing the Reading Sufficiency Act (RSA) as mandated by recent Oklahoma legislation. Key changes include the elimination of mandatory 3rd-grade retention, earlier assessments for kindergarten students, and the introduction of SLIP plans for any student scoring below the 40th percentile on the screener. Additional details and guidance will be shared with those involved in SRA implementation in the coming days.

This document contains important information regarding the curriculum at MPS. You will have access to essential standards, proficiency scales, curriculum review and evaluation processes, curriculum development cycle timelines, and much more. Throughout the year, teams will work to continue the development of the document and make changes as necessary. The goal is to have one place where all teachers, principals, and staff can access the information they need to instruct students.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gi6PjV-9RaKWt8FKMDgbk_YdhcqIgjsI_dvD_bQF010/edit?usp=sharing

Reminder:The early childhood team has determined the path of motion to be followed for handwriting instruction. This is the scripted vocabulary to use when working on letter formation with students. For detailed instructions and accompanying resources, please refer to the documents provided below, which include the prescribed language and letter tracing sheets for both guided and independent practice.